Board of Directors
Meet the team that governs our organization
A group of respected, successful community pillars
Carlton Hall
President and CEO of Carlton Hall Consulting LLC (CHC)
Carlton Hall Consulting LLC (CHC) is a multi-faceted, full-service consulting firm designed to provide customized solutions and enable measurable change for communities, organizations, families, and individuals. Carlton Hall has been providing intensive substance abuse prevention focused and community problem solving services to the nation for the last 25 years. His responsibilities, unique set of skills and experience have made him one of the most highly sought after instructors and guides for community problem solving in every state and territory in the nation as well as internationally, with successful achievements in South Africa, Ghana, Bermuda, Kenya and others.
Carlton spent twelve years with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) serving in several leadership positions and including most recently Acting Vice President, Training Operations, and Acting Director for CADCA’s National Coalition Institute.
Read More
In this role, Carlton provided critical leadership supporting the successful design, and delivery of the community outreach component of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s DEA 360 Strategy in priority cities across the country. Carlton is one of the primary architects of CADCA’s National Coalition Academy. The Academy, a year-long coalition development program, is designed to increase the effectiveness of communities in drug demand reduction producing population level outcomes.
Currently, Carlton and the CHC team provide executive training and technical assistance support to the Southeast PTTC (Region 4).
Resh J. Reese
SVP | Controller of TIAABank | Financial Services
Resh is the Controller of TIAA Bank, where she oversees the cross functional global operations of the accounting and reporting team. In this role she establishes, monitors, and enforces internal control over financial reporting including the management of the bank regulatory financial filings. Resh leads external auditor engagement to ensure proper reporting standards are being utilized. She monitors future legislation and executes on strategic initiatives lending expertise on the impact on accounting, reporting, taxation and operations. Resh also leads the Empowered Employee Resource Group and contribute to TIAA’s advancement in diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Specialties: Banking, Asset Management, Insurance, Research, Accounting Standards Implementation, Internal Control, Financial Instruments, Insurance Contracts, Statutory Accounting & Reinsurance, Leadership Training & Development, Diversity & Inclusion, Executive & Board Leadership
Read More
Resh joined TIAA in 2017 where she served as the Senior Director of Accounting Policy. In this role Resh led the enterprise-wide accounting policy department, which includes the development and maintenance of accounting policies, as well as, engagement on key business transactions. Her team was responsible for monitoring and communicating the impact of emerging accounting standards and financial regulations important to TIAA and its insurance, banking and asset management businesses (i.e. FASB, IASB, NAIC, SEC, and others).
While at TIAA Resh has worked on a variety of special projects including acquisitions, divestitures, new investment and insurance products, financial instruments, hedging, capital and debt raises and regulatory response. Resh’s subject matter expertise and specialties include banking, asset management, insurance, research, accounting standards implementation, internal control, financial instruments, insurance contracts, statutory accounting & reinsurance, leadership training & development, diversity & inclusion, executive & board leadership. Resh also has led the creation and programming of internal technical training for the Controllership.
Prior to TIAA, Resh has worked in public accounting in various management and leadership roles; and she most recently was 2nd Vice President of Accounting Policy at Aflac. Resh’s public accounting experience also includes working as a Director in the National Office of Professional Practice for RSM (formerly known as McGladrey,LLP). In her national role with RSM she was an internal control specialist who assisted in the effective implementation of Firm policies related to obtaining an understanding of internal control in a financial statement audit. Resh also served as an audit manager at RSM on engagements for private equity, distributors, manufacturers, service companies, construction contractors, and healthcare organizations. Prior to joining RSM Resh worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (PWC) in the dispute analysis and investigations division.
Resh’s industry engagement included serving on the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) Accounting Committee as TIAA’s corporate representative from 2017-2019. She also participates in various industry working groups and has been a speaker or panelist at many industry forums on insurance, banking, accounting, leadership and mentoring.
Resh serves as National Co-Chair and member and of the Empowered Business Resource Group, TIAA’s Black Professionals Resource Group. She is a member of the Achieve Business Resource Group, TIAA’s Women Resource Group. Resh is also a certified coaching participant and Board Member of Women Empowered International.
