BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CEO

Emmanuel Glaze / Founder and CEO

Emmanuel Glaze is the Founder and CEO of the nonprofit Optimize The Vizion. His sports roots run deep into the red clay of Georgia. He played on the perennial powerhouse and multiple state champion Lincoln County High School during his high school days. He continued his athletic prowess at Morris Brown College where he lettered in football and track and graduated with a degree in Mathematics. After graduation, he never lost his desire to compete and fulfilled that need by coaching football programs at both Kell Middle and High schools. His marriage of 20+ years to his college sweetheart Jennifer has produced two beautiful daughters that are a huge motivation for Emmanuel. When asked how he continues to break the mold of what people think a guy from Lincoln County, GA should be able to accomplish, his reply embodies his quiet faith: “You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.”

team

Jennifer Glaze / Chief Operating Officer(COO)

As a native Chicagoan, Jennifer Glaze has always had a special interest in the challenges that comprise the human experience.  Receiving her Bachelors Degree at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, she studied the field of Psychology to pursue her interests in human behavior.   She advanced her education at Kennesaw State University achieving a Masters Degree in Social Work.  Today she is a fully licensed Clinical Social Worker whose specialties include Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Women’s Issues and HIV/AIDS.

Currently Ms. Glaze works within her private practice, Becoming Your Best Counseling Services, LLC of Acworth GA, which provides individual counseling to adolescents and adults as well as educational seminars focused in her areas of expertise.  She is a firm believer in the importance of educating those who are not directly impacted by Mental Health and Addiction in order to reduce the stigmatizing behaviors that exacerbate these conditions and contribute to challenges experienced by the individuals and their families.

Mrs. Glaze’s ultimate goals are to use her experiences, both personal and professional, to improve the emotional wellbeing of others, helping people make the healthiest choices for their lives.  It is her overall hope that the future world we all share is less stigmatizing and discriminatory and more inclusive and accepting.

board of directors

Hannah Joy Gebresilassie / Board Member

Hannah Joy Gebresilassie is an award-winning journalist, media personality, motivational speaker, photographer and entrepreneur hailing from Atlanta, GA. She transitioned from working in the sports industry then as a TV Reporter/Anchor to launching her own media platform, HannahJoyTV, along with the Promote Positivity Movement. Her mission is to share uplifting content and promote positivity worldwide. As the daughter of Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrants, she also created a lifestyle brand inspired by peace initiatives between the two east African nations. Hannah is a proud alumnus of Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and Northwestern University. She is very passionate about working with the youth, traveling and community development.

Lewis Preston / Board Member

Lewis Preston is a former championship Division I Head and Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach. Once he transitioned from collegiate coaching, Lewis created his own website (www.CoachLewisPreston.com) to connect with youth, student-athletes and professionals in different sports fields. Lewis likes to help people in all walks of life to better develop their leadership and professional skills. Currently, Lewis is involved and contributes to numerous activities in the Kennesaw, Acworth and Cobb county communities. Lewis’ professional highlights includes: Agent – Men’s Basketball (www.theBDSAgency.com), Member – Cobb County Chamber of Commerce (Chairman’s Club), Contributor – Hawks-Naismith Holiday Basketball Classics (Atlanta Hawks), Contributor – Georgia Hoop Circle (@GaHoopCircle) and Basketball Analyst – SUVtv (www.theSUVtv.com)

Corey Sharrod Jones / Board Member

Corey Sharrod Jones was born and raised in St. Louis, MO and attended power house Hazelwood East High School where  he lettered in both Basketball and Football.  After high school Corey continued his football career at the University of Kansas where he studied Business/Sports Management! Corey later moved  to Atlanta where he started a career in Sales/Telecommunications for AT&T and met his now wife of 18 years Starr H Jones. They are now the proud parents of two handsome, intelligent young men.  Corey has served his community for over a decade as a Football  Coach for The McEachern Youth and Middle School Programs. He also, served as President of the Southwest Baseball Association where he also coached and helped launch the Southwest Sox Travel Baseball Academy. Corey is also the CEO/Founder of ReaLStarr Sports and Entertainment, LLC.  https://www.realstarrsportsent.com