Bob Lee

Bob began working for Stronger Families in 2015. He and his wife, Ruth, have been married for about 15 years and have four kiddos. He is also an officer in the Washington Army National Guard. Bob’s role at Stronger Families is to oversee the systems & processes that allow the organization to operate efficiently and effectively. He’s a huge spreadsheet nerd and loves overseeing projects.

Caryn Aderhold

Caryn has worked for Stronger Families as a Program Coordinator since 2014. Before joining the Stronger Families team, she worked as an Executive Assistant for International Cruise Lines, an Office/Para Educator for the Northshore School District, and a Retail Manager at an independent toy store. Away from the office, she likes to volunteer as a children’s advocate, entertain friends and family, read, cook, create, and explore the area on the back of a Harley!

Claire Grant

Claire joined the Stronger Families team in March of 2020. Claire studied English with an emphasis in American Literature at Seattle University. She is grateful for the opportunity to grow while giving back to her community and to those who have served us. Before Stronger Families, Claire was an early childhood educator and regularly volunteered for her women’s rock climbing group, of which she now serves on the Board. Outside of work, Claire enjoys climbing, skiing, backpacking, and spending time with her friends.

Don Nelson

Owner, Team Nelson

Earthwork & Utilities

Edward Sumner

Edward brings 15 years of executive leadership experience to the Stronger Families team as our VP, Managing Director. He is passionate about serving people in hard places, building creative solutions, and making a significant impact in the community. He is a proud hubby and father to a blended family of 6, in his free time Edward enjoys mountaineering, sailing, and helping his lovely wife with projects around the house.

Jan Bowe

Jan has served Stronger Families in the accounting department since February 2000. She has three amazing kids who are married to three terrific spouses and six most beautiful grandchildren in the world. After Jan and her husband married in 1980, they served 25 years in the Ministry of Music field in Vancouver, Issaquah, and Renton, Washington. It is Jan’s privilege and honor to work in a place where her skills and ministry can be combined.

Jim DuBois

Retired Cheif Information Officer,

Microsoft Corporation

Karissa Meador

Creative Director, Stronger Families

Co-Creator and Author,

OXYGEN Seminar

Katie Koons

Katie joined the Stronger Families team in January 2016. Katie attended Central Washington University where she studied Information Technology and specialized in Administrative Management. Before Stronger Families, Katie was a Behavioral Educator for students with special needs in the Lake Washington School District. Katie is passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of others and she is proud to work for an organization where she can apply both her skills and her passion. In addition to her role at Stronger Families, Katie coaches a high school cheerleading team. Outside of work, Katie enjoys camping, traveling, dancing, and spending time with her family, friends and her husband, Kyle.

Melinda Nelson

Community Volunteer

Noel Meador

Noel Meador serves as President & CEO for Stronger Families in Seattle, Washington. In this role, he is dedicated to strengthening families and marriages and ultimately, affecting the community at large. Noel is the lead author of the Oxygen for Your Relationship seminar, which provides couples with tools and resources that help them promote authenticity and renewed vitality in their relationship. Over the past 5 years, 14,000 couples have gone through OXYGEN program and 300 + facilitators have been certified to teach the program.

Noel received his Master’s Degree in Education and is trained in many relationship enrichment and counseling tools such as Prepare/Enrich, Genesis Process, PREP, John Maxwell Leadership Team, and Safe Conversations.

Noel lives in Seattle with his wife, Karissa and four children, Drew, Noah, Myles and Kaylea.

Sean Sanberg

Sean Sanberg is excited to be working with Stronger Families as the National Training Director. He and Sarah, his wife of 20 years, are both musicians and have often found themselves performing at wedding ceremonies…loving the excitement and joy that comes from strong, happy, healthy, committed relationships. Sean has worked in the arena of marriage and family support for over 2 decades speaking at retreats, seminar, workshops, coaching sessions, and one on one mentoring. He is grateful to be able to continue his support of meaningful relationships at Stronger Families through OXYGEN for Your Relationships . Sean and Sarah began their marriage and grew their family, consisting of two daughters and two sons, in Mountain Home, Idaho. In this small Air Force Base community they quickly grew to appreciate and love the military culture as well as the unique challenges that couples face as they serve our country. In addition to a great burger, a soulfully sung R&B tune, and time with his family, Sean enjoys playing spots, running, fishing, and good conversation with great friends.

