Board Members
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Brian Power
Brian is a retired IT executive after a long career with GE. He lives in Northern Virginia and enjoys staying connected to long-term friends and often hosting his sister for extended visits.
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Mike Phillips
Mike has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for the past 20+ years with a focus on HIV and Sickle Cell Disease. He is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Marketing. Mike and his wife Brooke are the proud parents of three children. He spends his free time on sports fields coaching his kids in soccer and lacrosse, listening to music, and checking out new restaurants with his wife.
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Debra Principi
Debra Principi has an extensive career in customer and community relations. In 2014, Debra tapped into her creative side by writing a series of children’s books inspired by life’s rich tapestries. Her book “Polly and Her Pigtails” is a favorite book club read at Polkadot. She is an award-winning author and publisher who believes everyone has a significant life story to share. She is dedicated to reviving the art of generational storytelling as a way to preserve family history, while teaching core value lessons that will build a strong foundation for children.
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Dr. LaNail R. Plummer
As a leading professional in the mental health field, Dr. LaNail R. Plummer and her team of 30 all Black/women of color, are committed to improving the lifestyles of others through the aspects of mental health and character development. A United States Military Veteran and the CEO of Onyx Therapy Group — an organization she founded in 2013 — Dr. Plummer has over 15 years of experience working with a multitude of clients, and specializing in the care of young women; the Black community; and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Her work and expertise has been featured in everything from Essence, NBC, Forbes, The Washingtonian and Time Magazine (among others), and has spoken at conferences during Essence Fest, for Mental Health America, NYU, and the US Black Chambers of Commerce.
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Carlyn Petrella, Secretary
Carlyn served in Peace Corps Kenya from 2010-2012. Post-service, she worked as a regulatory biologist with the Environmental Protection Agency. After 4 1/2 years of federal service, she pursued her Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Carlyn now works as a Policy Analyst at the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University, working to advance community-inclusive clean energy policies across the intermountain west.
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Stephanie Nasbe Johnson, Treasurer
Stephanie has an extensive management background in both sales, marketing and hospitality that spans over 25 years. She recently completed her MBA in Change Management and Strategic Operations. Her personal passion for the arts led her to suspend her career to focus solely on the advancement of The Polkadot Library in Kenya from 2018 through 2021 teaching Art and Computer classes at The Polkadot Library. She now resides in Northern Virginia and is a Sales Manager for the Mid-Atlantic region.
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Christyne Nasbe, Founder and President
Chris began planning the Polkadot Library in 2013 with the idea that there should be more accessible education available to the children of Baringo County, Kenya. With over 20 schools, there was only one library…until The Polkadot Library came to fruition. This idea was born after she spent two years in Kabarnet serving in the US Peace Corps and saw first-hand the challenges of the community. She lived in Kenya full time from 2016-2021 teaching classes in Science, Geography and Eco-Gardening all while managing the needs of the Library.
Chris is a retired Management Consultant from Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Science in
Education.
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