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Arlene Blake, a dynamic entrepreneur and sales leader, is renowned for crafting strategies that enhance sales and engage audiences. Passionate about teamwork, she specializes in fostering professionals to surpass goals. Arlene founded Women on the Rise International, Inc., promoting educational empowerment for women. Over six years, she's transformed it into a career advancement hub. An accomplished speaker, she’s led workshops on communication, resilience, and career building. Arlene earned accolades including Orlando Business Journal's 'Woman Who Means Business' and 'Most Influential People in Orlando'. She's a Leadership Orlando alumna and was hailed 2022's 'Woman of the Year' by Orange Appeal Magazine. Arlene envisions globally empowering women to shatter barriers.
Founder & Executive Director
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Board Chair
Deloria “Dee” Nelson Streete is the Founder & President of Authentic Culture & Engagement (ACE) Solutions, Inc., a coaching and consulting firm focused on transforming workplace culture through authentic engagement, inclusion, and leadership development. As Chief Rest Officer, she champions her 3R’s—Rest, Resilience, and Resistance—as a model for sustainable success. A 2024 Woman Who Means Business and one of Orlando’s Top Coaches (2022 & 2023), Dee brings 25+ years of HR leadership with Fortune 500 companies, including Walt Disney World and Charles Schwab. She is the author of REST, Resilience, and Resistance, and specializes in DEI assessments, leadership training, and coaching. Dee holds a B.A. in Mass Communications and an MPA from Clark Atlanta University. Outside of work, she enjoys poetry, farming with her husband, and spoiling her grandkids.
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Michele Hamilton is a seasoned professional with 35 years of distinguished service at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where she held key roles as a Tax Auditor, Supervisor of Tax Auditors, and HR Associate Director. Her early career focused on ensuring tax compliance through detailed audits and taxpayer education. As a supervisor, she led a team of auditors, streamlining processes and fostering professional growth. She later transitioned into senior leadership as an HR Associate Director, where she successfully managed a $15 million health services contract and oversaw various human resources initiatives.
Michele holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Business Administration from the University of Maryland European Division. Her expertise spans financial oversight, contract management, personnel development, and organizational efficiency. With a proven track record of leadership, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility, she continues to be a trusted advisor and a respected leader in her role on the WOTR Board as Treasurer.
Treasurer
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Trae Matthews Ransome is a dedicated leader in special education and community engagement with over 13 years of experience creating inclusive learning environments. She holds a MS in Curriculum & Instruction and a BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Florida State University. As a Program Manager at UCF, she leads initiatives that support student success, family engagement, and community health. Trae also serves as Special Events Chair for Women on the Rise, leads volunteer outreach for the Cloud Family Foundation, and sits on the Central Florida Regional Board of FSU’s Black Alumni Association. As a former educator, she brings strategic insight, collaboration, and passion to every project she champions.
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Board Member
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Christina Hartfield, CFP®, is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Truist Wealth with more than 20 years of experience guiding business owners, entrepreneurs, families, and executives across Central Florida and beyond, with a specialized focus on helping clients navigate pivotal transitions such as selling a business, succession to the next generation, inheritance, or sudden liquidity events.
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Reshell Smith is the Founder and President of AMES Financial Solutions, a virtual firm offering comprehensive financial planning for Gen X and Y clients, including divorcees, executives, and first-generation wealth builders. Her mission is to guide clients toward financial clarity and long-term confidence.
A respected voice in financial media, Reshell is a regular finance contributor for WESH2/CW18 and WOKB 1680 AM. She’s been featured on national stages and outlets including the CFP® Diversity Summit, Financial Advisor Magazine, HuffPost, and The Tom Joyner Morning Show. She’s also a three-time Investopedia Top 100 Financial Advisor.
Reshell is the author of A Woman’s Worth: 7 Key Essentials to Financial Independence and CEO of RS Smith Consulting, home to her “She’s So Wealthy” brand—an academy, podcast, and YouTube channel focused on empowering women through financial education.
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Samí Haiman-Marrero is the President & CEO of URBANDER, a multicultural communications agency helping organizations build trust with diverse stakeholders through culturally relevant marketing, workforce development, and community engagement strategies.
A leading voice on the U.S. Hispanic market, Samí holds a master’s in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and brings 28+ years of experience across PR, publishing, and cause-driven campaigns. She’s a multiple Telly Award-winning podcast host, was named a Central Floridian of the Year finalist by the Orlando Sentinel, and recognized as a top Latinx marketer by Orlando Weekly.
Samí serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Puerto Rican Foundation for the Humanities, UnitedLatinas, and the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce. She is also the founder of SOS Orlando, a nonprofit focused on economic mobility, arts equity, and support for marginalized communities.
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Valerie Edgecombe, Esq. is a dedicated and trusted real estate attorney with over 20 years of experience guiding clients through foreclosure prosecution, legal and regulatory compliance, title, and closing matters with expertise and integrity. A graduate of the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida and a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University, she combines her legal acumen with a passion for community service and provides pro bono legal services throughout the community. Beyond her career, she is a devoted mother of two girls and an active supporter of legal and philanthropic initiatives throughout Florida.
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