Members of the Board of Directors were chosen based on their expertise, dedication, and individual service in their respective profession and community. The women below represent a diverse group of beautiful women committed to empowering and motivating the
young women of our communities.
Cassandra Theramene, Founder
Chelsea Hall, Board Member
Marie Triche, Board Member
Carmen Williams, Board Member
Cassandra Theramene, Founder
Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 1982, Cassandra was raised in a
loving and nurturing home with parents who motivated and
encouraged her to always follow her heart and dreams. In
1984 the Theramene's moved to Miami, FL. Cassandra
attended the Miami-Dade Public
School System where she graduated from high school with
honors. She later pursued a higher education
degree in Business at Florida A&M
University. In 2004, Cassandra graduated Magna Cum
Laude with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business
Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Upon graduation,
Cassandra moved to Peoria, IL to begin her marketing career with
Caterpillar, Inc., in the Marketing Management Program.
Her parents instilled in her the purpose of
serving others and from that, her passion came about at an early
age. During college, she held numerous leadership positions.
She was
Secretary of State (SGA), OFC Liaison (SGA Senate Branch),
Co-Founder Helping Hands for Young Scholars, Alpha Kappa Mu
Honor Society, INROADS of South Florida, Member of Haitian Women
of Miami Inc, and Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Incorporated, just to name a few.
Her current involvements involve Grassroots Investment
Group, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., New Birth
Baptist Church in Miami, FL, and a proud member of the
FAMU Alumni Association (Miami Dade Chapter).
Cassandra's passion and faith
evolved into Essence of a Haitian Woman, Inc. As she strive for
knowledge, change, and action in her community, she tells herself
this quote by Mrs. Mona H. Bailey, "If not us, who, If not now,
when, You only go around once and this is not a practice run. The
question is when; and the time is now. The question is where; and
the place is here. The question is who; and the answer is us.? So
I say to you---let us be the answer!
Chelsea Hall, Board Member
Chelsea Natasha Hall serves as a community representative for
the Miami-Dade Unit of the American Cancer Society. Ms. Hall is the Miami-Dade Unit staff partner responsible
for the American Cancer Society following signature events: Relay
for Life of Homestead, Relay for Life of Cutler Bay, Relay for
Life of Blue Lagoon and Relay for Life of North Miami/North Miami
Beach. She is also the Miami-Dade Unit staff partner for the
Community Education Grant Program and the African American Women's
Ujima Covenant disparities program. Before joining the American
Cancer Society, she served as a Sales Consultant with Cargill.
Ms.
Hall is a member of the Miami Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc. She currently serves as the Delta Academy 2006-2007
Committee Chair. She is also a minister in training at Sweet Home
Missionary Baptist Church, serving under Dr. Walter T. Richardson.
A
Florida native, Ms. Hall received her Bachelor of Science degree
in Agribusiness with honors from Florida A&M University and is
currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration from Nova
Southeastern University.
Marie Triche, Board Member
Marie Triche is a
West Indian native born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She has resided
in the United States since the age of two and has called Florida
her home. As the eldest of five, Marie takes pride in
setting an example to her siblings, which has subsequently
guided her as a leader in her
community. Since her adolescent years, Marie has
worked extensively in South Florida in civic
engagement projects targeting marginalized communities. Her
objective is to advocate the concerns of immigrants, particularly
people of Haitian background.
In
addition, Marie graduated from Florida A&M University Magna Cum Laude.
She held various leadership positions
as Student Government Senator, Activities Director for the Haitian
Cultural Club, and Vice-President of the Beta Alpha Chapter of
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is currently pursuing her Juris Doctorate at the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
Upon graduation, Marie hopes to work in International law
with a focus on global politics. Her aim is to
work extensively in Haiti, revitalizing rural
areas through urban development,
increasing the commercial trade of goods and services,
and promoting political stability.
Carmen
Williams, Board Member
Carmen Williams was born
and raised in Bristol, Florida, and was educated in the Liberty County school systems.
A staunch and firm believer in literacy as well as the power of education and scholarship,
Carmen graduated from Liberty County High School in 1998 as the First African American
Valedictorian in the school's history. Upon graduation, she was awarded a full Presidential
Scholarship to attend Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. In 2004, Carmen graduated
Magna Cum Laude from the School of Business and Industry at FAMU receiving her Master of Business
Administration degree with concerntrations in Finance and Accounting.
Currently, she is an Analyst at Lehman Brothers, Incoporated in New York, New York.
Prior to joining Lehman Brothers, she worked as an Associate in the Investment Management Division
at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Her community affiliations include: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
, Incoporated (initiated through Beta Alpha Chapter), The New York Urban League- Young Professionals,
and the National Association of Black Accountants. Ms. Williams is a member of First Corinthian
Baptist Church in Harlem, New York.