Because I said I would owes so much of our success to our full time, part time employees, and especially our volunteers. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this movement what it is and what it will become.
Full-Time
Alex Sheen
Founder & CEO
Alex Sheen is the Founder of because I said I would, the international social movement and nonprofit dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept. Sparked by the loss of his father, Alex began sending promise cards to anyone who requested them at no cost. Since his father’s passing on September 4th, 2012, because I said I would has sent over 13.1M Promise Cards to 178 countries. Alex’s commitment to the betterment of humanity has inspired millions around the world. The story of his promises have been shared virally throughout social media and international news.
Before his life as nonprofit leader, Alex was a Corporate Strategy Lead at Hyland Software, an organization featured in Fortune’s 2014 Best Companies to Work in the United States. As the youngest manager in a global company with over 1,500 employees, he established and managed Hyland’s corporate-wide Innovation Program. Alex decided to leave this life and pursue a life of philanthropy and service after the loss of his father.
Invite Alex to speak at your event
Cassie Perez
Director of Development
Cassie is the Director of Development at because I said I would, where she has been a dedicated team member for over a decade, originally joining the organization in September 2015. Having served for many years as the Senior Program Impact Manager—where she oversaw High School and Correctional Chapters—Cassie brings a deep understanding of the mission to her leadership role. She is incredibly excited to step into the development space to share the impact of these initiatives with supporters, having seen the program’s reach firsthand.
A native of Lakewood, OH, Cassie holds a degree in Merchandising & Product Development with a minor in Marketing from Bowling Green State University. Driven by a passion for people and service, she leverages her background, along with a strong interest in technology and process improvement, to build partnerships and drive philanthropic support. In her free time, Cassie enjoys reading and spending time with her family, friends, and her two cats, Posie and Nova.
John Stvens
Senior Director of Leadership Development
With over 20 years of experience in healthcare engagement and strategic partnerships,John serves as the Senior Director of Leadership Development at because I said I would. In this role, John works closely with the Founder & CEO, Alex Sheen, to manage and expand the organization’s speaking engagement and corporate retreat programs. He leads discovery calls with prospective partners, develops tailored programming opportunities, and oversees contracting for keynote events and resiliency retreats at Camp because I said I would.
Prior to joining the team, John held executive leadership roles at SpellBound AR and spent more than 15 years at Get Well, a global leader in patient engagement technology. His career has been built on aligning mission-driven work with thoughtful execution, helping organizations realize the full impact of their commitments.
John studied communications, radio and television broadcasting, and photography at Morehead State University (Go Eagles). Outside of work, he finds peace behind the lens as a nature and wildlife photographer, enjoys time on the water fishing, and still rides his skateboard when he gets the chance.
Alice Watson
Guest Experience & Event Manager
Alice Watson joined Camp because I said I would as Guest Experience and Event Manager in March 2025, after first serving as a dedicated volunteer beginning in 2023. Raised in Knox County, she is a proud graduate of Mount Vernon High School and the Knox County Career Center’s Computerized Secretarial program.
Before joining the camp team, Alice built a meaningful career in customer service and experience within the logistics industry, where she was honored to serve as a Guest Experience Representative and Culture Team District Enthusiast. These roles allowed her to shape positive workplace culture and lead customer-focused initiatives that celebrated connection, empathy, and excellence.
Today, she brings that same passion for people to her work at camp. Alice is deeply committed to serving guests from all walks of life—from children and first responders to teachers and corporate leaders—because she believes everyone, regardless of background, can benefit from a space that fosters reflection, resilience, and growth.
Known for her enthusiasm, clarity in leadership, and compassionate drive, Alice continues to elevate the guest experience with purpose and heart.
Andrea Martin
Operations Associate
Andrea comes to because I said I would after an early retirement from her favorite position ever- being a stay-at-home mom. She is a mom to 4 adult children, 2 daughters and 2 sons. She was promoted to Grandma for the first time in 2012 and now has 7 grandchildren. Andrea has an associate degree in accounting technology and spent decades in the workforce. For Andrea, nothing compares to the satisfaction of her mom/grandma status. After a year with 2 tragic losses, she believes that finding her position at because I said I would was meant to be. It was the exact message she needed to hear at the most perfect time.
Ashley Taylor
Executive Assistant to the Founder
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ashley Taylor is the organizational force behind because I said I would. With a background in business administration and client relations, she ensures the Founder’s initiatives run smoothly—managing schedules, coordinating key projects, and keeping the mission moving forward.
Outside of work, Ashley loves to travel, explore new restaurants, and cheer on Ohio State football. But her greatest joy is being a mother to her daughter, Gianna Grace, who fills her world with laughter and love. She believes in the power of accountability, resilience, and human connection—values that align perfectly with because I said I would.
Kori Perez
Finance & Operations Specialist
Kori Perez is the Finance & Operations Specialist at because I said I would. where she supports cross-functional projects and ensures mission-aligned initiatives run smoothly. She began her journey with the organization as an intern and quickly became a valued team member known for her dedication and follow-through. She developed a passion for service early in life, participating in various youth and community programs that inspired her to make a difference in the lives of others. Outside of work, Kori enjoys spending time with her husband and their two cats. She values kindness, connection, and the power of keeping your word both in and out of the workplace.
Jeff Collier
Program Impact Manager
Jeff is the Program Impact Manager at because I said I would and joined our team in March of 2026. He currently oversees our Chapter programming including High School Chapters and Correctional Chapters – working to build relationships with our Chapter sites and ensure the success of our programming. In addition to overseeing chapters Jeff also assists with special projects, and various programming that happens at Camp because i said i would. Jeff is currently a licensed mental professional (LPCC-S), having earned his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2014 from Ashland Theological Seminary. He has worked in the mental health field for over a decade before taking on this role, pursuing the opportunity to use his experience and education in new ways to support mental health and resiliency skills to make a broader impact. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys learning more about homesteading, spending time with his wife and four children, and continuing to invest in his two therapy dogs, Dobby and Myrtle.
Interested in joining our staff?
Check out our open opportunities!
Volunteers and Interns
Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Since 2012 we have distributed more than 11.3 million Promise Cards to over 150 different countries. We have also started Chapters around the United States and have created 7 Character Education Lesson Plans which are free to download. This would not have been possible without our volunteers.
Pat Bakos
Chief Volunteer
In 2014, Pat saw a newspaper article stating that because I said I would needed volunteers to count 10 cards that were being mailed to people who requested them. She has been volunteering ever since. Now Pat guides 2 wonderful groups of developmentally disabled adults who prepare the mailings. Pat states this is her favorite part of the week.
When she is not volunteering at because I said I would, Pat enjoys volunteering at other nonprofits, reading, selling her gem trees at craft shows and gardening.
Interested in joining our staff?
Check out our open opportunities!
Alumni
Kimchi Sheen
Chief Promise Dog
Our office dog Kimchi was the daughter of our Founder, Alex Sheen. Her black and white colors match our brand and the essence of a promise perfectly. Promises are either kept or broken, there is little grey area. She loved to visit our rooms throughout the day for progress updates and official petting time. Kimchi spent her afternoons snoring on the office couch and dreaming of a world where everyone loved their fellow humans as much as they loved their pets. Kimchi was 14 years old when she passed in 2020. RIP, baby girl.