Sue Smith, Workshop Director…

is a five-time Dove award winning songwriter who has had cuts by Avalon (“Everything To Me”), The Crabb Family, Sandi Patty, Guy Penrod, Travis Cottrell, Mark Harris, Larnelle Harris, The Martins, Janet Paschal, Pure NRG, Legacy V, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, Brian Free and Assurance, The Hoppers, and many others. In 2009, she won the Dove for Adult Musical of the Year (God Bless The USA). She won the Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year in 2004 (“Everything To Me”), and in 2007 she won two more for Musical of the Year. Sue has written six #1 songs, and in 2010 she won the Diamond Award for Song of the Year “Mercy Leads”.

John Smith, Workshop Pastor…

is a widely-respected family and career counselor and motivational speaker. He serves as the director of the Board of Directors for MOHELA an organization whose mission is to assist students with low cost loans for college. As president of the City of St. Charles School Board as well as an administrator working with private schools, he developed servant leadership programs for school administrators, faculties, and students.

During his four years as administrator of Living Word Christian Schools in Fallon, MO, the high school enrollment quadrupled under John’s leadership. He was the founder of One Accord Ministries, Write About Jesus™ parent organization, and still serves as its director.

Lee Black…

Lee Black is a staff songwriter with Brentwood Benson Music Publishing. In addition to writing for numerous choral projects, he has had radio singles this year with southern gospel artists Brian Free and Assurance, the Lesters, the Collingsworth Family and the Talley Trio as well as bluegrass group Darin and Brooke Aldridge. 

He also serves as worship leader at Goodlettsville Church of the Nazarene.  Lee and his wife Melissa have four kids and make their home outside of Nashville, TN.

Gina Boe…

Gina is a songwriter, artist, teacher, wife, mom, lover of songs, and a developer of people. She has over 25 years experience in the music business including 10 independent recordings, a Dove award, song of the year nominations, cuts by artists such as Mandisa, The Martins, The Talley Trio, Carl Cartee, Brian Free and Assurance, and many more.

Gina is also the founder and Chief Creative Officer of EnCorps Music. EnCorps is a company dedicated to the development, production, and promotion of great songs.

Chad Cates…

A Franklin TN native, Chad writes for Essential Music Publishing. He has written songs for artists and groups such as Casting Crowns, Bebo Norman, Red, Pocket Full of Rocks, Sonic Flood, James House, Matt Wertz, Andy Davis, Brandon Heath, Ronnie Freeman, Rebecca St James, Selah, Salvador, and Avalon, including the Dove award winning song, “Everything to Me” (co-written with Sue Smith).  

Chad has traveled for the past 13 years leading worship for high school and college groups. He is happily married to Sarah. 

Michael Fordinal…

Michael and his wife Jessica live in Franklin, Tn where he is a staff writer for Brentwood Benson Music Publishing. He has had songs recorded by artists such as Mandisa, Royal Tailor, Dara Maclean, Jackopierce, Charles Billingsley, and Ronnie Freeman as well as writing multiple choral anthems. Before settling into full time songwriting Michael toured the states numerous times as an artist.

TW Hale…

T.W. is an ASCAP award winning songwriter and producer. His songs have been recorded by Reba McEntire (Why Haven’t I Heard From You), Joe Diffie (A Night To Remember), Randy Travis, Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, George Jones, Billy Ray Cyrus, Gene Watson, Rhett Akins and bluegrass artists Del McCoury and David Parmley. His producing talents have been instrumental in the signings of artists to Decca Records/Nashville and Polygram Latino/Mexico. 

Simon Hawkins…

Simon divides his time between Nashville and his studios on the south coast of England. He has had cuts by Avalon (“Destined”), Jeff and Sheri Easter (“Livin’ In The Rain”), Brian Free and Assurance (“God Will Close The Door”) and many others on both sides of the pond. “Livin’ in the Rain” was a duet by Sheri Easter and Vince Gill and reached #2 on the Southern Gospel charts and was long-listed for a Grammy. In 2009 Simon received a Dove nomination for his musical “LifeSong: The Musical” written with Sue C Smith.  In 2009 Simon established his own publishing company, Great British Music, to represent his own work and to offer writers in the UK access to opportunities in the US.

Allie Lapointe…

Allie Lapointe first joined Write About Jesus as a registrant in 2003. She has been a writer for Sunday Best Music for the past three years, and has written songs recorded by the Perrys and Music For the Soul, and print cuts including Children’s, Easter, Anthems, and Christmas.  Allie currently serves as a worship leader for her church, as well as playing at local coffee shops. She and Nick founded and lead the Iowa Songwriters Guild, a monthly workshop and critique session for songwriters in their area.

Joel Lindsey…

Is one of Christian music’s most prolific and enduring songwriters, having over 800 songs recorded in the last 20 years by artists in nearly every genre, including over 20 #1 Songs.  A ten-time Dove Award winner, he has been nominated for Songwriter Of The Year twice, once in 1999 and again in 2011. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Point of Grace, Sandi Patti, Austin’s Bridge, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Ty Herndon, Avalon, Joy Williams, The Perrys, Gaither Vocal Band, Michael English and many others.  Some of his song titles include “Gather At The River,” “Orphans of God,” “Reason Enough,” “Life, Love & Other Mysteries,” “Born To Climb,” and “He Made A Change.”  He has been an exclusive writer for Brentwood-Benson Music/Universal Songs since 1993.  

Phil Mehrens…

Has been the worship minister at College Heights Christian Church in Joplin, MO. for the past 15 years.  He started out writing songs for campus ministry and youth camps and worship. After attending the GMA Seminar in the Rockies in 2002, he came to Write About Jesus that fall and received the grand prize in the songwriting competition for his song “Sovereign Lord,” which was subsequently featured in Song DISCovery and is now the title of his new Easter musical recently released by Lillenas Publishing. Phil writes for Sunday Best Music. 

