Lisa Johnson

Founder & Executive Director

Private School Village

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Education and advocacy are in Lisa's lineage. Lisa's great, great, great, grand uncle, Benjamin Tonsler, was a graduate of Hampton Institute and principal of Jefferson School in Charlottesville, Va. In the late 1800s, he prepared hundreds of Black students for college despite it being illegal to educate them past eighth grade. From there, Lisa comes from a long line of educators and administrators so it's not a surprise that she founded Private School Village (PSV) to build a community of support for Black families in private schools. 

Prior to PSV, Lisa served as an interim senior administrator at an independent school and subsequently co-created a diversity and inclusion fund designed to immediately increase racial diversity in the same school. Shortly after, she taught graduate students about nonprofit public relations as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California for four years. 

A seasoned professional with more than 20 years of for- and non-profit experience, Lisa served as senior vice president of communications and marketing for the American Cancer Society (ACS) for six years in New York City. While there she managed a regionally-dispersed staff of 20 and championed award-winning strategies for engaging donors and volunteers, and launched some of the organizations first e-fundraising tools. Lisa co-chaired an executive level team to create the organization’s first multi-year Diversity & Disparity Plan, contributed to the success of a $50 million capital campaign to build an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, and through media advocacy, Lisa helped get clean indoor air laws passed in New York and New Jersey which paved the way for subsequent legislation in other states. 

 

Prior to her stint with ACS, Lisa worked for several organizations including Ketchum Public Relations, Black Entertainment Television, and on behalf of the for-and non-profit organizations and the special interests of Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

A graduate of a K-12 independent school in Atlanta, Ga, The Westminster Schools, Lisa matriculated from the University of Virginia where she earned a B.A. in Rhetoric and Communication Studies. Lisa now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

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Tarik Brooks

President

Combs Enterprises

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As President of Combs Enterprises, Tarik A. Brooks oversees the team that directly supports Chairman Sean “Diddy” Combs, and serves as the primary interface across the Combs Enterprises companies and new business opportunities. He was asked to play this role by Mr. Combs because of his extensive experience building companies in dynamic environments in the US and abroad, his reputation for developing hard driving teams, and his ability to lead initiatives from concept to operational launch and growth.

Prior to Combs Enterprises, Tarik was the COO for the Account Management and Trading department at Bridgewater Associates, a global investment management firm with approximately $160 billion under management. He was responsible for building and managing the Program Management Office, overseeing the department budgets and leading long-term planning. He was previously the Executive Vice President at RLJ Companies, a portfolio of companies led by investor Robert L. Johnson, where he led the development of several businesses including several gaming ventures in the Caribbean and the completion of RLJ Kendeja, a resort hotel in Monrovia, Liberia.

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Throughout his career, Tarik has represented companies in a variety of transactions, including acquisitions and capital raises, led major strategic initiatives and oversaw compliance in highly regulated industries.
 

Tarik is a graduate of Howard University and Harvard Business School. He serves on the Development Committee of the George Washington Carver Center in Norwalk, CT and the Advisory Board of the Engineering and Science University Magnet School (ESUMS) in New Haven, CT. He is also a member of the 100 Black Men of Stamford, CT and enjoys traveling, reading and mentoring young adults.
 

Tarik lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children. Tarik’s son, Jaaz attends The Pilgrim School and daughter, Selah is in pre-school.

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Deepa Janha

PSV, Board Chair &

CEO & Managing Principal, DPI Advisors, LLC

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Deepa Janha currently serves as CEO and Managing Principal at DPI Advisors, LLC. Prior to that, she was Head of Asset Management at Langdon Park Capital, and Vice President of Asset Management at CenterCal Properties. Deepa was Principal of Hidden Park Advisors, a consulting company started with business partner Myorr Janha, that offers a wealth of experience and insight across a broad range of industries and services including real estate investment management, education, non-profit, entertainment and technology.

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Prior to that, Deepa held a senior role with Equity One, Inc. She and her team were primarily responsible for overall asset management of over 50 retail properties. Prior to relocating to New York from Boston, Deepa spent 12 years at AEW Capital Management, LP., a global real estate investment firm with approximately $73 billion of assets under management. At AEW, she spent time in various departments. Prior to AEW, she was a consultant at Goldman Sachs in their Private Wealth Investment Management Group.
 

Beyond her work at Hidden Park Advisors, Deepa is a passionate philanthropist. Her community outreach includes being a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and former Founder and President of Girls Gaining Momentum. Deepa’s passion around financial empowerment, literacy and education is apparent with the launch of her companies, College Bound Coaching and Financial Destiny. As a staunch promoter of philanthropy, she is a board and development committee member for the DJ Dream Fund, a non-profit organization. Deepa is an active member of the Real Estate Executive Council (REEC) and
founding member of the African-American Real Estate Professionals New England Chapter.

