Staff
Courtney Cotrone - Area Director
As a junior at Manatee High School, I attended my first Young Life club. I did not grow up in church and had never been exposed to what a relationship with Jesus was. In high school, I was desperate for belonging and searched for it in things like sports, friends, parties, etc. but it left me feeling more empty than ever. My friends finally convinced me to go to a Young Life club. That is where I met my Young Life leader. She showed me what a relationship with Jesus looked like. For the first time I heard and understood how much Jesus loved me. My life took a dramatic turn. I went from living in darkness to experiencing life to the full. My life has never been the same since I began my relationship with Jesus my senior year of high school. Jesus used Young Life to save my life. After high school, I knew I wanted to give back to the ministry that impacted me so much. I served as a volunteer leader for two years and part time staff for two more years. After graduating from USF with a degree in Social Science, a position was offered to me as full-time Young Life Staff. In college, I always said working for ESPN would be my #2 dream job, but working for Young Life would be my #1. To be working with Young Life and leading at the same Young Life Club where I first heard the Good News of Jesus, is something I am grateful for each day.
I am married to David Cotrone who is a volunteer Young Life leader. We have two sons, Hudson & Elijah.
Contact Info:
younglifemanateecounty@gmail.com
Phone: 941-704-9611
As a junior at Manatee High School, I attended my first Young Life club. I did not grow up in church and had never been exposed to what a relationship with Jesus was. In high school, I was desperate for belonging and searched for it in things like sports, friends, parties, etc. but it left me feeling more empty than ever. My friends finally convinced me to go to a Young Life club. That is where I met my Young Life leader. She showed me what a relationship with Jesus looked like. For the first time I heard and understood how much Jesus loved me. My life took a dramatic turn. I went from living in darkness to experiencing life to the full. My life has never been the same since I began my relationship with Jesus my senior year of high school. Jesus used Young Life to save my life. After high school, I knew I wanted to give back to the ministry that impacted me so much. I served as a volunteer leader for two years and part time staff for two more years. After graduating from USF with a degree in Social Science, a position was offered to me as full-time Young Life Staff. In college, I always said working for ESPN would be my #2 dream job, but working for Young Life would be my #1. To be working with Young Life and leading at the same Young Life Club where I first heard the Good News of Jesus, is something I am grateful for each day.
I am married to David Cotrone who is a volunteer Young Life leader. We have two sons, Hudson & Elijah.
Contact Info:
younglifemanateecounty@gmail.com
Phone: 941-704-9611
Emily Johnson - WyldLife Director
My life changed because a Young Life Church Partner showed up my senior year at Dunedin High School. Because of that experience, I went to Flagler College in St. Augustine where I studied Youth Ministry and volunteered as a WyldLife leader. When I graduated, this Florida girl, who is
no friend of cold weather, ended up doing a Young Life Internship in Bismark, North Dakota. When those two years were over, I was fortunate enough to come back to Florida and became a Young Life Church Partner at Palma Sola Presbyterian. In 2003 I went on "regular" Young Life staff but continued leading Northwest WyldLife club and have been doing so for over 20 years. I studied at Fuller Theological Seminary and received a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership. I am married to David and we have two boys, Edgely and Leighton.
Contact Info.
emndavidj@juno.com
Phone: 941-920-1298
My life changed because a Young Life Church Partner showed up my senior year at Dunedin High School. Because of that experience, I went to Flagler College in St. Augustine where I studied Youth Ministry and volunteered as a WyldLife leader. When I graduated, this Florida girl, who is
no friend of cold weather, ended up doing a Young Life Internship in Bismark, North Dakota. When those two years were over, I was fortunate enough to come back to Florida and became a Young Life Church Partner at Palma Sola Presbyterian. In 2003 I went on "regular" Young Life staff but continued leading Northwest WyldLife club and have been doing so for over 20 years. I studied at Fuller Theological Seminary and received a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership. I am married to David and we have two boys, Edgely and Leighton.
Contact Info.
emndavidj@juno.com
Phone: 941-920-1298
Tayler Hudson - Office Administrator
[COMING SOON]
Contact Info:
taylerjhudson@gmail.com
Phone: 941-518-7890
Julie Oliszewski - YoungLives Coordinator
My family moved from Ohio in 1977 and I feel so lucky to have been raised here in Bradenton. I think I am as close as you get to being native without being born here. My freshman year of high school I was was involved in a youth group at Palma Sola Presbyterian Church where I was introduced to the future leaders of YoungLife Bradenton. I quickly saw that not only did this couple love teens but their love for Jesus shined through everything they did. After the first club I was hooked and YL has been in my blood ever since.
In 2000, I joined the Bayshore YoungLife as a leader before transitioning to mentor teen moms and pregnant teens in 2004. This is when I knew I was home. As a single parent, I knew that I was made for loving these girls and babies. Timing is everything. My daughter left for college in 2018 and as empty nester with more time available and a flexible job as a Realtor, Courtney asked to have lunch to see if I was interested in volunteering for YoungLives. I am not even sure she had the chance to ask because I said "I'm IN!"
Contact Info :
JulieOliszewski@gmail.com
Jen Gunn - Capernaum Coordinator
It wasn’t until I was invited to a Young Life bible study for college students that I truly grasped what a relationship with Jesus looked like. My Young Life leaders shared their lives with me and my friends. Their home felt like our second home. Fast forward 14 years and I now get to call them two of my dearest friends. Through my relationship with my Young Life leaders, the Lord changed the trajectory of my life. Young Life’s mission to reach the furthest out kid has remained close to my heart ever since.
When I moved back to Bradenton after graduate school, Courtney approached me about starting Capernaum in Manatee County. Over the past 8 years, I’ve served as a board member and Capernaum volunteer leader. I stepped into my role as Capernaum Coordinator in 2019. I am humbled and grateful to be able to share the Good News and live life in community with our Capernaum friends. My day job is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Manatee Memorial Hospital. I am married to Alan Gunn who is an ESE teacher as well as a volunteer leader for Young Life and Capernaum. We have one son, Jaiden, and our family includes three pups and a pot-bellied pig.
Contact Info:
jenmgunn@gmail.com
It wasn’t until I was invited to a Young Life bible study for college students that I truly grasped what a relationship with Jesus looked like. My Young Life leaders shared their lives with me and my friends. Their home felt like our second home. Fast forward 14 years and I now get to call them two of my dearest friends. Through my relationship with my Young Life leaders, the Lord changed the trajectory of my life. Young Life’s mission to reach the furthest out kid has remained close to my heart ever since.
When I moved back to Bradenton after graduate school, Courtney approached me about starting Capernaum in Manatee County. Over the past 8 years, I’ve served as a board member and Capernaum volunteer leader. I stepped into my role as Capernaum Coordinator in 2019. I am humbled and grateful to be able to share the Good News and live life in community with our Capernaum friends. My day job is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Manatee Memorial Hospital. I am married to Alan Gunn who is an ESE teacher as well as a volunteer leader for Young Life and Capernaum. We have one son, Jaiden, and our family includes three pups and a pot-bellied pig.
Contact Info:
jenmgunn@gmail.com