Dr. Doug Laher's professional experience includes teaching financial planning, wealth management, corporate finance, entrepreneurship, business strategy, management, leadership, and economics for 38+ years, through his business advisory/ coaching practice and University teaching, human-resource development in the banking industry, and financial management in the high-tech and healthcare industries. Professor Laher began teaching at Whitworth University, in 2000. More recently, Doug and his wife, Teresa created Kingdom Impact, LLC. They train, coach, and equip businesses, organizations, and individuals to make a Kingdom impact. Doug also assists business owners in planning for the single, most critically important financial event of their lives - the transition out of their business. Dr. Laher's education and experience have uniquely positioned him to help business owners in this capacity.Doug's mission/vision is to guide individuals in making smart financial decisions through education and coaching - to provide the kind of service and value that alleviates their financial stress, allowing them to focus on what is truly important in life.
Teresa comes to Equip 210 with a strong background in education. God called her out of the public schools in 2022. She welcomed this change after realizing that the public school system was deeply flawed and that she could not affect change to bless students to the degree she desired. With over 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator, Teresa understands what children need in order to discover and grow into the calling that the Lord has for each of them. Teresa encourages each child to grow in their abilities to think creatively, solve problems and make the world a better place. Now, more than ever, she believes that students need to be grounded in their identity found in Jesus Christ. Knowing Whose we are, creates the foundational bedrock for the rest of our lives. Mrs. Laher agrees with Ephesians 2:10 - that we are each God's masterpiece. Children have a greater chance of becoming all that God created them to be when they are schooled in a nurturing, God-centered environment, held to account with high standards, all the while maintaining a strong partnership with parents. Teresa enjoys creating systems and building relationships that bless others. Because parents are the primary stakeholders in their children’s education and well-being, Equip 210 desires to work closely with parents to provide a Christ-centered education that will bless their family. Teresa and her husband Doug have been married for over 20 years and have two adult children.
Lesley Russell is the Founder of EQUIP 210 and Next Generation Ministries dba Independent Learning Academy (ILA). ILA is a K-12 parent-choice homeschool educational model with over 1,200 students and three locations, two in southern California, and one in Meridian, Idaho. For the past 11 years, ILA has been pioneering and innovating education and has been the leading alternate education movement in southern California with thousands of K-12th grade students having attended with many of their graduating seniors receiving Trustee and Presidential Scholarships. Many of the ILA graduates also start their own companies, join the mission field, or serve in various military branches. They are truly world changers
Lesley and her husband, Joe, are originally from NY and have been married for 30 years. They have four children who are either currently attending ILA, are now in their careers of choice, or in graduate school programs. They all loved their homeschool educational experience through the Independent Learning Academy. Lesley is so excited to be serving in the role as Senior Advisor Equipping Specialist training local auxiliary teams in leadership and continuing to innovate and reinvent education.
Lesley received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Gettysburg College and a Master’s in Secondary Education from Manhattanville College. She taught middle school Language Arts in NY before starting her own family. Lesley has been a homeschool mom of 22 years and has worked to develop various teaching pedagogies for children’s various learning styles that have been implemented over the years at ILA. She is excited to step into the calling that she has received from the Lord to equip the next generation of children to walk in the masterpiece of their individual Kingdom identity and the calling that He has for them. As the Lord leads, she is excited to bring the EQUIP 2:10 educational model and movement to other communities and states. EQUIP 2:10 Integrated Auxiliaries are available for churches to start to raise up and influence the next generation of children for Christ.
Heather Sorenson has been with Next Generation Ministries, dba Independent Learning Academy “ILA” for the past 4 years. She was first introduced to homeschooling when her oldest was in kindergarten. That following year, 2020, she became the Director for the Orange County ILA Campus and that following spring was called to move to Texas. She continued doing admin for all ILA campuses and in January of 2022, stepped into the position of Executive Director. Heather is looking forward to her new role at EQUIP 210 as the Equipping Specialist for Director of Training.
Heather has her degree in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University, Fullerton, and her certification in Montessori Education from UC Irvine. She worked for the City of Anaheim for 10 years as a recreation and community Services Director. She has worked in education for the past 23 years in both Private and Christian Schools and also worked as a Conference Coordinator for a best-selling Christian author. She loves organization, planning, and helping things run behind the scenes.
Heather is a born and raised SoCal girl, who was raised in a small Mountain town. She loves the outdoors, all things Fall, water sports, baking, reading next to a fire, and has a strong heart for bringing community together. Heather, her husband Drew, and their two children currently reside in Dallas, TX. and they are loving the adventure God has them on.
Lesley Russell is the Founder of EQUIP 210 and Next Generation Ministries dba Independent Learning Academy (ILA). ILA is a K-12 parent-choice homeschool educational model with over 1,200 students and three locations, two in southern California, and one in Meridian, Idaho. For the past 11 years, ILA has been pioneering and innovating education and has been the leading alternate education movement in southern California with thousands of K-12th grade students having attended with many of their graduating seniors receiving Trustee and Presidential Scholarships. Many of the ILA graduates also start their own companies, join the mission field, or serve in various military branches. They are truly world changers
Lesley and her husband, Joe, are originally from NY and have been married for 30 years. They have four children who are either currently attending ILA, are now in their careers of choice, or in graduate school programs. They all loved their homeschool educational experience through the Independent Learning Academy. Lesley is so excited to be serving in the role as Senior Advisor Equipping Specialist training local auxiliary teams in leadership and continuing to innovate and reinvent education.
Lesley received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Gettysburg College and a Master’s in Secondary Education from Manhattanville College. She taught middle school Language Arts in NY before starting her own family. Lesley has been a homeschool mom of 22 years and has worked to develop various teaching pedagogies for children’s various learning styles that have been implemented over the years at ILA. She is excited to step into the calling that she has received from the Lord to equip the next generation of children to walk in the masterpiece of their individual Kingdom identity and the calling that He has for them. As the Lord leads, she is excited to bring the EQUIP 2:10 educational model and movement to other communities and states. EQUIP 2:10 Integrated Auxiliaries are available for churches to start to raise up and influence the next generation of children for Christ.
