OUR TEAM
Doug Burleigh is an Associate with both Centered and the International Foundation. He worked with Young Life for over 25 years, five of those as President, and started Young Life's work in the former Soviet Union. He is a key figure in planning the National Prayer Breakfast and has spoken at prayer breakfasts in other countries all over the world. Doug is the author of Jesus Changes Everything, which is based on a lifetime of teaching how following key principles of Jesus really can change everything. Doug lives with his wife in Annapolis, Maryland, and they have four adult children and 16 grandchildren.
Doug Burleigh
Senior Associate
Grant facilitates Jesus-centered gatherings state-wide, nationally, and internationally. He is passionate about bringing people together in the spirit of Jesus to create spaces where reconciliation and healing take place. He is currently finishing his Master’s of Public Administration at the University of Washington. With a deeper understanding of public policy, Grant hopes to help bridge the great divides facing our nation and world. Grant lives in Seattle with his wife, Kristi Gustafson.
Grant Gustafson
Associate
Jeff attended the University of Washington and Seattle Pacific University and graduated with a degree in Biblical Literature. He worked with Young Life for 30 years as an Area Director and Regional Director. He works with civic and marketplace leaders across the Pacific Northwest and invests in college students and young professionals. Over the last several years, Jeff’s focus has been on building relational infrastructure for city transformation throughout Washington state and the Cascadia region. He lives in Spokane, WA with his wife, and their four married children and 11 grandkids all live nearby.
Jeff Vancil
Senior Associate
Karen’s passion is building deep relationships in Jesus, and bringing together current and emerging leaders. Working with Members of State, marketplace leaders and young adults, she seeks to build fellowship around grace and reconciliation. Karen leads a post graduate Women’s Fellows Program, and facilitates intergenerational discipleship groups locally and state-wide. She also directs and hosts the Take Root Podcast, sharing God’s stories in the lives of His people. Karen earned a BSN from the University of Washington, with a career in nursing and then teaching at Bellevue College and Bellevue Christian High School. She also led a Women and Youth Initiative for the Luke 12:48 Foundation before joining Centered in 2014. She is married, mother to three adult children and grandmother of two.
Karen Johnson
Senior Associate
Kristi is a dynamic lover of people. As a spiritual director and coach, she commits her time to the formation of college students and young professionals, as well as marketplace and ministry leaders. Kristi participates in the planning and facilitation of Jesus-centered leadership gatherings. Along with her husband, Grant, she travels nationally and internationally to carry the message of reconciliation through building relationships with current and emerging leaders.
Kristi Gustafson
Associate
Natalie recently graduated from Trinity Western University as an international student with a BA in Media and Communications and has worked in a variety of settings including outdoor teambuilding, customer service, and administration. She has a passion for health and wellness, teaching high school Physical Education. She joined the Centered team in 2022 to aid the executive director in administrative tasks, communication, and event management. Natalie is married and lives in Tacoma, WA.
Natalie Hayrynen
Administrative Coordinator
Wes has served with Centered and The International Foundation for over 40 years. He assists the National Prayer Breakfast by coordinating the scheduling and hospitality for international leaders from over 160 countries; in Washington state, he works with elected officials and marketplace leaders on prayer breakfasts and facilitates fellowship groups. His purpose in all this is to lift up the name of Jesus and follow the great commandment to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. Wes is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University and Talbot Theological Seminary and lives in Seattle with his wife, Nancy; they have two children and six grandchildren.
Wes Anderson
Senior Associate
One of Alexis’ favorite things in life is connecting people to one another and to great experiences that help root someone’s faith. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a BA in Organizational Behavior and has worked in various settings, including talk radio, brain research, and she co-founded a Fair-Trade company. After setting career aside to stay home and be Mom when her children were young, she joined the Centered team to focus on events and operations.