Board of Directors

Inspired by her experience in South Africa, Betty came back to the United States and founded EmpowHer. Its mission was to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged girls and women by offering them opportunities to enhance their lives through the development of entrepreneurial, business, and life skills that lead to economic independence. Since its inception in 2003, EmpowHer has served thousands of girls and women in the Los Angeles area.

Betty earned a BA in Business Administration from California State University at Los Angeles and an MBA from Pepperdine University. The Mayor of Los Angeles and California’s Lieutenant Governor have honored Betty for outstanding community service as an activist for change as well as for her contributions to a variety of youth organizations. Betty is an author, speaker, businesswoman, entrepreneur. She received the 2015 Services to Youth Award from Palos Verdes Chapter of Links, Inc, a 2014 Friends of Fuller Foundation Humanitarian Award , a 2013 Soroptimist International  Ruby Award by the Camino Real Region. A 2012 Pepperdine University George Award winner for Community Service she was also 2010 Los Angeles Business Journal honoree and finalist for the Women Making a Difference Award.

She is active in the community, launching The Grid in LA, an informal networking group for emerging CPAs and serves as a mentor for middle school girls through her work with EmpowHer Institute.

Ribka started her professional career as an engineer with General Motors and Hughes Missile Systems Company, before transitioning into Human Resources. She holds an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, as well as a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and B.A. in English Literature from the University of Michigan. Ribka is also a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Ribka immigrated to the US with her family as a child and grew up in Michigan. While serving on the EmpowHer Board, Ribka also supports Healthcare Business Women’s Association (HBA) and Women Unlimited as an Executive Mentor. Ribka resides in Sherman Oaks with her husband and two children.

She provides medical care to newborns that are born prematurely, critically ill, or in need of surgery. Her medical career began as a graduate of Harvard Medical School with her residency at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. She served on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles for six years, motivated by the belief that women deserve access to comprehensive health care and accurate education regarding contraception and reproductive choices. Claudia has been an active member of the Association of Black Women Physicians (a Southern California-based organization), serving as president, vice-president, treasurer, and chair of several committees.

The coffeehouse business was sold and now operates as Cafe Etc Hollywood, but Velonne relishes in the fact that she was at the helm of what is now a thriving comer/corridor with burgeoning businesses that used many of her plans for redevelopment of the area. In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Velonne enjoys travel, particularly to jazz festivals both domestic and international, event planning, and real estate activities. Velonne is originally from Fort Worth, Texas. She relocated to Los Angeles, California, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree at Pepperdine University.

Tony serves as LLNL’s compliance point of contact for equal employment opportunity and affirmative action programs. He also encourages and manages the engagement of the Laboratory’s 10 Employee Resource Groups that contribute to the Laboratory’s workforce, inclusion, and outreach efforts. He has also mentored students and staff on navigating their studies and careers in science, engineering and technology.

Lastly, Tony serves as an advisor, consultant, and champion to the Department of Energy, minority-serving institutions, diversity organizations and universities, and serves as a co-principal investigator, an advisory board member, and a board member for institutions and projects that promote the advancement of women and people of color in science and technology careers. In 2018, he became the inaugural chair of the ACM SIGGRAPH’s (9k member organization) Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He aims to carry out the committee’s goal of creating a welcoming and nurturing community for everyone working in computer graphics and interactive techniques. Tony’s passion is advocating for access, equity, and opportunity for the underserved and underrepresented communities in science and technology. Tony is a member of SHRM, ACM and ACM SIGGRAPH.

Her undergraduate background is in mathematics and computer science, but she was drawn to HR as a career and has obtained various HR credentials to further her knowledge in that space. Staci prides herself on being a natural connector and is passionate about workforce of the future trends, corporate responsibility, strategies that enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and building high performance teams.

In 2017, Staci relocated from her hometown of Hyde Park in Chicago, and currently resides on the Westside in Los Angeles. She enjoys hiking, painting, hot yoga, meditation, volunteering in the community, and spending quality time with friends, family, and her Lhasa Poo, Parker.

Staci stands tall in life and in the nonprofit world by leaning into her strengths and unique blend of corporate experience, community leadership, and compassionate motivation supporting those around her in realizing their full potential.

Lori holds a MS in Organization Development from Pepperdine University, a BS in Business Administration from University of Nebraska, and post graduate education in contemporary Gestalt theory applied to organizations.   She won Alumni of the Year in 2015 from Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School and has taught in the MSOD, MBA, and Certificate programs at Pepperdine University since 2005.

Lori lives in Redondo Beach with her husband James and their two cats.   She loves hiking, swimming, biking, quality time with friends/family, and EmpowHer.

Those shifts have positively affected the capability and diversity of leadership, the visibility and career development of underrepresented employees, as well as the improved performance of managers and teams. Improvement Technologies helps companies design and implement mentoring programs which help achieve business outcomes and strengthen leadership. She wants to share this expertise within the community to help build future leaders at the earliest opportunity. She has a Masters in Psychology from Pepperdine University (top 1%). As a Hoosier Scholar, she earned a B.A. from Indiana University and completed executive coursework  in Finance at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Ruth is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources. She was recognized by the City of Los Angeles for her work as Workforce Investment Board Commissioner. She is former President of the California Diversity Council, adjunct professor at Butler University and guest lecturer at the USC Graduate School of Social Work.

La Shawn began her UPS career in 1998 as a delivery driver, and was promoted to supervisor the following year. In 2001, she accepted an assignment as a Comprehensive Health and Safety Process supervisor, then transitioned to a role in Human Resources in 2004. After successfully completing several rotations, La Shawn was promoted to manager in 2008. In 2012, she accepted the assignment of South California District Community Relations Manager. La Shawn accepted her most recent assignment as West Region Community Relations Manager in September 2018.

Prior to joining EmpowHer Institute’s Board of Directors, La Shawn served as Advisory Board Member on International Trade Educational Program and Advisory Board Member at the Los Angeles Urban League.

La Shawn has two children, Amber and R.J. Amber, is a registered nurse and lives in the Washington D.C. area. R.J. is a Secret Service Agent in Washington D.C. When not at work, La Shawn enjoys spending time with her family, friends, her dog Louie, walks on the beach, wine tasting, jazz concerts, roller skating, bike riding and exercising.

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