WhyTry

Christian Moore, M.S.W.

Founder
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Christian Moore is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and advocate for at-risk youth. The WhyTry Program he authored has proven to be one of the most effective ways to teach critical social and emotional skills affecting the success and happiness of individuals facing life’s challenges.

Christian grew up in the Washington, D.C. area in a family of twelve children. By the second grade, Christian had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, conduct disorder, and severe learning disabilities.   Despite overwhelming obstacles, Christian rose from special education to earn a master’s degree in social work. 

As a social worker, Christian's work with youth led him to the realization that they usually lacked only one thing to experience the same success he had--hope. The WhyTry Program teaches key social and emotional skills that open the door to hope. WhyTry is now used in thousands of  schools, correctional facilities, and mental health agencies in the United States, Canada, and Australia and continues to be one of the fastest growing intervention programs for at-risk youth.

When he is not traveling the world inspiring audiences, Christian is home with his family in the Rocky Mountains.

Hans Magleby

Co-founder and CEO

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Hans Magleby worked with Christian Moore to develop the WhyTry Program. Hans has a background in fine art, education, and business. He studied fine art at Brigham Young University and was a part-time faculty member from 1996–99, teaching classes in painting and computer art. During that time he also worked as the art director for a multimedia software company.  In 1998 Hans started a successful Internet company that grew rapidly to support and service over 2 million customers.  Since leaving technology, Hans has been working full-time for WhyTry, developing practical tools to teach and motivate at-risk youth. His experience in visual arts and product development have been key to the creation and success of the WhyTry Program.

Hans has consulted for numerous groups of educators, corrections staff, and mental health professionals across the United States, Canada, and Australia. As a volunteer, Hans has worked with youth in various community and religious organizations. He currently volunteers time teaching a drop-out prevention class with the WhyTry Program at a local high school in Utah.

Bruce Bushnell

V.P. Training
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Bruce Bushnell has been helping youth succeed over 26 years as a high school counselor, and has been working with WhyTry since its earliest days. Bruce developed the experiential activities used throughout the WhyTry Program. He knows first-hand the challenges of working with youth, and he knows the unique rewards of changing someone’s life. He is probably the world leader in hours of hands-on experience using the WhyTry Program with kids.

Bruce is a gifted presenter and his trainings are both practical and passionate. He provides over 100 days of training every year, from Anchorage to Miami. In addition to being a pioneer of the WhyTry Program, Bruce has a master’s degree in education and has received many honors and awards, including Utah Counselor of the Year in 2001. He received the national Drug-Free School Recognition Award from President Bush in a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden in 1991.

Cristal McGill, Ph.D.

Dr. Cristal McGill has been an internationally sought-after presenter for over 10 years and has been working with WhyTry for the last three years. Her dynamic (and frequently hilarious) training sessions for educators combine her intensive understanding of learning modalities with a blazing personal energy. Cristal’s WhyTry presentations demonstrate how to influence the chemistry of the learner’s brain to boost attention, learning, and recall, as well as improve discipline and create a non-threatening learning climate. WhyTry’s multisensory approach fits perfectly into the context of Cristal’s academic and professional experience.

Cristal received her doctorate in education from Arizona State University, where she continues to teach when she is not presenting somewhere in the world for WhyTry or Impact Learning.

R. Craig Pace, Ph.D.

Trainer / Southeast Regional Office for WhyTry
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Dr. Craig Pace has served families and children for 35 years. He has worked as a teacher, psychologist, and school administrator, applying the latest research in multiple intelligence, emotional intelligence, and multisensory learning. As an educator in K–8, high school, and alternative schools over the years, Craig worked with youth on issues of substance abuse, bullying, school achievement, decision making, and life success.  

Craig was recruited to help the Covey Leadership Center develop programs for families using The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and to help research the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. He is a world-class facilitator and trainer who also worked with FranklinCovey as a senior consultant and facilitator for fifteen years. He is the author of Effective Parenting for Children and Teenagers and is a contributor to many books on leadership and effectiveness, most recently as a researcher for The Leader in Me.

Chris Brown

Chris has spent over 30 years in the human performance industry as a competitor, teacher, coach, university administrator, and sought-after motivational speaker. His inspirational trainings empower participants, both young and older, with a systematic approach to breaking through life's challenges. Chris is passionate about the art and science of leadership, character education, and service learning. He believes that everyone can be his or her own greatest hero.

