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As a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder of Women on the Rise International, Inc., an organization with a vision to provide educational empowerment to women, Arlene prides herself on offering a platform where women can network, volunteer, and grow. During the last five years, she has dedicated her time to make this organization a pathway for women to recognize their talent and make advancement in their respective careers.
In just a short time, she has established Women on the Rise International as a frontrunner in offering women a chance to transform their lives by collaborating with nonprofit organizations, Fortune 500 companies, and community leaders to orchestrate events that engage and facilitate women.
Founder & Executive Director
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Mylika Morton is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and attorney who provides professional accounting, tax, and financial services to individuals, small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. She has 20 years of progressive experience in various aspects of accounting and financial management, evidenced by her role as Chief Financial Officer for a consortium of not for profit organizations.
Treasurer; Fundraising Committee
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Sharisse Walton is a business professional, with a passion for people and a resolve to help others be successful in their lives. She has an extensive background in banking and business with her most recent experience being a Vice President in Business Banking with Truist Bank. She transitioned to a career in real estate as she endeavors to become a Commercial Real Estate Developer. Her mission is to provide Acquisition, Disposition, and Collaborative Development of Commercial Mixed Use properties and Multifamily Housing in coordination with Non-profits, Local, State, and Federal Governments to disrupt the poverty cycle and help revitalize urban communities.
Board Member; Fundraising Committee
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Krysta has spent the last 7 years curating impactful strategy, programs and stories to inspire change and deliver meaningful experiences for marginalized identity groups. She is passionate about weaving Diversity, Equity & Inclusion into the everyday and helping people, spaces and systems transform for good.
Krysta is the Head of Storytelling for Meaningful and co-host on the We Are Meaningful podcast, creating captivating narratives that elevate the shared experiences of Black & Brown Women and helping them navigate and thrive in corporate spaces. She currently works with Electronic Arts (EA) as a DEI Strategist & Consultant on the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion team -- supporting their enterprise-wide strategy to attract, retain & develop marginalized talent.
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When you’re as passionate and knowledgeable as Valerie Carmel Dorsainvil, guiding high-achieving Black women over stress and trauma to their highest selves is all in a day’s work. As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and founder and CEO of Valerie Carmel Therapy, LLC, Valerie has provided countless African-
American and Caribbean-American professional women with the tools they need to reclaim control of their own narratives. Her uncanny ability to deeply see, hear and guide her clients empowers them to thrive mentally and emotionally well beyond their therapy sessions.
No stranger to the heavy burdens Black women shoulder every day, Valerie draws on nearly two decades of counseling expertise and her own struggles with anxiety to show clients how to prioritize their mental well-being and successfully navigate life’s toughest challenges. With certifications in trauma and anxiety work, Valerie has developed a unique therapeutic approach that integrates self-awareness, self-care and self-led growth to achieve breakthrough results for her clients. Her work has been featured in VoyageMIA, ThriveGlobal, Authority Magazine and ShoutOut Miami.
Board Member
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As a Community Builder, I focus on uplifting marginalized groups' voices. I have amplified my talent and voice through leading DE&I (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives. As a devoted volunteer, I foster impactful relationships and ignite awareness, growth and healing. I have more than 20 years of experience in Executive Administrative Services with national brands, as well as founded Girl Savvy Guru, a virtual assistant company servicing small businesses and solopreneurs. In my free time I enjoy new adventures with my grandchildren, traveling, and reading.
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Karen is the founder and career coach of Karen Rush Coaching, where she uses her 15+ years of professional and people management experience to help mid-career women take on new opportunities and break through obstacles to achieve the highest levels of leadership in their organizations.
Karen has spent over 10 years at Electronic Arts in program, project, and people management. During that time she has shipped 11 titles, co-founded the Orlando studio's Women's Employee Resource Group, completed EA's executive leadership program, and has regularly participated as a mentor, advocate, and sponsor in programs targeted at developing underrepresented talent.
A New Jersey native, Karen now lives in Central Florida with her amazing husband and two spunky kids. She's an avid reader and lover of all things Disney!
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Helping professionals evolve to their professional best is Michele Badie's ongoing work of purpose. By day she is a Project Manager, and by night she is a Creative. She is the Host of the Career Tipper® podcast. Michele is the Founder of Skills Recharged®, which offers professional development resources and creates wellness initiatives through her platform Keep Your Stride™. Check out her books, Confidently You: 21-Day Action Plan and Keep Your Stride Adult Coloring Book.
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Maggie Gaines is a Wife, Mother, Serial Entrepreneur, and a Youth Advocate. She is the owner of Bright Light Consulting, Bright Light Tax Experts and Kaizen Village.
Her company Bright Light Consulting is a business & nonprofit management consulting firm based in Sanford, Florida. Bright Light Consulting empowers business leaders and organizations to be more effective, innovative, and transformative. We do this by discovering user needs, encouraging creative disruption, applying forward thinking methodologies, implementing change, and delivering sophisticated solutions. Mrs. Gaines has helped countless individuals turn their dreams into reality through her strategy coaching and guidance.
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Mia Poinsette is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of The Driven Group, a multimillion transportation provider with 82 employees and four locations that provides safe and reliable school bus services to nearly 4,000 children throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.
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Prior to retiring from the corporate realm to support The Driven Group full-time, Mia obtained 15 years of extensive healthcare law, policy analysis, compliance and regulatory affairs experience through increasingly responsible roles with The University of Maryland Medical System, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Aetna, a CVS Health company.
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Relocating to Central Florida in June 2021, Mia exudes a great commitment to her new community by volunteering for and partnering with several nonprofit organizations. Establishing a living family heirloom in continuation of helping others, Mia is also the founder and Executive Director of The Poinsette Foundation, a 501(c)(3) self-funded nonprofit organization that sponsors community events which uplift women and advocate for underprivileged children.
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Deloria Nelson Streete is the President of Authentic Culture and Engagement Solutions, Inc. (ACE). ACE is a dynamic consulting firm that focuses on providing solutions to companies who want to enhance and strengthen their culture through authentic engagement and inclusion. Dee was recently the Managing Director of Diversity & Inclusion for Charles Schwab & Company where she led the national Inclusion efforts for the firm.
Deloria is a published author and amazing speaker who has worked professionally in Human Resources for more than 25 years with various Fortune 500 companies including Walt Disney World. Leadership Training, Coaching, Employee Relations and Inclusion are some areas of Transformational impact.
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