Meet our Mentors Empowered Coaches

These individuals are the passionate leaders who will be unlocking the full mentoring potential of the best and brightest kids in your district! Although they are a diverse group they share a common bond, loving to see young people win at life! They will be the onsite facilitators of our program. If you ever need anything, you only need to ask as it is their great pleasure to help educators and children any way they can. Get to know them a little better by reading these brief bios.

Jeremy Fox / Co-Founder & CEO

For 26 years Jeremy has educated and emboldened mentors through the paradigm of martial arts.  His students have went on to open well over 100 academies, impacting and improving others all across the country.  Jeremy himself has reached the level of 6th degree Black Belt, he is one of only 4 active leaders at that level, in the world.  He attributes all of those accomplishments to God providing great mentors for him to follow and model after.

His service in public school began 7 years ago as a Watch DOGS Dad.  After serving as Chairman of the Watch DOGS program at Marguerite Vann Elementary for 5 years he took on the role of Advisor for the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club, a mentoring program for 3rd and 4th grade boys within the same school.

After witnessing the power of High School Students mentoring to the younger kids, Jeremy knew his mission was clear.  He had to find a way to empower high school students to impact all other grades in every school district he could and along with the help of Tommy Thompson, the two started their adventure that has become Mentors Empowered.

Tommy Thompson / Co-Founder & Education Liaison

36 years in public schools allowed Tommy to serve as a coach, teacher, principal and superintendent, a role he retired from after leading the Nemo Vista School District in 2013.

Mentoring through martial arts and later within the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club at Marguerite Vann Elementary allowed Tommy the opportunity to continue serving children in retirement.

In January of 2019,  when 4 boys from Conway High School came to mentor the young men of the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club, made up of 3rd and 4th grade students, he witnessed the power of that exchange and the next day Mentors Empowered was born.

Chris Riggins / Coordinator of mentor development

“I am a proud graduate of Altheimer High School, and yes that is in Arkansas.  Upon graduation, I knew I wanted to attend UCA. As an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to play football and am a proud member of the 1991 NAIA National Championship Team.  I also completed my Master’s Degree at UCA in College Student Personnel Administration. UCA and the city of Conway has been good to me and for me!

I am honored to work at UCA because the university has greatly impacted my life by providing me a true family environment.  The “City of Colleges”, Conway, is one of the most progressive cities in the state, and I love living here! One of my life quotes is, “To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world.”  I am honored to be able to help prospective students to continue or explore their education opportunities.”

Chris is passionate about serving and empowering the leaders of tomorrow through this program.

Holly Fox / Leadership team coordinator

18 years of experience building leaders in martial arts, she has empowered hundreds of students to not only reach the Black Belt level but to turn around and use that training to give back to others by teaching themselves.  

As the only active female  6th Degree Black Belt in Youn Wha Ryu Tae Kwon Do, she has placed herself among the elite in her field.  This incredible work ethic and unbreakable spirit allow her to lift up even the most defeated people as a mentor.

Holly’s passion is helping kids avoid and overcome the effects of bullying and empower young women to be confident in themselves.