Board Members & Staff

Kenita Smith graduated from the American Intercontinental University of Buckhead with a B.B.A concentration in Healthcare Management in 2007, and also obtained an M.B.A concentrating in Healthcare Management from the same University in 2008.

As founder and chief executive officer, her responsibilities encompass the overall leadership and development of the organization. In addition to her vocation, Mrs. Smith is a published author and stays actively involved in the local church as she serves as a leader for many church functions.

Steve is a seasoned healthcare executive with broad experience in management, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, business development, and R&D. He currently serves as Global Director of Regulatory Affairs for a medical device firm, where is responsible for setting the strategic regulatory direction for the company and leading a global team of professionals who work with health authorities around the world. He also serves on several international industry boards, focused on proactively influencing healthcare policy and establishing industry guidance.

Steve is passionate about helping others and believes that life is too short to not live it to its fullest. He believes that every day gives us a second chance to live, laugh, love, and learn better than we did the day before.

Lisa Larry White is a native of Bessemer, Alabama, and has resided in metro-Atlanta since 1996. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), receiving a B.A. in Mass Communications and Journalism with a minor in English. Over the course of her career, she has worked in various industries including healthcare, pharmaceutical, property management, and currently in tax and financial education. She currently works as the Office Manager for Protax Plus Financial Services, LLC, a full-service tax preparation and accounting firm, located in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She also serves as the Vice President of Operations for the firm’s satellite offices in Alabama, Virginia, and South Carolina. Lisa was recently promoted to EVP Platinum with myEcon, the Personal Financial Success Company, located in Snellville, Georgia.

Lisa is passionate about her community and uses her life experiences and “gift of gab” to motivate others. It is her desire that through her written and spoken word, people are inspired, encouraged, and strengthened as she shares her knowledge. She works tirelessly to ensure that the community is educated on matters that impact their daily lives in the areas of taxes, credit repair, and financial literacy. She is also a motivational speaker, writer, editor, and entrepreneur. Lisa is the mother of three young adult children; D’Lisa, Davida, and David Jr.

Wassia graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Since then, she accumulated over a decade of progressive experience in corporate accounting and finance, with a focus on strategic planning, financial analysis, and business process improvements. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), with a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). She currently serves as Associate Director of Finance for a Pharmaceutical Company.

Aside from work, Wassia enjoys gardening, cooking, and of course eating, while trying to keep up with her 2 young children. She believes that happiness is a choice and loves to spread positivity around her.

Shannon Brooks is a native of small-town Indiana, growing up on a working farm. She headed south and attended college at Auburn University, graduating with honors and dual degrees in Marketing and Psychology. Her career started in project management in an advertising agency and grew from there. Since then, she has accumulated decades of experience in process development, management and training programs, budget and forecasting development, and organizational restructuring. She currently runs her own consulting firm as a Fractional COO focused on helping business owners and leadership teams turn their visions into action.

In her free time, she’s an animal lover, nature seeker, and amateur photographer. Growing up in a multi-generational teaching family also made her a lifelong learner. She truly believes in the power of post-secondary education to exponentially multiply the opportunities at one’s disposal, sending ripples of potential prosperity through the community to benefit many more.

Diane holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mercyhurst College, located in Erie, Pa. She has earned the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) designation administered by The Institutes, the Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) administered by the International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI), and Life Coach Certification as certified by Transformation Academy. With over twenty years of experience in commercial lines insurance, Diane has broad experience in workers compensation claims handling, commercial lines underwriting, and business development. Diane is a commercial lines Underwriting Director with an insurance company that provides specialty and standard commercial lines insurance products. She is known for driving growth through strategic planning and for her results-oriented approach.

Diane is dedicated to giving back. For several years, and going, she has purchased new winter coats in which she donates to homeless families residing in homeless shelters. She is excited to be a part of H.O.P.E., Inc. and looking forward to giving back to the community in a way that the community has blessed her.

Leilani earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Arts in History from Clark Atlanta University, Master of Science in Information Science from Drexel University, and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. Her strengths lie in her ability to merge strategic business planning with a high level of emotional intelligence. Her career has focused on organizational structure, building, and leading teams, and championing positive, inclusive company cultures.

A native of Arizona, Leilani has lived in the Atlanta area for 25 years. She is a wife and mom to a teenage son. When she isn’t working, she enjoys cooking, reading, and camping. A firm believer in the power of mentoring she is active in numerous mentoring programs and lives by the motto, “Do for one what you wish you could do for all.”

Danielle was born on the Portsmouth Naval Base in Virginia and moved to Georgia at a very young age. Being in a military family, moving around a lot was common but very challenging for Danielle when she was a young girl. Danielle’s life experiences have taught her how to have compassion for others and ultimately is what lead her to the career path she is on today. She graduated from Colorado Technical University in 2013 with a B.B.A. in General Business Management, and in 2015 she obtained her M.B.A. concentrating in Human Resources. 

As a young, single mother herself, Danielle understands the struggles and challenges that come with raising children, working, and attending college full-time. Danielle’s motivation to climb the corporate ladder changed after she became a wife and gave birth to her second child. Now, as a dedicated wife and mother of 3, her passion has become about helping others and giving back to her community. She believes that life is a gift, and each day should be lived to the fullest. In her spare time, Danielle enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring the beautiful areas in and around North Georgia with her beloved dog, Duke.