Kelly Walsh is Chief of Staff, Human Resources at Ally Financial.   Her professional background includes leadership in strategic growth, project management, corporate responsibility, marketing, advocacy, public affairs, and fundraising.  A native of Columbus, Ohio, Kelly lived in Chicago and Washington DC before moving to Michigan.  She is a member of the 2019 Harvard Business School Young American Leader program and a graduate of Leadership Detroit.  Kelly is active in her community, serving on the board of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial and as a Girl Scout troop leader.  Kelly is a proud mom of three young children that keep her and husband Brendan laughing and on their toes.

Barb has been a member of Impact100 Metro Detroit since 2016 and previously served on the board as the Chair of the Financial Review committee.  She has also served as Governance Chair.  Barb will be sharing the office of President with Kelly Walsh for the 2023-2024 grant year.

Catherine Porter is currently the Director of Talent Strategy and Processes with Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. As a member of the Talent and Human Performance
leadership team since 2010, Catherine is responsible for developing and
leading the implementation of talent management strategies, practices, processes, and
tools throughout the Enterprise, including responsibility for talent and learning focused
technology. She earned a Master of Arts in Industrial Relations degree from Wayne
State University and a Bachelor of Science in Human Services degree from the
University of Detroit-Mercy. Since joining Impact 100 Metro Detroit in 2019, Catherine
has held various roles including grant review team member and Focus Area co-chair. A
fitness fan and craft beer enthusiast, Catherine is a proud mother to her college-aged
daughter and dog-mom to her Italian greyhound.

Liz currently serves as a Director at Peninsula Capital Partners, a private equity investment firm based in Metro Detroit. She has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, including roles at both Huntington National Bank and Comerica Bank. Liz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Central Michigan University, and a Masters in Business Administration from Wayne State University. Liz serves as the co-chair of the Financial Review Committee for Impact 100 Metro Detroit.

Unyime Ekpenyong is an Assurance Director with PwC’s Private Company Services group.  She currently serves companies across multiple industries including manufacturing, retail, and service.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Walsh College, and an MBA from Wayne State University.  Unyime is married with three amazing sons.

Kelsey Arvai, MBA, is an Associate Financial Planner at the Center for Financial Planning, Inc.  After graduation from the University of Michigan in 2016, Kelsey worked in research at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.  She earned her Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Wayne State in August, 2020.  Kelsey enjoys yoga, reading and food.  She’s always the first to know when a new restaurant opens in Detroit – thanks in part to her Eater Detroit newsletter subscription.

Eileen Vernor is Director of Wellbeing and HR Systems for Urban Science in Detroit. Her
professional background includes 30+ years HR experience across industries specializing in
global mental health wellbeing, compensation, benefits, and HR technology. She holds a BA in
International Relations and Spanish from Syracuse University, an M.Ed. Industrial
Counseling/HR from Northeastern University, and several HR certifications (SHRM-SCP, SPHR,
GPHR, and CCP). Growing up as part of an expat family, Eileen has lived in China, Indonesia,
Iran, Spain, and Venezuela. With a passion for volunteering, Eileen has served on several
nonprofit boards including Vista Maria, Community Care Services, and several local HR
professional association boards. In addition to serving as Chair, Grant Review Committee,
Eileen hosts Impact100 Metro Detroit’s Fueling Transformation podcast interviewing nonprofit
heroes including grant recipients. Eileen is married with a son, daughter-in-law and 2 energetic
grandchildren.

Julie DiCicco has been with TD Bank (formerly Chrysler Financial) for 20+ years, and has been involved in the front and the back end of the business.  She has worked in integration and in overseeing daily functions.  Her current role is Operation Manager supporting the US Data and Analytics team, promoting consistency, overseeing talent development and employee engagement, and working closely with TD’s Canadian partners on various initiatives.  She has been a part of the TD Women in Leadership group for 12 years, recently serving as the co-lead and establishing community partnerships with the Mercy Education Project and Impact100 Metro Detroit.  Julie graduated from Central Michigan University with degrees in Sociology and Family Studies.  She resides in Grosse Pointe Woods with her husband and three sons.  She loves to entertain and to spend time with family and friends.

Liliana is passionate about social justice and civil rights.  She enjoys helping nonprofits develop funding strategies to achieve their mission and create social change.  She began her career with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, and currently works as a grant writer and fundraising consultant.  Liliana is from Colombia and grew up in New Jersey.  She has a BA in economics and political scheme from Villanova University, and an MA in public administration from Michigan State University.  She lives in Orchard Lake Village with her husband and four kids. In her free time she enjoys traveling, running, and volunteering.

