SOS Staff
Michael Simants, Executive Director
Michael and his wife, Stephanie, first came to SOS as adult leaders in the summer of 2010. During that week they felt God calling them to missions and less than a year later found themselves in full-time missions serving in Central Asia with a predominate focus in Selçuk, Türkiye where he pastored Oasis International Church. During their years in missions, Michael served as an adult leader to SOS four times with two churches. He is not only a missionary, and former businessman, but also a theologian working on a Doctorate in Wesleyan Theology from the University of Durham in England. He serves on the editorial board of Wesley House, Cambridge’s Holiness Journal and is a contributor to the book Theology and Religion in Ted Lasso. Michael is married to Stephanie, and they have four children — Emily, Caleb, Elizabeth, and Lydia. They are happy to call Binghampton home.
Brian Richards, Program Director
Brian grew up in the Memphis area, but gets his love for pizza from his Chicago hometown roots. Studying applied mathematics at the University of Tennessee drove him to a life of ministry and he has never looked back. Before joining the SOS full time staff, Brian worked in youth ministry for 8 years. Brian spends his free time in search of delicious food, cruising the open road on his motorcycle, coaching track and field, and finding any way to be active.
Marlon “Big Dog” Brown, Assistant Construction Director
In 2004 Big Dog joined the SOS staff team as a Construction Manager for the summer and shortly after was hired as the Assistant Construction Director on full time staff. He is the former Mr. Millington (TN) High School and a college basketball star and still uses his sweet jump shot to school college summer staff on the parking lot basketball court at SOS. Marlon fulfills many rolls around SOS including assistant construction director, exposing folks to the life in our partner neighborhoods, and leading work teams. Marlon spends his free time reading, scuba diving, playing golf, and using his silver pickup truck to deliver goods to the less fortunate. In 2009 he married the love of his life, Jackie and together they enjoy bike rides & scuba diving.
Kelly Coon, Camps & Registration Coordinator
Kelly joined the SOS staff team in December of 2012. Here at SOS, she lends her talents to recruit, register, and manage all the details of hosting groups of campers. She has been married to Levi since 2015 and they have three darling girls, Mara, Julia, and Lila. Kelly is a proud native Memphian who loves cooking/eating/talking about food, playing outdoors with her little ones and scavenging local antique stores.
Laura Haltom, Director of Accounting & Finance
After a short hiatus from the SOS full-time staff team, Laura decided she couldn't stay away! She served on SOS staff for ten years before moving with her family to Georgia in 2020. The Haltoms returned to Memphis in 2023, and Laura's excited to be back in the city she loves serving with the organization she loves! She met her husband, Drew, as summer staffers in 2006, and they have two children -- Graham and Jude. When she's not at SOS, you might catch Laura out on a walk in the neighborhood or at a ballfield cheering on her kids.
Lacey Craig, Critical Home Repair Manager
Lacey is originally from Longview, TX, and was first introduced to SOS as a high school camper with her youth group from First Methodist Church Longview. She attended Texas A&M University where she studied Human Resources. After graduation in 2009 she returned to Memphis for the SOS Academy and has never left! When she's not at SOS, Lacey enjoys creating art and playing tennis. She is very grateful for the opportunity to serve her neighbors in Binghampton, The Heights, and Orange Mound through her role at SOS.
Yasmine Isom, Office Administrator
Yasmine is originally from Saint Louis, Missouri and moved to Memphis to do the Memphis Fellows Program after graduating from Southeast Missouri State University. Yasmine was connected to SOS through the Fellows Program Director and she is eager to be a part of the team! Her favorite thing about working at SOS is getting to serve and work with so many different people and organizations who are pouring into the city of Memphis. In her free time she is likely spending time doing some sort of outdoor activity, watching a movie, or playing games with friends.
China Tinnen, Program Coordinator
China was born and raised in Connecticut and attended college in Pennsylvania where she first learned about SOS at the Jubilee conference. She spent two years on summer staff and fell in love with SOS so she decided to stay in Memphis and do the SOS Academy too. China enjoys spending her time playing volleyball, playing board games and card games, and being in the company of her loved ones. She studied Psychology for her Bachelors and is continuing studies to receive her Masters in Counseling. Building relationships with the Builds kids and summer staff has been a highlight for her since working here and something she continues to look forward to.
Board of Directors
Class of 2025
Michael Davis, Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Michael Williamson, Diversified Conveyors International
Class of 2026
Alexia Adeshakin, Siskind Susser Immigration Attorneys
Jeremy Hannich, Huron River Methodist Church
Thomas Marino, First Horizon Bank
Catherine Gross (Board Chair), World Relief
Class of 2027
Will Frazier, SouthWorth Capital Management
Mac Plosser, Butler Snow
Kim Cook, Community Advocate
Eric Threlkeld, Salesforce
Jake Wiig, Seeding Success
Board Member Emeritus / Founder of SOS
Tom Marino, Poplar Foundation