Staff

Verletta joined Unleashing Potential in 2020.  She has more than 30 years in the nonprofit sector and has spent the majority of that career raising funds for local organizations.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University and has worked in all aspects of the nonprofit arena including management, administration, budgeting, program, special events, capital campaigns, annual funds, grant writing (government, corporate & foundation), cause marketing, and direct mail.

Julio is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in talent strategy, HR operations, and performance management across the nonprofit, utility, technology, and insurance sectors. A Marine Corps veteran and bilingual professional, he brings deep expertise in coaching and mentoring and is actively engaged in community service through volunteer leadership and board roles with several community-based organizations. Julio holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Communications from Concordia University and a Master of Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University.

Brittany Campbell joined Unleashing Potential in 2023. She has over 21 years of nonprofit development experience with a heavy focus on marketing, donor communications, special events, donor relations, grant writing, and development planning. She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration (specialization in non-profit management and development), a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Studio Art & Design and has held a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) credential since 2016.

Niesha Nelson is a native of Kansas City, MO and currently residing in Saint Louis since 2004. She received her Bachelor’s degree at Harris Stowe State University in Educational Studies and Master’s degree of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary. Niesha has been with Unleashing Potential for over 20 years. She credits that the mission and values align with her purpose to reimagine a radical shift of resilience and empowerment in every family we serve by building upon their strengths and walking with families during the challenges they face.

Shawnica received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 2012 and earned a Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Education Administration in 2016. She have been with Unleashing Potential for over 10 years, where she remains remained committed to strengthening the overall well-being of families by building meaningful relationships, connecting them to resources, promoting positive development, and empowering them to thrive within their homes and communities. She is also actively involved in board and community leadership work, supporting organizations and initiatives that focus on advocacy, family support, and community impact.

Kimya Ware is the STEM Innovation Educator at Unleashing Potential, where she designs and supports hands-on STEM learning experiences for elementary students across out-of-school time programs. With over 20 years of experience in youth development, Kimya brings a strong background in program design, staff support, and creating engaging learning environments. She leads the Future Innovators Lab and also works alongside staff across multiple sites to build confidence and capacity in delivering STEM and enrichment activities. Her work focuses on helping students explore, build, and problem-solve through engineering, geospatial thinking, and real-world connections. Kimya is passionate about making STEM accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all students.

Yolonda joined Unleashing Potential in February 2013. Yolonda comes with over 20+ years of Administrative Office/Executive Assistant experience. She has a keen eye for organization and a commitment to efficiency. She effectively manages complex calendars, coordinates extensive travel arrangements, and facilitates smooth communication channels within executive teams and board members. Her strong interpersonal skills, coupled with an innate ability to anticipate the needs of team members, have contributed to the successful execution of high-level projects and the overall optimization of administrative processes.