Our Board is made up of diverse and skilled professionals who are passionate about education and youth. They have dedicated countless hours and efforts to ensure the organization runs smoothly. We are truly grateful for their dedication to our mission.
Meet The Board of Directors
Lynne W. Gassant
Founder, Executive Director
HR Adjunct Faculty, Lynn University
Jorge Bastos
Board President
Essentia
Dr. Eddie Ruiz
Board Vice-President
Charter School USA
Lisa Rabinsky
VP/Finance Director
Southstate Bank
Martine Pierre
Board Secretary
MP Management Services
Laurie Myers
HR Director
RoadSafe
Mario F. Guzman
Workforce Readiness Director
City of Boynton Beach
Valeska Martins
Business Social Impact Director
ICF South Florida
Maylee De Jesus
General Board Member
City of Boynton Beach
Dr. Janell Carroll
Public Relations Director
Florida Atlantic University
Myrione Pierre-Louis
Events Director
FL Department of Revenue
Alexandria Ayala
General Board Member
PBC School Board, District 2
JP Galvao
Corporate Giving Director
MotorEnvy
MotorEnvy, CO
Dr. Laura Dayal
Organizational & Educational Success Director
Catalyst for Leadership
Board of Directors Bios
Lynne W. Gassant, Founder, Executive Director: Born in Haiti and grew up in Delray Beach, Lynne is a first-generation college student and the first in her family to complete a college education. While still in her early 20s and completing her undergraduate studies in 2012, Lynne founded Scholar Career Coaching so that other students, much like her, could excel in their academics too—with the proper support, success strategies, and mentorship. Lynne is passionate about education and aims to bridge the education gap for minority students.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in public management from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in human resources management from Florida International University. Lynne is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and a former advisory board member for the City of Boynton Beach Education & Youth. As Scholar CC’s founder, she still manages to live a full, well-rounded life as an HR consultant/business owner, a wife, a mother of two, and a big sister. Lynne attributes much of her success to her hard-working parents, who made sacrifices to give her a better life and education in the US.
Two fun facts about Lynne, she enjoys Korean TV Drama, and in 2017 she competed in the Mrs. Florida United States Pageant as Mrs. Palm Beach County. She was 4th Runner Up! To read Lynne’s full story, visit: scholarcc.com/our-story
Jorge Bastos, Board President : Jorge has been a board member since August 2021. He is a Leadership and Executive Coach, and a partner at Essentia Integrative Solutions, a company dedicated to the professional and personal growth of senior executives. His main focus is to support and coach BIPOC leaders in large corporations to realize their full potential and reach higher levels in their careers. Jorge has had a successful executive career as a C-Suite leader in global corporations. He has lived in the US, the UK, Brazil, and Argentina, and has worked across more than 30 countries. He presently lives in Miami, FL.
Jorge is passionate about reducing inequality and providing everyone with the same opportunities for growth and success. His main objective is to develop partnerships with companies so SCC can expand and provide support to a higher number of students.
Dr. Eddie Ruiz, Board Vice President: Dr. Ruiz serves as our newly appointed Vice President at Scholar CC and is the current Florida State Director for Charter Schools USA. Prior to his current role, Ruiz served as an Assistant Superintendent of the Division of Student Services, Equity, and Access for the School District of Palm Beach County. He holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Phoenix and received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida.
He served 15 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal and has worked passionately to ensure that all students receive a quality education that will equip them with the skills needed for post-secondary education and employment in today’s ever-changing world. Influenced to become an educator as a result of being impacted by caring educators who saw talents in him, Dr. Ruiz’s mission is to inspire and motivate the next generation, one student at a time. He is excited to be part of the Scholar Career Coaching board and to continue serving our students and leading the organization forward strategically.
