Nancy Sheain

President and Founder

 

Nancy Sheain is the president and founder of Building Futures, and creator of the Smashing ANTs programs. She left the corporate world in 2005 in the hopes of helping kids and parents develop closer relationships through better communication, respect and understanding.

Despite a successful corporate IT career in which she managed complex, multimillion dollar projects in diverse industries, Nancy had a yearning for self-improvement. Always a very determined person, she began researching personal growth and self-fulfillment literature and programs. Over a 20 year period which continues to this day, Nancy has studied the masters of Parenting, Life Strategies, Motivation and Self-Esteem. These experiences have given Nancy a unique, worldly perspective on family life. Combining business management philosophies, parenting experience, her own personal struggles with the knowledge gleamed from extensive reading and studying has made her a sought-after speaker, lecturer and author.

Nancy is a member of Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Bully Prevention Policy Writing Committee, HCPSS Board Policy 1060: Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation Implementation team, HCPSS Student Services Advisory Committee, and 2007 Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Summer Institute Presenter.

 

Penny Harrigan

After-School Activity Leader

 

Penny Harrigan is a retired Howard County School Counselor.  She worked for the school system for 31 years as a classroom teacher, G/T resource teacher and elementary school counselor. Penny received her teaching and psychology degree from UMBC and her graduate degrees in counseling and supervision and administration from Loyola.  She is presently completing her course work at  Loyola to become a Professional Licensed Counselor.  Penny lives in Ellicott City with her husband and is the proud mother of three grown children and one grandchild.  She has been a Howard County resident for 33 years.

Barb Dutterer

After-School Activity Leader

 

Barb Dutterer's passion is working with children. She spent over 30 years teaching and counseling elementary students, the last 23 years in Howard County. Her style of working with children is as a facilitator, empowering them to become problem solvers. Her philosophy can be summed up simply: "Anything you do for children that they can do for themselves is the same as stealing."

Kathy Norton

After-School Activity Leader

& Operartions Manager

 

Kathy Norton earned her MBA from George Washington University and worked for 20 years in the insurance and computer industries.  After a long and successful career with IBM and in business management, Kathy became active in youth organizations including Cub Scouts, Leadership Howard County, Alateen, and HC DrugFree where she is a member of the Board of Directors. In 2010 she became a Certified Life coach.                                                                                                                

Kathy teaches personal development in local schools, treatment centers, and youth organizations, and she maintains a private life coaching practice in Howard County.  She joined Amazing Futures Foundation in 2011 and is excited to bring the concepts of Kid Empowerment to students.

Laura Johnson

Summer Intern &

Assistant Leader

 

Laura Johnson is in her second year at Towson University as a Health and Spanish Education double major. She graduated Mt. Hebron High School in the Class of 2010 and, during her senior year, worked at Patapsco Middle School as an intern in a Family and Consumer Science classroom. She is very excited to work in this great new experience!!

 

Kenny Sheain

Summer Intern &

Assistant Leader

 

Kenny Sheain is a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is 19 years old and is majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice.  In 2010, he was an assistant counselor for two summer camp programs. He enjoys working with kids and looks forward to another year with Amazing Futures. He also assists Amazing Futures in administrative work, creating websites, and brainstorming ideas and activities. 

Positive Behavior Intervention & Support (PBIS)

New Mark Private Schools

WMAR TV Ch2 - Good Morning Maryland at 9

Adoptions Together

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab

Howard County Public School System Office of Student Services

HomeSchool Connections

Howard County Office of Children’s Services

West Virginial GEAR UP  - Title I Educational Staff

Individual Differences in Learning (IDL) Parent Organization

Glen Mar United Methodist Church

Temple Isaiah Religious School

Clarksville Elementary School PTA

Baltimore County Child Care Links

Baptist Family & Children Services - Foster Parents

Capitol Debate Inc.

Centennial Lane Elementary School

Columbia Association Middle School Outreach

Northwest Hospital Outreach

Kid Empowerment

Peaceful Family Dynamics

Kid Confidence

Happy and Successful

We believe that through the use of effective strategies, parents can play an influential role in to help kids to grow up being both happy and successful.

Why would any parent prefer to watch their child go through the “school of hard knocks” to taking a proactive approach by preparing him/her to handle whatever the future has in store.

There are many self-improvement books published each year, yet the vast majority are written for adults. Building Futures believes that kids should be armed with the same self-reliance, success and self-esteem strategies.

 Building Futures has taken those strategies and made them kid-friendly, adapting them so parents can easily share them with their kids. Now parents can stop being disciplinarians and start becoming mentors.

We believe that home should be a place of love and comfort, not a place of aggravation and upheaval.