Meet The Team

Dr. Shawnté M. Elbert is a powerhouse public health leader and executive strategist with nearly two decades of experience driving health equity, organizational wellness, and leadership development. As the Founder and CEO of Elbert Innovative Solutions (EIS), she specializes in strengthening the people, processes, and culture that allow complex, high-change organizations to flourish. Her career is defined by her ability to bridge the gap between bold strategy and rigorous execution—moving institutions beyond simple compliance toward sustainable, systemic impact.

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Prior to launching EIS, Dr. Elbert held top-tier executive roles, including serving as the Associate VP of Health & Well-Being at The Ohio State University, where she optimized a $40 million budget and led a team of 1,100+ staff. As the Chief Health Equity Officer for Columbus Public Health, she authored the city's first 4-year Organizational Strategy for a population of 1.2 million. A Master Certified Health Education Specialist with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management, Dr. Elbert is presently pursuing a Master’s in Public Theology from Methodist Theological Seminary.

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High-Impact Consulting & Performance

As a Principal Consultant, Dr. Elbert delivers results that redefine industry standards for resource development and operational scaling. Her work with the Columbus Urban League stands as a testament to her ability to convert vision into massive capital:

• Historic Grant Procurement: Secured a staggering $4.2 million in competitive grants in under 12 months, diversifying revenue streams across both public and private sectors.

• Sustainability Campaign Success: Assisted with the $12 million sustainability campaign, directly authoring high-stakes pitch decks that resulted in $3 million in immediate funding.

• Workforce System Architecture: Designed and launched a $1.3 million county-funded trades academy, building the full curriculum, intake tools, and staff training infrastructure from the ground up.

• Infrastructure for Sustainability: For organizations like Growth & Empowerment Mental Health Services, she built full CARF-ready policy ecosystems, digital HIPAA-compliant workflows, and workforce evaluation frameworks to ensure long-term audit readiness.

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Core Areas of Expertise:

• Organizational Wellness: Centering The W.E.L.L. Approach™ (Wellness, Empowerment, Liberation, and Learning) to mitigate structural burnout and rebuild organizational trust.

• Grant Writing & Resource Development: Crafting mission-aligned proposals that expand access to funding and fuel long-term impact.

• Executive Coaching & Change Management: Equipping senior leadership to lead through crises with strategic clarity and psychological safety.

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Dr. Elbert also teaches and mentors emerging leaders as adjunct faculty and dissertation chair, while pursuing a Master’s in Public Theology to deepen the spiritual foundations of her work. ​Guided by her commitment to Excellence in Every Endeavor, Dr. Elbert is known for her strategic clarity, grounded leadership, and ability to help people and organizations grow, heal, and rise.

Tory J. Elbert is a Co-Founder and the Business Manager for EIS, bringing over 14 years of executive experience in logistics, operations, and strategic planning to the leadership team. Tory has been instrumental in shaping the company’s foundational systems, overseeing the critical financial and administrative functions that ensure business efficiency and sustainable growth.

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He manages the full spectrum of business operations—from high-level strategic planning and fleet management to internal process optimization and client relations. Known for his reliability and collaborative leadership style, Tory ensures that the daily operations of EIS are executed with a focus on excellence and long-term stability.

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Areas of Expertise:

• Business Operations & Strategic Planning: Architecting systems that support organizational growth and scalability.

• Logistics & Fleet Management: Utilizing deep industry knowledge to optimize complex supply chain and transport operations.

• Safety Compliance & Risk Management: Maintaining rigorous standards to protect company assets and personnel.

• Financial Planning & Operational Efficiency: Integrating fiscal discipline with administrative logistics to drive productivity.

Cynthia McMillan is a seasoned finance and legal discovery professional with over a decade of applied expertise in corporate law and administrative operations. A graduate of Purdue Global Law and a North Carolina Bar Certified Paralegal, Cynthia brings a sharp analytical lens and a disciplined work ethic to the EIS team. She manages invoicing, payments, and financial tracking for our consultants, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and fiscal stability in all business dealings.

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Known for her unwavering integrity and execution, Cynthia excels at navigating intricate documentation and ensuring organizational excellence. Her unique background allows her to bridge the gap between financial accuracy and legal compliance, providing a high level of security and reliability for the firm’s internal and external projects.

