Board of Directors
Robert E. Stephens, President, CEO
A social entrepreneur and philanthropist, Robert has served as an Advisor/Consultant to a former U.S. President, several state and local governments on Workforce and Economic Development initiatives, Welfare Reform/Welfare-to-Work and Self-sufficiency Programs and (formerly) HUD HOPE VI Redevelopment Projects. Robert’s twenty five plus years of experience in private sector business operations, start-ups, mergers/acquisitions, as well as with Human Services/Self-sufficiency and Community Development programs provides a solid foundation for strong organizational skills that lead to long-term sustainable and measurable outcomes. He currently provides non-profit management, strategic board development and executive performance coaching to various organizations, businesses and foundations. He also currently serves on several national and local non-profit and foundation Boards and serves as a U.S. Department of Labor/Education and Training Consultant. He is a recipient of the FBI National Leadership Award.
Leahmarie Gottlieb, Vice President and Treasurer
A social entrepreneur and philanthropist with experience in systemic and systematic change management processes. Her private sector, finance and resource development background as a “change agent” has resulted in increased operational efficiencies and realization of greater economies of scale in organizations such as International Paper, Union Camp Corporation, and DaiEi International. She has served on several non-profit organizations as Board and Committee Member with a regional focus such as The Up Center, The Children’s Center, The Genieve Shelter and the Blackwater Library System (formerly the Walter Rawls Library System). Ms. Gottlieb is the Chief Development Officer for River City Logo and is also a Licensed Agent and Executive Recruiter with Five Rings Financial, LLC. Ms. Gottlieb currently serves on the East Carolina University Student Affairs Advancement Council as well that the Parents Advisory Board.
Jen Stringer-Kelly, Secretary
As a Citizen Architect, Jen brings twenty years of experience in architecture, urban planning, community engagement, public art, project management, strategic planning, and non-profit work. Jen has worked on a wide range of projects, influencing the urban fabric in places around Coastal Virginia, as well as throughout the east coast. such as the Wells Fargo Building; the historic breweries on Fort Monroe and in Downtown Suffolk; public art at Harbor Park; the NEON district; The Plot (v.1); the Amtrak station in Norfolk; and countless small businesses; historic structures; churches; industrial buildings; and homes in the area.
As an entrepreneur, Jen has been involved in several startups including a design firm she successfully ran for five years . As an agent of change, Jen has a deeply rooted passion for people-centered, creative problem solving . From the time she graduated from Auburn University, Jen has held the belief that everyone deserves to live in dignified spaces designed to provide a sustainable and resilient lifestyle.
Carla Bryce-Holmes, Member
Carla is a Graduate of Norfolk State University with a Bachelors in Business Administration and a Masters of Arts in Urban Affairs. She began her financial career at a Virginia based bank and assisted in the introduction of the In-Store banking concept to the Hampton Roads Area. After working in the financial industry for over 17 years, she broadened her banking experience and community development by accepting a position at Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority as a Homeownership Counselor. She discovered a passion for transitioning families from public housing to self-sufficiency by partnering with local non-profits and small businesses.
Tara Diggers, Member
With over 10 years of local real estate experience, including property management, residential sales, and relocation assistance. She excels at prompting prospects to share openly, allowing her to narrow the focus to a specific attainable goal; Tara’s business network has expanded to include a plethora of contacts, allowing her to provide for the various needs of home-buying at all its stages.
Dr. Heather Lamb, Member
Heather was raised in Virginia Beach, VA, and stayed in the area after graduating from high school and received a B.S. In Interdisciplinary Studies/Early Childhood Education. She then went on to receive an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and an M.A. in Pre-Elementary Education/Special Education and received an Ed.D in Educational Leadership. Dr. Lamb holds endorsements in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Administration & Supervision, and a Virginia Division Superintendent’s license. She also teaches online University Success and M.Ed courses for universities, and serves as an Education Specialist with the St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation.
Rosa Grillo, Member
Rosa Grillo is a community engagement leader with over 25 years’ experience in housing, health care, employment and human service delivery. She is a social entrepreneur with a particular specialty in combining public and private resources to build sustainability in the nation’s underserved multicultural communities. She studied social entrepreneurship at INSEAD, combining communications and innovation in many diverse initiatives from evaluating service delivery to TANF families in Washington, DC; examining employment readiness and job placement, and assessing capacity and resources in charter schools.
