THE BOARD
MEET US!
The Tekau's Heart Memorial Foundation's Board comes from various diverse backgrounds, uniting for a common mission of raising heart health and awareness in teens and young adults.
Judith Rasayon
President & Founder
Chair of the Health Committee, Member of the Governance
and Finance and Audit Committees
Judith Rasayon is a native Washingtonian, having grown up in the DMV. She is a professional with extensive experience in the health insurance and managed care industries. Her career includes her current position with the Federal Government. Past experiences include tenure with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area and Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. and almost a decade at AARP Services, Inc. (ASI) where she left as Vice President of 50-64 Health Insurance, Long-term Care and Ancillary Health Products. She was responsible for business development, strategic planning, product/project development and implementation, matrix management
and revenue generation.
In addition, Judith has an awareness and sensitivity for disparities in health care, diversity, and multi-cultural efforts. She believes strongly in accountability, an interactive outlook, and a team-focused approach to generating results and getting the job done. She
is a proud Mom, stating “her greatest blessings call her Mom”. She is a proud alumnus of Spelman College
in Atlanta, Georgia; and a Soror of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
She is a founder and currently, the Executive Director of the Tekau’s Heart Memorial Foundation, Inc.. The mission of the organization is to raise awareness of heart health and heart conditions, especially in teens and young adults; and to provide a memorial scholarship to a graduating high school senior that is going to college.
Phyllis Dickerson
Vice President
Chair of the Education Committee and Member
of the Events Committee
Retired Senior Master Sergeant (SrMsgt) Phyllis G. Dickerson was born in Hustle, VA SrMsgt. Dickerson was a trail blazer in the United States Air Force (USAF) where her assignments included many “firsts”. She was stationed in Japan, Turkey, England where she served as an inspector aircraft and serviced tanker, cargo, and fighter aircraft at multiple USAF bases. She was the first woman and African-American to hold the position of Production Superintendent of flight line maintenance when stationed at the Royal Air Force (RAF) in England, which involved deployments to various locations during the Gulf War.
While at Andrews AFB, MD she was assigned to the Transient Maintenance Branch to support all aircraft traffic related to the White House and the Pentagon. RSrMsgt. Dickerson was also assigned as the first female Crew Chief of the Vice President’s aircraft, where she directly supported the Vice President. On many occasions she also served as back-up Crew Chief for Air Force One, the President of the United States’ aircraft.After retiring from active duty in the USAF RetSrMsgt. Dickerson later helped lead
the Junior Air Force ROTC program at Surrattsville High School in Clinton, MD---the MD-942 AFJROTC unit.She developed a unique high school transitional program that included mentoring, guidance, and post-secondary school and career exploration opportunities. Under her leadership and direction the Surrattsveille MD-942 JAFROTC (the Best of the Best) unit received multiple awards and accolades over the years and was a model for other AFJROTC units to follow. After twenty-two years Ret SrMsgt. Dickerson retired from Surrattsville High in 2015. She continues to help and encourage students through her work at the Suitland High School Naval JROTC program.
Ret. SrMsgt. Dickerson’s military decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster; Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters; the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with One silver oak leaf cluster and one oak leaf cluster; the AFJROTC Instructor of the Year (1996/1997). Ret. SrMsgt. Dickerson is married and has five children. She is still very active in the community.
Michael Alvarez
Chair of the Volunteers Committee
Michael Alvarez is a DMV native. He is a graduate of Surrattsville High School in Clinton, MD. In 2016 he joined the United States Air Force District of Columbia National Guard, based at Joint Base Andrew’s. He has had several positions since joining the Guard that included a role in recruitment. In this role he reached out to thousands of citizens to promote the opportunities of the Air Force National Guard; to provide a better future to include both financial and health benefits for Guard recruits. In his current role as an Air Force mechanic he services and maintains Air Force aviation fighter jets.
