BOARD CHAIR

Scott is a retired Managing Director from Accenture where he led clients through finance and operations transformation projects. He is a Partner with Social Venture Partners Charlotte where he supports innovative nonprofits in the Charlotte region. He is passionate about leveraging his experience and social capital to help first generation college students succeed.

FUNDRAISING CHAIR

Carola brings over two decades of experience advancing equity, education, and community empowerment, currently serving as Director of Workforce Services Partnership and Regional Services at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. She brings deep civic engagement through board service with the Community Building Initiative and GenOne, where she champions first-generation college students and facilitates transformative equity dialogues. Carola is pursuing a Master’s in Urban Education at UNC Charlotte and is proud of her husband Miguel Angel, daughter Amelia (Sophomore at UNC Greensboro), and bonus son Diego.

FINANCE CHAIR

Lauren is the Controller at Hylaine, responsible for both accounting and strategic financial analysis for the growing technology consulting firm. She also spent 6+ years at Deloitte.

OPERATIONS CHAIR

Melodie Saunders is the Global Head of Talent Management, Inclusion & Experience at Barings. She is passionate about empowering future leaders through early exposure to college and career pathways. As a first-generation college graduate, Melodie deeply believes in GenOne’s mission and is committed to helping students see the opportunities available to them—and to inspiring confidence that they can achieve their goals. Melodie lives in Matthews with her husband, Mario, and their three sons.

OPERATIONS CHAIR

Cristy is a Partner with Social Venture Partners Charlotte where she supports innovative nonprofits throughout the Charlotte region. She has prior Board leadership experience with both Social Venture Partners Charlotte and Common Wealth Charlotte. Previously, she was VP at Goldman Sachs in their Credit Risk Management & Advisory department and served as Board Chair for Neighborhood Trust FCU (a community development credit union) in New York.

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEMBER

Ray is a Managing Director at Bank of America with over 30 years in financial services, where he leads the bank’s Operational Excellence program. He has served on several non-profit boards focused on education, small business growth, and entrepreneurship. Inspired by GenOne’s mission, Ray is committed to helping first-generation students, access, persist through, and graduate from college to achieve meaningful careers.

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER

Jill is the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Legal and Product Management at Barings LLC, bringing deep expertise in governance, equity, and advocacy. With both a J.D. and MBA, she is inspired by GenOne’s mission to support first-generation students throughout their education journey.

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBER

Maria is the Program Coordinator for Our Future in UNiSON, an educational collaborative serving Union and Anson counties. A retired Dean of Applied Science and Technology at South Piedmont Community College, she also serves on several community boards and is a partner with Social Venture Partners Charlotte.

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER

Rianne is a licensed NC CPA working for RSM as an Assurance Senior Manager where she leads audit engagements, provides clients with accounting guidance on complex matters and assists with financial statement preparation. Her experience includes Non-Profit audits as well as cross-border audits primarily working with RSM Latin America and client teams.

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEMBER

Ian is the founding partner of the McDade Group at Merrill with over 29 years of experience in financial services. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and community leader, he has served on multiple nonprofit boards in education and currently sits on the PGA Foundation for the Carolinas. Ian lives in Charlotte with his wife and three children and is inspired by the mission of expanding access to education and opportunity.

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER

Jacob is an associate with Moore & Van Allen, PLLC. His practice focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate governance. Originally from Baltimore, MD, he has lived in the Charlotte area since 2013.

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER

Neel is a Senior Vice President at Truist Financial, with more than 15 years of work experience in financial services. Neel oversees the firm's Treasury Asset Liability Management (ALM) Consolidation program and has a strong background in risk, finance, and treasury functions from his previous roles at Ally Financial. Neel is passionate and committed to advancing opportunity and inclusion initiatives, having served as a Steering Committee member and Charlotte Chapter lead of the Asian and Middle Employee Resource Group at Ally Financial.

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBER

Amrita serves in Outreach Services at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, supporting diverse communities through literacy, workforce, and college and career readiness programming. A Spectrum Scholar and LU40 alum, she also chairs the Board of Disability Rights & Resources and is passionate about helping first-generation students access higher education.

OPERATIONS & FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEMBER

Henry is a proud first-generation, low-income graduate of Emory University and a member of GenOne Charlotte’s first graduating class of Scholars. Now serving on the Board of Directors, he brings his lived experience and leadership to ensure future scholars not only access college but are equipped and empowered to thrive once there.

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER

Star Spencer is a strategic leader with deep expertise in financial services, specializing in digital transformation, innovation, and risk management. She has held senior roles at Fortune 50 firms including Citi and Deloitte, and previously served as a criminal defense attorney and adjunct professor. An active member of the legal and corporate governance community, she holds memberships in the Association of Corporate Counsel, NC Association of Black Lawyers, and the NC State Bar.

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBER

Stephanie is the Director of Education at ParenTeach Institute, where she develops and delivers positive parenting and caregiving programs nationwide. A longtime educator, consultant, and advocate, she is passionate about supporting first-generation students and advancing educational equity through her work with GenOne.

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBER

Nicole Videla, Ed.D., is the Founder of Enkindled Vision Consulting, LLC, with 17+ years of experience leading equity-centered programs and student success initiatives. She led the creation of the First-Generation Student Center at Ramapo College of New Jersey, is a lifetime member of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, and is passionate about expanding opportunities for first-generation students in Charlotte.

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBER

Denise is a Senior Vice President at Alliant Insurance Services, where she provides strategic guidance to organizations on the design and management of employee benefits programs. Prior to her consulting career, Denise spent over a decade in healthcare administration at Atrium Health, during which she served on the Board for Teen Health Connection.