History: A Timeline

1992 – 1995

  • In 1992-93 Carlo Kriekels and his friend Ronald rode 35,000 miles from California to Chile on a motorbike. The 18-month long trip started out as a great adventure to discover the authentic Latin America, away from the "gringo trails," but ended with a shift in life priorities.  The motorbike trip gave him a compass for social justice: to improve the lives of children. 

  • YESS co-founders Susan Greer and Carlo met in 1995 in England. Carlo was trained by Susan and her international training company in Emotional Intelligence leadership skills. 

1997 – 2001

  • Susan and Carlo co-facilitated leadership workshops and intensive personal development programs for primarily international business leaders in Brussels, Netherlands, UK and the United States. 

  • In 2001, Carlo and Susan made the leap to co-found the YESS Institute as both felt deeply about providing these valuable emotional intelligence concepts to at-risk youth and role models.

  • Initially, YESS focused on training mentors and mentoring agencies in its Emotional Intelligence concepts

2003 – 2007

  • In 2003, based upon the idea by Mountain Vista high school junior Jacob Malson, YESS piloted its first peer mentoring program at Denver's Morey Middle School 

  • Susan Greer left the YESS Institute in 2005. She moved with her family to New Mexico. Susan left a legacy as she was instrumental in laying a strong foundation as a co-founder and visionary. 

  • In the 2006 – 07 school year, YESS piloted its high school peer mentoring program – YESS Mentoring –  between juniors/seniors and freshmen at Abraham Lincoln High School at Denver Public Schools.

2009 – Present

  • In 2009 Denver Public Schools contracted with the YESS Institute to expand the Lincoln model to North and West High Schools. 

  • During this 2011-12 school year YESS will be serving 150 students at these three high schools

  • Co-founder Kriekels received the 2011 Heavy Lifting Award by the Denver Mayor's Office for Education and Children in recognition of his efforts to improve the lives of children and youth in Denver. 

  • In 2011 Richard Male and Ass. and the YESS Leadership developed a three-year strategic business plan. The plan provides a road map to fulfilling the YESS vision of developing a best practice that can be implemented nationwide through product development.  

  • Since 2001, YESS trained close to 5,000 role models through workshops, speaking engagements, conferences and keynotes.