Resh holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Tulane University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), a Certified Public Accountant (State of Texas), and a CGMA Chartered Global Management Accountant (AICPA).
Pastor Candida Stewart
Executive Pastor of IFWC
She is responsible for the development of the church staff and volunteers, as well as the leadership in working towards the church’s mission. She is intentional about living life with purpose while enjoying the journey.
Born in Cape Verde Island, Pastor Candi is also passionate about leading mission trips back home as a way of giving back to those in need of hope, reminding them that they are not forgotten. She has a heart for missions and people who are at a disadvantage.
Read More
Additionally, she serves on the Board of Women Empowered, an organization that strives to empower and strengthen women. One of her goals in life is to help other women find their way to fulfillment, which is what initially inspired her to co-author “Women Empowering Women: Break the Mold and Make a Difference.”
With a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Pastor Candi is also passionate about families and marriages. She highly values learning and development in this context and is certified by Marriage Today to teach Marriage on the Rock, by Jimmy Evans. Her greatest joy in life is her family and the joint pursuit of God with her husband.
Yvette Yates Parker
Philadelphia Department of Human Services Employee
Yvette Yates Parker has enjoyed a 27year career at the Philadelphia Department of Human Services where she has played a major role in the upstart and implementation of multiple programs that enhance the safety and wellbeing of children, youth, and families. Her specific focus in the current is to assure that older youth transitioning to independence, are well equipped to do so with a solid plan for housing, education, employment and other familial and community resources and support.
Yvette is a longtime volunteer Life Coach and mentor of the Girls Track Character Enhancement Program as well as one of the founders for the compliment, Boys Track Character Enhancement Program. Both programs are sponsored by the Department of Human Services and include mentoring, cultural enrichment, life skills, community service activities and overall exposure to people and places to promote positive youth development.
Read More
In addition to her work on the Board of Women Empowered, Yvette is a lifetime member of the NAACP and executive board member of the Philadelphia Branch with extensive work on the ACT-SO Committee, Afro Academic, Cultural, Technological, Scientific Olympics, a yearlong enrichment program designed to encourage high academic and cultural achievement among high school youth of Afro- American descent.
Yvette has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Howard University and Master of Social Service from Bryn Mawr’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.
Pastor Lester Brown
Founder/Lead Pastor Authentic Life Church in Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Pastor Lester leads a thriving nondenominational church where he is called to help people discover God’s originally plan for their lives and assist them to manifest their God-purpose. He oversees a robust volunteer staff a vibrate congregation that is influencing change, transforming communities, and seeing lives honor God through the teaching of the Bible, discipleship, and community engagement.
Prior to his role as founder and lead pastor he taught elementary and special education in the School District of Philadelphia as well as local charter schools.
Claire Riggs
Managing Partner Riggs Creative Group
Claire Riggs, Managing Partner at Riggs Creative Group — a women- and minority-owned strategic communication, integrated marketing and design, and relationship management firm in Sewell, NJ, brings more than 25 years of communication and non-profit governance experience to the Board. She’s been connected with Women Empowered International since 2019, having led the research and development of the organization’s strategic communication plan. Mrs. Riggs holds a Master’s degree in Public Relations from Rowan University, a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Temple University, an Accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a Leadership New Jersey Fellow.
Andréa Wooding, Esq.
Global Incident Manager at Amazon
Andréa has extensive experience in compliance guidance, program management, training, and policies and procedures to pre-vent and resolve noncompliance issues in healthcare, higher education, data security, and privacy. She received her Juris Doctorate and Master’s in Business Administration degrees from Howard University, her Master’s degree in Healthcare Leadership from Brown University, and her Bachelor’s degree in Pre-Law and Spanish from Oral Roberts University. Prior to joining Amazon in 2021, she served as Enterprise Compliance Manager and Procurement
Compliance Manager at Howard University, and as a Compliance Consultant for Blue Shield of California.
Donate Now
Your support is appreciated by WE and women all over the world
WE is approved through Facebook Fundraising
Amazon Smile
WE is approved through Amazon Smile