MenLiving Board Member, Coach

Erik Treese

Heart-centered, mission-driven! Dad of 4 Daughters and Initiator of Men. My mission is to create a safe and healthy world by leading with consciousness, with vulnerability, and with grit. I have decades of experience helping men and women from diverse backgrounds and experiences do their personal growth and addiction recovery work. 

MenLiving I am a long time MenLiving member and I also have the honor of serving on the Board of the Directors. For the past 2 years I have co-lead our annual MenLiving Men’s Retreat and occasionally lead the Monthly MenLiving Meetings. The connections with men in MenLiving are some of the most important relationships in my life! 

Family For 15 years I have had the honor to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with an incredible woman and family physician on Chicago’s west side. We parent 4 amazing daughters age 3-13. They are by far my greatest teachers. Thanks to them I am in touch with my inner feminine. My role as their father has been to love, serve, teach, listen and hold space, and support them to live empowered lives as their inspired selves! 

Men’s Work and Leadership Development I have over 20 years of leadership experience with the ManKind Project, an international men’s organization that fosters emotional literacy and personal missions for men. As a certified Co-Leader, I have led over 50 of the hallmark MKP offerings, The New Warrior Training Adventure, all over North America. As a Certified Leader-Trainer, I am also responsible for teaching and mentoring the next generation of MKP leaders. 

Diversity and Inclusion I was fortunate to grow up in Hyde Park on Chicago’s south side and serve in the US Army, and as a result inter-cultural competency coaching is a strength of my leadership. I have mentored and facilitated many tough conversations on many multi-cultural topics, including workshops on Diversity and Inclusion, Homophobia and Sexism, Racism and Ableism, Power, Privilege and Difference. for men’s groups, and many public and private organizations and businesses. I recently earned in a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. 

Erik Treese – Leadership and Life Coach 

US Army I served 4 years as a 101st Airborne paratrooper during Operation Desert Shield and Storm. Being a solider taught me the importance of physical and mental toughness, duty, mission, clear, and direct leadership, service, accountability, commitment, and teamwork. My military career was cut short due in large part due to alcohol and PTSD. While enlisted I was awarded a Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army Commendation Medal, a Humanitarian Service Ribbon, and a Liberation of Kuwait Ribbon. 

Education Upon completion of my active duty enlistment I earned an Associates in Liberal Arts from the City Colleges of Chicago. From there I went on to graduate cum Laude from Northwestern University with a degree in Communications. I am few classes short of a master’s degree in Education from Northeastern Illinois University, and in April 2020 I completed a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. 

Business Consulting I got a taste of corporate America dot-com boom during Y2K. I was a consultant with Diamond Technology Partners, a premier global management consulting firm based out of Chicago. I worked on a variety of large-scale technology projects with Enron, Blockbuster, and the Deluxe Checks Corporation. Currently I work with a medium size nationwide real estate construction and development company, a smaller sized foreclosure law firm based in Chicago, and a newly opened chiropractic practice. 

Recovery Work My shadow mission is to create a world without broken homes and wounded children. My own addiction had a rough bottom that brought me to my knees and had me homeless on the streets of LA and Chicago. With over 20 years of experience in addiction recovery, I learned a lot about suffering and trauma, perseverance, failure and success, growth and healing, and spirituality. With a dozen years sober today, I truly live life one day at a time, I am active in several 12-Step programs, carry a message of hope, and bring the principles of recovery into my coaching practice. 

Co-Founder, Coach, VP & Programming Director

Frank Naugo

My own personal development story began when a dear friend lent me a book on yoga. That book opened my eyes to a whole new perspective and world of possibilities. Since then, I’ve been embarking on a journey of self-discovery and exploration of mind, body and spirit.

I started my first men’s group in 2008 during a particularly challenging period of life…the dissolution of my first marriage. This was my awakening to the power and value of having a circle of support…hence, the 1st iteration of MenLiving was born. I’ve been facilitating support, connection and purpose for men through retreats, one-on-one’s and group meetings ever since.

