Managing Partner & CFO, Saltwater Cowboys Restaurant
Licensed Addictions Counselor, Gray Wolf Addictions Counseling

Brett has been a managing partner and chief financial officer of Saltwater Cowboys restaurant in Mt. Pleasant since 2017, and also serves as a licensed addictions counselor with Gray Wolf Addictions Counseling. His work in addiction recovery offers important insights into the mental health challenges faced by individuals and families, particularly around addiction.

With his combination of financial oversight experience and deep commitment to mental health advocacy, Brett brings key perspective in helping us better serve the mental health needs of young people across the state.

Co-Founder & Coach, The Goalden System

With a background in educating students throughout the country, Kate has honed her ability to communicate educational principles and support individuals in advancing their executive function abilities. Kate is an expert in behavior change and as a result of years of coaching neurodivergent individuals, she has applied her background in education, and leadership to develop a proven system that supports executive function skill development and implementation.

Kade Wade co-founded the Goalden System LLC with Krissy Metzler (M.A. Special Education) in the Fall of 2022. Kate and Krissy aim to empower clients to achieve their goals by providing a supportive environment that nurtures their growth. With their advanced degrees in education, they know the cognitive challenges individuals face when building new systems and habits.

Utilizing this background, Kate is an effective leader who has taken on roles and responsibilities with non-profit organizations that are influential in the community and benefit students. She has been a board member for a non-profit residential care home that provided stable housing and in-home care for individuals with mental and physical disabilities

Clinical Social Worker & Owner, Empowered Family

A clinical social worker and owner of Empowered Family, Ashlin Blum is dedicated to providing education and behavioral support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while empowering families through training and guidance. By equipping both individuals and their support systems with the tools needed for community integration, Ashlin fosters long-term growth and independence.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The Ohio State University and a Master of Social Work from Saint Louis University. His practice integrates Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Social Work, with a focus on supporting children with developmental disabilities and counseling parents and couples. Ashlin offers therapy for a wide range of concerns, including autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, relationship issues, and family transitions such as divorce and grief.

Retired University President
Former SC Superintendent of Education

As SC Superintendent of Education, Jim championed reforms in accountability and pushed for advances in public school choice and innovation. In addition to replacing the unpopular Palmetto Achievement Test (PACT) with the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS), he also worked with the General Assembly to reform the state’s system of annual school report cards, eliminate burdensome paperwork for teachers, change South Carolina’s student performance targets to bring them into alignment with other states, and create a mandate to review the state’s accountability system every five years.

Prior to his position as SC Superintendent of Education, Rex was an English teacher and football coach in Ohio, the dean of education at Winthrop University, the dean of education at Coastal Carolina University, president of Columbia College, vice president for development and alumni relations and vice president of university advancement at the University of South Carolina. He is also a recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in South Carolina.

Co-owner, Youth Hope Consulting
Co-founder of YouthLight, inc.

Susan Bowman is a certified K–12 school counselor, licensed professional counselor, and former social worker with decades of experience helping troubled youth and their families. She has served as a middle and high school guidance counselor, worked with incarcerated youth, and founded the Youth Hope Foundation, a faith-based nonprofit supporting at-risk teens. Susan is also Vice President of YouthLight, Inc., an educational publishing company specializing in resources for educators working with challenging students. She has authored or co-authored 20 nationally recognized books and conducted seminars across the U.S. and abroad on mentoring, adolescent behavior, and self-injury — earning national recognition, including coverage in USA Today. In 2005, she received the Cornelius P. Turner Award from the GED Testing Service for her outstanding contributions to education and social service.

Susan’s passion for helping young people is deeply rooted in her own remarkable life story. A runaway at age 14 and a divorced mother of three by 19, she overcame early adversity with the support of a mentor, earning her GED, a bachelor's degree, and ultimately an Ed.S. in counseling. Her personal experiences give her unique insight and compassion that resonate with youth in crisis and those who work with them.

Executive Director

Wendy Methvin brings a blend of professional achievement, community leadership, and heartfelt commitment to her role as Executive Director of Empowering Youth SC. She began her career in medical and pharmaceutical sales, where she spent nearly a decade exceeding performance goals, earning national recognition, and mentoring others in relationship-building and strategic growth.

After transitioning out of the healthcare industry, Wendy followed her passion for wellness and became a certified RYT500 & YACEP Yoga Alliance instructor. Through her business, HHI Yoga, she has led classes, retreats, and private sessions that have helped hundreds of individuals reconnect with balance and purpose.

Equally dedicated to faith and family, Wendy has been married to her husband for over 30 years and is the proud mother of two recent college graduates. She has served her community in many capacities, including as PTA president-elect, student improvement council board member, substitute teacher, Junior Achievement volunteer, and room parent. She has also directed Vacation Bible School, led women’s bible studies through her church and Bible study fellowship, and remains active in local service efforts.

Wendy’s leadership is grounded in compassion, connection, and a clear vision for equipping the next generation. Her work at Empowering Youth SC reflects a lifelong commitment to helping young people and families build the confidence, life, and leadership skills they need to thrive — in school, in the workplace, and in life.

Director of Communications

A veteran communications professional, Bill Colrus honed his skills in journalism and editorial leadership, contributing hundreds of pieces to print and online media outlets and managing content for award-winning agencies and publications. Bill now specializes in strategic messaging, brand storytelling, and ghostwriting for businesses and organizations big and small. He supervises all of EYSC’s content and communications efforts, as well as all technical aspects of the organization’s community events.

The father of two teenagers, Bill has also served in youth ministry and as a youth and high school baseball coach for nearly two decades.

Founder Emeritus

Simply put, EYSC would not exist without the leadership and dedication of our founder, Al Estee.

The well-being of our young people is a matter close to Al’s heart. It’s a sentiment shaped from his troubled upbringing in the 1950s and 1960s — a time when resources for emotional growth and support were limited. Having been fortunate to achieve success in the business world, Al feels a compelling duty to offer to today’s youth what was absent in his early years.

Al’s support has been instrumental in the growth of EYSC, and has inspired others to help us pursue our mission.