The legendary friendship between Shannon and Connie started at UNC-Greensboro in the fall of 2001, when the two bonded over the drive to the InterVarsity Fall Beach Retreat. Shannon earned her Economics degree from UNCG, among many on (and off!) campus shenanigans with Connie, then she moved to Austin, TX. After working in retail banking for more years than she would have liked, her Great Adventure of a Life has led her to the role of Senior Accountant at a Venture Capital firm in Austin, TX.

Shannon's friendship with Connie brought her into the orbit of We Carry Kevan, where Shannon is thrilled to have a place to serve God and others with her banking and accounting skills!

Shannon lives in Austin, TX, and is proud to be a middle-aged suburban wife and mother to two boys. She loves to run lots of miles (preferably on trails at a slow, meandering pace), read, and yell at the refs at her beloved Texas Stars hockey games.

Bill is responsible for Direct Sales at Deuter USA, the German backpack company that makes the backpack for We Carry Kevan. He graduated from Georgia Tech with a B.S. in Industrial Management. Bill has been with Deuter for over 25 years (Germany and US) and is an avid outdoor enthusiast.

Bill and his wife Marie have two children and live in Longmont, Colorado. He is honored to support the work and mission of We Carry Kevan.

Phil met Kevan somewhat serendipitously at a coffee shop in Franklin, TN after seeing an Instagram photo of Kevan being carried on the back of a mutual friend earlier that same morning. Through that initial connection, they've journeyed as friends over the years and even crossed paths on the We Carry Kevan trip to China in 2018, where Kevan met his future wife who was also a co-worker of Phil's at the time. Insert mind-blown emoji.

Phil has history and experience working in the music industry and helping elevate generosity with nonprofit organizations. He currently serves as the Director of Development for Porter's Call, which provides counsel, support, and encouragement to recording artists and their loved ones.

Phil is grateful to live in Nashville, TN with his wife, Sonnie, and their three amazing kids.

Connie is affectionately and infamously known as "Kevan's sister," and is quite happy with that honorarium. Like Kevan, she also is diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

In summer of 2020, Kevan asked Connie to join the We Carry Kevan team, to offer support and friendship to families with disabilities who are inspired by Kevan's story.

Connie holds two master's degrees in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Global Studies. She taught English as a Second Language and served in international ministries for ten years. She loves to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds and hear their unique stories.

She enjoys drinking tea, eating ethnic food, and travelling the country. And if you ask her, she'll gladly share the tales of some of her own crazy adventures.

Kevan Chandler is an author and the founder of We Carry Kevan. He speaks worldwide about friendship and disability. Kevan and his wife, Katie, love being together, growing vegetables in their backyard, and reading to each other.