Serving his country has included international deployments to Japan and Poland. He is also seeking a bachelor’s degree in Business Management at the University of Maryland Global Campus. In addition to his military service, he helped establish the family business, Sky Green Janitorial, LLC.
Michael has a managerial role in the business with oversight of company employees and responsibility for providing excellent customer service to business clients. He has a history of actively volunteering in community events; including key roles in the organization and coordination of the two Tekau’s Heart Memorial Foundation Community 5K Fun Runs in 2014 and 2015. Michael’s interests and hobbies include playing soccer, travel, love for “hands on” automotive mechanics, and military aviation planes.
Leonard Long, Jr., Esq.
Governance Committee
Leonard L. Long, Jr., Esq. a long-time resident of Washington, DC, and has nearly 40 years of experience as a practicing attorney. A graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and Howard University Law School in Washington, D.C. Mr. Long, Jr. was an Adjunct Professor at Bowie State University before opening his own private law practice in 1984. Prior to that Mr. Long, Jr. was as an Associate at Holt & Gebow, an Assistant City Attorney for the city of Aurora, Colorado, and a Legal Staff Assistant for the State of Colorado Public Defender’s Office in Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Long, Jr. has been and continues to be a member of numerous associations including the American Trial Lawyers Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Bar Association, District of Columbia Superior Court Trial Lawyers Association,
Lawyers Association, and the J. Franklin Bourne Bar Association in Maryland. He has been admitted to several Courts in the United States, including the Supreme Court of the State of Colorado, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for Third and Fourth Circuits, among others. He is licensed to practice law in Colorado (inactive), Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Amare Langford-Armstrong
Treasurer
Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee
Amare Langford-Armstrong was born and raised in Maryland for most of his life with the exception of living two years in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Surrattsville High School in Clinton, MD in 2013; and from Frostburg State University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Accounting and a minor in Business Administration.
Throughout his school years he has held many leadership positions ranging from a high school class leader and training instructor for JROTC, president and vice president for Frostburg’s Residence Hall Association (RHA), and a member of the President’s Leadership Circle (PLC) which is a selection of the top 1% of leaders chosen on campus. He is currently employed with a hotel REIT Company, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and has been with the company for two years with a General Ledger/Accounts Payable position.
He is an older brother of two siblings and the son of two deaf parents and is fluent in sign language. His hobbies consist of playing soccer, art and animation, and exercise. His strengths are his positivity, determination, relationship building, motivation, perseverance
and hard work.
Reneé M. Tribbett
Secretary
Chair of the Events Committee and Member
of the Volunteer Committee
Reneé Tribbett is the Director of Operations at PeerForward. In this capacity, she oversees the IT
support function, partnerships/sales and training operations. Reneé also oversees the administration of the Board of Directors as well as the Volunteer and Alumni programs. She manages program related projects, including curriculum and process design, system and tool development, procurement, publication, evaluations, and communications.
Prior to PeerForward, Reneé worked with the Air National Guard administering programs and events that support the development of spiritually and mentally fit Airmen for homeland and global operations. These programs included Suicide Prevention and Resiliency training. Reneé was also a Family Counselor/Interventionist where she provided intensive, in-home intervention services to avert at-risk children being placed in foster care.
Reneé holds a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from Bowie State University.She is the Secretary of the Board of Directors of The Tekau’s Heart Memorial Foundation, Inc.,a certified Life Coach as well as a certified Mental Health First Aid and Strong Bonds Instructor.
Rolonda Kelly
Health & Events Committees
Rolonda Kelly is a graduate of Surrattsville High School in Clinton, MD. She has a passion for health and wellness that she employs through community outreach. As a Prince George’s County, Maryland native, Rolonda developed her love for health and fitness at a young age with an aspiration of becoming a pediatrician. As a part of this journey to medicine, she earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Exercise Science and Biology from High Point University in North Carolina. She jump started her career in the medical field as an Emergency Room medical scribe. During this time she crossed-trained with an electrophysiology cardiologist. Over the past four years, she has developed expertise in medical documentation, insurance verification, quality assurance by training staff, and managing additional administrative duties as it pertains to a busy specialty private practice.
