Meet Our Trainers & Consultants



Amanda Fontaine
I have spoken and conducted workshops for Rotary International, American Advertising Association, National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, Association of Fundraising Professionals, and numerous others. I have coached over 100 organizations and love to plan events. My most requested programs include fundraising and time management. I have had over 15 years of fundraising experience as the Executive Director of a nonprofit and have assisted numerous other associations. I am very energetic and enthusiastic.


Angela Carson
I have over 20 years of management and training experience in the community development, business, military, and educational fields. She founded Carson Consulting Services, LLC in 2001 to help organizations, corporations, and government agencies increase their effectiveness through training and consultation.


Angela Howze
I am a Financial Strategist Consultant, Coach, Speaker, Trainer and CEO of Angela Howze Student Loan Expert, & Credit Restoration, LLC. An author of Breaking Free from Financial Aid Prison, Love Learning, Ditch the Debt, and newest book to be released February 2021- Rebuilding Your Financial Legacy After 2020.


Christie Lawrence
I am passionate about training and helping organizations assess their situation and craft plans or messaging to achieve their vision. Having run a self-help and marriage seminar for 10 years, I am skilled at creating experienced-based training and workshops that garner more participant engagement and input, even from board members.


Jan Eastman
I have almost 60 years of work experience including management, consulting, accounting, information technology, education, marketing, and retail sales. I am the owner of MindShare of NE MS. I received my B.S. in accounting and a M.S. in Business and Education from MUW.


Jennifer Riley Collins
I am the Principal Owner and Consultant at J Riley Collins Consulting, LLC. Applying over 20 years of experiential expertise I provide administrative, operational, and programmatic support to private, public, and non-profit organizations.


Karen Sock
I am the President and CEO of Sock Enterprises, Inc., a full-service consulting firm. I provide companies and organizations with a variety of professional services including but not limited to: strategic and business planning, leadership and staff development, project management, and Diversity Equity and Inclusion workshops.


LeKesha Perry
I have extensive experience as an evaluator, policy analyst, strategic planner, and technical assistance provider. I am the founder, CEO, and Principal Associate of Key Concepts, LLC, a research and evaluation firm committed to seeking solutions to some of society’s most challenging and complex problems.


Mary Ellen Calvert
I am an adult educator and nonprofit consultant and work with organizations in the areas of Management Development, Leadership, Strategic Planning, Collaboration, and many others. I developed curriculum and training modules for the Mid South Collaborative for Nonprofit Development, a three-state nonprofit collaborative, and trained over 250 trainers to deliver training to grassroots organizations across the Mid-South.


Michael Dozier
I serve as the principal owner of Carrington, Holland & Leigh, LLC a nonprofit consulting company whose mission is to empower nonprofits and give businesses the opportunity to succeed.


Michael Goss
I have more than 25 years of experience in leading nonprofits and companies, and entrepreneurially-minded leader with proven effectiveness building strategic systems and engaged leadership teams within organizations. I enthusiastically partner with entities to bring vision into reality through navigating change and building positive momentum.


Michele Baker
I love to travel, I love to fix problems, and I love training and public speaking. I’ve been in the business of creating, working with, and helping fix nonprofits since 1995, and it gets more fun every year. I hope we can work together soon!


Nancy Perret
I have extensive sales, marketing, human relations, and management training through IBM. I am certified to administer and interpret the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®. I am a past board member and past President of the American Society for Training and Development (New Orleans Chapter) and a past board member of the United Way of Greater New Orleans and the Chamber of Commerce New Orleans & the River Region.


Pam Confer
I am an international, award-winning, bilingual professional speaker, jazz singer, business consultant, public relations guru, and sports clay enthusiast. I explode with confidence— teaching everyone how a simple smile can move the world! I am a TEDx Women presenter, corporate humorist, and master soft-skills trainer. I have graced the cover and been featured in several publications. I am a strong advocate for community partnerships.


Dr. Sharon Griffin
I am a professor of marketing within the College of Business, Jackson State University. My research explores the role of intuition, gut feelings, and nonconscious processes with respect to consumer choice and behavior. Several fundamental motivations–such as individuals’ relationships with people and products, culture and cultural influence, and relying on feelings for information.


Sheila Farr
I am an eternal optimist! After 20 years of building and managing successful businesses for others, I stepped out and started my own business in 2017. Now, I'm the CEO of Gulf Coast Training & Education Services, LLC, in Biloxi, Mississippi, where I help individuals and small businesses overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams by developing personalized business strategies and training plans that work.