John has over 30 years of military active and reserve service as a Navy jet pilot, along with more than 26 years of manufacturing and strategic planning experience. He graduated from the Naval Academy with an Ocean Engineering degree, which ironically landed him in Pensacola, FL where he met his wife Lorie, while he was in flight school. Lorie was a Registered Nurse at the time. After being swept away from her home, that versatile job allowed her to find work at any duty station they landed until she decided to take on the toughest job as a stay at home mother. After the children grew up, she re-entered the workforce as an Office Manager and Business Owner,  prior to retiring as a full-time grandmother. John and Lorie began their ministry with their church in 2011. Wanting to stress the gift of marriage and work with married couples, they entered the Care Ministry group to mentor couples. This is where their friendship began and developed with Joe and Toni. In addition to working with troubled couples, they began small groups hosting young couples in a more proactive role in their home. Since then, they have co-hosted retreats and workshops at Barren Heights and Growing Your Marriage.  They help facilitate the marriage ministry at their church, leading bible studies, workshops, and marriage coaching. They have been married for 36 years and have 3 adult children who are all married, and 5 grandchildren that are a true blessing.

 John and Lorie are certified Marriage Mentors through the Marriage Mentoring Academy and certified SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) Facilitators.