Meet the Team
Leading from Lived Experience
Joni Wilkinson
Founder and CEO
My name is Joni Wilkinson. I was born and raised in Oregon. I am a mother of two children, a licensed insurance agent for over 20 years, and the founder of One's Purpose. One's Purpose was created in 2016 after my personal experience being groomed, manipulated, and positioned by my "boyfriend" who was attempting to reach my daughter. He ended up getting arrested one night, which is when I learned of his trafficking history. I took my experience and began educating people via social media and it has grown into what it is today, One's Purpose.
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I am passionate about helping others, educating the community, and making a difference in hopes that more people and children will become aware and stay safe.
Chris Tough
Board Member
Family man, friend and brother to many. Traveling the roads of America disguised as a truck driver spreading awareness to human trafficking.
Taylor Coleman
Board Member
Taylor is a board member of One’s Purpose and heads up the Southern regional branch of the organization in Tomball, Texas, his hometown. In addition to his work within the organization, Coleman fights trafficking within SWAT ministries and Protectors of Humanity, where he serves as executive director. His unique background and demonstrated leadership skills within construction helps him recruit male audiences to take ownership and challenge the status quo to become a part of the solution.
Shelli Knoop
Board Member
Shelli is a California-born, Oregon-raised West Coast native. Only a decade ago, Shelli struggled with chronic addiction and homelessness, which provides her a unique insight to some of the most pressing challenges faced by Oregonians. One of the best things that ever happened to her was a wrongful conviction for which she spent two years in prison. At the time, it wasn’t easy to see this as a blessing, but the experience gave her an opportunity to get sober and kick the addiction. Surprisingly, she came to understand the value of a safe and dependable place to rest her head, where she was protected from predatory dealers. Through this experience, she gained an abundance of resources that she’s used to help dozens of others facing crisis out of their situations. Now, Shelli serves as a hospitality ambassador and key safety and training lead at McDonald's Corporation. She lives in Eugene with her three sons and remains an avid fan of the Oregon Ducks.
Leisa Nighswonger
Board Member
Leisa Nighswonger joined One’s Purpose as a board member in 2021 with a focus on outreach and education. For 9 years, Leisa was a small business owner and hairstylist in the Eugene area. Now, she spends her time homeschooling her four children and acting as a homemaker. Her inspiration to work in trafficking abolition comes from a deep desire to improve the lives of future generations and demonstrate how one person’s advocacy can save lives.
Amber Richardson
Board Member
Amber is a lifelong Oregonian, a 2022 Republican candidate for governor, and the most recent member of the One’s Purpose board. She joined One’s Purpose after attending an event in 2021 where she met the One’s Purpose team. Richardson’s network of therapists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals has provided tremendous support to One’s Purpose and its program participants. Outside of One’s Purpose, Richardson serves her Medford, Oregon community as a Licensed Massage Therapist and has helped patients heal from trauma for over a decade.
