John Gailer wants to help people grow. Not enable them, but genuinely equip them to discover and develop the potential and gifts they already possess — and then turn around and do the same for the people around them. That desire has driven more than 35 years of work across youth ministry, education, outdoor adventure, athletics, higher education, and organizational development. The contexts have changed. The conviction hasn't.

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John has worked with a wide variety of demanding and rewarding populations. He has developed experiences for groups ranging from at-risk youth to classroom teachers, from nonprofit leaders to corporate teams, from church congregations to third-culture kids navigating life between worlds. He has spoken and presented at numerous national and regional conferences across a wide variety of contexts and has led workshops and training throughout the United States and internationally.

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He holds a master's degree in Education from the University of Georgia and carries certifications in trauma, social emotional intelligence, and leadership coaching. For more than a decade he has worked with the National Dropout Prevention Center, developing professional development for educators across all 50 states and leading the development of the Trauma-Skilled™ Schools Model, now implemented in more than 30 states.

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While much of his career has focused on corporate, nonprofit, and school groups, John's heart is faith-based ministry. As a former pastor and Christian College professor, he enjoys teaching biblical principles from scripture that lead to intentional growth.  LeaderVine takes its name from John 15, where we are told that apart from Him, we can do nothing.

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John and his wife Susanna live in Toccoa, Georgia, where they have spent more than 30 years operating a residential ministry to third-culture kids whose parents serve around the world. The ministry has housed nearly 400 young people now living in more than 30 countries. 

His work through LeaderVine is grounded in the belief that intentional growth brings last impact.