CEO • Founder • Executive Director

Engaging In Molding Choices (EMC)

Shawn D. Parker founded Engaging In Molding Choices (EMC) to provide others with the life tools he wishes he had growing up.

Raised without a father and facing many childhood challenges, Shawn learned that while hard work is important, it is not enough. He was never taught how to communicate effectively, manage money, build healthy relationships, understand his emotions, or navigate life's setbacks. Instead, he learned many of life's hardest lessons through personal struggles, disappointments, and experience.

Today, Shawn asks every EMC participant three important questions:

• What do you want to be?

• Who do you want to become?

• Who would you like to help or support throughout your life?

Whether your goals include building a successful career, creating a strong family, becoming a respectful and compassionate person, strengthening your spiritual life, or making a positive difference in the lives of others, Shawn believes those goals begin with learning the right life skills.

That belief became the foundation of EMC.

A turning point in Shawn's life came on his 33rd birthday when he realized the pain he had carried from growing up without a father. Instead of allowing his past to define him, he chose to grow from it. With the guidance and mentorship of Mr. Charles Oxton, Shawn discovered the life-changing value of having someone who believes in you, encourages you, and helps you become the person you are capable of becoming.

Throughout his career, Shawn worked in retail, customer service, management, and business ownership, experiencing both success and failure. Those experiences reinforced one important lesson: success is built not only on hard work, but also on communication, financial understanding, emotional awareness, healthy relationships, and positive mentorship.

Today, as the founder of Engaging In Molding Choices (EMC), Shawn's mission is to help youth, young adults, adults, and families develop the skills, confidence, and character needed to become the person they want to be—and to positively impact the people around them.

His goal is simple: to help others learn through education and mentorship so they can build the future they want and help others along the way, without having to learn life's toughest lessons the hard way.

Associate Director

Fysal graduated from Binghamton University in New York with a degree in Political Anthropology and directly started working for EF International, the world’s largest International Education and Language Instruction organization. As a leader in both of EF’s non-profit divisions he took on the role of School Director for EF’s English language school in Santa Barbara. He then went on to work for Santa Barbara Business College as their Director of International Operations. Fysal has since been active in consulting with developing businesses as well as volunteering with various community organizations.

Site Coordinator

Born in Mexico City and raised in Santa Barbara, California, Iliana Gonzalez has built a career centered on service, leadership, and creating opportunities for others. As a working single mother raising two sons, she learned early the value of resilience, perseverance, and leading by example. Guided by mentors like Janet Belch, a high school ROP teacher who believed in her potential and encouraged her growth, she developed a deep appreciation for servant leadership and the importance of lifting others along the way. Throughout her professional journey, she has worked across multiple industries—including banking, government contracting, nonprofit organizations, and entrepreneurship—developing a diverse background in operations, administration, community outreach, and client advocacy.

Advisor

Mr. Tullis is a retired Air Force Veteran after serving 21 years on active duty from Jan. 1980 to Feb 2001. He was an F-4E/G Radar Technician before cross-training into Operations Resource Management for the 37 TFW, AWACS and JSTARS. In May of 2000 he completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services with a Minor in Psychology from Mercer University in Macon, GA. He became an Ordained Minister in June of 2007.

Rev Tullis grew up in Oxnard, CA where he graduated from Channel Islands High School in 1976. He Graduated from Ventura College in 1978 and as previously stated, entered the USAF in 1980. He comes from a service- oriented family. He has 4 children, 2 who are serving on active duty and 1 married to an active duty member (all USAF). His father, who was the Pastor at Grace Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Lompoc for 22 years, retired from the USAF after serving 20 years. Tullis’ father met his mother while he was serving at Scott AFB, Ill. in 1949. He has a niece and a nephew who were both medically retired from the Army, a nephew who served as a med tech in the Air Force and a great niece who graduated from West Point in May of 2016.

Rev. Tullis served for nearly 4 years as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner for the City of Lompoc from Nov 2006, Aug 2009 representing, then Mayor, the Honorable Dick DeWeese. He served as a Delegate at the California Democratic State Convention for 2 years, representing the Central Coast, from 2006 – 2008. In Oct of 2007, he was chosen by the Honorable Congresswoman Lois Capps to attend The Central Coast Faith Leaders Day in Washington DC, where he had the honor to meet and speak to several members of congress. He is a member of the NAACP and VFW Troop 570.

He is a counselor and he has a deep affection for what he believes is God greatest creation—all of mankind.

Advisor

Raised in the city of Denver Colorado, Jared Overton grew up as an underprivileged child. East Denver was not without its challenges and bad influences. Narrowly escaping the clutches of the judicial system, at age 18 Jared saw very quickly the ill effects that result from poor decision making. Inspired to make a difference, he relocated to LA where he began to use music as an outlet to incite his peers to positivity. In time Jared joined forces with his brothers and after signing a record deal with Universal Music Group, he used his platform to reach out to troubled youth. Currently volunteering 840 hours a year to a world-wide Bible education program, Jared is also a professional in the insurance industry. Endeavoring to pass on his experiences and advice on life and social skills to adolescence in the Santa Barbara community, Jared became involved with EMC alongside friend and partner Shawn Parker.

Advisor

“Mr. Castelo joined Union Bank (then Santa Barbara Bank & Trust) in 2008 and has held various positions throughout his career. Mr. Castelo oversees all managerial duties of his offices and customizes financial solutions for clients, specializing in small business and residential lending. His responsibilities include recruiting and interviewing employees for hire, and the ongoing development of branch personnel through evaluations and performance reviews. He provides leadership towards the achievement of branch performance and efficiency, in line with company vision and values. Helping local residents of various backgrounds reach their financial goals is his main priority. The oldest of three boys and a Central Coast native from Hollister, CA, Mr. Castelo was the first of his family to attend and graduate from a 4-year university. He received his B.A. in Mathematics from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2007, and is fluent in both English and Spanish. He was an active member of Hermanos Unidos, a non-profit organization founded in 1999, that promotes leadership development at the center of the Chicano/Latino community at UCSB. Mr. Castelo is actively involved in our community. He partners regularly with local schools and non-profit organizations to provide financial literacy workshops that focus on banking, budgeting, credit, and mortgage education. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife, his daughter, and his dog Coco. He is also an avid weightlifter.

Vice President, Branch Manager, Santa Barbara Mesa & San Roque