Lisa Rabinsky, VP/Finance Director: Lisa joined the Scholar Career Coaching Board of Directors in 2014 and took over the role of Finance Director. She is a Florida native who attended Palm Beach State College. She has 30+ years of experience in banking and commercial finance and is a top performer in her industry. She is currently Senior Vice President at SouthState Bank in her role as a Commercial Relationship Manager. She has provided the expertise to help in growing SCC revenues and managing our finances.
Lisa has been active with many nonprofits for over 30 years; our focus on disadvantaged youth was the primary reason for joining our board.
Martine Pierre, Board Secretary: Martine Pierre, a native of Brooklyn, New York, was raised in South Florida. Her passion for helping others achieve their goals has been a driving force in her life. In 2006, Martine earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration, with a minor in Business Administration. Her dedication to the healthcare field led her to pursue further education, culminating in a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration in 2016, as well as Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
Martine’s extensive experience has allowed her to hone her leadership skills and become an integral part of management teams. Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Martine founded MP Management Services, a company committed to guiding and supporting emerging and start-up businesses in reaching their goals. Additionally, she serves as the managing partner of 1st Nurse Registry and Enhanced Fingerprint Solutions. Martine’s dedication to making a difference extends beyond the business realm, as she also serves as an active member and secretary of The Christian Church by Faith, a Chaplain with Marketplace Chaplains, and is a certified Maxwell Leadership Team Member. My passion for education and helping others achieve their full potential is why I joined the SCC board. I’m really excited about continuing the mission and vision of SCC.
Mario F. Guzman, Director of Workforce Readiness: Mario has over twenty years of experience in government operations and is currently the director of public works for the City of Boynton Beach. He is a practitioner of servant leadership and is passionate in ensuring the team is working to its best potential. After originally starting in the skilled trades field, he transitioned into executive management to make impactful changes in operations. Mario has presented as keynote speaker and facilitated numerous trainings to various groups on his leadership philosophy and how to engage team members. He has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University and is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County class of 2020. As a board member he is enthusiastic in creating young leaders.
Valeska Martins, Director of Business Social Impact: Originally from Brazil, Valeska has been living abroad for the past 28 years. Her immersive multicultural experiences include extended occupational residencies in Japan, the UK, and the U.S., as well as in Brazil. She has 26 years of experience as a Psychologist and a licensed psychotherapist in Brazil, Japan and the UK.
Currently, she is a leadership, career, and life coach, living in Miami, Florida. She was a university lecturer in Brazil, teaching courses in applied psychology, fundamentals of philosophy, and ethics. Along with her educational background in psychology, she also has a Master of Arts degree in Psychoanalytic Approaches from the Tavistock Clinic in London, and Consulting and Coaching Certificates from the NTL Institute in Washington D.C. and the University of Miami, respectively. Combined with her academic endeavors, international exposure has provided her with the invaluable resources and experiences necessary to best serve communities from diverse backgrounds. Passionate about education and with a strong belief that education is the golden path to changing lives and changing the world, Valeska joined Scholar Career Coaching in September 2022.
Maylee DeJesus, General Board Member: Maylee De Jesús has been the City Clerk for the City of Boynton Beach since May 2022. She has over 16 years of experience in local government and has been a part of City Clerks and City Managers associations locally, statewide, and Nationwide.
She started her education career in 2009. She graduated with her Associate of Arts Degree from Palm Beach State College in 2014. She then went on to graduate from Florida Atlantic University with her Bachelor’s in Public Administration degree in 2017, and with her Master’s in Public Administration Degree in 2020, at the beginning of Covid. She Founded the ICMA Student Chapter at FAU in 2017 and was President until she graduated in 2020. She also earned her Master of Municipal Clerk Designation in December 2019. She has achieved her goals in education and in her career while being a single mother of two daughters, Marializ and Veronica, which are her greatest achievements in life! Maylee joined Scholar CC because she has a strong desire to support students as they embark on their journey toward success in their careers or college endeavors.
