Diva’s Day 2025
Tools to Thrive in 2025!
Guest Speakers
Tracy White Weeden, Ed.D. – President & CEO
https://www.neuhaus.org
Dr. Tracy White Weeden is a visionary leader and passionate advocate for advancing literacy as the human right of the 21st Century. With over 38 years of experience in educational leadership, White has dedicated her career to creating innovative programs, building exceptional teams, and providing enhanced learning opportunities for children and adults.
As the President and CEO of Neuhaus Education Center (NEC), White has led NEC to national stature by building educator knowledge at tier 1 of literacy instruction through supplemental curriculum and coaching, as well as standalone professional development and coaching at Tier 2 and Tier 3. Whites’s team has maintained a focus on community outreach through NEC’s Family Support Office. Adult literacy services have also expended significantly to provide reading intervention free of charge with services delivered by Certified Academic Language Therapists. White is deeply passionate about apprenticing educators to implement and scale literacy success for every child and adult responsibly and sustainably and is increasing the impact of NEC with university partners who are committed to aligning preparation programs to evidence-based practices.
Prior to her role at NEC, White served as the Executive Director of Academic Planning at Scholastic Achievement Partners, where she provided executive sonsulting nationally on development of systems that helped school districts improve student achievement and address barriers to rigorous, relevant learning.
Dr. White Weeden holds a Ed.D in Educational Leadership and is a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader in the field of education. With the wealth of knowledge and experience, Dr. Tracy is a true inspiration and advocate for education. She offers valuable insights and ideas on systemically improving the field of education to empower educators and all students to achieve their full potential. Get ready to be inspired!
Denise Thomas, Founder & Owner
Effective Communication Coach | Inspire Inform Influence Entertain (realcommcoach.com)
Denise Thomas is the Founder and Owner of The Effective Communication Coach, LLC. Her consulting and coaching business serves professionals from entry level to C-Suite Executives on how effective communication can drive advancement in their career and innovation across their businesses. Her portfolio of clients includes Associated Bank, GE Healthcare, Kraft Heinz, Northwestern Mutual, Stanley Black & Decker, St. Norbert College and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
In her role as “ The Effective Communication Coach” she uses techniques that are engaging and relevant. She has been featured as a keynote speaker, emcee and moderator for various corporations and organizations.
A graduate of Cardinal Stritch University in Business Management, Denise is a proud member of the The Links Incorporated – Milwaukee Chapter. In 2015 she was recognized as the ONE MKE Drivers of Diversity, “Professional of the Year” and the MillerCoors 2015 Q3 BIS Diversity and Inclusion Award Recipient. In 2016, she was featured on the cover of NV (New Vision) as one of the twenty 2016 “Movers & Shakers”. She is a proud member of The Links Incorporated – Milwaukee Chapter, serves on the Cardinal Stritch University College of Business and Management Advisory Council, Mt. Mary University Communications Advisory Council and on the Board of Directors for Meta House – Milwaukee. She also serves on the Social X Milwaukee Advisory Council.
Denise’s coaching techniques include the “communicating with purpose” formula delivered through engaging team workshops, dynamic keynote addresses and individual coaching sessions. She began her professional career 17 years ago working in leadership roles for corporations including GE Healthcare and most recently Miller Coors. Throughout her journey, she witnessed first-hand how effective communication is critical to a business’s growth and played a key role in her career wins. She now wants to share these winning techniques with others all over the world.
Carlete Metoyer, MA, LPC
Founder & CEO of Clear Sense Management Company & CSM Counseling
Carlete is a counselor at heart with a business professional’s mind. She uses her unique background and experience to create a space for clients to feel seen and heard with the goal of helping them achieve wholeness in the lives. Carlete has professional experience in the private sector, healthcare and education experience. In high school, Carlete was exposed to both advanced coursework as well as workforce development. Her teachers and counselor showed her that college and workforce readiness were not independent paths, rather they could blend together to create post-secondary success. As a result, she completed two paid internships with highly reputable companies while graduating in the top 5% of her class.
