Katlynn Souers- Executve Assistant

Being the daughter of Kristin Souers, Katlynn has been surrounded by the idea of fostering resilience her entire life. Katlynn is extremely passionate about the mental health field and the necessity for a strong education system for today’s youth. She spent a great deal of her life working with children and has seen firsthand how much of a difference that passionate educators can make in a child’s life. In addition to being passionate about this work, Katlynn is wicked awesome at keeping Kristin afloat with managing the website, technology needs and providing a real time sounding board for the work that is being developed—Kristin is immensely grateful for her She currently lives in Fort Collins, CO. Katlynn studied Applied Psychology at Montana State University and graduated in 2019. She began working as an assistant to Kristin in 2020, where she began her education regarding trauma-invested practice. While living in Montana, Katlynn worked at a Clinical Research Lab, and has since shifted her focus back to the field of mental health. She currently works at an addiction recovery facility in Fort Collins, in addition to being Kristin’s Executive Assistant.

Brenda Cook-Illustrator

Hi, I’m Brenda, the illustrator for the children’s book “10 Things Our Brains Need”. I feel so fortunate to have had the chance to work alongside Kristin on this book (and for all Kat’s help along the way)! It has been such a rewarding experience to collaborate with them to create a meaningful resource for teachers and others who are helping children become their best selves and learners.

After earning my bachelors degree in Spanish from WWU I spent years living in Mexico before returning to raise my family in beautiful Spokane, WA. Currently, I work with a fantastic woman-owned business, where I get to create stunning custom glass chandeliers. Just like with illustrations, the creation process is what makes me happy and fulfilled. I love family time, especially when all three girls are home and sitting around playing guitar and singing, fighting for space in front of the fire with our three dogs, reading, painting and watching Ted Lasso and Gilmore Girls on repeat!

 Ella Hoenstine- Logo Designer

Hi! I am Ella, the graphic designer behind the Fostering Resilient Learners logo. I had the honor of working with Kristin and Kat on this project, and I have to say it is one of my favorite designs to date. Kat and I have been close friends for six years now and when she proposed this job to be, it was an easy yes!

I studied graphic design for 3 years at Montana State University and finished my degree online during the pandemic. Currently, I mainly work at my family’s local restaurant and doing some freelance on the side, but my main focus is my 3 year old son. My little family lives in Montana, and we spend most of our free time camping and enjoying the gorgeous bitterroot valley.