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Deepa earned her B.A. from University of Massachusetts – Amherst, M.B.A. from Northeastern University, and Harvard
University’s only executive development and leadership program in real estate, AMDP. Deepa’s daughter attends International School of Los Angeles – Lycée International.

 

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Cindy Virani

VP of Client Success, Reel Health &

Chief of Staff, Beignet Box

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Cindy Virani is a marketing professional for Reel Health, a COVID-19 response system for the entertainment industry, and Beignet Box, a southern sweet treat brand originating in New Orleans. Additionally, Cindy brings fifteen years of experience in the apparel industry to the PSV team. As a pivotal part of the efforts behind world-renowned brands Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, Affliction, and Christian Audigier, Cindy honed her skills as a dynamic, creative and highly motivated brand professional. She has a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing manufacturing projects from concept to completion, designing and executing outside-the-box marketing strategies, and successfully driving sales. Many years in the fast-paced world of fashion have left her skilled in integrating complex moving parts, demonstrating exceptional communication, and making critical decisions during challenges…the tools needed to be the entrepreneur she is today.
 
As an LA native from a multicultural family, Cindy is the product of a diverse LAUSD public school education. Having seen the diminishing budgets and opportunities in the public school system, she chooses to send her son Damon to Sierra Canyon School, an independent school that affords him every opportunity while also sharing Cindy’s belief that diversity in every child’s educational environment is an integral component in shaping well-rounded, egalitarian citizens of the future.   

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Pinkie Nolan

PSV, COO &

Chief Value Officer, Hoag Memorial Hospital

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Pinkie Nolan is COO of PSV. In this capacity she oversees all operational and administrative functions – the internal operations of PSV – alongside Lisa Johnson, the Founder/ED. Pinkie is a mission-focused, seasoned, strategic, and process-minded leader with experience scaling organizations, leading executive management teams, and developing performance cultures. As a key volunteer leader of the organization, Pinkie also serves on the PSV Board of Directors and leads the collaborative creation and implementation of the organizations post-COVID strategic plan. 

 

Pinkie is also the Chief Value Officer at Hoag Memorial Hospital, where she is responsible for facilitating the definition and prioritization of initiatives that are critical to the achievement of strategic and operational goals. For approved initiatives, she is responsible for ensuring that they are executed successfully – on time, on budget, and delivering on the promised organizational value.

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Ms. Nolan has over 25 years of strategic and tactical expertise in organizational operations, including managing merger and acquisition integrations, launching new facilities and service lines, overseeing complex transformation initiatives, and coordinating continuous improvement efforts. She has developed frameworks to manage billion-dollar strategic project portfolios, and successfully managed complex business and technology projects at enterprise, regional and global levels. Her experience spans both the commercial and government sectors, including Fortune 50 companies and nationally ranked health systems. She also worked in the management and IT consulting industries, where she provided business advisory and technology services to government agencies such as the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, Health & Human Services, and the Federal Communications Commission.

Ms. Nolan earned her B.S. in Systems Engineering at the University of Virginia and her M.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech.

 

Pinkie, who lives in Orange County with her husband, Norm, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Norm, a former international professional basketball player, currently works with independent school students to build athletic and leadership ability on and off the court. 

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Alonda Casselle

Head of Middle School

Morristown - Beard School

 

Alonda was named the Head of Middle School in April 2022 after a nationwide search. Alonda was previously the Director of Admissions at Morristown Beard School and Assistant Head of School at Hollywood Schoolhouse in Los Angeles, CA prior to that. Alonda has been an educator and administrator for over 15 years. 

 

Alonda is a California native and received her undergraduate degree from California State University, Northridge with a specialization in Liberal Studies with a minor in Children’s Theatre. Alonda earned a Master's of Education with Teaching Credential from Pepperdine University.

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Dawn Limerick

Founder, The Greenwood Standard &

Design Associate, Everick Brown Design

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Dawn Limerick, a Los Angeles native, is Founder of The Greenwood Standard, an organization dedicated to engaging and promoting socially conscious consumers to vetted black businesses to build long-term power and wealth in the Black community. She is also a Design Associate with Everick Brown Design and it’s Objects and Accents curated collection. 

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A certified life and mindfulness coach, Dawn launched “The Presence Workshop” to focus on a true passion—helping and empowering other women to fully AWAKEN in their own lives, create their powerful stories and truly be their best selves. She is on a mission to help get rid of baggage, quiet inner critics and most importantly, break through the PAST for a more purposeful PRESENT.

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Prior to this, Dawn spent 14 years in retail as department and store manager for the likes of Nordstrom, BCBG and Bloomingdale’s. She later sold real estate for Coldwell Banker before deciding to stay home and focus on raising her two children.

