Dr. April Day, PHD, MBA, President, Women's Business Enterprise Alliance

For more than 18 years, Dr. April Day has brought her unique passion and “sheer willingness” to her personal mission to develop communities and improve lives through education and economic sustainability. Her body of work demonstrates that she has always been on the front end of active service, challenging the status quo in order to create, deliver and preserve programs that achieve her personal goal to change the world one person, one community, one business at a time.

Today, Dr. Day serves as president of the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA). The WBEA is a leading third-party certifying organization that serves women-owned business enterprises representing 15 billion dollars in revenue and more than 40,000 jobs. April’s primary role is to facilitate procurement connections, enhance organizational performance, and increase opportunities for women-owned businesses through procurement, education, and executive networking.

Dr. Day gives back to the community by her service in volunteering, shopping, and dining. As a self-proclaim foodie and WBE retail fan, April enjoys the occasional decadent chocolates from Cacao Chocolate, tacos, carrot cake from Dessert Galley and frequenting local small business hot spots. You can catch her on multiple boards within the non-profit and business community, serving as an adjunct faculty in the College of Business for Texas Women’s University, corporate business trainer for Houston Community College, a recipient of many awards, sought after presenter on transformational leadership, organizational performance, and burnout reduction. A few fun facts about Dr. Day: Her favorite color is royal blue, she is a native of Massachusetts, enjoys the beach, and wants to live in Houston forever!

Dr. Day earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Houston, an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University and her doctorate at Our Lady of the Lake. Her area of research is transformational leadership and burnout in the small businesses sector. Dr. Day is a proud mother of five, a UH Alum, Certified Non-profit Professional, Leadership Houston Alum, American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow and member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, inc.

Lucy Bremond, President and CEO Bremond Consulting Services, LLC.

Lucy J. Bremond, a true community leader, humanitarian, philanthropist, volunteer, and non-profit strategist, is President and CEO of Bremond Consulting Services, LLC. Lucy’s passion is assisting non-profit leaders with long-term comprehensive projects that strengthen their capacity to effectively meet identified community needs. As the first Executive Director of Emancipation Park Conservancy, Lucy was instrumental in leading the initiatives that brought to fruition the hopes and dreams of the formerly enslaved founders of the historic Emancipation Park back in 1872.

Lucy gained extensive experience in community engagement and non-profit management while working as an executive leader for GE Corporate Citizenship during the late Jack Welch’s administration. Her curriculum vitae with GE includes serving as the President of GE Volunteers (formally known as GE Elfun), Incorporator and President of GE Volunteers Foundation, and globally managing GE’s philanthropic and volunteer reach. She later worked in the Department of Strategic Partnerships at the Houston Independent School District (HISD) where she created programs and developed partnerships that directly impacted HISD’s 210,000+ students. In this position, Lucy worked extensively with the NCAA Final Four Houston Local Organizing Committee in 2011, 2016, and 2022 on educational programs and basketball court renovations. The “Read To Final Four” literacy program has continued since it was initiated during the 2016 NCAA Final Four in 68 HISD schools under Lucy’s leadership. She has been instrumental in the expansion of the 2022-2023 program leaving a positive impact on over 39,000 students in more than 300 schools and 11 Houston area school districts.

Lucy is exceptional at bringing all stakeholders to the table to facilitate innovation and efficiency; and nothing excites her more than inspiring the next generation of “doers and thinkers” to dream “BIG.” She wears countless community volunteer hats and is the recipient of extensive volunteer service accolades which she leverages to build collaborative relationships and fuel successful results. As Founder and Chairman of Blue Triangle Friends, her volunteerism includes raising over $9 Million and securing support to preserve the historic Blue Triangle Community Center which houses the beloved mural, “The Contribution of Negro Women to American Life and Education” painted by the late Dr John T. Biggers in 1953. Lucy is determined to preserve and share the story of Blue Triangle in tribute to those young “Negro” women who historically have been silenced. Through her involvement with the Blue Triangle, it is Lucy’s hope to raise awareness of a heritage and culture that has not been credited for its role in the fabric of American history.

