The mission of TRAIL Youth Seminars is to identify and actively engage young potential leaders, help them understand their own strengths and abilities, and teach them how to use their gifts to positively influence others to serve their communities and their nation.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John Claerhout

Mr. Claerhout is a nonprofit consultant with forty-one years with national youth organizations. He has served as the Scout Executive in Los Angeles and as the National Director of Operations for the Boy Scouts of America. He also served as the President of the American Humanics program as well as the Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation. He is a thirty-three year member of Rotary and has served on many nonprofit boards, including the Northridge Hospital Foundation, Volunteers of America, Goodwill Industries of So. Calif. And the Riordan Volunteer Leadership Development Program.

Thomas A, "Rusty" Ward, J.D.

Mr. Ward is an attorney specializing in trusts and estate planning. He is an author and frequent speaker on estate planning. Prior to his private law practice, he had fourteen years in trust banking. He is a graduate of the University of Washington's Pacific Coast School of Banking., Trust 2 Division, with library Honors. His volunteer leadership experience includes Chairing the Wyoming Heart Association and Crimestoppers of Central Wyoming. In addition he serves as the President of the Wyoming TRAIL Leadership Seminars Chapter.

Shawn Ilg

Mr. Ilg is the C.O.O. and General Counsel of IP Revolution in Omaha, Nebraska. He has a degree in finance from the University of Nebraska, a M.B.A. from Drake University, and a Law Degree from Creighton University. Mr. Ilg was a founding partner in the law firm of Downing, Alexander, Wood and Ilg. He has also helped start seven different companies during the last four years in areas ranging from data networking and marketing for university athletic departments to motorcycle dealerships. Mr. Ilg has held leadership positions with many nonprofits and is the past Board President of the Nebraska Leadership seminars.

Patrick J. McCarthy, President

Mr. McCarthy has over twenty-eight years in nonprofit management. He spent seven years with the Boy Scouts as a district Executive and fundraiser. He served eight years as the Chief operating Officer of the Jefferson Center for Character Education and another eight as the Director of Programs for a national youth leadership organization. He taught nonprofit management courses for ten years at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Los Angeles, and has been a consultant to many nonprofit organizations including the YMCA and the American Cancer society. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including twenty years with the Red Cross as a Chapter Chairman, as Council Chair for the State of Colorado and currently as a Member of the Mountain Pacific Regional Committee. He is also a Past Club President and twenty-two year member of Kiwanis.