MEET THE TEAM
Gene & Regina Isom
Founders
Gene and Regina met while attending Lee University. They were both preparing to become secondary school teachers. They married in 1969 and began teaching in Bradley County. In addition to teaching in regular education settings, Gene and Regina also worked with wards of the State of Tennessee. They were first hired by Tennessee Department of Education as house parents in a pilot program for deinstitutionalizing wards of the state. They work ed with eight multi-cultural girls who ranged in age from 8 to 16. While Gene was working on a Master's of Divinity, Regina was asked by the Bradley County School District to open a special school on the former Bachman Home campus. The school served wards of the state of Tennessee who ranged in age from 13 to 18. They were assessed and taught basic skills before entering public schools. The love for these students led Regina to return to school for a Master's in Special Education.
After teaching for 25 years in Kansas, California, Alaska and Georgia, the Isom's moved back to Cleveland. Their first exposure to the Dream Center ministry occurred while hearing Tommy Barnett speak. He is the founder of L.A. Dream Center, the first Dream Center in the United States. Years later, Gene met Bruce Deel, founder of City of Refuge in Atlanta. Both of these men, their visions and work with the disenfranchised, made a lasting impression on the Isom's. It birthed a longing to be a part of this type of ministry in the future.
In August 2020, Gene and Regina began sensing that this was the time to move forward with the Dream Center vision. In recent months of praying and seeking direction, God has confirmed the establishing of Dream Center of Ocoee Region. The need has been confirmed through various agencies in Cleveland and Bradley County who work with young people living on the margin. The time is right for an intervention that will lead to sustainability. It is a privilege to join other efforts in our community to provide answers for our troubled young people. God loves this generation and has a plan to restore their lives.
Chad Higgins
Treasurer
Chad Higgins is on the Executive Team for Dream Center of Ocoee Region. He resides in Cleveland, Tennessee. He is married to his wife, Amy. They have been married for 22 years and have 5 children – all boys, ranging in age from
3 – 17.
Chad has a B.A. in math from Lee University and a Master's degree in Actuarial Science from J. Mack Robinson's College of Business at Georgia State. Chad worked for twenty years as a Cooperate Actuarial Pension Plan Consultant. Six years ago, Chad started his own company in Cleveland, Fidelity Financial Services. He provides bookkeeping, payroll and other services to businesses in our region and also has several clients in other states.
Chad served as chairman of the Financial Team at Candies Creek Baptist Church and also served as their church treasurer.