Meet Our Team

Jonathan has served on the Yaqar Project board since 2020. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and works as a staff counselor at the Lee University Counseling Center. He is also a licensed minister and serves in various capacities in his local church, Keith Street Ministries. Jonathan has a visual impairment which has left him legally blind but does not allow his impairment to prevent him from doing what God has for him to do. Jonathan has a bachelors degree in English from Georgia Southern University and his masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Lee. He is blessed to be married to Mary, who has served as faculty at Lee University for more than 20 years, and to be the father of Sara-Allison.

Melissa has been an integral part of the Yaqar Project since it was launched in 2019. Melissa is a self-employed Title Abstractor and talented musician who serves on the worship team at her home church, Church Alive. Melissa began playing the violin at four years old, and has traveled across the country playing with a worship team. She is a graduate of Rhema Bible Training College, where she met her husband, Trey. They relocated to Cleveland, TN in 2009, where they live now with their amazing son. In her down time, Melissa likes to hike, bake, and kayak with her family.

Brandon West, PA-C, is a 1993 graduate of Cleveland High School. He served as a police officer for the Cleveland Police Department for 10 years before deciding to change careers from law enforcement to medicine. Brandon decided to pursue his education by returning to Lee University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2010. Soon after, Brandon moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was accepted into Emory School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. In 2013, he graduated with his Master of Science in Physician Assistant and returned to his hometown of Cleveland, TN. In his off time, Brandon keeps himself active and healthy through physical fitness, hiking and running. Brandon is passionate about travels and especially missionary travels to this nation and others around the world. He is married to Evie Lastra West. Together, they have two children, Josh, and Brooklyn.