Sean Sanberg

Sean Sanberg is excited to be working with Stronger Families as the Director of Sales and Training.  He and Sarah, his wife of 25 years, began their marriage and grew their family, consisting of two daughters and two sons, in Mountain Home, Idaho.  In this small Air Force Base community, they quickly grew to appreciate and love the military culture as well as the unique challenges that couples face as they serve our country.  As musicians Sean and Sarah regularly found themselves performing at wedding ceremonies, drawn to the excitement and joy that comes from strong, happy, healthy, committed relationships.  Over the past two decades Sean has worked in the arena of marriage and family support speaking at retreats, conducting seminars, hosting workshops, providing coaching sessions, and mentoring one-on-one.  For the last 5 years he has been grateful to continue supporting meaningful relationships through the OXYGEN Program by Stronger Families.  In addition to a great burger, a soulfully sung R&B tune, and time with his family, Sean enjoys playing sports, running, fishing, and good conversations with friends.

Vivienne Gevers

Gevers Wealth Management, LLC

William Gevers

Gevers Wealth Management, LLC

Our Mission

To bring life-changing relationship skills to military, first responder, and veteran families so they can be strong and thrive.

Why we do what we do

Our vision is for healthy marriages and stronger families in every community. Our military and first responders are our national and local heroes. Their unique occupational experiences add stressors that affect their relationships and families.

Stronger Families comes alongside them to offer hope and tools to strengthen their family unit, thereby impacting future generations in our free society. It’s our privilege to serve those who have already served us.

Our Story

Every good story has a defining moment. That second where we realize that everything before and after has come down to that one decision. For Noel and Karissa Meador, their defining moment came when they chose to heal their marriage.

“Are we going to make it?”

A few years married, 80-hour work weeks, a new baby, the launch of a business, a new job, family dynamics, and a lack of understanding their personality differences had the Meadors looking at each other one day asking the question, “are we going to make it?”

Connection was waning. In its place, wounding, misunderstanding, and disappointment grew.

This was the moment the Stronger Families story began.

After digging in, seeking counseling, and learning more about each other and their unique differences, healing began to take root. Noel and Karissa soon realized that hope wasn’t intangible. As they continued to work, the answers weren’t hard to find. But, it took something very few couples spend on their relationship amidst the daily stresses of life–concentrated, devoted effort and time.

Noel and Karissa Meador
Noel Presenting
A defining moment.

Through the healing of their marriage, the Meadors developed a passion for other couples to experience hope and healing. They wrote and created the OXYGEN seminar. Later they would go on to develop the personality test, the OXYGEN Profile Assessment.

After a front row seat witnessing a loved one struggle in their marriage after multiple deployments, and a recommendation by a 2-Star General Retired who believed this program could change the lives of our heroes—the Stronger Families mission was birthed.

Today, because of Noel and Karissa’s vision and the incredible team at Stronger Families, OXYGEN has served military, veteran, and first responder heroes in 9 countries, on 76 installations, in 36 states, and now has six chapters nationwide.

Never underestimate the power of a defining moment.

Our Team
Noel Meador

Noel Meador
President & CEO

Edward Sumner
VP, Managing Director

Bob Lee
Director of Operations

Caryn Aderhold
Program Coordinator

Claire Grant

Claire Grant
Engagement Coordinator

Jan Bowe
Finance Manager

Katie Koons
Systems Administrator

Sean Sanberg
Director of Sales & Training

Our Board of Directors
Noel Meador

Noel Meador
President & CEO, Stronger Families
Co-Creator and Author,
OXYGEN Seminar

Karissa Meador

Karissa Meador
CEO, Mesmerize Creative
Co-Creator and Author,
OXYGEN Seminar

Jim DuBois
Board Chair, Speaker, Author, Tech Advisor,
and Retired CIO of Microsoft

Shannon DuBois

Shannon DuBois, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Independent Practitioner at Eastside Psychological Associates
Adjunct Professor at Northwest University

Keni Thomas
US Army Ranger (Ret.)
Combat veteran of the 3rd Ranger Battalion
Bronze Star for Valor Recipient
Best-selling Author
Award-winning Recording Artist

Kris Peterson, MD COL (Ret)
Psychiatrist
Medical Director, TouchstoneTMS

Rosemary Peterson

Rosemary Peterson, MD
Cardiologist
Kaiser Permanente

Doug Sackville

Doug Sackville
President, Commercial Office Interiors

Carey Early

Carey Early
Director of Sales Operations,
Commercial Office Interiors

William Gevers

William Gevers
Gevers Wealth Management, LLC
President / Financial Advisor

Vivienne Gevers

Vivienne Gevers
Real Estate Investor

Don Nelson

Don Nelson
Team Nelson Earthwork and Utilities
President and Owner

Melinda Nelson

Melinda Nelson
Property Manager & Philanthropist

Kelly Dillon
PypeServer, Inc.
Founder & CTO

Julie Dillon
PypeServer, Inc.
Senior Account Manager

Randi Johnson
Mom, Wife, and Business Owner

Eric Johnson
CEO
Nintex

About

Contact us

hello@strongerfamilies.com

425-679-5671

PO Box 40584

Bellevue, WA 98015