Don Poythress…

Some of Don’t latest singles include Travis Tritt’s “Stronger Than Me,” Kellie Pickler’s “Things That Never Cross A Man’s Mind,” Clint Black’s “The Strong One,” Diamond Rio’s Christmas song “A Star Still Shines”, and country newcomer Easton Corbin’s first #1 single “I’m a Little More Country Than That” recently nominated for CMA and ACM Song of the Year.  He has penned songs  that have been recorded by Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, Daryll Worley, Sir Cliff Richard, Brian Littrell, Lincoln Brewster, The Marie Sisters, Earl Scruggs, Leslie Satcher, Andrea Zonn, Nashville Bluegrass Band, and Jason Crabb among many others.  His Dove Award-winning Song “The Promise” as sung by The Martins, was awarded top recorded song in the Southern Gospel Category in 2004.   Don was nominated for a 2006 Dove Award for “Lay it Down” as recorded by Jaci Velasquez and the London Symphony Orchestra. 

Rick Shelton…

Rick Shelton currently serves the Southern Gospel music industry and the church print market as Director of Publishing for Daywind Music Group. He developed a keen sense of anticipating audience response as an artist, music minister, Christian television producer, and music director at Salem Communication’s Solid Gospel Radio Network. This distinctive background prepared him to serve as Director of Publishing at Centergy Music until he accepted his present position.  He has secured approximately 1400 recordings for Daywind’s staff of exceptional writers, which includes Marty Funderburk, Dianne Wilkinson, Gerald Crabb, John Darin Rowsey, Kenna West, Justin Rivers and Ronny Hinson. Rick resides in Nashville.

Belinda Smith…

Belinda Smith is a Dove Award winning songwriter based in Nashville, TN. In addition to being a successful songwriter, she owns a BMI Award winning publishing company, teaches songwriting, and is a creativity mentor. Belinda is a sought after presenter at workshops and festivals all over the country. She is excited to announce the formation of Belinda Smith Creative and looking forward to beginning the first 6-week online course.  And she is big-fat awesome.

Benton Stokes…

Benton Kevin Stokes is a singer/songwriter, born and raised in Nashville, where everybody plays a guitar and Elvis was always in his dad’s eight-track player.  He picked out popular melodies on his grandmother’s piano at age 4.  Made up songs while riding his bicycle at age 8.  Played his first original instrumental piece for a packed out War Memorial Auditorium at age 15.  After college, he joined a band, made a record and toured the country for a couple years.  His time on the road led to a writing deal with Sony Tree and cuts with a number of successful Christian artists, including Point Of Grace, Natalie Grant, Sandi Patty, Brian Free & Assurance and Kathy Troccoli.  Benton’s first solo project was ”Grace & Gravity,” and he is a staff writer and a recording artist for OSM Music Group, a new publishing and artist development company.    

James Tealy…

Is a songwriter, recording artist and worship leader living in Nashville, TN. He is signed with Centricity Music and his list of cuts includes songs recorded by Matt Papa, Abandon, Michael Olson, Kari Jobe, Adam Levy, MeInMotion, Alvin Slaughter, Heather Waters, Imperials, Mark Lowry, Rob Blackledge and more. James’ songs have also been featured on TV shows like “One Tree Hill” and the “The Ghost Whisperer.”

As an independent artist, Tealy has released 5 projects in the last 6 years including his latest indie release “Only Love.”

Jayme Thompson…

Jayme develops writers and songs in her role as Professional Manager for Lillenas Publishing and Catalog Manager for Sunday Best Music.  She spent two years on the road as an indie artist and served as a worship leader on two church staffs.  Between print cuts, artist cuts, children’s curriculum, and co-writing five children’s musicals her work has been recorded and used in a variety of ways and nominated for several Dove Awards. 

Tony Wood…

A 2009 Dove Award nominee for Songwriter of the Year and the writer of 22 #1 songs, Tony has had recent singles by Francesca Battistelli (“This Is The Stuff”), Hawk Nelson (“Crazy Love”), Mandisa (“My Deliverer”), Royal Tailor (“Hold Me Together”), and the Martins (“Unredeemed”). He is a two-time Dove Award winner for Inspirational Song of the Year: “Find Your Wings” by Mark Harris and “Joseph” by Jason Crabb. Other artists recording his songs include Selah, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, 4-HIM, Avalon, Phillips, Craig and Dean, Sandi Patty, Larnelle Harris, Gaither Vocal Band, Booth Brothers, and many others. Tony is a staff writer for SONY Music Publishing.

Guy Zabka…

Graduating from Belmont University in 1992, Guy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music theory and religion. As a songwriter, his songs have been recorded by Aaron Geoffrey, Plus One, Joy Williams, Kristy Starling, Evidence of Mercy, Imperials, Natalie Grant, Kenny Rogers, and Brian Littrell among others. He has also written music for several short films, … Left Behind ‘The Movie’, MOST, (2003 Academy Award Nominee short film), and in 2006 had the title cut in an animated European feature film entitled “Asterix”. In 2005 Guy accepted a position as Director of A&R with Centricity Records working with artists such as downhere, Jason Gray, Aaron Schust, Me In Motion, High Valley, and Andrew Peterson.

Holly Zabka…

Holly is Director of Publishing for Essential Music, working with such writers as Brandon Heath, 2009 Dove Award winning songwriter and artist, and Dove Award winners Tony Wood, Jason Ingram, Cindy Morgan, and Chad Cates. She was Creative Director for Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing for eight years, and before that the Membership Director for the Gospel Music Association.