Meet Team Denson/Williams

Asia Denson, mentor from Detroit and Amber Williams, mentee from Detroit

Asia is a graduate student in construction engineering management and technology. She is a facilities engineer intern at Blue Cross Blue Shield, a percussion instructor at the Detroit Academy of Arts and Science High School, and is involved with Upward Bound. She enjoys sports, getting in shape and browsing the Internet. Her interests include real estate, renovations and anything related to technology or construction. Asia and Amber have been matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit since October 2007. Together they enjoy going to the movies and sporting events, skating and going out to dinner. Amber will be in ninth grade this fall at Southeastern High school. She enjoys doing hair and is interested in basketball and computers. Asia admires that Amber has set goals for herself. Amber says she wants to be as successful as Asia and attend college like she did. They look forward to becoming healthier as a team.

Meet Team Bilyeu/Gohl

Dan Bilyeu, mentor from Alpena, and Colin Gohl, mentee from Alpena

Dan is on Active Duty in the Michigan Air National Guard stationed at the Alpena CRTC where he works as a budget analyst. He will retire this August with more than 22 years of active service and 29 years of total military service. Dan has associate degrees in accounting, financial management and general studies. In addition to mentoring Colin, Dan is an adoptive father and licensed foster care provider. He enjoys running, working out, rock landscaping and volunteering. Dan and Colin have been matched for more than seven years and enjoy going to the movies, playing Frisbee and games, spending time in the woods scouting for deer, and going out to eat. Colin will be in eighth grade this fall with the goal of attending Princeton to study nuclear medicine after graduating high school. He is active in his church youth group, and God is an important part of his life. Colin is involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Alpena and enjoys hanging out with friends, traveling, skateboarding, playing X-box, creating graphic designs, sleeping and swimming. Colin also enjoys making “survivor” movies with Dan and going deer hunting. One of Dan’s favorite memories is when Colin nominated him for Big Brother of the Year by writing a letter of recommendation that touched Dan’s heart. Dan considers Colin as part of his family and says that Colin has a lot of potential. Colin thinks Dan is a great role model and says, “He spends time with me and does things I would do if I had a dad in my life.” Both Dan and Colin look forward to the challenge of training and encouraging each other to achieve this goal.