Dawn majored in Broadcast Journalism at The University of La Verne and spent a year abroad in England where she studied International Relations. A devoted wife and mother, Dawn also volunteers regularly at The Rape Treatment Center and Stuart House.

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Kara Sax

CEO, The Sax Agency

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Kara Sax presently serves as Chief Executive Officer of The Sax Agency and is proud to be one of the fearless thought leaders working with companies and organizations to develop transformative solutions with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

As a proud graduate of HBCU Howard University, Kara propelled herself through the corporate ladder at various organizations to shape and ultimately fulfill her entrepreneurial dream, lending her voice and advocacy to underserved communities.

Her mission is to be a leader in shaking up the lily-white field of marketing and advertising and to bring a delicate balance of analytics and creative chops to the core of each firm's solution. Her role as CEO includes expanding corporate direction, providing executive insight, managing strategic development, and accountability marketing in the name of impactful results.

Outside of her work with SAX, Kara sits on the Board of Trustees of The Alliance College--Ready Public School Foundation and is also on the founding board of Movement of Allies for Black Businesses.

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Kara has volunteered and served as a parent advisor to Private School Village for two years producing last year's Black Hair-itage Celebration and most recently overseeing the launch of the PSV online store.

Kara is co-author of the Amazon best-selling workbook Your Win Within: Conquering Self Sabotaging Behavior (full book release coming in March 2022) and is a proud parent at Oakwood School. 

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Nikea Johnson

PSV Deputy Director &

Director of Advancement, Westside Neighborhood School

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Nikea is our inaugural deputy director and works collaboratively within every aspect of the organization to provide management, oversight, input, and guidance alongside Founder/Executive Director Lisa Johnson (no relation), the PSV Board, and countless parent volunteers.

 

Nikea is a published, entertainment/media professional with over twenty years in competitive, highly-driven, client-service and creative capacities. As a former talent manager, Nikea helped to guide the careers of A-list recording artists and screen talent. Nikea proudly possesses over nine years of leadership and advisory roles within LA independent schools and communities. A former parent board president, independent school trustee, member of the African American Board Leadership Institute, SoCal POCIS, Private School Village, iDream for Racial Health Equity, and now Director of Development at an independent school, Nikea is passionate about advocating for Black families. Nikea possesses the innate ability to cultivate relationships as a leader, innovator and collaborator, proving to institute successful strategies and ensure an optimal and efficient operation.

 

Nikea earned her BA and MFA from USC. She and her husband, Damani, have four children, Mia, Selah (8th grade), Yara (3rd  grade), and Hendrix (DK).

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Deniece Holley Roahrig

PSV Director of Community Engagement

Deniece has worked in digital entertainment/new media for nearly 15 years. Deniece began her career working for emerging digital media companies PlayboyLIVE and Fullscreen Inc., an influencer marketing agency, as a Branded Campaign Producer. Before leaving Fullscreen, she signed Issa Rae's YouTube series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl - the show that would later become the blueprint for Issa's hit series on HBO, Insecure. After Fullscreen, Deniece joined the marketing team at Complex and produced digital and traditional marketing campaigns for prominent Entertainment brands before transitioning to BuzzFeed, where she led the Video Project Management team in producing branded content featuring BuzzFeed talent for leading companies in the Tech/Telco, QSR, CPG, Auto, and Finance verticals. 

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Deniece has spent the last 6.5 years at Spotify; she began her time there producing content for the RapCaviar Playlist and led the Project Management teams for Hot Country and Viva Latino. She currently leads the Video & Podcast Legal Operations team under Spotify Studios, a team she founded to support the global legal, music licensing, business affairs, and accounting teams to effectively track contractual commitments for all Spotify Studios commercial Podcast and Video deals. She's supported commercial deals for major celebrities, including but not limited to, The Obamas, Harry and Meghan, Ava Duvernay, Jordan Peele, and Kim Kardashian West.

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Deniece is a multi-generational graduate of independent schools. She attended Roland Park Country School and Bryn Mawr in Baltimore, MD as well as Agnes Irwin in Philadelphia, PA. Her father is a graduate and current Administrator at the Gilman School in Baltimore, MD. Her mother is a graduate of Wheeler in Providence, RI, and served as the former Director of Admissions at B.E.S.T in Baltimore, MD. She is the proud parent of a current elementary independent school child. She currently serves as a lead classroom parent and a member of the Black Affinity Group leadership team.

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Deniece earned her B.S. in Television, Radio, & Film from The Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University. She also holds a Masters of Entertainment Law from the University of California and has earned Three Entertainment Industry Management Certificates from UCLA. She is married with three children and currently resides in Los Angeles. 

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