This isn't a Course
The Engineer You Already Have Is Worth More Than You Know.
The engineers who reach out about mentorship usually aren't the ones struggling. They're trusted, relied on, and often the most capable person in their building. But somewhere along the way, the growth stopped feeling automatic. The role got comfortable or the ceiling got low, and they can't tell the difference from the inside.
I've walked with engineers through every stage of this. Early career engineers trying to figure out if they belong. Mid career engineers realizing that technical skill alone won't carry them into the next chapter. Senior engineers wondering what was left for them in their development path. And sometimes a church leader looks at someone already on their team and decides they'd rather invest in who they have than start another staff or contractor search.
The circumstances may look different. The patterns are remarkably similar.
In every case, readiness matters more than ambition.
Growth requires openness, curiosity, and a willingness to engage. Not perfection or feeling like you've got it all figured out. Just the honesty to say I want to be better and I'm willing to do the work. When that posture is present, everything accelerates. When it's not, no amount of coaching will help anything or anyone. I've learned to tell the difference, and I'd rather be honest about it upfront than take your investment and your time knowing the timing isn't right. That honesty is the foundation of everything that follows.
That's why this starts with an application, not a checkout page.
I need to understand where you are, what you're carrying, and whether this season is the right one. You need to know that the person you're trusting with six or twelve months of your development is someone who will tell you the truth even when it's uncomfortable. If we're the right fit, what follows is sustained, one-on-one mentorship built entirely around you.
Not a curriculum.
Not a course.
The goal isn't to make you more like me. It's to help you become the clearest, most grounded version of the engineer and leader you already are.
In full disclosure, I only take a small number of these engagements each year because of my touring schedule. For the engineers I choose to work with, I want to be fully present. And depending on the level of engagement, I've found that being onsite about once a quarter makes the biggest difference.
The Cost of Not Investing in Development
- $25,000 to $50,000 in recruiting, onboarding, and salary adjustments
- 3 to 6 months of inconsistent Sundays while someone new finds their footing
- Lost systems knowledge every time there is turnover
- Disrupted partnerships between your tech and worship teams
- Limbo seasons that stall growth and hurt morale
Investing in the engineer you already have costs less, produces faster results, and protects continuity.
"Gene has been a tremendous gift. His investment has saved us thousands of dollars..."
I would love to share about my experience with Gene and how he has helped us shape a young volunteer named Daniel into our main Audio Engineer. I have had the privilege of watching Daniel’s growth over the past few years, and I can confidently say that Gene has been a catalytic voice in that journey.
Daniel is incredibly gifted and driven, but like many young leaders, receiving and applying feedback did not come naturally to him. We decided to bring Gene in to help train, guide, and equip Daniel in this area, not fully knowing what the outcome would be. Gene stepped into that space with a rare combination of high standards, deep experience, pastoral care, and steady wisdom. He did not just work on Daniel’s technical ability. Gene shaped Daniel in ways that will set him up for long-term stability and success in the unique ecosystem of the local church.
Daniel started as a high school volunteer who was passionate and eager and, if we are honest, thought he knew more than he did. He was raised in our church and had a deep desire to serve on our production team from a young age. He stayed committed even through multiple leadership transitions, which was not easy for him. We believed in his potential and wanted to build a pipeline where young leaders could grow, develop, and stay rooted in one church for the long term. We also knew that if Daniel was going to truly flourish in audio, both technically and relationally, we needed to bring in the best to train him. That was Gene.
Through Gene’s coaching, Daniel learned to receive direction without defensiveness, to own mistakes quickly, and to apply feedback with humility. That transformation did not happen overnight. It took intentional development, clear standards, and someone willing to hold excellence and heart in tension. It took someone who understands the Capital C Church and the complexity of serving both people and production with the right mindset.
I have watched Daniel grow from a talented volunteer into leading our Christmas Eve services as our lead audio engineer at just 23 years old. We are not a small church. We are approaching 10,000, and during Christmas we host well beyond that. You cannot simply have anyone running audio in that environment. That kind of growth does not happen by accident. It requires investment in the right young leaders and a coach who sees beyond skill into character.
Gene has not only impacted Daniel personally, but he has shifted the culture of our production team. Daniel now seeks feedback. He processes it. He applies it. Even when the input is direct or challenging, his response is, “I hear you. I’m going to work on that.” That posture is transformational for a team environment.
Is he still growing? Absolutely. But the maturity trajectory is clear, and I see so much in his future because of the foundation that has been laid.
Gene has been a tremendous gift to our church. His investment in Daniel has saved us thousands of dollars in potential mistakes, turnover, and misalignment. More importantly, it has helped us develop a young leader who loves the church and wants to serve it well for the long haul. I am deeply grateful for Gene and incredibly proud of Daniel.
Gene does not just develop engineers. He develops leaders, disciples of Jesus, and lifelong learners. In a church context, that makes all the difference.
Sincerely, Ty
Creative Arts Pastor | Skyline Church
(Serving in the same church for 23 years because someone believed and invested in me from a young age)