Susan Nickbarg, Member
Susan Nickbarg is an early pioneer in corporate social responsibility/sustainability with a core focus on embedding and mainstreaming it into strategy, products, communications, public-private partnerships and programs – for which she is a published author and speaker. Her 20 years experience include early stage to global, blue-chip Fortune 100 companies as well as success in management consulting and marketing across U.S. government, nonprofit, and industry sectors. She is also an educator who has taught in ivy league and state universities including marketing, leadership, and a corporate social responsibility training before a ministry from the People’s Republic of China. She has served on nonprofit boards and is a founding board member of the Sustainable Business Network of Washington, DC (SBNOW) which closed with the formation of Sustainable DC. Susan holds a MBA, BA, Certificate in International Relations and a Certificate in CSR Reporting (granted by the Global Reporting Initiative).
Cheryl Morrow, Member
As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Ms. Morrow has provided over 20 years of accounting services to individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Her firm provides attest services (audits, reviews, compilations), and services in the areas of accounting, tax preparation, and management consultation for small businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations. Ms. Morrow has assisted fledgling and established businesses in all service areas, helping them to remain compliant with federal and state tax regulations, and developing accounting policies. She has assisted businesses in obtaining expansion loans, and has realized thousands in tax savings for clients. Committed to integrity and quality, the firm adheres to quality control standards through periodic reviews conducted by an outside accounting firm. A graduate from Old Dominion University, Ms. Morrow obtained extensive experience in accounting, financial analysis and controllership in a variety of industries that include organizations ranging from $2,000,000 to $17,000,000 in annual revenues.
Lloyd Hemphill, Member
Lloyd Hemphill is a former corporate business leader turned entrepreneur with a passion for community economic development. As regional manager of a major IT organization, Lloyd developed the Telecommunications Workforce Development program to provide access to higher-paying IT jobs for underemployed and unemployed young adults within urban communities. This program was implemented in Washington D.C., Cleveland, OH, Oakland, CA, Austin, TX, and Brooklyn, NY, and won the Department of Labor National Best Practices Award for four consecutive years.
Rev. Brandon Praileau, Member
Brandon serves as Pastor of Wesley Union AME Zion Church in Norfolk, Virginia. Rev. Praileau attended Old Dominion University and Southern New Hampshire University where he studied Political Science and Public Policy. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity Studies at Virginia Union University. Brandon has dedicated the past eight years to pastoral service in both Virginia and North Carolina. He has spent most of his life immersed in the faith-based community in Norfolk. He graciously serves as SPCDC’s Faith-Based Community Coordinator, and as a member of the Community Food Disparities Coalition
Marie Carter, Member
Marie is a Norfolk employee and resident since 2000 and a graduate of Old Dominion University with a B.S. in Psychology, minors in Criminal Justice and Counseling and retained her M.Ed. from Regent University. She has been a Norfolk Public School teacher for over 11 years where she regularly advocates for students, families, and communities from within the classroom and beyond. Marie is an accomplished and resourceful volunteer, community activist and grass roots organizer. She has been a long term supporter and volunteer of Teens With A Purpose, a local teen center, and serves on their Executive Advisory Committee. She has helped organize and run several food distributions and other community support events.
Sydney Covey, Member
Currently at STRUCTR Advisors, Sydney Covey applies her knowledge of sustainability and business to provide fresh solutions that embody clients’ sustainability goals. Her breadth of experience includes involvement in the Brock Environmental Center, a LEED platinum and Living Building Challenge-certified facility. She serves on the U.S. Green Building Council Virginia’s Market Leadership Advisors Board. She also holds a position on the Elizabeth River Project’s Watershed Action Committee and on the city of Chesapeake’s mayor appointed commission, the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council. Sydney has also served on several panels concerned with resilient infrastructure and participated in VWU’s Community Resilience Building Workshop. In 2020, Sydney was recognized as an Emerging Sustainability Leader by GreenBiz Group. Sydney graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Wesleyan University in 2015 where she earned a B.A. in Business and a B.A. in Environmental Studies.