How it started

Our Founding Fathers

100 Strong owes its inception to a visionary collective of compassionate individuals, each bringing a unique set of skills, expertise, and unwavering dedication to the cause.

Their shared commitment and belief that a community of resourceful men can have a greater impact together forms the cornerstone of the foundation’s mission.

Together, they embody a spirit of collaboration, resilience, and compassion, driving 100 Strong forward in it’s efforts to make a meaningful difference.

Keith Collins

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Keith Collins

About Keith...

Written by wife Noelle Collins:

As California Natives, we never thought we would be moving away from everything we knew and everyone we loved. But in 2021 we felt the Lord calling us to Tennessee to raise our two girls, in an environment that gives them the best earthly chance, to reach the ultimate destination. Sometimes the greatest gifts we get are the examples of what we never want. This has been the driving force for my husband. I may have been his constant but he has been the one to fight for this life. To want better than his examples. It may not be perfection, but to always strive to just do better.

He trusts the Lord Jesus, knowing that His compass always points right when that is one’s true north. The amount of growth that can happen in a boy is truly in the hands of God. Keith is an example of how that boy can turn his life towards God’s plan with just a little encouragement and motivation. Meeting at the age of 15 years old, Keith was the boy my parents forbade me to see. The boy that was in so much trouble all the time. But he loved me. And that was/is a constant for me.

Keith has overcome a broken childhood, with no college, and no degree. He has become successful and worked hard for a life we never even dreamed possible. If you’ve met him you know his excitement for life is contagious and he wants to do EVERYTHING. He is an amazing involved father, not wanting to miss anything with his girls.

Professionally, Keith is a mortgage advisor and founder of The Lending Collective—though he’d tell you it’s less about loans and more about helping families build a foundation. He’s always pushing for creative, strategic ways to help people thrive—not just qualify.

Today he continues to flourish under the Lord’s guidance. And I love being on his sideline for over 20 years.

Monty Kelso

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Monty Kelso

About Monty...

Monty is what many consider to be a “serial entrepreneur”! Having successfully started multiple businesses and non profit ministries throughout his life, he is always on the lookout for the next ground floor adventure to embrace. This Includes he and his wife, Christa’s, gradual transition to Franklin, TN from Dana Point, CA just over three years ago.

He is fueled by building true community wherever he is, be it a neighborhood or the local church resulting in mentoring many young leaders in his semi-retirement stage of life. Having kids and grandkids living in both TN and CA, he and Christa help keep Southwest Airlines “in the black” flying so often between the two states they love.

Helping build “100 Strong” is one of Monty’s top priorities in the future. Why? Because he deeply understands the value of like-minded men pursuing quality relationships that leads to personal growth. And when you get to help benefit others in the process, life just keeps getting better.

Miles Terry

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Miles Terry

About Miles...

As a twelfth generation South Carolinian, Miles Terry never could have imagined that a second professional excursion back to Middle Tennessee would have resulted in his family settling down once and for all in the Volunteer State. Terry spends most of his time professionally at the intersection of law and religion where he has represented churches, nonprofits, and other organizations throughout the country and abroad for more than fifteen years as an attorney, counsel, and advocate. He has practiced in multiple jurisdictions, and represented various clients, issues, and interests before the United States Congress, the Internal Revenue Services, the Department of Justice, the United Nations, the European Court of Human Rights, and the International Criminal Court at the Hague.

Terry represented more than 50 nonprofit organizations from more than 22 states before the Internal Revenue Service, that included federal litigation of the 2017 landmark case involving the agency’s targeting of tea party groups. There, he was successful in securing tax-exempt status for more than 50 groups throughout the country who were unconstitutionally entangled in the targeting scandal. Terry also served as a member of former President Donald J. Trump’s legal team during the Robert Mueller Special Counsel investigation as well as the first United States Senate Impeachment trial of the former President. He is passionate about the formation and management of churches and nonprofits. Terry earned a Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law, a Master of Arts in Early American Political Thought from Appalachian State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Carolina.

He has studied abroad at Harris Manchester College, Oxford; the University of Haifa and Hebrew University in Jerusalem; and the University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, France. Miles is currently finishing his Master of Divinity from Regent University. Miles and his wife are raising their three children in Franklin, Tennessee and they are members of Brentwood Baptist. Miles is an avid collector of bourbon, books, vinyls, baseball cards, and firearms and he believes that the reward for good work is more work.

John Pfaender

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John Pfaender

About John...

Having a dad in the Marine Corps, John grew up all over the world. Living in multiple countries and 9 different states by the time he was 18, John learned more about people and cultures than a lot of people learn in a lifetime. He learned to embrace change, form relationships quickly and pivot on a dime. All fantastic skills that help drive his success to this day as a serial entrepreneur. After a short stint in the music industry touring the country with three of his best friends, John honed his skills in design and digital media working for small marketing agencies and multiple large entertainment companies. The culmination of these experiences and knowledge have led him to today where he owns and operates a full scale marketing and media production agency called Lasting Media, specializing in the non-profit and entertainment industries. He is married to the woman of his dreams and has three beautiful daughters. He’s a Cubs fan, a strong believer in the second amendment, a whiskey and cigar fan and doesn’t believe John Wayne ever produced a bad movie. Above all, John is a follower of Jesus Christ and wants to leave a legacy that impacts people for good and drives them in the direction of a loving heavenly Father.

Jeremy Smith

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Jeremy Smith

About Jeremy...

I have lived in Middle Tennessee for over 23 years, But I have lived all over Tennessee growing up in Chattanooga. I graduated from Bryan College in 1997, where I met my lovely wife, Patricia. We have two children. Our son, Harris, is 23 and lives in Louisville, KY, working in the bourbon industry. Our daughter, Lily Catherine, is studying education at Mississippi State University and spends her summers interning with friends of mine in Costa Rica. Because of my heart for missions and my friends who live in Costa Rica, we have traveled there for the last decade, helping and supporting them in their obedience to God to expand his Kingdom in Jaco, Costa Rica. I have a heart for missions, and I've traveled to many places doing so; it's one of my big reasons for joining 100 Strong because, to me, it is the definition of local missions.

I've been a financial advisor with Shoemaker Financial for the last 20 years. I work in an independent firm where we focus on putting the client first, even if that means delayed gratification for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 20 years in this business because of the people it's put me in front of, both individually and in organizations. I have been through some very tough times and had some gratifying moments with individual clients. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing someone you've helped and worked with accomplish an objective and be at peace. It's extremely gratifying to know that I'm helping and impacting people in one of the most important areas of their lives.

I love being active but have difficulty taking a break or resting. I work out daily in my home gym,  compete in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and go for rucks multiple times a week with my dog; then, I also enjoy releasing stress at a gun range! I believe strongly in standing up for what you believe in.

I hope that I have followed in my father's footsteps in this area and taught my kids how to think for themselves and stand firmly in God's word and what they believe in. That's the only legacy that matters.

On my grandfather's tombstone, it says, "To live in the hearts of those you leave behind is not to die." This is what I hope and pray I do: leave an impact long after I'm gone.

I love my Jesus, I love my country, and I love my family.