Carlete relied on her academic performance to earn acceptance into the University of Texas at Austin. She participated in three paid internships while completing her Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies focusing in Corporate Communication. With a desire to connect with and support the next generation, Carlete became a communications teacher at the high school from which she graduated. Soon after realizing she wanted to extend her reach, she completed her Master of Arts degree in Counseling at Prairie View A&M University and became a professional school counselor. Carlete has worked in inner-city (3 years), suburban (6 years), rural (3 years) and online schools (2 years), giving her a broader perspective of student needs.
While counseling one day, Carlete witnessed first-hand the impact of generational trauma. She was deeply moved to expand her reach and influence from teenagers only to adults and families. As she took steps to become a licensed professional counselor, Carlete also became the school counseling coordinator for the 8th largest school district in Texas. She went on to become the first Assistant Director of School Counseling for the same district, serving over 170 school counselors and over 80,000 students.
After completing 13 years in K-12 education, Carlete launched into full-time private practice and entrepreneurship in 2021. She is the founder and CEO of Clear Sense Management Company and the practice owner/principal provider of CSM Counseling. Her management company provides business consulting services undergirded with counseling principles as well as professional development trainings and workshops. Her practice focuses on reducing the stigma associated with seeking mental health services while helping clients achieve wholeness in their lives. She is particularly passionate about compassion fatigue, trauma, and grief/loss. Carlete also focuses on adjustment challenges as well as anxiety and stress. Rather than living with these events, she wants to help clients live through them…changing steps into miles to become whole. She is also a contributing author to the textbook Administrative Leaders and School Counselors: Building on Theories, Standards, and Experiences for Optimal Mental Health Collaboration. Carlete has been a featured panelist and presenter for various state and national organizations as well as the former host of the Seen, Heard, Whole Podcast.
Joetta Nevels
Global Project Manager & Caregiver
Joetta Nevels is a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience in global project management in Information Technology with IBM, holding both a PMP and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certifications. With a business degree from Washburn University and extensive professional experience, her most profound journey has been the transition from her career to taking on advocacy and caregiving responsibilities for loved ones. Joetta’s story is not just about managing projects; it is about managing lives and navigating crisis with calm and clarity. Joetta combines her expertise in strategic planning and process improvement with her personal experience to provide a thoughtful, empathetic perspective on what it truly takes to be a caregiver, from building support networks to maintaining balance and resilience. She has walked alongside family members and friends through some of life’s most challenging moments.
Vonne Jones, MD
Medical Professional
Vonne Jones, MD, is a dedicated, board-certified physician, providing obstetric and gynecological care to women at Total Women’s Care in Houston, Texas. Her goal with Total Women’s Care is to add a new dimension to women’s healthcare that targets the complete woman, not just parts of her.
Dr. Jones always wanted to be a doctor. She completed her undergraduate degree at Houston Baptist University and completed medical school at Georgetown University. It was during her residency at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, Delaware — the only facility in Delaware with a Level 3 NICU — that she felt she learned how to take premier care of her patients.
The desire to provide specialized women’s care inspired Dr. Jones to establish Total Women’s Care. At her practice, she offers the best resources and individualized treatment plans; in-office gynecological and obstetrical services, including annual exams, contraception, uterine fibroids, pregnancy care, preconception counseling, abnormal uterine bleeding, hysteroscopy, menopause, laser excision procedure, and monitoring high-risk pregnancies. She also provides lifestyle recommendations to change the way women feel about themselves before, during, and after pregnancy.
When Dr. Jones isn’t caring for her patients, she enjoys working out, dancing and listening to music, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys volunteering and being active in her community.
Dr. Jones is affiliated with Memorial Hermann Greater Heights and Memorial Hermann Memorial City, which are a part of the largest not-for-profit health system in Southeast Texas, where she performs deliveries, and both inpatient and outpatient surgical gynecology.
Dr. Jones is a member of Wheeler Baptist Church, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the Houston Chamber of Commerce.
