Leadership
Meet the team
2025-2026 Executive Board
Ronnita Baker earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan and a master’s in technology from Purdue University with a concentration in Organizational Leadership and a Human Resource Development Certification along with a Certification in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Currently, Ronnita is Co-Director of Marketing, where she will work diligently on increasing the visibility of the Indianapolis chapter of the National Black MBA Association. Ronnita has volunteered as a Precious Miss facilitator for CLD, currently serves as President of the Windsor Village Park Advisory Council, a board member of Mercy Unleashed and Womanish Projects. She has started her own non-profit, Serve & Lead, which focuses on leadership development training and consultation. As a servant leader, her goal is to create a thriving leadership culture based on humility, integrity, flexibility, resilience, stewardship and empathy. As a servant leader, she believes in creating a culture that is engaged and productive. She has coached and develop her leadership team to greatness, knowing, “when they win, we win.”
Email: information@nbmbaa-indy.org
Starla A. Trigg, MBA, is a community connector and influencer passionate about making a difference in Greater Indianapolis. She believes that everyone deserves a seat at the table. Starla’s affiliations include, Toastmasters International, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc – Alpha Mu Omega chapter, the InnoPower Minority Business Conference.
She is a lifetime member & energetic Immediate Past President of the award-winning Indianapolis Chapter. She believes in the power of collaboration and servant leadership. Starla led the Chapter in winning multiple national awards, including the 2022 Tier 2 Entrepreneurship Channel Award, the 2022 Tier 2 Lifestyle Channel Award, the 2021 Tier 2 Career Channel Award, and the 2020 Tier 2 Chapter of the Year award.
Professionally, Starla is an Internal Auditor at Simon Property Group. Her career includes experience in the Higher Education, Consumer Products, and Retail Industries.
Starla holds a BS in Accounting from Hampton University and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.
One of Starla’s favorite quotes is – “If you are always trying to be normal, you’ll never know how amazing you can be.”
~Maya Angelou
Email: information@nbmbaa-indy.org
Faren Jones is a strategist, entrepreneur, and community connector with over 15 years of experience leading equity-centered initiatives in the nonprofit, social impact, and business sectors. She is the founder of Kuumba Strategies, a mission-focused consulting firm that helps individuals and organizations operate effectively, efficiently, and purposefully through strategies rooted in integrity, clarity, and care.
A passionate advocate for Black excellence in leadership, Faren brings a visionary yet grounded perspective to every room she enters, bridging strategy with soul, systems with people, and disruption with healing.
Faren earned her Executive MBA, magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame, where she deepened her commitment to ethical leadership, innovation, and generational change. As a board member of the Indianapolis Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, she is dedicated to cultivating spaces where Black professionals can both lead and thrive.
Email: jones.faren @gmail.com
Catrina M. Thompson is originally from Fort Wayne, IN and joined the Indianapolis Chapter of the NBMBAA shortly after graduating with her Master’s degree. She has been an active member of the Indianapolis Chapter for over 15 years. Catrina has served on the Indianapolis Chapter’s Board Treasurer, VP of Operations, VP of Administration and current Indianapolis Chapter President.
Catrina is an experienced accountant and independent Tax Professional for individuals and small businesses. She is currently employed by the Bureau of Land Management as a Lead Accountant in Financial Reporting.
Catrina strives to be the best that she can be in her professional career. She holds a Masters of Business degree with concentrations in Accounting and Human Resources and a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting.
Catrina enjoys serving as a Sunday school teacher, a Steward for new members and sings in the choir at her church. She values and prioritizes family in her personal life.
Email: information@nbmbaa-indy.org
LaTanya McCann, (update pending)
Email: indylot@yahoo.com
Jennifer T. Butler, MBA has been an active member of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) since 2020. During her time in the NBMBAA, Jennifer has served on the Marketing Committee for the Charlotte Chapter, participated in the inaugural 2022 NBMBAA Scholars Program, and was a recipient of the 2022 NBMBAA John Deere Scholarship. In 2023, she was appointed to serve as the Director of Marketing for the Indianapolis Chapter and is now serving as the Vice President of Communications. Jennifer has 10+ years of experience in Supply Chain Management and Procurement spanning across the HVAC, Recreational Vehicle, Household Appliances, and Pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, she is currently as Associate Director in IPM Site Procurement at Eli Lilly and Company. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management from Howard University and A Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. She is also involved in numerous professional and civic organizations, including the Indianapolis (IN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Women of Color in Pharma, Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, Women in Manufacturing, Institute for Supply Management, and the Howard University Alumni Club of Indianapolis.Since its inception in 1991, the NBMBAA® Leaders of Tomorrow® Program has mentored more than 8,000 talented youth aspiring to leadership roles in professional fields. The LOT® Program is a comprehensive programmatic approach for providing leadership development to high school students. The program is driven by mentoring across five developmental areas: Leadership, Financial Literacy, College Preparation, Career Preparation and Life Skills. The program offers participants resources, knowledge and opportunities in the way of mentoring relationships, scholarships, and internships.
Email: nbmbaaindymarketing@gmail.com
Current Committee Directors
Gina Burks is a finance professional with over 20 years of experience across the financial services industry. She holds an MBA in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University and currently serves as a Vice President in Construction Lending, where she specializes in financial analysis, risk management, and supporting complex development projects. With a strong foundation in accounting and lending, Gina brings a strategic and solutions-oriented approach to her work. Outside of her professional career, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family.
