In 1998, Olive Tree was planted and has grown into a source of Light, Hope, Wealth and Healing. With a passion to assist TEENS, TEAMS and FAMILIES, the three core services are Counseling-Training-Advocacy.
StarksNest Publishing and The Weekend Academy are subsidiaries of Olive Tree Resources, providing educational curriculum and family support learning structures.
Olive Tree continues to evolve and blossom as the seasons of life change. We will continue to stand rooted as a counseling partner, training partner, mediator & community servant leader as we grow together.
April L. Starks, CSO of the organization has over 20 years of a professional career in management, counseling, coaching and training.
Thank you for allowing us and our partners to serve you.
Daryn Kennedy is excited to be a new member of the Olive Tree board this year. Daryn has 20+ years in the field of education. She and her family are involved with other nonprofits including BAYA: Beautiful as You are and The Decode Project. She lives in New Albany with her amazing husband of 21 years, Craig. Their family has 3 children, 2 of which are teens. She saw the fruits of the Teen Life program within her family last year, and was looking for a way to get more involved. Daryn fully believes that the future is in the great hands of the next generation, and that it is our job as their elders to set them up with every opportunity to learn and succeed.
Married for 28 years to Stacy Miller. We have two adult children. I’ve worked for UPS since 1994 in their Flight Control department. Was paralyzed from a bicycle accident in 2017. I accepted this position to help youth in our community.
Gary Starks brings to the Board,19 years of experience in the Legal industry combined with experience in Organizational leadership.
I gravitated toward Olive Tree because the mission of the company places emphasis on impacting future generations via teaching life application skills that will prepare the youth for their next season of life. Furthermore, I believe the techniques used will equip participants to be future leaders and productive members of society.
I am excited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors at Olive Tree Resources and hope to share my two decades of experience in education to help the organization realize its mission and vision. My husband, Drew, and I moved to New Albany twenty one years ago to raise our children and plant roots for our family. I am a teacher at New Albany High School (AP Psychology) and Drew works for UPS. Our children, Hannah (26), Duncan (22), and Greer (20) are proud graduates of New Albany High School. Hannah is also a graduate of Purdue University. Duncan is a senior at Purdue and Greer is a sophomore at Centre College; parenting has been our toughest and most rewarding job, for sure! We love our community and we love to give back to our community via our schools, community groups and organizations, and local businesses. I believe working with Olive Tree Resources will allow me to continue investing in our community and its future.
Social Media Consultant for Teen Life
I am extremely excited to serve as a member of the Board of Directors at Olive Tree Resources. I am a 19 year old college student attending Indiana University as an online student. I am pursing a degree in Digital Media and Storytelling. I also co-host The Just Different Podcast which aspires to encourage individuals to come into the best version of themselves through conversant around faith, life, and culture. I believe Olive Tree encompasses very similar sentiments and I am invested in its mission to empower the youth of today and beyond.
I’m Elisha Jennings
I’m now a junior in high school and I have a great passion to help people and to expand my knowledge. With me being only a junior that makes me the youngest on the board. This will be my 2 year serving and many more years to come. I was the teen facilitator for 2021 which was truly an amazing experience to have. But as me being the youngest I am so proud to be one for the voices for the teens to help give insight to everyone and to continue to help our teen life program really thrive and elevate in great way.