A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US…
We envision a world where people value people, freedom, and healing.
In early 2022, I found myself frustrated seeing organization after organization passionately diving in to serve those who've experienced human trafficking but having to do so with little funding, support, training, or collaboration.
A fire to stand in those gaps was born. The Lord woke me up one night soon after with the name, The Genesis Project, and a blessing to run with this mission.
We are a survivor-led and founded, faith-based organization whose mission is to reach and empower individuals overcoming exploitation and sex trafficking, and train other organizations to do the same, while establishing a healthy, meaningful coalition forging statewide collaboration.
It is essential to note, that though we are a faith-based organization, there are no faith requirements and no strings attached. We are open to individuals from all walks of life, and we respect everyone’s religious and spiritual views.
KATHY BRYAN, CEO/FOUNDER
The Founder and CEO of The Genesis Project, Kathy Bryan is a respected international speaker, author, consultant, and advocate whose relentless belief that all people should live in freedom fuels her passion to empower others to thrive.
Inspiring confidence and conveying wisdom, her training and consultation services have equipped thousands of professionals. Her genuine love for people coupled with her professional and lived experience as a survivor of child sex trafficking, has provided hope and guidance to literally hundreds of other survivors she has served in the over 13 years she has spent in the anti-trafficking field.
Collaboration is key in this fight, and Kathy is honored to serve on Governor Huckabee Sanders’ workgroup to create a Statewide Response Protocol for Arkansas, as a voting member of the AR HT Council, and on the ACF Region VI Workgroup. She is a partner advisor for Shared Hope International, plays an active role on the board of Into the Light, is a founding member of ACT Arkansas, and member of the Survivor Leader Institute. Her work has taken her before esteemed audiences, testifying before the DC Council and multiple times before the Arkansas Congress, contributing to the passage of three new laws.
Kathy’s experiences have been featured in numerous media outlets, including TV, radio, news articles, podcasts, and blogs, highlighting the realities of sex trafficking. Her journey is archived at The Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College, an internationally recognized repository of women's history. Furthermore, she has been featured in Charisma magazine and a short VR film by 27Million.
Traci Tutor is the Director of Operations at The Genesis Project, bringing over 30 years of frontline experience in Emergency Medical Services to her leadership in advocacy and crisis response. With a calm presence and strategic mindset, she oversees organizational systems while remaining deeply connected to the mission of restoring lives impacted by exploitation and trauma.
A graduate of the NLC School of Ministry, Traci also serves as a ministry leader at New Life Church in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Her background includes years of coordinating local outreach efforts and participating in international mission trips, each one reinforcing her commitment to walking alongside the vulnerable and offering hope, dignity, and spiritual freedom.
Throughout her journey, Traci has remained a steadfast advocate for spiritual freedom. Her passion lies in helping individuals break free from bondage—both physical and spiritual. This calling fuels her work at The Genesis Project, where she channels her heart and leadership into bringing freedom and healing to survivors of human trafficking.
When she's not immersed in her ministry work, Traci enjoys exploring new destinations through traveling, cooking, being a devout foodie, delving into her family's genealogy, and finding solace in the company of her beloved cats. Her love for adventure, discovery, and connection extends to both her personal and professional life, as she embraces every opportunity to make a positive impact on the world around her.
JIM STAGGS, DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Dr. Johnathan A. Martindale serves as the Medical Director of ReClaim, the healthcare initiative of The Genesis Project, where he leads efforts to provide trauma-informed medical care to survivors of human trafficking. An Arkansas native from Vilonia, Dr. Martindale is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He earned his medical degree from UAMS in 2020 and completed his emergency medicine residency at Brown University, where he served as Chief Resident.
Throughout his career, Dr. Martindale has received numerous accolades for his contributions to medical education and patient care, including the SAEM/RAMS Excellence in Education Award, the Daniel L. Savitt Resident Teaching Award, and the Brown Ultrasound Physician of the Year Award. His commitment to forensic and emergency medicine extends beyond academia—he actively collaborates with law enforcement and medical professionals to enhance healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
In addition to his work at The Genesis Project, Dr. Martindale is a co-owner of the Arkansas Infusion Center. Outside of medicine, he is an outdoor enthusiast and a devoted dog lover.
LAUREN WEGENER, DIRECTOR OF HEALTHCARE
TRACI TUTOR, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Jim Staggs' life has been dedicated to service, with a focus on helping those in need. With 22 years of experience in the US Navy Reserve, he has dealt with complex situations and served on search and rescue teams. He has also served with the WY Army National Guard and worked with chaplains to meet the needs of service members.
In addition to his military service, Jim was ordained to the ministry in 1989 and has pastored both in the United States and in Papua New Guinea. He has led a Bible College in Port Moresby and served as the Academic Dean of the Lae Baptist Bible College. Currently, he serves as the Outreach Pastor for New Life Church, Heber Springs, where he helps meet client needs, teaches and supervises volunteers, and writes grants. He also makes hospital calls and visits the homebound for the church.
Jim’s experience as a bi-vocational pastor has given him work experience in various fiscal disciplines. He has purchased and stocked a warehouse of trailer parts and bought commodity building materials, all while maintaining the bottom line. His most recent position was as the Road Department's administrative assistant for Cleburne County, where he worked with federal, state, and local government agencies to ensure proper accounting and reimbursement of FEMA funds.
With his talent for grant writing, Jim is now using his experience to help The Genesis Project expand its efforts to advocate and assist victims escaping sex trafficking. He successfully received all the grants he filed for last year and is now writing at the federal level to help The Genesis Project continue to make a difference.
DR. JOHN MARTINDALE, MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Lauren Wegener, BSN, MSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, serves as the Director of Healthcare at The Genesis Project, where she leads trauma-informed medical initiatives for survivors of human trafficking. A highly skilled forensic nurse examiner, Lauren has extensive experience in case reviews, precepting new sexual assault nurses, and providing telemedicine-based forensic care. She has also served as a consultant and expert witness in legal proceedings, advocating for survivor-centered medical responses.
Lauren is didactically trained through the International Association of Forensic Nurses-approved program to provide acute and non-acute care for adult, adolescent, and pediatric survivors of sexual assault, abuse, and other forms of violence. She is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the Forensic Nurse Subsection, the Academy of Forensic Nursing and serves as secretary within the Human Trafficking Special Interest Group, and the American Nurses Association. Additionally, she served as the editor and a contributor for the statewide Forensic Nurse Newsletter, where she helped educate and mentor forensic nurses across Arkansas.
As a co-founder and founding secretary of the Arkansas Forensic Nurses Association, Lauren has been instrumental in establishing a human trafficking and street nursing committee to serve vulnerable populations outside traditional healthcare settings. She also serves on the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council, working alongside multidisciplinary professionals to combat trafficking statewide. And is certified by ADH to complete HIV prevention education, rapid testing, and counseling.
Lauren’s dedication to forensic nursing extends internationally—she participated in a trafficking response initiative in Nepal and India in October 2023 and a medical mission to Egypt in March and October of 2024, where she provided critical medical and forensic care. Beyond her professional work, Lauren is deeply passionate about her faith. She loves Jesus and is committed to missions, using her skills to serve others both locally and globally.