Introducing the Road to Hire Alumni Leadership Council
A new chapter in Alumni Leadership
For Road to Hire, the journey does not end when a participant lands their first job. This September, that belief took a new form with the launch of the organization's inaugural Alumni Leadership Council (ALC), a 15-member advisory and working body that brings alumni voices directly into conversations shaping Road to Hire's future.
A Milestone Moment
The Council held its first in-person kickoff at the Red Ventures office, convened by Road to Hire CEO Dr. Monique Perry-Graves. The gathering brought together alums from across Road to Hire programs, industries, and career paths, from technology and finance to education, research, and entrepreneurship.
"Seeing that vision take shape was deeply special," said Dr. Perry-Graves following the kickoff. Council members, she shared, are fired up and ready to ensure the opportunities they've been given remain available to future participants.
The kickoff focused on building relationships, establishing a shared purpose, and laying a strong foundation for the Council's work. Members spent time learning about Road to Hire, discussing how they want to work together, and beginning to identify ways to shape what comes next for the alumni community and current participants.
Why an Alumni Leadership Council?
Road to Hire was built on the belief that young adults deserve opportunities to grow and lead, and that belief does not stop at program completion. With a community of more than 1,290 alumni and growing, their perspective has never been more valuable: they have lived the programs, launched their careers, and understand firsthand what participants need to succeed.
The ALC formalizes that perspective. As both an advisory and working body, the Council will:
Bring the alum perspective into conversations about Road to Hire's future
Serve as ambassadors for Road to Hire's work
Strengthen connections across the alum community
Collaborate on projects that support the young people following behind them
Meet the Council
Serving a 2026-2028 term, the Council brings together 15 alumni whose careers span software engineering, financial services, education, research, and entrepreneurship.
Quinton Brown, Chair | Software Engineer, Lowe's
Sam Mai, Vice Chair | Scrum Master, Compass Group
Aishah Isom | Software Engineer I, Bank of America
Angel Duerto Pernia | Software Engineer I, Bank of America
Artea Wright | Strategic Advisor & Consultant, TechTrap Global
Eve'n Warren | Ad Operations Specialist, Bankrate
Evelyn Enriquez | Doctoral Student, Northwestern University
Germany Bell | Financial Consultant, TIAA
Kelechi Nwosu | Software Engineer, Microsoft
Leslie Arreaza | Financial Education Officer, Truliant
Maria Valverde | COO, Self-Employed
Mariah Allen-Jones | Next Step Advisor, Carolina College Advising Corp
Teresa Enriquez Texis | Program Coordinator, Reach for Excellence
Vanessa Baker | Business Data Steward, Truist
Vyncent Harris | Associate Software Engineer, Lowe's
For Brown, the Council is a natural extension of what the program taught him. "Meaningful change is rarely driven by the loudest voice in the room, but rather by those who can communicate with clarity and confidence," he shared.
That spirit of paying it forward runs through the group. "Road to Hire didn't just open a door for me, but taught me how to hold it open for others," said member Mariah Allen-Jones, a Next Step Advisor with Carolina College Advising Corp.
Vanessa Baker, Business Data Steward at Truist, echoed the sentiment: Road to Hire "taught me the value of community, accountability, and creating opportunities not just for myself, but for others coming behind me."
The Beginning of Something Bigger
The Council's launch is part of a larger effort to create meaningful ways for alumni to stay connected as they grow personally and professionally, step into new leadership roles, and share feedback that is actively shaping the future of alumni engagement at Road to Hire.
This marks the beginning of the Council's work, and Road to Hire is just getting started.
Follow us along on LinkedIn to see what this Council builds next!