In addition to her work with the Blue Triangle Friends, Lucy has volunteered her leadership, time and service to multiple noteworthy organizations and causes. As a San Jacinto Girl Scouts Leader, she ensured that 100+ scouts achieved their Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards. She is Vice-Chairman of “Changing Young Children’s Lives through Education” (CYCLE Houston) dedicated to recognizing and encouraging student achievement by awarding bicycles to 180,000+ students in Greater Houston School Districts.

Lucy is the Founding President and CEO of Community of Faith Foundation, Inc. which has awarded over $1.3 Million in scholarships to deserving high school students since 2011. Other titles held by Lucy include Lemonade Day Founding Board Member and affectionately known as “Lemonade Lucy”, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Life Member, Ivy Educational and Charitable Foundation of Houston, Inc. Emeritus Board Member and Past President, Board Chair of Smart Financial Credit Union Foundation, and Leadership Houston Class XXIX.

Lucy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Southern University, a certification in non-profit management from University of Illinois, an Honorary Arts Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Houston Community College, a Fort Bend Non-Profit Leadership Certificate, and has completed various Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Courses at Rice University. Additionally, she maintains a life-time commitment to New Faith Church, Bremond Family Scholarship Fund, and Southern University Alumni Federation.

Lucy is most proud of her success as wife of Jon, mother of Carolanda, Jonique, Jessie and Corey, and grandmother of Addison Faye, Jessa Brooke and Charlotte Breanna.

Victor Brooks, Consultant Dini Spheris

After spending several years working with physicians, researchers and executives in the Texas Medical Center, Victor is used to pulling big ideas out of the clouds and getting them down on paper. As a project manager at Houston Methodist Hospital, Victor helped to develop the initial plans for the hospital’s $500 million centennial campaign. After becoming a major gifts officer, Victor helped create and lead multi-million-dollar initiatives at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center to support patient care, medical student scholarships, research projects, clinical trials, capital needs and endowed positions.

An analytical thinker and self-described fixer, Victor enjoys tackling complex situations for his clients and providing them with simple and actionable solutions. At Dini Spheris, Victor has served clients in a variety of projects and sectors from a successful capital campaign for a local equine therapy organization, to developing a planned giving program for a global environmental nonprofit, and even serving as Interim Executive Director for a community college foundation.

Victor is a graduate of Rice University where he was also a member of the varsity football team. In 2020, he received the Builder’s Award, which honors young alumni who have made outstanding voluntary contributions to Rice since graduation.

Victor currently serves as President-Elect for the Greater Houston Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals where he works to foster philanthropic excellence across our region.

Kimberlyn Clarkson, Chief Development Officer Family Houston

Kimberlyn Clarkson is a nonprofit strategist who has nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare-related sector. Her passion is centered on missions striving to achieve equity for the underserved. Kimberlyn currently serves as the Chief Development Officer for Family Houston.

Kimberlyn established her nonprofit roots at Ronald McDonald House Houston, where she last served as Director of Volunteer Services. From there, she focused keenly on fundraising as the Director of Advancement at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/Galveston and, more recently, as Chief Advancement Officer of San José Clinic – a century-old charity clinic serving Houston’s uninsured and underserved with primary and specialty care. With a solid commitment to continuing education and professional development, Kimberlyn has received multiple certificates from Rice University’s Glasscock School on fundraising and leadership.

Kimberlyn is an active member of the community, serves on the Denver Smith Foundation and The Sterling Group of River Oaks boards and is also a member of Houston Junior Woman’s Club. She is committed to organizations that promote women in business and philanthropy.

Felicia Latson, LCSW-S, Founding Principal Swallace Advisory Co.

Felicia Latson, LCSW- is a passionate advocate for change for marginalized communities. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, and attended University of Houston for her graduate studies in Social Work. She holds a certification as a Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor from the Texas Behavioral Health Council. As a returned Peace Corps Volunteer and a resident of Houston’s Historic Fifth Ward, she is most inspired by the community activists who initiate change using the tools available to them.

Her professional experience spans various roles and organizations. She is the owner of Swallace Advisory Co., a health equity consulting firm. She also currently serves as the Vice President of Community Wellness at The Women's Home. Her past commitments have included appointments at Legacy Community Health as Sr. Director of Programs Social Determinants of Health and an Adjunct Professor role with Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work.

Latson’s own ethos is grounded in relationship building – she doesn’t see equitable change as a top-down bureaucratic process. She is able to foster change by giving the resources of a community a platform to excel.