Board of directors
Kenny Felder
Kenny Felder’s first career was software. He and two partners founded a small company in his living room in 1991 and sold that company to Microsoft in 1994. He left Microsoft four years later to start his second career, high school math teaching, which he still does (and loves) twenty years later. He is the co-author of the college textbook “Mathematical Methods in Engineering and Physics” (published by Wiley). Most importantly, he has four adult children who are way cooler than he is.
“I am on the SKSF BOD because I believe passionately in Augie Turak and his mission. I believe he speaks to the world about spirituality as a journey of personal transformation, about turning from selfishness to selflessness, and about finding out who we are. The SKSF is where he turns those ideas into actions, and I am proud to help in any way I can.”
– Kenny Felder
Michele Castle
Michele Castle received her bachelor’s degree in philosophy and master’s in theological studies from Duke. She is the proud single mom of 3 teenagers. After working for the church for 11 years she started her own sales and health coaching business so she could work from home and spend more time with her family. She serves and has served on many nonprofit boards and helped start several. She believes that the key to peace and success is to grow ourselves instead of wishing our problems away.
“I was introduced to August Turak as a person who could help guide me as I faced a crossroads in my career and vocation. We became kindred spirits and over the years I have counted our friendship as a cherished treasure. I’m honored to serve on the board of the SKSF and to share this message of service and selflessness with others.”
– Michele Castle
Chris Duke
Chris Duke is a husband, a father, an entrepreneur, a technologist, a baker and a chef. He is the co-founder of Anna’s Gourmet Goodies, an online retailer of gourmet cookies and brownies serving customers throughout the United States and military bases around the world. Chris founded two companies, then worked in a variety of roles in the technology services sector. At his last venture in Corporate America, SciQuest (SQI) he held a record seven titles in four years, by always saying, ‘yes, I can do that’. He left in 2003 to build Anna’s Gourmet Goodies, which he, his wife Debbie and his daughter Anna continue to operate today.
“I don’t view being of service to others as a task, but rather as a gift, and I believe that SKSF embraces this idea.”
– Chris Duke
Melissa Hawks
Melissa Hawks is Executive Director for AugustTurak.com and the glue that holds the team together. She puts her 16 years of experience in accounting, operations, sales, and marketing support, IT and IS in companies such as TogetherSoft, Borland, Identify Software, and BMC Software to good use. Melissa made the choice to work with the SKSF full time back in 2008 when a chance encounter with Turak and his writings was just the opportunity she was looking for; not only to enhance her management skills, but to grow personally as well. She has continued to grow under the influence of Turak and she is committed to make the necessary changes in her life; not only to become the person she really wants to be, but to help others succeed in becoming the people they want to be.
“I accepted a position working with the SKSF back in 2008, but I quickly found out that something so much bigger was happening. Through service and selflessness, I had a true change of heart. I have been utterly and completely transformed, and my life will never be the same. I’m thankful to be a part of the SKSF and grateful that I get to work with this foundation every day to share what I’ve discovered with others.”
– Melissa Hawks