Dr. Janet Leslie is a passionate educator and community leader. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from CUNY-Brooklyn College, an M.S. in Higher Education Administration from CUNY-Baruch College, and a Doctor of Management from the University of Maryland University College. Her academic research and professional passion lie in mentoring non-traditional and students of color within postsecondary environments. With over three decades of experience in senior administrative roles at City University of New York, Janet has worked at CUNY-Kingsborough Community College as a senior administrator and an adjunct faculty member. At CUNY-School of Labor and Urban Studies, she served as the interim director for their graduate studies program before coordinating the Joseph S. Murphy Scholarship for Diversity in Labor for six years.

Dr. Leslie founded the Gift of Experience LLC to offer mentoring and connect students to resources, and subsequently co-founded the Leslie-Carter Group LLC with her twin sons, Omar Gyasi and Ibraham Sharif, to establish generational wealth through real property acquisition. She presently holds board positions with various community organizations, including the Seamen’s Society for Children and Families, the Staten Island Museum, and Sundog Theatre. She serves on both the local and national boards for Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc. For her business acumen and service to the community, Dr. Leslie has been recognized by the NYC Council, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Harriet Tubman Purple Hat Society, Inc. A believer in the transformative power of travel, Janet has explored numerous countries, believing those periodic sojourns have enriched her understanding of the human condition.

Chris began his career on Wall Street right after high school. However, he was always interested in the technical aspect of business and so it seemed logical for him to pursue a career in that area. Continuing his education at The Chubb Institute allowed him to enhance his knowledge of the technology field. Chris became involved in IT Administration for a well-known Manhattan based “Dot-com” company in 1999. By 2011, he was at InterGlobe on Staten Island.

Over time, he and his manager partnered to create the business, Comserv Consulting. Chris later formed Comserv Connect, which focuses on building, managing, and securing clients’ cyber assets. Now, he is affiliated with many organizations in the NY and NJ metro area, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Bucks Business Network group.

Lorna Harris – Board Member is a strategist, cultural curator, advocate, and producer who provides solutions that enhance performance, operational, governance, and fiscal success for individuals and organizations. With 40 years of expertise in cultivating and presenting diverse cultural experiences, she specializes in bringing complex artistic and cultural projects to fruition. As a seasoned producer of acclaimed jazz festivals, dance performances, visual art exhibitions, symposiums, and convenings, Ms. Harris has a proven track record of audience development across African, Latin, Asian, and Native Indigenous cultures within the United States.

Noteworthy productions and events include Universal Temple of the Arts Staten Island JAZZ Festival, Museum Hue 10th Anniversary Symposium, the Harlem Fine Arts Show, Immigrants Are US: The Generation Project, the Romare Bearden Homecoming Celebration, and the Green Roof at SilverCup Studios. Through her dedication to education and the arts, Ms. Harris helped establish the Center School, a sustainable arts-based public middle school in New York City, as well as the first social-emotional curriculum K-5 charter school in Richmond County, N.Y.  As a visionary, she has held leadership roles at the Ford Foundation, Canvas Institute, the Alliance of NY State Arts Organizations, New York State Council on the Arts, National Endowment of the Arts, National Performance Network, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Lorna serves on the Board of Sundog Theatre, Hue Arts, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts (NY4CA), and is an Advisory Board Member with Staten Island Arts and Honk NYC. Ms. Harris holds a professional Certificate of Leadership from Cornell University School of Labor and is an alumna of Beloit College.

Mark Giacalone is Vice President for the Business Banking Division at Valley National Bank. He provides tailored financial solutions to high-net-worth clients. Mark focuses on understanding the needs of businesses, ensuring they have support to navigate challenges while planning for future success.

Mark’s expertise lies in his understanding of the local economic landscape and diverse industries’ financial requirements. Drawing from over a decade of experience in private and business banking, his professional journey includes roles at institutions such as Israel Discount Bank of New York, Citi Bank, and Wells Fargo.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management & Entrepreneurial Studies from Paul Smith’s College. He serves as a board member for The Greenbelt Conservancy and holds key positions within the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, serving in the Young Professionals Group and as a committee member for the Police Officer and FDNY Firefighter of the Year Luncheons. He is also treasurer of the Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation and board member for the Staten Island YMCA and the Staten Island Center for Independent Living.

Outside of banking, Mark is involved in the maritime industry as a longshoreman. Mark’s passion for helping businesses thrive and his deep ties to the community drive him to make a meaningful difference in the lives of his clients and neighbors.

Prior to teaming up with Sundog, she worked for some 22 years at the Staten Island Advance – first as a reporter, then as an editor. She left full-time employment at the Advance in the summer of 2014, after serving for close to seven years, first as city editor, then as an assistant managing editor. For the next year and a half, she edited Q magazine, a publication of the Staten Island Media Group, handled freelance projects for the Advance, and wrote for Staten Island Parent magazine.