Janell Carroll, Public Relations Director: Janell Wildgoose-Carroll, Ph.D., born and raised in the Bahamas, is a first-generation college graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s of business administration degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University. In 2021, she graduated with a doctoral degree in educational leadership and research methodology from Florida Atlantic University, where she is the research development strategist for the Division of Research.
The proud graduate of Leadership of Palm Beach County’s Class of 2020 has over twenty years of higher education experience in various capacities, including teaching, research and analysis, instructional design and technology, course and program development, enrollment, advising, and leadership. The award-winning marketer was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Scholar Career Coaching.
Myrione Pierre-Louis, Director of Events: Mimi is a very driven, passionate, and determined individual. She aims for success in everything she does and sees failing as an opportunity for greater success. Mimi is well-versed culturally and loves to help people. She enjoys being part of a community and does her best to ensure her actions positively impact the world. Mimi takes great pride in her work and involvement in her local community. In her free time, she likes to spend quality time with her family and play baseball with her boys. Mimi also loves the outdoors, traveling, and listening to Christian gospel and country music. Being part of the Scholar CC board provides an opportunity to give back to the community by successfully assisting first-generation and immigrant students in navigating the U.S. educational system
.Mimi was born in Haiti and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 11 years. Mimi is married and has two boys. Mimi holds a Juris Master in Legal Studies (JMLS) from FSU College of Law. Her educational and employment background is in legal, accounting, contracting, compliance, and entrepreneurship. She is currently employed with the Florida Department of Revenue, as an Operations Analyst and she is also a self-employed insurance and real estate agent.
Alexandria Ayala, General Board Member: Alexandria Ayala represents District 2 on the Palm Beach County School Board. District 2 encompasses central Palm Beach County. She is the first Latina and youngest woman elected to the Palm Beach County School Board. Outside of her service on the School Board, she currently also works at The Euclid Group, a governmental strategy firm, as Director of Public Policy. She has previously served as a Legislative Aide on the Palm Beach County Commission and as a Legislative Aide in The Florida House of Representatives, Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Palm Springs, Florida, Ayala graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Journalism Studies. She is an alumnus of the Palm Beach County School District, having attended three District-operated schools. She is extremely passionate about the pivotal role of education in changing lives and looks forward to working alongside Scholar Career Coaching to fulfill its mission of mentoring college-bound students from underserved populations.
JP Galvao, Corporate Giving Director: With over 15 years in the startup ecosystem, JP co-founded VAI in Brazil, scaled it to a 2,000-car fleet, and secured $100M in investment. As the COO of MotorEnvy, he spearheaded a team that doubled subscription sales within a year. His expertise spans business development, operations, leadership, and fundraising, making him a recognized figure in the auto-subscription industry. Drawing from a rich psychology and biosynthesis therapy background, JP’s leadership style is profoundly shaped by his grasp of human behavior. Open to collaborations, he looks forward to joining forces with forward-thinkers eager to define the next entrepreneurial milestone. As an immigrant and father to first-generation Americans, JP joined Scholar Career Coaching, driven to expand its impact for ESL students eager to unlock their potential.
Dr. Laura Dayal, Organizational & Educational Success Director: Dr. Laura Dayal, Director of Organizational & Educational Success: Laura has served Scholar Career Coaching as an Organizational and Educational Consultant, as Scholar CC marked its 10th anniversary and planned the next stage of organizational growth. During that time Laura also served as a volunteer mentor and saw firsthand the positive impact of Scholar CC on students and the community.
Laura is the Founder and CEO of Catalyst for Leadership, serving leaders across sectors as they drive change personally, professionally, and throughout their organizations. Earlier in her career, Laura was a school principal and district leader in Massachusetts public schools, and a college relations expert serving higher education and the private sector. Laura holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University and is an Executive Leadership Coach certified by the International Coaching Federation.
Committed to advancing education, Laura supports leaders and organizations dedicated to that same mission. She sees the positive results of Scholar CC and is invested in its continued growth and impact.