Our Christian Rehab Center
Men’s Team
Craig has been working with Great Lakes Adult and Teen Challenge since 1992. Craig obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Math and Chemistry Education from Louisiana State University in 1987. He has done graduate work at Cardinal Stritch University and Marquette Graduate School of Business. In 2007, Craig was awarded a scholarship to attend classes in the Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School. He was chosen for this opportunity by members of the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin and attended additional classes in 2009 and 2014, both at the business school and at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Craig served on the National Teen Challenge Board of Directors and as a National Teen Challenge Regional Representative from 1996 to 2002.
He is an ordained Assembly of God Minister and Nationally Appointed Home Missionary. He is past President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the Northwest Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the U.S. Swimming Foundation, U.S. Golf Association, the Northshore Republicans, the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Rotary, and Milwaukee Rotary’s Partners in Education Committee. In 2012, Craig was appointed to the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse by Governor Scott Walker as his appointed Designee.
Jennifer Harper serves as our Associate Director of Programs and Services. Jennifer’s background is in missions and church planting. This passion for building the church and establishing bible schools led her to Europe, Asia, and South America for several years after graduating from Rhema Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A Pennsylvania native, Jennifer has enjoyed living in Wisconsin since 2006, when she moved there to work for Lake Country Family Church. She is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, ordained minister through the Rhema Ministerial Association International. She is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education.
Jennifer enjoys working alongside her husband, Craig, and the amazing team of staff at GLATC every day, pursuing excellence in the program to best serve the men and women who come through the doors seeking freedom. She enjoys cooking, kayaking, spending time with her family, and almost any outdoor adventure.
Jim Wacholz, Men’s Program Director
Jim is the Men’s Program Director. He comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Jim has worked in corporate America for decades and is a proven team leader, manager, and project coordinator. He is active at his local church where he serves on the prayer team. He has been a Milwaukee area native for over 40 years.
Jim is passionate about discipleship and showing the love of Jesus to our students. Jim enjoys spending time with his wife and serving at their church together.
Anthony Buyer, Men’s Direct Care Staff
Anthony lived in Los Angeles, CA all his life, until moving to Milwaukee in 2021. He completed the program at Riverside Adult and Teen Challenge in 2020 and then served as an intern for a year.
He came to Great Lakes Adult and Teen Challenge to serve as Men’s Program Staff. Read More Anthony is passionate and full of life! You can find him exploring his new city or leading a workout for the guys.
Melanie Leitinger, Education Coordinator
Melanie was a student at Great Lakes Adult and Teen Challenge initially. She went on to complete the program at Nashville Adult and Teen Challenge in 2001. After graduation, she attended Bible school at Teen Challenge Ministry Institute in Jacksonville, FL, in 2007. Read More She was hired at Great Lakes Adult and Teen Challenge in Milwaukee in 2008. She also holds associate’s degrees in both accounting and early childhood education.
Melanie has worked in many roles here over the years! She has done accounts receivable, women’s program staff, merchandising manager at SuperThift, and most recently, the Education Coordinator. She has a heart service and always gives her best to the students.
Larry has served in many capacities at Greater Harrisburg PA Teen Challenge, The Resting Place Crisis Center and Thrift Store in North Carolina, and as Executive Director at Love Inc. and Revelations of Freedom Ministries.
A Teen Challenge graduate, Larry is in awe of God taking what the enemy meant for bad to use for His Kingdom work! He is now honored to serve as the Work Therapy Supervisor at the center where he started his journey almost twenty years ago.
Jackie Dunn, SuperThrift Lead
Denise grew up and has lived in the Milwaukee area all her life. As a student at Custer High School, she took a class in accounting, which started her on a path for Bookkeeping. Denise has been a bookkeeper for over 30 years working for a mortgage broker, preparing taxes, and at Adult and Teen Challenge. Denise has been the Finance Coordinator for Adult and Teen Challenge for over ten years. Her goal is to be a servant for Christ and use her skills for the ministry.
In her spare time, you will find her spending time with her children and grandchildren, walking her dog, shopping, and helping around the condo complex where she lives and is on the board for.
Shannon Perrault, Social Enterprise Manager
Shannon has been working at Adult and Teen Challenge since 2020. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Carthage College in Biology. She initially started at Adult and Teen Challenge as the SuperThrift Store Manager. She and her husband welcomed their first baby in 2021, and she then transitioned to her current position of Director of Online Sales. Previously, Shannon was the Farm Manager of an agricultural-based work therapy program for high school-aged students.
Shannon has a passion for the way that God can use work to help people grow and move forward in their lives. She was drawn to the SuperThrift model of utilizing work therapy to help Adult and Teen Challenge students on their road to rehabilitation. She is passionate to be working with a ministry that truly believes in the saving grace of Jesus Christ to help each of us find freedom.
