Our Mission
Our Mission: To inspire, educate and elevate our young creatives through the joy of music
Fired Up Guitar, Inc, is a non-profit entity that supports music education within our school systems, and other non-profit organizations.
We believe that school funding should not be a barrier to opportunity.
Our courseware has been carefully designed and curated to educate within a classroom environment, even when a specific music educator is not available. Our unique learning platform offers an accessible, ADA compliant, web-based digital curriculum to schools and non-profit organizations at no charge.
Board of Directors
Robbie Calvo
Robbie studied music at the prestigious Guitar Institute Of Technology, Hollywood, California.
Robbie is a spokesperson, and brand ambassador for multiple branches of the Yamaha Corporation.
Calvo is also a music industry expert writer and vlogger for Yamaha Guitars … who publish his ongoing monthly columns, “The Calvo Report” and “Trading Licks”.
Robbie may be best known for his 28 best-selling digital guitar programs & online courses for the world-renowned educational platform, TrueFire.
Robbie continues to make guitar playing accessible to millions of students worldwide, thanks to his innovative programs, approachable teaching style, and ability to translate complex concepts into simple musical actions.
Helen Takata
Helen Takata has thirty years experience as a Marketing and Fund Development Director for multiple 501-(c)(3) non-profit agencies.
Helen has also worked with YMCA of America, and the Camp Fire USA Youth Development Programs.
Takata is well versed in design and strategic marketing tactics, product and service research, public relations, community outreach programs, and serves as a professional grant writer for various non-profit organizations.
Helen is also a motivational speaker at national conferences for organizations devoted to serving children and families.
Helen is a passionate photographer and artist in her own right, and yet still spends a considerable amount of time advocating for the survival and adoption of music programs within our school systems.
Thank you for your service, Helen, as a Vietnam Era Veteran of the US ARMY Medical Corp, 1975-1978.
Mike Dekleva
Mike Dekleva is a practicing attorney with over 30 years of experience, specializing in healthcare law.
Mike has also received critical acclaim in the United States and Europe as a composer and guitarist for his original rock music compositions.
Mike’s wife Suzie is a piano teacher, and their daughter Lauren is a talented singer/songwriter in Albuquerque. Their daughter Lindsay is a professional ballerina and accomplished musician. Their son Josh also inherited the musical genes, and is a performing drummer on the local music scene.
Jim Camp
A nationally recognized authority on traffic safety, Jim Camp Holds a BA in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh and a JD from Cleveland – Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.
Jim is a Senior Attorney with the National District Attorney’s Association’s National Traffic Law Center. Born and raised in East Central Wisconsin, Jim has practiced law for over 41 years. He was elected to 9 terms as District Attorney there, and spent 9 years as a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor and the Assistant District Attorney General in Tennessee.
Jim is a lifelong drummer, enthusiastic guitar picker, resides outside of Nashville, TN, and is a father of two and grandfather of four.