Meet our Team
CAROLYN PRESLEY-DOSS
CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER
Carolyn Presley-Doss is the passionate Founder and Chair of the Beacon of Hope Wellness Center for Cancer Support, Incorporated (BoH). Her commitment to the cancer community extends beyond her role at the Beacon of Hope. She actively volunteers her time to fundraise and support St. Jude—ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and serves as a Myeloma Link Ambassador for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Carolyn is an experienced leader with 40+ years of experience resulting in a strong record of accomplishments leading people and organizations in the development and execution of forward-thinking programs in strategic planning, human capital management, financial management, facilities and administrative support, procurement, and business process improvement. She is skilled in managing large, diverse professional and technical support staff groups. She has demonstrated the ability to work with audit, legal, and senior managers to achieve goals to support high-risk, visible, mission-critical programs.
Carolyn attended Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She is a retired Certified Internal Auditor. Her illustrious career included 25 years in the private sector and 20 years serving in the public sector for a Federal Agency Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Ms. Presley-Doss, a New York native, currently resides in the suburbs of Washington, DC, with her husband of 34 years. In retirement, she has found a balance between her professional and personal interests. She enjoys taking knitting and piano lessons when not dedicating her time to BoH. She aims to create handmade gifts for the BoH community and play holiday tunes on the piano.
LILLET WILLIAMS
TREASURER
Lillet Williams, a native of Washington, DC, was a transplant and raised in Prince George’s County Maryland. Ms. Williams has 25+ years of career experience within human resources, health care administration, and human services, with a focus on education and advocacy of vulnerable populations. Currently Lillet serves as the Chief Operating and Human Resources Officer of Federally Qualified Health Center in Southern Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Her prior roles have focused on programming for the concerns of underserved communities to ensure access to primary health as well as behavioral/mental healthcare and/or alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems. As a result, she has extensive management, data collection, and contract experience with government agency funded programs on the Federal, state, and local levels.
Lillet holds an MBA with a concentration in health services management, a master’s in human resource management, and a BA in health science and policy administration. Ms. Williams is currently pursuing a Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law at Tulane University School of Law. Lillet practices her passion for community service as an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated where currently serves as the President of the Lambda Gamma Zeta Chapter in Howard County Maryland.
JEANETTE VILLALON
SECRETARY
Jeanette Villalon grew up in Prince George’s County, MD. She is a resilient and compassionate individual with a diverse background in education and finance. She holds an Associate of Arts in Teaching with a focus on Elementary Education and Generic Special Education. Jeanette worked in the health care and finance field before opening her home based childcare in 2014.
Beyond her professional achievements, Jeanette is a devoted mother of three and a breast cancer survivor with a long family history of cancer. Driven by her experiences, she aspires to support others facing similar challenges, offering guidance and empathy.
In her spare time, Jeanette finds solace in outdoor activities like hiking, as well as leisure pursuits such as playing games, reading, and gardening. With her resilience, compassion, and diverse skill set, Jeanette is dedicated to making a positive impact in both professional and personal spheres. Her unwavering determination to help others navigate through difficult times embodies her attitude of service and compassion.
CAROLINE DARBY
AT-LARGE
Caroline Darby is a dedicated and passionate individual with a proven track record of reliability. For the past three years, she has served as the Secretary on the Board of Directors of her HOA. Caroline enjoys meeting new people in her community and striving to make our development a beautiful and safe place to live. As a career Flight Attendant of 38 years, she has appreciated serving, interacting with, and learning from people from many walks of life.
After her husband of 19 years passed away from multiple myeloma, she has been drawn to the mission and values of Beacon of Hope, and hopes to do her part to advance its objectives and make a difference for her husband's legacy. As a firm believer in the power of volunteerism to drive change and help others, Caroline is excited about the opportunity to contribute her skills to the Board of the Beacon of Hope.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Caroline enjoys exercising and walking in her neighborhood with her loyal companion, Emma, an over-active little Foxy Russell. She also enjoys gardening and lending a hand to her friends and neighbors with home decor for every holiday and season.
DORI KELNER
AT-LARGE
Dori Kelner has lived in the DC area through her adult life and raised her family in Rockville before relocating to Northern Virginia. She has spent much of her career in the tech space, first as a data wrangler and program manager, and then as co-owner of a web agency serving nonprofits. During that time, Dori struggled with stress and burnout, and recognized that her chosen career path was not in alignment with her values and needs.
Dori ultimately realized the value of reconnecting her mind, body, and spirit, and began her journey to health, wellness, and spirituality. She studied the science behind mindfulness-based initiatives, learning how we all have the capacity to strengthen the vital force within ourselves by regulating our nervous systems, leveraging the ability of our brains to handle adversity, and mastering psychological techniques to move through life with greater ease.
Dori is now a teacher of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, working with both individuals and organizations to provide evidence-based wellness practices to those who want a proven way to reduce stress and chronic pain. She holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Maryland, and is credentialed by Brown University in mindfulness-based stress reduction and by Mindful Leader in mindfulness workplace facilitation. In her spare time, Dori likes to cook, garden, and crochet. She loves to golf and travel with her husband and partner on her life’s journey.
Karen Wyche Latham
AT-LARGE
Dr. Karen Wyche Latham is a highly accomplished nurse leader with a strong commitment to nursing professional development and excellence. With more than 33 years of experience in the nursing profession, she is a dedicated leader with a passion for enhancing healthcare delivery. Dr, Wyche Latham is a 2016 Fellow of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing.
Karen is the current Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center. In this role, Dr. Wyche Latham is committed to ensuring that her teams have the necessary skills, tools, and resources to provide safe, quality, and compassionate care that translates into improved patient outcomes and an exceptional patient experience.
Karen’s passion and commitment to excellence extend beyond the walls of the hospital. She is deeply invested in the well-being of her communities, working tirelessly to address healthcare disparities and promote health equity for all. She actively serves in various professional and community-based organizations including Beacon of Hope (Board Member), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (General Member), Top Ladies of Distinction, Incorporated (Patuxent River Chapter), National College of Negro Women (Charles County Section), Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated (Lambda Phi Chapter), and the Black Nurse Collaborative.
Mark Ohiosikha
AT-LARGE
Mark Ohiosikha has been a Prince George’s County resident for over 20 years. Mark is a proud husband and father of four. He is an IT professional with specialties in cloud security & program management. Most of his work has been within the DoD and IRS spaces. Mark lived in Nigeria and United Kingdom before the settling in the DC area.
Mark holds a BS in Computer Science and an MS in Software Engineering along with program management and security certifications.
For leisure, Mark enjoys playing Chess & Scrabble.
Takeya Shanks
AT-LARGE
Takeya Shanks, a Prince George’s County resident, is actively pursuing her Associates Degree in Nursing. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with concentrations in biology and chemistry. She has been active in the health care community since 2010. Following graduation from Xavier University of Louisiana, she began serving her community at a retail pharmacy in Bowie, MD. She then expanded her knowledge of pharmacy with experience as an inpatient pharmacy technician. Takeya began to use her skills obtained in the pharmacy to transition to an outpatient oncology office where she was able to help patients find financial assistance for the treatments they were receiving.
Takeya’s ties to health care became personal when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. She strives to ensure her family is educated about the necessary screenings as primary prevention of health care issues.
Takeya enjoys spending time with family and friends. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, and bowling. She is active in her church community, specifically children’s church.