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Areas of Expertise:

• Contract Law & Regulatory Compliance: Navigating complex legal frameworks to ensure all agreements and operations meet industry standards.

• Federal Tax Law & Corporate Legal Affairs: Applying specialized legal knowledge to corporate structures and federal reporting requirements.

• Financial Tracking & Stability: Oversight of consultant invoicing, payment systems, and internal fiscal health.

• Legal Research & Writing: Producing high-quality, meticulous documentation and research.

• Business & Non-profit Financial Management: Integrating legal discipline with financial oversight to support sustainable growth for diverse organizations.

Jeneé Parker is an innovative finance and operations professional with over 10 years of experience spanning banking, regulatory reporting, and risk management. With a strong academic foundation in public administration and business finance, Jeneé blends analytical precision with people-centered leadership. She excels at navigating complex financial environments, managing federal reporting compliance, and driving process improvements that strengthen organizational workflows.

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Beyond her technical proficiency, Jeneé brings a unique background as a wellness business owner and educator, which enhances her ability to lead with clarity and adaptability. She is known for her collaborative approach—building comprehensive training documentation, coaching staff, and providing results-focused support to both internal teams and external clients.

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Areas of Expertise:

• Finance & Regulatory Operations: Expert in data validation, loan operations, and federal reporting compliance.

• Business Analysis & Systems: Deep technical expertise in SAS, Snowflake, AFS Vision, and MSP (Black Knight).

• Process Improvement & Workflow Optimization: Designing efficient systems to streamline complex organizational tasks.

• Coaching & Strategic Communication: Leveraging a background in wellness and education to facilitate department-wide collaboration and staff development.

Nyja Williams is a dedicated Project Manager and administrative professional with a specialized foundation in medical billing, coding, and office coordination. Bringing a diverse background that spans healthcare, Telesales, and professional photography, Nyja excels at managing the intersection of logistics and client engagement. As a Project Manager at EIS, she applies a rigorous work ethic and meticulous attention to detail to ensure that organizational initiatives are executed with precision and accountability.

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Whether overseeing project timelines or streamlining administrative workflows, Nyja is committed to driving excellence through a belief in wellness, empowerment, and high-level customer satisfaction.

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Areas of Expertise:

• Project Management & Coordination: Leading initiatives with a focus on accountability, timelines, and results-focused execution.

• Healthcare Operations: Expert in medical billing, coding, transcription, and insurance verification.

• Compliance & Logistics: Deep knowledge of HIPAA regulations and managing efficient, high-volume office environments.

• Communication & Engagement: Leveraging diverse experience in Telesales and community advocacy to foster strong stakeholder relationships.

Danielle R. Gilmore, is a program evaluation scholar and equity-driven research consultant who specializes in qualitative methods, systems change, and culturally responsive evaluation. With advanced academic training from George Washington University and Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Gilmore brings a rigorous methodological standard to her work, focusing on advancing racial and health equity through actionable, data-driven insights.

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Throughout her career, she has led high-impact national and community-based evaluations across the public health, education, and social policy sectors. Her extensive portfolio includes designing equity-informed frameworks and managing large-scale studies for premier organizations such as the CDC, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Across all projects, she centers lived experience and trauma-informed practices to strengthen decision-making and drive transformative change at the systems level.

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Areas of Expertise:

• Qualitative & Mixed-Methods Research: Specializing in phenomenology and rigorous data collection to uncover deep systemic insights.

• Equity-Informed Evaluation: Designing frameworks that prioritize culturally responsive practices and social justice.

• Strategic Capacity Building: Empowering nonprofits and government partners through workforce development and organizational growth.

• Policy & Ethics: Expertise in artificial intelligence ethics, community engagement, and producing policy-shaping reports.

Maria P. Stokes is a seasoned Executive Consultant and Strategic Leader with more than 20 years of experience guiding organizations through transformational growth, systemic equity design, and operational excellence. With a career bridging Silicon Valley venture capital and mission-driven nonprofit leadership, Maria specializes in scaling organizations and embedding asset-based, trauma-informed frameworks into organizational culture. At EIS, she leverages her deep expertise in executive capacity building and strategic advancement to move clients from vision to high-functioning, sustainable reality.

