Walking the Talk
February 2026 TeamMates of the Month: Walking the Talk
Staffing the first and largest TeamMates chapter is a privilege and a joy. One of the joys that all members of the staff celebrate is serving as mentors themselves.
Seeing TeamMates matches in motion across the district helps the staff in many aspects of their work. As a trainer, Christine Davis draws from her mentoring experience to engage new mentors.
“There is nothing more powerful in training than a story. I tend to use my own mentoring experiences as cautionary tales. It helps new mentors know they don’t have to be perfect. We can all learn from one another’s missteps.”
This year, Stacey Blizek, one of three match support specialists, will celebrate 10 years as a mentor, a milestone that qualifies her for a “Decade of Difference” award.
“I’ve mentored four girls, each unique in her own way. I’ve transitioned with them from elementary to middle to high school, and have had two graduate. I draw on my experience whether I’m facilitating a refresher training or supporting a mentor one on one.
A mentor for several years before joining the TeamMates staff as a recruiter, Kelli Woods continues to benefit from the synergy between mentoring and engaging prospective volunteers.
“The fact that Kelli knew how to talk TeamMates from the get go impressed us when we interviewed her,” says coordinator Jim Bennett. “When she engages prospective mentors, it is clear that she’s walked the talk.”
Another match support specialist, Audrey Watson, is one of two staff members who have been awarded Mentor Hall of Fame status by their mentees.
“When my mentee stopped coming to school in her freshman year, I kept reaching out and cheered her on when she started attending school again and working hard. I was so proud she graduated on time. My award was icing on that cake; it told me I’d made a difference for her, and that experience has helped me ‘be there’ for matches going through similar rough patches.”
Having served thousands of matches over the years means that staff at TeamMates of Lincoln often meet situations and craft solutions that benefit other chapters in the TeamMates network too.
“The big idea that Nancy and Tom Osborne championed more than 30 years ago, has grown to nearly 200 chapters in 6 states,” says Jim. “We try never to lose sight of our special place in that history.”