The Speakers (2024)

Shon Hart is a married father of three, a certified Eric Thomas, Game Changer, motivational speaker and an authority on fatherhood. He is the founder and Executive Director of InvolvedDad, where he strengthens families through father engagement. His organization provides various front-line and gap services that impact and transform families and communities. Despite Shon not excelling in high school academically, he used the negativity of others to take control of his life and earn an athletic scholarship and degree from Michigan State University. He later authored 5 books; his most well-known is From Average to Elite. With his energetic and infectious personality, he is driven to help those he serves to grow from the inside out to dominate their lanes. The motto he lives by is, “Don’t chase the bag (money), chase your assignment; the bag is wrapped in your assignment!”

Amy Lindholm is a Management Analyst for the Michigan State Court Administrative Office’s Friend of the Court Bureau (FOCB) and has worked in that role since 2017. She previously worked at the Kent County Friend of the Court for five years. Amy has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University with a concentration in Policy and Planning).

One responsibility in her current role with the FOCB is stakeholder engagement. Amy currently serves as Fatherhood Liaison and Corrections Liaison to friends of the court, bridging gaps for fathers and incarcerated parents – two groups who often struggle to navigate the friend of the court system and to feel heard by it. Amy currently serves as a Co-Chair of the Michigan Action Plan for Father Involvement.

Jevona C. Fudge is an experienced attorney with a diverse background in law, education, and social relations. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Social Relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University as well as a degree in Secondary Education, and later earned her Juris Doctor from Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University.

After becoming a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Jevona began working as a Civil Law Attorney with Legal Aid and Defender Association-Macomb. In 2012 she joined the Macomb County Friend of the Court as a Judicial Service Officer. Here, she focused on child support, parenting time, and custody issues and enforcement of court orders entered by the 16th Circuit Court Family Division.

Currently, Jevona is making an impact as Deputy Chief/Assistant Prosecutor in the Cooperative Reimbursement Unit.  Her commitment to equal access to justice, diversity, collaborative and accountable parenting is unwavering. 

Deputy Chief Fudge has worked on both sides of the justice system and uses this insight to advocate for and effectuate change for the underserved and vulnerable.

Kevin Lavender Jr. founded the Fatherhood Network in 2015. He is the proud father of three daughters and has a deep passion and commitment to supporting fathers and coordinating opportunities for dads to build community amongst each other while connecting with community resources. His hope is that fathers feel encouraged and supported in their role as a father. 

Clay Roberts, Jr., a native of Grand Rapids, MI, is a multifaceted individual with a passion for empowering others. A graduate of Alma College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, he wears many hats as a coach, mentor, motivational speaker, writer, and entrepreneur. Alongside his roles, Clay is a dedicated husband and father of five children, blending both biological and stepchildren into his loving family. As the founder of the organization All Things Fatherhood, he channels his experiences and expertise to advocate for and support fathers in their journey through parenthood.