Project Manager for Clark Dietz, Inc. He has worked in the engineering and design industry for ten years. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering and Technology from IUPUI. Carlston is earning his Executive Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. He was recently voted to join the United School of Indianapolis charter school board in January of 2025. Carlston offers mentorship for youth through various programs across Indianapolis and a strong advocate for the advancement and progression of STEM related education and financial literacy in underserved communities.
Mark Ryder is a licensed Private Investigator and CEO of First Security Agency with a wide network of officers across multiple police agencies in Indiana. His services include providing armed and unarmed security at corporate entities, public events, private functions, and executive transport. Mark has also carved out a niche as a provider of School Resource Officers (SRO) for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), Charter and private schools. Mark is a board member of the Indiana Association of Professional Investigators and is a recipient of the InnoPower Rising Star award. Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Purdue University. He is a sports fan and is committed to staying fit. He and his wife enjoy jazz concerts and taking road trips with their two dogs.
Email: information@nbmbaa-indy.org
In the Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion, & Opportunity Officer, Anthony serves as the Deputy Chief and Executive Director of External Equity. In this role, Anthony leads all efforts regarding benchmarking best practices and meeting with external partners across the state to uncover opportunities for enhancing EIO in Indiana, specifically in the Governor’s agenda priorities of education/workforce, public safety, and healthcare. Anthony also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the same University of Indianapolis Evening MBA program from which he received his degree, teaching various courses in the Applied Analytics concentration. Anthony and Jennifer (his wife of 12 years) welcomed their first child, a son, into their family in May and are enjoying navigating the challenges and joys of parenting!
Email: information@nbmbaa-indy.org
Nakeisha Washington, Founder and Executive Director of Nyla Nyla STEMversity and is committed to blending her academic, professional and personal experiences to help families accomplish their goals. For the past twenty years, she has worked in the field of education in many different leadership roles as an assistant principal, classroom teacher, curriculum developer, private tutor, STEM competition coach, ESOL instructor, mentor, grant writer and program coordinator and these roles have further solidified her passion to helping children to accomplish their dreams.
Email: tajuana.ryder@yahoo.com
India M. Brown, MBA, PMP, is a distinguished business owner and entrepreneur, she the CEO of PMPHASE, a leading project management consulting firm based in Indianapolis, IN. With over 30 years of experience in project management, she has successfully led more than fifty IT projects, achieving a remarkable 99% success rate. She founded her project management firm in 2013, and under her leadership, the company has effectively managed a diverse range of projects across various industries.
India is a sought-after keynote speaker, specializing in mentoring and entrepreneur development. She has delivered numerous keynote addresses emphasizing the importance of mentoring, sponsorship, and advocacy for business owners, as well as the essential skills required for entrepreneurial growth.
An accomplished author, India is known for her influential self-help workbook, “Let’s Check In On You!,” a 31-day affirmation exercise designed to guide readers through a self-assessment process. Her book was nominated for the best Self-Help book award in 2023.
Among her accolades, India received a nomination for a mentorship award in 2024 and was honored with the 2023 Rising Stars award for her achievements as a business owner. She was also featured in the Indianapolis Business Journal, where she discussed the reasons many minority businesses shy away from seeking business loans.
India serves as the Chair on the Executive Committee for the Pass the Torch for Women Foundation, which focuses on mentoring. Additionally, she is the Co-Director of Entrepreneurship on the Executive Committee for the National Black MBA Association, Indianapolis Chapter, an organization dedicated to professional and business development. She is also an active member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).
India holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Leadership Development.
Email: information@nbmbaa-indy.org
Olutosin Olu Burrell is President & C.E.O. of Spoken IV Solutions LLC d/b/a Olu Burrell Consulting. Prior to branching out on his own, Olu worked for the D.C. Government where he honed his expertise in the following fields: youth education, youth employment, and adult employment, education/training and coaching. He fully embraces his identity as a multipotentialite, wearing multiple hats as an Executive/Leadership Coach, People Matter Expert, Knowledge Philanthropist, and Organization Development/Change Leadership Consultant.
Email: information@nbmbaa-indy.org
DeVol holds a Bachelor of Science in Arts Management from Indiana University-Bloomington, as well as a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University. He also earned his MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in 2025. Prior to joining the Indianapolis team, DeVol was the recipient of our Chapter’s annual graduate-level scholarship in 2024. Professionally, he has a total of 16 years of experience developing leadership capacities and formative education experiences for early business leaders. He has experience working within the higher education and student affairs realm, specifically serving underrepresented populations, such as first-generation and low-income college students. DeVol is very passionate about youth development. He currently serves as the Regional Director of Mentoring Initiatives for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he directs programming for over 300 youth across the Midwest and Canada. A lover of performing arts, DeVol is a very big advocate for arts education and preservation. Lastly, DeVol is the founder of D105 Strategy Solutions, LLC., which provides individual and team-based coaching in leadership skills development, business communications training, and strategic planning facilitation.
Email: information@nbmbaa-indy.org
Are you interested in using your passion & energy to assist students with pursuing higher education? This is the committee for you. The purpose of the scholarship committee is to establish scholarship selection criteria, solicit applications and award scholarships based on funding amounts approved by the executive board. The committee also assists in raising funds for Chapter scholarships through various efforts. This committee will also plan the scholarship award ceremony. This committee reports to the VP of Education.
Key activities include:
- Coordinate the application, delivery and selection process
- Evaluate and review submitted applications
- Select scholarship recipients
- Distribute the award letter (s) to the recipients’ campuses
- Follow up with scholarship recipient(s) to make sure the scholarship was received
Email: information@nbmbaa-indy.org