Eric Sims is a husband, father, pastor, entrepreneur, and a living testimony of redemption. With over 18 years of sobriety, Eric has spent the past two decades helping men break free from addiction and step into the lives God intended for them. He launched one of the top Celebrate Recovery ministries in Tampa, played a key role in redesigning the Salvation Army Men’s ARC program, and served as a Recovery Pastor, counselor, and mentor to countless men seeking lasting change.
Eric was also a strategic leader with the Adonai Sober Living House and developed a CR training program that helped launch recovery ministries throughout Central Florida. A gifted communicator and passionate public speaker, Eric’s heart beats for helping others find freedom, purpose, and identity in God.
In addition to his ministry work, Eric is a successful entrepreneur who helped revolutionize the contact center industry with his company LEC during COVID, and now also owns a videography company, a technology firm, and several other Texas-based businesses. He’s been joyfully married to his wife, Tamara, for over 15 years, and together they’re raising four incredible kids — Payton, Towner, Cash, and Kipton."
Jody Johnson is a co-founder of REAL Restart, bringing a powerful personal testimony and a deep-seated commitment to providing second chances and pathways to abundant life. Like many of the men REAL Restart serves, Jody navigated a challenging youth marked by early involvement with drugs and the justice system, facing felony charges before graduating high school and enduring the significant hurdles of probation and limited opportunities. The experience of having doors closed due to his past ignited a fierce determination to forge a different path.
Driven by a profound desire to build a stable life and provide for a future family, Jody entered the world of sales, where he achieved remarkable success, consistently performing at a high level. While navigating the terms of his probation, he worked towards sobriety, eventually achieving complete freedom from substance use. His journey took a significant turn with the life-altering news of a coming child, which served as a powerful catalyst for seeking lasting change and a deeper purpose.
Jody's path to transformation was marked by a genuine encounter with God, guided by a mentor who taught him to hear God's voice and walk in faith. This spiritual awakening provided the foundation for his vision: to create opportunities for others facing similar barriers he had overcome. This vision materialized in ProspectHunter, a business dedicated to rehabilitating individuals and guiding them towards financial freedom and restored lives through mentorship and biblical principles.
After 13 years of leading ProspectHunter and witnessing the profound impact of providing second chances, Jody recognized the need for a non-profit structure to expand this transformative work. It was during this time that he providentially reconnected with Eric Simms, an old friend from his past whose own journey and God-given vision for holistic, faith-based recovery strikingly mirrored Jody's. Recognizing their united purpose as part of God's greater plan, they joined forces to co-found REAL Restart.
Today, Jody is dedicated to the mission of REAL Restart, leveraging his experiences in overcoming adversity, building successful ventures, and walking by faith to help men navigate their own exodus from bondage into the abundant life God intends for them. His story is a testament to the power of faith, resilience, and the transformative impact of a true second chance.
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