Meet our Area Director’s

Brian Schroth, AREA DIRECTOR

I was a lifelong resident of Indiana until God called Robin and I move to Sarasota, Florida in 2017.  Before Priority One, I spent 24 years as a law enforcement officer for the Elkhart Police Department (IN) and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (FL). 

God radically changed my life at a Marked Men for Christ weekend in 2006.  The MMFC weekend gave me an authentic encounter with the Holy Spirit and gave me greater clarity on why I was alive.  I realized that I had been “playing church” and needed to chase after my Heavenly Father with the same passion and enthusiasm that I chased after my worldly goals.  I am currently an MMFC Senior Co-Leader and MMFC Florida State director.  God has blessed me immensely by giving me the chance to walk alongside men as they seek the healing power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

I accepted the full-time South West Florida Area Director position in 2021 and am excited about what God is doing in and through his men here.  P1 SW Florida is committed to engaging in authentic one-on-one discipleship with men and BUILDING Kingdom-visioned men through the power of God’s word.  P1 SW Florida will CHALLENGE men to radically chase after Jesus, engage in transparent and accountable relationships, and fight for their families, sons, daughters, wives and their homes (Nehemiah 4:14).  And we will ACTIVATE men by identifying their God-given mission, developing connections, and deploying them to be the spearhead of transformation and revival in SW Florida.   

Curt Schwartz, AREA DIRECTOR

I was born into the Amish in Shipshewana, Indiana. My family left the Amish when I was 3 or 4 years old. I became a Christian at a youth conference when I was 15. I met my beautiful wife, Melissa, when we were 16. We’ve been married 28 years and are blessed with 5 children (3 boys/2 girls), 4 grandchildren, and one on the way. 

I graduated from college with an Elementary Education degree and began my teaching career in 1997 at Venice Elementary in Sarasota County Schools. I continued my education career and became an elementary school principal in August 2007. My wife and I have 5 children (3 boys/2 girls), and 5 grandchildren. As the 2024-2025 school year was underway, I felt a strong leading away from education. In February 2025, I accepted the call into full-time men’s ministry.

Jim Phillips, AREA DIRECTOR

Happily married to Janice (Janiece) for 43 years, with three awesome daughters and an adopted son in Kenya. All together 14 grandkids! LOVE being Nana and Papa!!! Janice and I met in college in 1980. She is from Indiana and I am from Illinois. We love traveling the world and seeing what God is doing among the nations.

Blessed to grow up in a Christ-centered home and discipled into ministry. Planted a church in Denver in 1992 and served there for 21.5 years. Launched Live Your Mission in 2013 to “ignite disciple making movements among the nations”. God has done more than we could imagine! Attended my first Marked Men for Christ Phase One in 2010. God has been pruning me and growing my love for Him and working with men over the past 15 years.

Steve Cleckner, AREA DIRECTOR

Grew up in Monticello, a small, rural town in North Florida near the Florida/Georgia line. I began a personal relationship with Jesus at a youth camp in Marianna, FL at the age of 17. Studied Communications/Human Relations and Church Ministry at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN where I met my bride, Anita. We were married at the beginning of my Senior year and after graduation, I accepted a church ministry position in Sarasota, FL. I was in full-time church ministry for 29 years in various roles including as a youth pastor, worship pastor, discipleship pastor, lead pastor, and teaching pastor. We have three adult children who are married and three grandchildren. After being a part of helping develop a Christian Retreat Center, I followed God’s lead to join in the great work that He is already doing through Priority One in the South West Florida area!