My coaching sessions are unique in that they incorporate the elements of Air (breathwork) and Earth (being in nature and grounding).

While each session is customized to align with the individual’s preferences and abilities, my clients are open to and can expect an integrated body and mind experience. My sincere belief is that many of our limitations and imbalances can be positively impacted by the immersion into these proven and powerful channels.

I’m experienced in working with all men’s topics, particularly parents of young children, divorcees, and those interested in cultivating a practice of “presence” and self-compassion.

Biography

Frank founded his first men’s group in 2009 after the realization that traditional means of supporting, challenging and connecting men weren’t readily available. In 2012, with current co-founder Todd Adams, MenLiving evolved into what it is today. He has been leading and learning from the men’s group experience ever since. Frank is also a member of The ManKind Project and staff member of the New Warrior Training Adventure. He’s been organizing and leading both co-ed and men’s weekend retreats since 2011. Part of his vision for MenLiving is to one day bring some of the self-awareness and emotional intelligence tools he teaches now to a younger generation of men.

Co-Founder, Coach, Membership Director

Todd Adams

I work with men that are looking for lasting transformation.  I will join you in this playground of exploration in becoming the best version of yourself.  We will do this by focusing on self-awareness, acceptance, and asking challenging questions regarding your willingness to make enduring changes in your life.  (There is a huge difference between wanting change and be willing to change.)  We will spend a minimal amount of time on the content (the issue itself) and much more time on the context (how you are being with this issue).  Together we will investigate how you got here, where you are presently and where you want to go.  Some of my favorite clients are men who are dealing with parental and/or relational issues with their life partner.

Biography

Todd Adams co-founded Zen Parenting, Inc., a company committed to helping people practice self-awareness, develop compassion, and practice kindness through podcasts, community events, books, and blogs. He is the co-host of Zen Parenting Radio Podcast- their motto…“the best predictor of a child’s well-being is a parent’s self-understanding.” He co-created Zen Parenting Conference–  an annual weekend dedicated to connection and inspiration.  

In 2015 he founded Todd Adams Coaching– “Coaching For Guys” His life coaching certification is through the Tony Robbins Core 100 Life Coaching Program.

Todd is a member of the Mankind Project and a staff member of the New Warrior Training Adventure, and he’s a blogger for The Good Men Project.  He’s also a Board Member of Navigate Adolescence which is an organization dedicated to raising the emotional intelligence of boys.

Todd is a certified instructor for the Institute of Heartmath where he was trained in stress reduction and relaxation. Todd is a Junior Achievement Educator at the elementary school level.  He has also been an expert guest of the acclaimed on-line parenting resource Kids In The House. He’s also a sales rep for JVI Inc., a real estate investor in Chicagoland, and he and Cathy are the parents of three daughters ages 11, 14, & 16.

Board President, Coach, Meditation/Yoga Instructor

Shaun Emerson

For the last 30 years, I have engaged individuals in personal and professional development. My approach? I listen and am curious. I ask lots of questions. I will suggest ideas and practices and help you maneuver through this work, but I am just the guide. Whatever your struggle, you must take responsibility for creating change.

Biography

Shaun grew up in New England and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross. He has been in the Chicago area since 1986. He is a father of three and has been married to his wife, Lisa, since 1993. 

For over twenty-five years, Shaun was engaged in a variety of corporate and entrepreneurial businesses.  He now dedicates his time to non-profit initiatives serving in board leadership and volunteer positions for multiple organizations. Shaun currently serves as the MenLiving’s Board President, Board Vice President for the PiEproject and Treasurer for Learning to Be Human. 

In 2012, Shaun was introduced to the transformational practice of yoga. Moved by the philosophy and the power of the practice, Shaun trained to guide others and has been leading yoga and meditation classes since 2014.