Tracie is a marketing consultant with a deep knowledge of marketing communications and advertising, including brand positioning, strategy development and integrated marketing planning/execution. She is a true advocate for using data to improve performance, and for putting the customer and their needs first. She has championed award winning loyalty programs for several fortune 500 companies, and is experienced with a diverse range of industries/categories such as financial services, travel, communications, insurance and automotive. Tracie has held leadership positions at CU Solutions Group, DP+, and Campbell Ewald, where she was an executive vice president and member of the board of directors. Tracie holds a degree in communications from Michigan State University. Her number one priority is her husband and three children (which includes being an Uber driver/mom for her teenage daughter). Tracie enjoys volunteering for several local organizations, schools and her church. She also loves to entertain and is learning to love golf.

Tyler Ross is a dynamic, transformational marketing executive. As Chief Marketing Officer, she led the rebranding of Vibe Credit Union. After a successful 30-year corporate marketing and communications career, Tyler founded Big Bold Moves. She consults with other progressive-minded people in strategy, marketing, and coaching.  She has also authored a book for a Detroit-based CEO.

Tyler earned her Bachelor’s degree from The University of Michigan in Business and Organizational Communications. Her curious mind and love of learning led her back to U of M at 40, earning a Master’s degree in Business and Performance Improvement. In 2021, she obtained a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate from U of M.

Tyler lives in Northville, and her son is a recent U of M graduate. Go Blue! She loves music, outdoor activities, and quality time with family and friends. She is passionate about traveling to experience the beauty of the world. Her mantra is: Find more joy in every day!

A founding board member of Impact100 Metro Detroit, Kim is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BA in English. She has spent the last 25 years raising two children and volunteering for a wide variety of organizations, churches and schools. She is past president of the Clarkston Community Historical Society, and served on the Board of Directors for Blessings in a Backpack-Waterford and the Foundation Board of St. Vincent de Paul, Detroit. She is co-author of a history textbook for 2nd grade students in her local school district.  She and her husband Dave are the proud parents of two grown daughters, Kate and Sarah.  They split their time between Michigan and Florida where they play tennis, pickleball and golf, among other sports.

Linda Jones is the Senior Manager of Global Operations Talent Care for the Science and Clinical Functional Service Provider workforce solutions at Kelly.  Jones leads employee engagement, performance management, and talent mapping strategies that support the retention of the highly skilled life science professionals on assignment with Kelly clients.  Throughout her career, Linda had a diverse history of job roles in many industries, including at Merrill Lynch in Detroit and Harris Bank in Chicago.  She has a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs Management from Michigan State University, and is currently enrolled at Walsh College pursuing her Master of Science in Management with a concentration in Human Resources. In her spare time, she is an active board member of Impact 100 Metro Detroit, plays tennis, enjoys kickboxing and cycling classes. Linda is a resident of Detroit, Michigan with her husband Carlos and daughter Clare.

Lisa Samerdyke is a Detroit area health care executive who actively participates in many of the multi-
stakeholder organizations focused on improving health for area residents. She is a philanthropist and
board member for community organizations serving southeast Michigan with a focus on improving quality of life. She has a strong sense of devotion to the non-profit sector and is a passionate advocate. Lisa also enjoys hitting the gym, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Megan McCandlish is a Shareholder with Doeren Mayhew. She has over 12 years of experience in accounting and audit management. However, her specialization is nonprofit organizations. She is a Board member of Advancing Macomb, and also serves on the audit committee for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Leslie is currently the Director of the Tech Strategy PMO at Ally Bank.  She is a graduate of Central Michigan University, and holds a masters in Program/Project management.   Leslie live in Fraser, Michigan with her husband, her mom, and their dog Gracie.  When she’s not keeping busy with work, you can find her binging on health and wellness content on the internet, boating on Lake St. Clair, or traveling somewhere, anywhere!

Melanie Dunbeck is a senior leader with a passion for bringing technology solutions to organizations. She is currently leading Kelly’s Automation Center, focusing on strategy, design, and delivery. Melanie provides skilled leadership to organizations, sharing her expertise in architecting and managing innovative practices and complex, global programs.  She specializes in both solution design and data. Raised in Detroit and an alumni of Cass Tech and Wayne State, Melanie gives back to the city she loves by being an ambassador, volunteering, and enjoying cultural and sporting events.

