WeINSPIRE Welcomes New Members to Leadership Team
From CEOs to executives to experts in philanthropic giving, these new members bring diverse expertise and insight to the non-profit
Maryland-The WeINSPIRE Movement is expanding and would like to welcome three new national board members, two national advisory board members and the newly created junior board with six members. Also, announcing our newly elected National Board Chairperson, Derek D. Ross and new officers including Vice-Chairperson, April McKenzie-Griswold a certified mindset coach and non-profit leader. For 16 years, Derek D. Ross has been a trusted and reliable brand, creative strategist, and publicist leading the branding, marketing, and communications behind the biggest HBCU brands and events in the country.
Chairperson, Derek D. Ross
The WeINSPIRE National Board provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Members are experts in fields ranging from financial services to human resources. The new members will serve three-year terms starting July 1, 2022. They are:
Caroline Mbi-njifor - WeINSPIRE’s first international board member from Johannesburg, South Africa. Mbi-njifor brings 20+ years in entrepreneurial and formal sector leadership. She is the CEO of EndlessLife Group, which offers comprehensive and integrated medical home health and social services across South Africa and Nigeria.
Volker Schulmeyer - A former IT executive with 20 years of experience, including PepsiCo, Caterpillar and Deloitte. Now a consultant in IT strategy, he has worked with multimillion-dollar budgets as well as small, highly skilled strategic teams.
Rob Totaro - A certified non-profit executive (CNE) and consultant (CNC) working for the Alliance of New York State YMCAs. He is a lifelong storyteller and award-winning photographer.
(Left to Right: Carolina Mbi-njifor, Volker Schulmeyer, Rob Totaro)
Members of the WeINSPIRE Advisory Board are critical community champions. Their gifts of service include professional expertise. The new members are:
Jennifer Maness - Manager of philanthropic giving at Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina. She is an award-winning development and communications professional.
Marlin Payne Whiteman - He has more than a decade of experience in nonprofit management specializing in board development, fundraising, grant writing, etc. Marlin currently enjoys helping to build capacity for a small portfolio of the nation’s most progressive nonprofit organizations.
(Left to Right: Jenn Maness, Marlin Payne Whiteman)
WeINSPIRE's Junior Board comprises young professionals who support the organization's mission. They work alongside the national board to create, plan and participate in a number of volunteer and awareness-raising activities. The new members are:
Jonnea Birdine - Waldorf, Md.
Channing Capacchione - Brighton, Mass.
Roy Dale Cox - Newark, N.J.
Andrea Deras - Winston-Salem, N.C.
Abigail Nickerson - Alexandria, Va.
Lia Valdez, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
(Left to Right: Jonnea Birdine, Channing Capacchione, Roy Dale Cox, Andrea Deras, Abigail Nickerson, Lia Valdez)
The appointment of these new additions to the leadership team comes as WeINSPIRE National Board Chair Ben Shamberger transitions to a position on the National Advisory Board.
“On behalf of the board, I want to express our gratitude to Ben Shamberger who has concluded his service as a valued board member and national chair,” WeINSPIRE Founder/CEO Jamarl D. Clark said. “We look forward to Ben’s continuing service and counsel.”
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About WeINSPIRE Movement:
WeINSPIRE began in 2014 as one day dedicated to spreading positivity and inspiration to people all over America. Today it has grown into a worldwide community powered by people doing good, for people seeking joy. After a year of economic disparity, racial tension, and health insecurity, the need for celebrating the good has never been greater. During these turbulent times, WeINSPIRE is fostering a much-needed community of positivity, giving hope to those who are struggling and shifting the negative narrative to one of joy.