When Chris is not speaking or training for WhyTry somewhere around the country, you will find him with his family or teaching leadership curriculum at Payson High or Utah Valley University.

Erika Joye, Ph.D.

Dr. Erika Joye is a nationally certified school psychologist who coordinates many of the research efforts for the WhyTry organziation. She implemented the WhyTry Program in the Denver public school system. Her expertise includes research methods, design, and statistical analyses. Her research experience also includes work with the National Early Head Start longitudinal impact study, the Early Reading First Evaluation team with the Clayton Foundation, and the Nurse Family Partnership with the Prevention Research Center for Family and Child Health.

Erika holds a Ph.D. in Child, Family and School Psychology from the University of Denver, and a B.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina.

John Perotti

Trainer
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John Perotti has been informing, enlightening, and inspiring groups as an educator and presenter over more than 30 years. He is a passionate advocate for youth, and is especially devoted to empowering at-risk populations. He counts it a privilege to be affiliated with WhyTry. He has taught thousands of students at the middle school, high school, and university levels.

John has a B.A. in Interpersonal Communications, an M.Ed. in Education, and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Karyn Holt

Regional Director, Trainer, Assessment and Implementation Specialist
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Karyn Holt coordinates WhyTry trainings and conference events that instruct and revitalize education professionals. Her exceptional organizational skills and her passion for helping youth have come together to help WhyTry grow in Washington and around the Northwest. Karyn is also a brilliant and engaging presenter who can connect with people and bring them together in discovering new ways to reach youth.

Karen has worked with individual students as a school counselor, and has served as a past president of the Washington School Counselors Association. She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Gonzaga University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Notre Dame.

Dave Murray

Trainer / New Media Specialist
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Dave Murray was instrumental in creating animated and interactive format to the WhyTry curriculum when he created the first PowerPoint training presentations. Dave continues to utilize his creativity by adding to the multimedia format of the WhyTry program on many levels.

Dave earned a bachelor degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 1984. His career of working with troubled youth began in 1981 as a Juvenile Care Worker in a residential treatment center for youth with severe emotional disturbances. Dave has been employed as a Juvenile Probation Officer for Williamson County Juvenile Services in Georgetown, Texas since 1988. In addition to his duties as a Juvenile Probation Officer, he also serves as a Resource Training Officer for the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission in Austin, Texas and at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He was the recipient of the “Outstanding Juvenile Resource Training Officer” award from Sam Houston State University in 2003.

Huntley J. Cross, Ph.D.

Coordinator
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Dr. Huntley J. Cross has over 40 years experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, coordinator, director and special assistant to the superintendent of schools. He is also a staff development trainer and popular conference speaker. Dr. Huntley has been a consultant on Alternative Schools and Alternative Programs for the Maryland State Department of Education, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and numerous school districts throughout the United States. He has appeared on both Oprah Winfrey and MTV. He has been working with Why Try for the last five years.

Kevin Card

Trainer / Presenter
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Kevin Card has been a high school counselor for over 23 years. Together with Bruce Bushnell, Kevin developed the experiential activities used throughout the WhyTry Program. Kevin has been recognized for his outstanding commitment to youth. He has helped develop many of the techniques used nationwide by schools adopting the WhyTry Program.

Scott White

Office Manager
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Scott White is responsible for making sure that everyone gets where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be there—a significant task given the 400+ event days WhyTry provides each year.  Scott holds a B.A. in art, and enjoys wearing amusing t-shirts.

Reynie Sandoval

Presenter / Musician

Reynie Sandoval is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an MSW from Brigham Young University. Reynie is the clinical director for the Sundance Academy, a residential school and treatment facility, and teaches social work at Utah Valley University. She is also an accomplished musician, and has written and produced music for the WhyTry Program.

Guy Golightly

Presenter / MusicianGuy

Guy Golightly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been a counselor at Provo High School in Utah for the last six years. Previously, he worked in Denver, Colorado as an elementary school social worker. Guy has been using the WhyTry Program for years, and has also written some of the music featured in the program. You might see Guy presenting WhyTry at a conference, or you might hear his music on an upcoming WhyTry CD for elementary school students.