Brenda is a recent MISB graduate of Wayne State University. Following graduation, she joined Ally
Financial in its Accelerated Rotational Program, currently as an Auto Compliance Analyst. Brenda is an
active participant in the Women’s and Hispanic Employee Resource Groups at Ally.  She created and
chairs the Detroit Volunteer Committee for Ally’s Compliance Department, which oversees community
service and other opportunities. She is currently pursuing her MBA with a concentration in Finance.

Kellie is an Account Director at McCann Detroit.  She graduated from Michigan State University, earning her Bachelor of Science from the College of Communication Arts and Sciences.  Her passion for creating authentic consumer marketing and building strong client partnerships have landed her at Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series games, Country Music Award Festivals, and Manchester United Pitch events! Her love of messaging and connection also extends to her community and philanthropic work. When not lending a hand to the dynamic women of Impact 100 Metro Detroit, she can be found outdoors with her husband of 12 years and their two children.

Maggie Hughes serves as the Chief of Staff at Waymark, where she’s been instrumental in advancing AI initiatives and championing team well-being for the technology startup. A graduate of Michigan State University Honors College with a degree in International Relations and Political Science, Maggie’s expertise spans from strategic operations to community engagement. Beyond her professional endeavors, she has lent her skills to various community projects and organizations with special focus on local government. Passionate about creativity and innovation, Maggie consistently seeks opportunities to merge technology with meaningful impact.

Samantha Stewart serves as the Technical Project Manager at Waymark, a pioneering Detroit technology startup, where she is now building upon her extensive five-year tenure as a software engineer. Armed with a Psychology degree from the University of Michigan, Samantha’s journey into the tech world was propelled by her post-college venture into Dev Bootcamp, where she acquired coding proficiency. Her varied background allows her to manage complex projects while fostering a dynamic team environment. Beyond the professional, Samantha finds solace in yoga, hiking with her dog, channeling her creativity in the kitchen, and trying new restaurants in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas.

Alexis De La Cruz is currently a Sales Alliance Specialist with Ally Financial. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management from Albion College. Alexis joined Impact 100 Metro Detroit in 2022, and is now excited to further her involvement in the organization. She joined the Finance Leadership Team, and is now responsible for auditing the chapter’s QuickBooks accounting software that interfaces directly with our bank and our membership system. Outside of work and volunteering, Alexis is a golfer and cigar enthusiast.  When she’s not on the golf course, she enjoys spending time with family and traveling!

Princess Castleberry is a Professional Speaker, Wellness + Risk Consultant, and CEO and founder of GO BEYOND WELL.

After building a 20-year global enterprise risk management career across the staffing, construction, insurance, tech, and education industries, she’s on a mission to redefine the conventional approach to wellness in both the personal and professional spheres.

Today GO BEYOND WELL provides professional speaking, workshops, consulting, and coaching services that help people solve wellness challenges and then leverage their wellness as a strategy for personal, community, and business growth. Princess has been featured at TEDxDetroit and in Fast Company, BenefitsPro, Supply & Demand Chain Executive, and other publications, and is a sought-after speaker and thought leader for national and global conferences.

Princes holds a B.A. Degree in International Business and Spanish from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master of Training and Development Degree from Oakland University, and a Wellness Counselor Certificate from Cornell University.

Diane Lalicki is a retired technology professional who worked in the banking and automotive industries. With a focus on program management, she held leadership positions that leveraged her unique blend of experience in IT security, project management, process engineering, and technical development. Diane is active in her community.  She has has served on the board of the Troy Women’s Association, and currently volunteers at her church’s food pantry. She is a graduate of Oakland University which is where she met her husband, Gary.  She has two terrific daughters and two great sons-in-law, and she is an extremely proud Gigi to one fun loving granddaughter.

Bio coming soon!

Margret McDermott is a professional artist who loves to bring beauty and joy into the lives of her collectors through her work. Before dedicating herself fulltime to her artistic practice, Margret spent a long career as a systems engineer/programmer, and vice president of a software and services company she and her husband own. She grew up in the Detroit area and earned her B.S. in Computer Science degree from Wayne State University. Margret now splits her time between Michigan and Florida. She enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, travel, reading, knitting, cooking, and spending time with family, friends and her cat, Maisy.