MenLiving Facilitators

Michael’s a career educator. For 30 years, he’s studied and taught language, philosophy, and theology. He’s taught high-schoolers and grad students, but he’s just as comfortable on the other side of the teacher’s desk. He’s a lifelong learner who never tires of meeting new subjects, new people, and new experiences.

Michael invests a lot of time in developing curriculum and training teachers. What feeds his embodied soul, though, are art, music, poetry, yoga, and the warmth of close friends. He and his wife of 30 years live in central Florida, where they’ve raised four children.

He is also a writer, mental health awareness advocate and music fanatic. He graduated from the University of Missouri, is originally from Elmhurst, IL and resides currently in the Chicago neighborhood Logan Square. He’ll talk your ear off about the Grateful Dead and Ariana Grande in the sentence and spends his time hanging with his friends and girlfriend, running and telling everyone and their mother about how they can and why must help end the stigma around mental illness.

“What inspires me most is being able to help and validate others who may have struggled similarly while living with bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses. I feel that talking about my experiences can lead to others knowing they are not alone, they are worthy of love and they are enough. The fact that I get to spread this message through working with MenLiving and helping other men is truly a joy.

Tony joined MenLiving in 2018 after attending his first MenLiving weekend event.  Today he serves as a board member and meeting facilitator.  Tony’s journey has taken him from Air Force “Brat” to Navy Sailor, traveling and living around the world and country, where he’s learned to embrace the similarities and differences of the many cultures he’s experienced.  He’s been a police officer for almost twenty years and served 7 of it as a homicide detective.  In conjunction with the many tools he’s picked up on his path of self discovery, he largely credits the support and experience of MenLiving for his ability to hold space for the community and officers he serves, and his balanced blend of work and personal life.

Certified as a leader, leader-trainer & facilitation instructor in The Mankind Project, a worldwide organization that transforms men’s lives. Mike has over 20 years of firsthand experience in men’s growth work. His work ranges from shadow work to regressions, diving into limiting beliefs to childhood wounds. His time spent learning and leading in this capacity has uniquely prepared him to help guide clients through the tough inner work that this path requires.

In His Own Words:

Decades ago, I was struggling with bankruptcy and a family being torn apart by addiction. I was trying to fix everything myself and didn’t know what to do with any of it. This made me feel as though I would never make it through to the other side.

I felt like I failed as man and as a human. I felt like my life was over. But I didn’t want my life to be over. I decided to stop struggling on my own and surrender to a mentor who I trusted. This began the intense journey into my own growth and the passion to help others soon followed. I had the desire to reach a life of fulfillment and meaning; I am still on that path today.

Self-Understanding and potential are the key components of personal growth. Diving deep into this growth allows us as humans to connect in ways unimaginable to ourselves and others. Whether in crisis, or stasis I can help you get the fulfillment in life you deserve.

Mike was born outside Philadelphia, though has resided the majority of his life in the Chicago area. He has been running competitively since the age of 12 and continues to run, ride, and practice yoga. He graduated from Loras College in 1993 and received his Masters in Education in 2012. Mike is the proud Dad of 3 young men and is happiest when they’re all laughing at something absurd.

Mike has been a member of the Tribe Men’s Group since its inception in 2012. Though initially hesitant to participate, the idea of a safe, supportive, forward-thinking group of men to help foster growth was enough to get him to go to the first meetings held in Todd’s living room. Since then, he’s been fortunate to consider members of the Tribe amongst his closest friends.

“At first I thought ‘Nah, I have it (life) figured out. I don’t need this’. But after a moment’s reflection I realized that usually the speed at which I dismiss an idea is likely the inverse of how much I need it.’ Since then I haven’t looked back since and the experience, knowledge, support, and fun I’ve had with other members is immeasurable.

Jason is a part of MenLiving because of how much it has been a part of his personal development over the past number of years. Having gone through a difficult divorce and a number of family and career challenges, Jason reevaluated aspects of his life that were no longer serving him with the love and support of MenLiving members behind him. As he went through the process (and still is!), he realized how many men were there to support his journey. Now, in any way he can, he tries to give back that same support which was so critical to his own well-being.

What inspires Jason most is seeing men open up, be vulnerable, and take chances. Jason took the “safe path” in so many ways for much of his life, and now gets pumped to see men take the “edgier path” in any aspect of one’s circumstances. He’s eternally grateful to all that have supported him in his journey and seeks to reciprocate that same support to other men as they embark on their own journeys.

Tony has a 6-year daily meditation practice that helps keep him on a path of mindfulness and self-discovery. Tony is co-leader of the North Shore Meditation Community meetup and co-founded a contemplative practice group called “Peace of Mind” at his workplace. Tony has found a real passion in championing the benefits of meditation and contemplative practice in his personal and professional communities.

Tony facilitates the weekly Friday morning meditation sessions for MenLiving in addition to occasional weekly meetings, workshops and small batches. He has derived a ton of value from MenLiving over the past few years and is in service of the mission of connection and growth that has impacted him.

I have called the suburbs of Chicago home my whole life, with the exception of 8 months in Orlando FL. working for Disney as a “good friend of” Captain Hook, Goofy, Woody… and more” I now call Berwyn IL home with my wife and tabby cat. I studied human services in college, and my path took me back to my family business my dad started over 40 years ago. I’m now the owner of Superior Awards & Promotion, an awards and branded products company. I take pride in running a business with good values and it’s challenging. In 2021 I co-founded a business support circle that supports its members to define and create success. This group is a mix between interpersonal work and business development. My personal growth work started at a young age and honestly I’ve been sidetracked multiple times, I tend to learn the hard way. I’ve been in some dark places, and I had support finding my way through them. I have some outstanding teachers, mentors and facilitators helping me with my work. I strive to spread the gifts I’ve received and that I continue to receive with others. I’ve developed an eclectic approach on doing so that is always evolving.I was raised by a single mother and I met the man I now call dad when I was in 6th grade. I was adopted at the age of 32. My parents will always be my greatest teachers.

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.