KEVIN RESPRESS

T: 863-877-4015

E: kevin.respress@c12forums.com

RANDY HARROD

T: 386-479-3805

E: randy.harrod@c12forums.com

CAMMIE HAUSER

T: 352-669-0436

E: cammie.hauser@c12forums.com

JOSÉ ALMEIDA

My name is José Alexandre, I was born in 1974, in Lages, in the state of Santa Catarina in the south of Brazil. My father, José de Jesus, is a retired engineer of the Brazilian Army and my mother, Adelina, is a retired librarian. I have an older sister named Katiana, who is married and has two kids, 17 and 12 years old.

Since my father was in the military, we moved around a lot, so I got to know my country very well and learned to adapt and embrace change.

Our way of life led me to practice and enjoy many types of sports: Judo as a kid, volleyball as a teenager and triathlon later. I even reached professional levels (national youth team in volleyball and Ironman in triathlon) however I decided to follow a different career and enjoy sports solely as a healthy hobby.

I studied Mechanical Engineering and worked in a few multi-national companies (pulp and paper and mining). I had the chance to live and work worldwide during this time, I even lived in the USA for couple of years while working for FLSmidth Salt Lake City Inc. During this time God called me back to the gospel through the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. In 2012 I returned to Brazil to live in Belo Horizonte and later in Curitiba, where I currently live.

Alongside this time in engineering, I participated in some small businesses since 2000. Though the multi-national manager life was exciting, I have always felt that I belonged investing in small businesses through funding, encouragement and technical, emotional and spiritual support. By 2014 God directed me to leave the corporative life and become an entrepreneur.

In 2015, I met my wife, Marina, in the First Baptist Church of Curitiba and we got married in 2018. Recently God gave us the direction to end cycles again in our professional lives. Marina is a Civil Engineering professor in Brazil and was invited for a postdoctoral position in University of Florida in Gainesville.

I felt that the company in which I was a partner reached a point where it didn’t need me as much and I decided to sell my shares to follow my personal mission: To contribute to people and companies to raise the Kingdom of God. I feel that the C12 group is an awesome way reach this call.

PAUL LECHNER

Paul Lechner’s 30+ years as an entrepreneur, business owner, and business development executive spans two distinct industries: building materials and technology (Salesforce.com), ranging from start-ups to $160 million mid-size companies.

In his early 30s, Paul lost his wife to divorce and an $11 million company he founded due to being a “lukewarm” Christian. As a result, he was spiritually, morally, and financially bankrupt—completely broken.  God then used two life-shaping events to change the course of Paul’s life.

First, he met Michael Tremain, a man of God who understood the importance of Biblical Lordship in business.  Michael discipled Paul and modeled Lordship by praying before appointments, accepting calls from his wife during meetings, and turning to scripture when faced with difficult decisions.

Second, Paul discovered he had a son Josh.  Josh was 15 at the time.  God spoke to Paul, letting him know that it is never too late to build a relationship, personally and professionally.

These events marked Paul’s life as a businessman and father, allowing him to connect more deeply with people.  Paul attends Lake Mary Church, where he leads the connect team, hosts a men’s life group, and is a table leader for Foundations and Equip.

Nearly 20 years had passed since Michael discipled Paul.  Sensing God was calling him to something more meaningful, Paul contacted Michael for counsel.  It was then that Michael suggested C12 Business Forums.  Michael was a C12 member and recommended that Paul look into becoming a chair.  After a time of prayer and discernment, Paul affirmed God’s calling to become a C12 chair.

Paul is thankful for the opportunity to use his spiritual gifts of vision, leadership, and connecting to change the world by advancing the Gospel in the marketplace as a chair in C12’s Central Florida region.