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Maria is an elite strategist in financial and operational growth, famously engineered a rapid expansion that increased nonprofit revenue from $500K to $1.3M in just 18 months. Her precision as a grant writer is evidenced by a remarkable 75% award rate, securing the capital necessary to scale staff from a single administrator to teams of more than 20. A Stanford-trained Human Biologist with certifications in conflict resolution and real estate, Maria excels at transforming complex organizational hurdles into practical systems that advance wellness and long-term equity.

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Areas of Expertise:

• Grant Writing & Resource Development: Utilizing a high-conversion 75% award rate to secure millions in funding and diversify revenue streams.

• Organizational Scaling & Restructuring: Designing the infrastructure to support rapid growth, including expanding teams and optimizing staff capacity.

• Nonprofit Real Estate & Strategic Partnerships: Consulting on physical and social infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability and mission alignment.

• Quality Assurance & Digital UAT: Providing rigorous oversight for digital system implementations to ensure operational accuracy and user-centered design.

• Conflict Resolution & Systemic Equity Design: Facilitating difficult transitions and embedding inclusive, trauma-informed practices into organizational systems.

Dr. Sherra' Watkins is a nationally recognized leader in mental health, wellness, and organizational strategy, specializing in health equity and trauma-informed interventions. As the Co-CEO and Founder of Sister W.E.L.L.S. Counseling, Coaching & Consulting, she has spent years assisting diverse populations in achieving harmony through the 9 Dimensions of Wellness. Dr. Watkins is a powerhouse strategist who has led university health services and developed landmark policies that bridge the gap between clinical excellence and accessible community care.

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At Elbert Innovative Solutions (EIS), Dr. Watkins serves as a Senior Consultant and a high-impact Grant Writer. She combines her clinical background in rehabilitation and substance use counseling with a sharp, data-driven approach to resource development. Her ability to craft compelling, mission-aligned narratives has been instrumental in securing critical funding for organizational stability and expansion. Known for her expertise in clinical supervision and crisis management, she helps organizations navigate complex transitions while centering psychological safety and staff development.

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Areas of Expertise:

• Grant Writing & Resource Development: Securing mission-critical funding through evidence-based proposals and strategic narrative alignment.

• Clinical Strategy & Mental Health Advocacy: specialized in rehabilitation, substance use counseling, and the development of accessible health resources.

• Trauma-Informed Crisis Management: Designing protocols for safety and organizational response grounded in psychological security.

• Executive Leadership & Wellness Coaching: Providing high-level mentorship and coaching utilizing the 9 Dimensions of Wellness framework.

• Health Equity & Competent Care: Developing strategies to address systemic disparities and enhance wellness within marginalized communities.

• Clinical Supervision & Staff Development: Leading professional growth initiatives and training programs that prioritize ethical standards and team resilience.

Claudia Trochez is a marketing and communications strategist with deep expertise in strategic storytelling, digital design, and multi-platform brand engagement. A graduate of the University of Utah with a degree in Strategic Communications, Claudia specializes in elevating organizational voices through a blend of creative asset production and mission-aligned messaging. At EIS, she leverages her extensive background in executive communications and program coordination to help clients achieve excellence through clear, compelling, and purpose-driven storytelling.

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With a career built within the University of Utah system—including key roles for University of Utah Health and Auxiliary Business Development—Claudia has a proven track record of managing high-impact campaigns across diverse sectors. In her current leadership role, she spearheads executive communications for nearly 20 departments, ensuring cohesive branding and increased engagement across digital and print platforms. Whether through photography, videography, or sophisticated web design, Claudia is dedicated to transforming complex information into accessible and impactful narratives.

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Areas of Expertise:

• Strategic Communications & Storytelling: Designing executive-level messaging and narratives that align with organizational missions.

• Multi-Platform Brand Engagement: Driving cohesive identity and increased social engagement across digital, social, and print media.

• Creative Asset Production: High-level expertise in graphic design, web development, photography, and videography to support major marketing campaigns.

• Executive Support & Coordination: Managing communication strategies for complex institutions and supporting diverse departmental needs.

• Impactful Copywriting: Crafting purpose-driven content that resonates with diverse audiences and elevates the professional voice of the organization.