The Lansing Promise Team
Lansing Promise
Foundation Board
Kellie P. Dean, Chair, Dean Transportation
Abel Travis, Vice Chair, Brotherhood Mutual
Jon Lundy, Treasurer, Jackson
Nino Rodriguez, Secretary, Lansing Board of Education
Lea Ammerman, MSUFCU
Carmen Argersinger, Delta Dental
Jessica Benavides, Lansing School District
Jeff Benson, Case Credit Union
Dominic Carbone, Hungry Howie’s
Stella Cash, Community Champion
Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, LAFCU
Alan Haller, Michigan State University Athletics
Chris Holman, Michigan Business Network
DeYeya Jones, Sutton Advisors
Michelle Massey, TechSmith
Don Romain, Douglas J
Mayor Andy Schor, City of Lansing
Jen Sturdy, PNC
Rick Wendorf, Retired educator
Adam Williams, MissionsFilled
Michael Yankowski, Michigan State University
Lansing Promise
Zone Authority Board
Kellie P. Dean, Chair, Dean Transportation
Abel Travis, Vice Chair, Brotherhood Mutual
Guillermo Lopez, Treasurer, Lansing Board of Education
Michael Yankowski, Secretary, Michigan State University
Mark Alley, Emergent BioSolutions
Tim Daman, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Toni Glasscoe, Lansing Community College
Lloyd McPartlin, The University of Olivet
Susan Porrett, Davenport University
Peter Spadafore, MCEA & Lansing City Council
Linda Lee Tarver, Consultant
Dave Weatherspoon, Michigan State University
Our Staff
Justin Sheehan
Executive Director
A Lansing born and bred attorney with a fierce pride for the diverse and resilient capital city he calls home. A twice over graduate of Michigan State University, in social work and law respectively.
Sheehan is the Executive Director of the Lansing Promise, President of the Chamber’s Leadership Lansing Collective, member of the Lansing SAVE & Bold Lansing Advisory Board, board member of the Capital Area College Access Network, board member of the Michigan Promise Zone Association and a proud Lansing Rotarian.
Of much greater importance though, he is the proud father of three and the husband of one exceptional woman.
Teri Bernero
Scholarship Director
Teri combines her passion for the Lansing School District and helping students dream big about their future as the Promise Scholarship Director.
Teri spent 33 years working in the Lansing School District as a teacher, principal, central administrator, and CTE director. Now retired from the Lansing School District, Teri is grateful she gets to continue to help Lansing students make post-secondary education possible with financial assistance from the Lansing Promise.
As a first-generation college student, Teri feels a sense of solidarity with each Lansing Promise scholarship recipient and is committed to doing whatever she can to ensure Lansing Promise Scholars have the resources and support needed to achieve their goals. As the mother of two daughters that are college graduates, Teri understands the excitement and challenges of preparing a child for college. From campus visits, submitting college applications, filing the FAFSA, and paying for college expenses not covered by financial aid, she knows how overwhelming the college going process can be. Teri values the opportunity to ease some of that burden for families in Lansing through her role at Lansing Promise.
Triquita Hicks
Operations Director
Triquita, born and raised in Lansing has a strong passion for this community and its youth. She is a graduate of Everett High School and attended Lansing Community College. Triquita is the mother of 3 beautiful children, Jada, Amya, and Joshua Jr. She is also the wife of an amazing man, Joshua Hicks, who has been an advocate for youth for over 30 years.
Having worked in the education field for over 11 years, Triquita is affectionately known as “Mama T” to, what seems like, half of Lansing’s young people. Triquita is inspirited to work with current and future donors to ensure the youth of Lansing are well prepared for a successful and bright future.
J. Moore
Talent Development Director
J.Moore is a Hollywood wardrobe director who is proudly rooted in Lansing, having attended Verlinden, Dwight Rich and J.W. Sexton High School. Moore majored in early childhood development and minored in theater and African American studies from Columbia College Chicago.
J. travels throughout the world as a stylist, wardrobe director and consultant for various clients, TV shows, theater productions and artists. He has worked in education for over 10 years inside and outside of the classroom. Moore strongly believes in community outreach and impact.
"Lansing Promise has the privilege and ability to change our workforce; by staying focused on individuals and what really matters to them. Creating a culture in workforce that is curated for individual strengths and not forcing them into a box." - J. Moore
Veronica Gracia-Wing
Advancement + Communications Director
Linda Flanagan
Promise Parent Champion
Rosie Vazquez
Promise Parent Champion
Niko Quesada
Student Advocate