Rolonda first took interest in promoting health and wellness among the underserved community in college, where she assisted in hosting the Exercise Science Club's first 5k run across campus and started a youth aftercare program encouraging children to get active. Driven by her passion to help others, she believes in providing opportunities and educating the community to encourage individuals to have a more active role in their health.
Outside of work and studying, Rolonda enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, bowling, and exercising.
LaNise Salley
Chair of the Governance Committee
LaNise Salley is a native of Maryland, a graduate of Surrattsville High School in Clinton, MD and earned a Bacherlor’s of Arts degree from Salem College in North Carolina. She graduated from the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) School of Law in 2019. She is currently employed with a large non-profit organization in Washington, DC. She also performs ad hoc legal work in Washington, D.C.
Past professional experiences include providing legal representation for low-income residents in the District of Columbia. She has advocated on behalf of D.C. residents experiencing housing injustices as well as consumer debt. Further, she has experience in representing organizations and individuals with regards to juvenile special education needs.
Additionally, LaNise has a passion for Know-Your-Rights advocacy work and building community efforts in
the interest of reducing financial, housing, and health disparities.
Kyle Bowen
Education & Volunteer Committees
Kyle Bowen is a DMV native, having grown up in Prince Georges County, Maryland. He is a graduate of Surrattsville High School in Clinton, MD. Kyle spent seven years as a Volunteer Fireman and paid Emergency Technician (EMT) with the Clinton, MD Volunteer Fire House. Kyle is an active entrepreneur having previously owned an independent business. He is currently a manager of a food products distribution center.
Kyle has a history of actively volunteering in community events; including key roles in the organization and coordination of the two Tekau’s Heart Memorial Foundation Community 5K Fun Runs in 2014 and 2015 in Clinton, MD. In addition, he is an advocate for mental health awareness and support.
Joyce L. Brown-Wilbon
Education Committee
Joyce united in Holy Matrimony on June 30, 2018 to Richard B. Wilbon the love of her life. She currently sits under the leadership of the Bishop Dr. Charles Anthony Muse who is the founder and Senior Pastor/Overseer of the Ark of Safety Christian Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She is a licensed Minister and is an Elder through the Ark of Safety Bible College. Elder Brown-Wilbon has served and was a leader of many different ministries that include: Grief Counselor for the Sound Mind, Congregation Care, Street / Prison Ministries, Youth Ministries and Head of Transportation / Parking Lot Ministries. Elder Brown-Wilbon accepted her calling in 1985 under the Leadership of the Rev. Conrad and Dr. Diane Parker at the Christ United Methodist Church of Aquasco, Maryland. That is where she received
her foundational teaching from multiple pastors, including the Rev. Dr. Kwame Abayomi and Rev. Dr. Eddie Smith.
Elder Brown-Wilbon holds three degrees including a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Sociology and a Master’s of Education Degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.
She received her Doctor of Ministry in Christian Education / Ministry at Logos Graduate School Jacksonville, Florida. Elder Brown-Wilbon has worked for the Prince George’s County Public School System since 1998.
She has held multiple Professional School Counselor positions that include: Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Surrattsville High School, Gwynn Park Middle School, and is currently a Professional School Counselor at DuVal High School. While at Surrattsville High School she was the Head Softball Coach for 12 years taking the team to two State finals. This is her sixth year as the Head Softball Coach for the New International School of Largo, MD, coaching a team that includes students from many different countries.
Elder Joyce L. Brown-Wilbon lives to seek souls for the Kingdom of God daily. Her goal is to challenge, motivate, and to inspire people all over the world to seek God first in all things. Her motto is “If she can help someone as she travels along the way then her living will not be in vain”.