Our team brings together leadership, community experience, technology, partnerships, and initiative expertise to help rural people and organizations move from ideas to action.
Ian Hill is an award-winning humanitarian, business leader, social innovator, and world record breaker. Over 25 years, he has worked with more than 1,700 communities across four continents, helping people turn ideas into results.
He founded the You Make THE Difference Foundation to strengthen rural communities across the United States and Canada. To launch the initiative, Ian travelled to hundreds of communities across North America, working alongside local leaders, volunteers, fairs, and agricultural societies. His conviction: people closest to the challenges are best positioned to address them.
As CEO of The Changing Point, Ian helped businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations develop leaders and improve performance. As founder and volunteer CEO of Let Them Be Kids, he mobilized communities to build 168 playgrounds, skate parks, and fitness parks. The World Leisure Congress recognized the initiative as one of the world’s most innovative social leisure programs. He also founded Nevada’s first charter school and two other first of their kind schools.
Ian broke the World Record for the world’s longest speech to raise funds for at-risk youth and played college football at age 57 to raise awareness of men’s mental health.
His honours include Humanitarian of the Year from the National Council for Community and Justice and the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, Child Advocate of the Year from Stand for Children, and a nomination for the Prime Minister of Canada’s Social Innovator of the Year Award.
Tracey serves as the Foundation Administrator, bringing many years of experience in the agricultural society sector and a deep passion for supporting rural communities and the people who help them thrive.
Her diverse background spans administration, finance, operations, project and event management, organizational leadership, stakeholder engagement, and logistics across the agriculture, nonprofit, and tourism sectors. This breadth of experience has strengthened her ability to manage complex responsibilities, coordinate people and priorities, and provide the practical support needed to move meaningful initiatives forward.
Organized, detail oriented, and purpose driven, Tracey approaches her work with integrity, creativity, and thoughtful care. She listens closely, communicates clearly, and brings structure to complex projects by aligning priorities, people, and resources.
Through her work with the Foundation, Tracey is committed to equipping local leaders, strengthening connections, and helping rural communities build confidence, resilience, and lasting capacity. She is proud to support the volunteers, organizations, and community members who make a difference in rural communities every day.
Jeff Cole is a lifelong Ohio fair enthusiast whose roots in the family dairy farm, 4-H, FFA, church, and family shaped his commitment to agriculture and community. He showed dairy cattle in his youth and later spent 18 years exhibiting beef cattle across the country with his family. Jeff and his wife, Linda, have been married for 45 years and have three children.
Describing himself as a “recovering fair director,” Jeff served eight years on the Hancock County Agricultural Society, including two as vice president and four as president, gaining experience across fair leadership and operations. Following a 35 year career in sales and sales support at IBM, he spent five years supporting digital ticketing for fairs and festivals, traveling nationwide to work with events large and small. That experience broadened his understanding of their shared traditions, varied organizational structures, and distinctive community offerings. It reinforced his belief that fairs and festivals have an unmatched ability to bring communities together.
John Schut is a former agricultural educator, farmer and community leader from Belding, Michigan. He serves as Director of Community Engagement for the You Make THE Difference Initiative, building partnerships and developing grassroots leadership.
A longtime agriscience teacher and FFA advisor, John has dedicated his career to helping young people develop leadership, responsibility, and career skills. He earned degrees from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. from Purdue University. John has served as a fair board director, exhibition committee cochair and capital campaign cochair. He also led the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions and received the Honorary American FFA Degree.
With his family, he raises livestock and remains actively involved in Michigan agriculture.
Jay Spicer brings more than 15 years of executive leadership in the fair industry to his work with fairs, boards, volunteers, and community partners. He hosts the FAIRGROUNDS podcast, exploring the practical challenges facing the people who keep fairs thriving.
Jay served as executive director of two county fairs for 13 years and as executive director and board member of the Florida Federation of Fairs. He is a Certified Fair Executive and a graduate of the Institute of Fair Management through the International Association of Fairs & Expositions.
With experience in youth development, 4-H, extension, and theatre leadership, a degree in television and radio production, and more than 35 years as a professional drummer, Jay understands leadership, entertainment, and event production.
Kimberlee is a proud mom to two sons and a Nana to three wonderful grandsons who fill her heart with love and laughter. She enjoys country life on an acreage with her husband.
A retired educator, Kimberlee spent her career serving rural Alberta as a teacher, principal, and Associate Superintendent. She is passionate about education, building relationships, and helping others discover their potential. Retirement has brought new opportunities to continue teaching and learning, sharing her insights, and supporting others through her involvement with Empowering Minds.
Kimberlee believes in lifelong learning, the power of connection, and finding joy in the journey. Whether spending time with family, sharing a laugh, or encouraging others to grow, she strives to make a positive difference in the lives of those around her.
Steven Troutman is the founder of Marketing Igniter and brings a unique blend of agricultural, sales, and technology experience to his clients. Growing up on a family farm in Wayne County, Ohio, he developed leadership skills through 4-H and FFA and later earned certifications in pesticide and herbicide application as well as grain handling operations.
After nearly two decades in agriculture and agronomy, Steven transitioned into web development and digital marketing, earning degrees in Web Development and Design and Mobile Development and Design from Stark State College. Today, he helps businesses grow through strategic website development, SEO, and digital marketing solutions.
Steven combines decades of real world business experience with technical expertise to help clients turn ideas into results.
Tell us what your community or organization is working through, and we’ll help direct you to the right person.