Lucretia Jelks
Minister, Speaker, Mental Health Coach
Lucretia Jelks is a phenomenal and influential motivator with a passion for moving audiences from poverty to promise. She holds the ability to encourage, enlighten and educate the masses. She has 30+ years public speaking experience which includes both public and radio appearances. She possesses an extensive financial background which includes but is not limited to 25+ years in banking and 7 years of experience working in the Financial Opportunity Center of a non-profit, and 3 of those were in a Directorship role. She is a Certified Financial Coach, Certified Credit Counselor, Certified Financial Educator, Certified Mental Health Coach and Notary Public. Lucretia encourages her clients to gain financial freedom through budgeting, saving, and financial education. She couples her knowledge with her passion to continue making a difference in the lives of each and every client that she encounters. She was beyond blessed by the opportunity to serve as the South Texas Regional Director of On the Road Lending, until October of 2020. This position allowed her to utilize her mouthpiece to market one of the greatest programs available.
She utilized this role as a platform to change lives of people from all walks of life. Not only did she influence those in need of a great service, she touched the hearts of those that may have a desire to give. She planted the seed with potential donors through her electrifying presentations and testimonials regarding past clients. It is with great passion and grace that she shared the benefits of this great program all throughout the great state of Texas and beyond!!
Lucretia is more than a motivator, but she is a believer that to whom much is given much is required. She is a faithful volunteer with the Women’s Resource of Greater Houston, and the Harris County Criminal Justice System where she has taught Financial Literacy for the past twelve years. In 2010 The Women’s Resource recognized Lucretia with the honor of Volunteer of the Year. In addition, she has mentored high school students through her service with the Project Lead Program.
Lucretia has held roles with the United Way Speaker’s Bureau for the United Way Campaign, as well as served as Team Leader of the GO Neighborhood Family Income & Wealth Team in the Near Northside Community in Houston, Texas. Lucretia has served as the Committee Chair for Houston Money Weeks Adult Education Committee and in 2015 she received a Stellar Award for her Leadership. She has also served as a member of the Houston Money Week Leadership Team. She holds a B.S. in Business Management and has been instrumental in helping others start their own businesses as Financial Educators.
Today Lucretia is an entrepreneur and has her own company, Coach’s Corner – All Things Financial. she serves as a Lead Trainer of Financial Coaches for the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) network and for United Way THRIVE initiative.
Coach’s Corner’s primary focus is to train the trainer, in group and one-on-one sessions. She empowers coaches to empower their clients to achieve financial stability and capability. She also offers financial literacy classes for groups of 10 or more.
Lucretia is passionate about helping others transform their lives from existing, to living. She feels that the lack of knowledge has caused many to fall into financial disarray. She believes that empowering people through teaching/training will ignite change in their economic behaviors. She is also a Certified Mental Health Coach. Lucretia has seen the correlation between good mental health and good financial decisions. She understands that sometimes people make defeating financial decisions because there is something beyond their control mentally and until the individual is made aware, nothing will change.
This awareness is what led to Lucretia become a Certified Mental Health Coach. She is able to coach people through stressful times due to busyness, loneliness, financial struggles, loss, seasonal depression and so many other challenges. Lucretia recognizes that asking for help is hard, so when someone is courageous enough to ask, they deserve the right response.
Lucretia is an Ordained Minister and Transformational Speaker and she holds the belief that your today does not determine your tomorrow, because the opportunity for change is always present. She loves to sing and has performed at various venues.
Lucretia was born and raised in Houston, Texas where she still resides today. She is a widow with one son and five adorable grandchildren.
Kim Mason
Executive Director, Women Cultivating Greatness
www.womencultivatinggreatness.com or www.divasday.org
The Mission of Women Cultivating Greatness is to address the needs of brilliant women who learn differently by offering tools and techniques that minimize barriers to economic, emotional, and educational success improving overall quality of life.
Our Vision is to provide awareness and solutions to all women with learning challenges, disabilities and obstacles. Our ultimate goal is to provide sustainable resources and support to assist our target audience with leveling the playing field so they may sustain a balance between community, family, life, school, and work. Because of our founder’s life experiences with learning challenges, we are dedicated to giving every woman an equal opportunity to achieve success with solutions designed to provide life balance. We want to provide practical solutions that enable women to take control of their career and personal growth.
Website: www.womencultivatinggreatness.com
Facebook: Women Cultivating Greatness Instagram: kmwcg
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