Shad grew up exploring the natural beauty of Northern California after moving to the Crescent City area at age seven. Surrounded by towering redwoods and winding rivers, he developed an early appreciation for community and the outdoors. After graduating from Del Norte High School, Shad attended Oregon Institute of Technology, earning a degree in Industrial Management before settling in Grants Pass, Oregon — a place he has proudly called home ever since. For the past 20 years, Shad has served his community as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. Deeply committed to making a lasting impact, he has dedicated more than a decade to the Josephine Community Library Foundation Board, including several years as President. He is especially proud to support the effort to build a new downtown Grants Pass library — a project that promises to enrich the community for generations to come. When he’s not working or volunteering, Shad enjoys spending time outdoors on his property, gardening, building, and creating spaces of beauty. Recently becoming empty nesters, Shad and his wife, Sarah, cherish this new season of life by traveling, exploring new destinations, and sharing plenty of laughter. Married for 10 years, they are grateful for their blended family of seven adult children. Shad is honored to join the cast of Dancing with the Rogue Valley Stars and is excited to help raise funds for an organization that strengthens local students, families, and the broader community.

Lilianna was born and raised in Southern Oregon and is local to Grants Pass. She started her relationship with dance as an 11-year-old girl who walked into her first ballroom class, saw she had to hold hands with boys, and ran out of the studio telling her mom she was too shy, and couldn’t possibly go back. Thankfully, with much encouragement from her mom, she did return to the class and dance has been her passion ever since. She started competing in ballroom that first year, and to date has placed 1st multiple times. She wholeheartedly loves the process of competing, performing and training for hours. Lilianna is returning as a Pro Partner for her second year with DWTRVS and couldn’t be more excited! She has a heart for the youth in her community and has taught multiple children and young adult classes. Although Lilianna has been blessed with the opportunity to teach and share her passion for dance with others, she considers herself a perpetual student, as her love for learning and honing her technique never fades. She has fallen in love with not just dance steps but bringing people together and providing an outlet from this busy life. She now wants to pour back into the dance community that awakened this love inside her and share this feeling with others who are just as enchanted with ballroom as she is.