Artportunity Knocks "DREAM" Team
Chris "Alpha Knocks" Woods
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As the CEO he leads the charge in creating a positive work environment. He believes that in order to empower the youth the leadership team must be empowered and see the full vision of Artportunity Knocks, past, present and future.
Chris has over 20 years of experience in youth & leadership development, nonprofit management, operational restructuring and business empowerment for several for profits and nonprofits across the globe. As one of the founding members of Artportunity Knocks he is well knowledgeable on every area of the organization and believes in sharing those tools to the staff in order for them to succeed at their roles. His passion is education on all levels of communication. Having a background in Music Producer, Audio Engineering and teaching he has been able to bridge the two worlds by teaching kids and teens how to produce music, make beats, edit, compose, and record songs their own original songs, founding the Beat Knocks program which is the most successful to date. Currently working on bridging the educational and career gap with The Artrepreneurship Institute, designed to give students career pathways into Arts, Entertainment, Business & Technology. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Audio Production from the Art Institute of Atlanta and a Diploma in Theology from Word of Faith ICC. and is a serial entrepreneur with his beautiful wife Ty. |
Micheline Moret
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Micheline (Mich) has over 20 years of experience in the finance realm with emphasis in the Non-Profit arena. Mich attended California State University Northridge where her education in finance laid an excellent foundation for success. During her tenure within the Community Action network, Mich became known for her transparency, effectiveness, and power to build successful teams. She often captivates others in a way that aspires and motivates them to be their personal best.
Mich has sat shoulder to shoulder with various government monitors to assure the community that funds are well spent on any government contracts or grants that she oversees. Her strengths are in Grant Management, Finance, and Strategic Planning. She also has an excellent record in mitigating Loss Prevention and managing Workers Comp mod rates. Mich is a compassionate person with a huge heart for those who are underserved in their communities. She loves children and is the mother of four ‘adults.’ Continuing to serve in the educational realm and working for the kiddos is the biggest bonus for her. She is also very passionate about her family and her New Orleans culture. |
Ariel Benton-Wells
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Ariel is a business professional with over 8 years’ experience mostly working in independent retail companies. She holds an MBA from Walden University and has held senior roles at Walmart, Queen Virgin Remy, and Indique LLC . Her areas of expertise include recruitment and brand marketing, employee training and development, and business and performance management. With a background in business and cosmetology, Ariel opened her own boutique salon business—Salon Ari LLC—catering to women and children, with a focus on vibrant, healthy hair and skin.
Ariel is currently the Human Resources Manager at Artportunity Knocks Inc, located in Atlanta, GA. |
Rodney Mullins
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Ty Woods
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Ty Woods has been in the youth development & education industry for over 22 years. She has worked for agencies such as: The Jenesse Center, Family Resource, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Council, Boys and Girls Club, City of Covina, and the Cobb County School District. Her experience has led her to receive recognition from local government officials and national agencies for her work in youth leadership, nonprofit development and Arts/Music Education advocacy service. In 2020, she was named one of the Top 40 Most Influential Leader by LA Wire magazine and continues to pave the way for others behind her.
Her education spans over a decade starting with an Associates in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Life University, where she graduated Valedictorian, and an MBA from Coles College of Business. Through her leadership, the organization's revenue has grown significantly, by over 300% in one year, and she continues to forge contacts that are beneficial to the organization. She is married with a son in elementary and one in college, but still finds the time to serve in her church as a small group leader, mentor young women and business owners and take time for herself. She is the host of the weekly talk show Dominating The Kingdom with her husband and has launched a new show called, "Love and Entrepreneurship." |
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Will Williams
Education Director wwilliams@artportunityknocks.org |
Jeanetta Ramsey
Executive Assistant to Executive Director jramsey@artportunityknocks.org |
Jeanetta Ramsey is US Army Veteran and former Federal Government Service employee, with over 22 years of professional and committed experience in the Executive Administrative Assistant fields. A hard worker proficient in attention to details, Jeanetta is people-oriented, a team player and works well under pressure.
As the right-hand to ARTportunity Knocks' Executive Director, Jeanetta is knowledgeable and efficient in customer service, adept at confidential correspondence, and offering general administrative support to the overall organization. |
Nakia Magazine
Grants Specialist grants@artportunityknocks.org |
Nakia is the Managing Director at Diversity Plus, Inc., a firm that provides scalable business solutions and grant funding strategies to small businesses in construction, real estate, and transportation/logistics. Her innovative approach is based on years of diverse experience both in the non-profit and for-profit sectors.
Nakia's non-profit work began at the age of 14 years old as a youth community leader in her hometown of Boston, MA. Later in her entrepreneurial career, she spent close to a decade as a Non-Profit Consultant, working with scores of organizations on a small and large scale, to secure more than $20 million in private and government funding. Nakia later facilitated Grant Writing/Non-Profit Fundraising Workshops at the college level to share her best demonstrated practices on effective ways to engage donors and corporate sponsors. Proceeding her start as an entrepreneur, was a successful corporate career with two leading health care companies – Abbott Laboratories and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Over the years, Nakia has remained connected to the health care front, by conducting research on Global Chronic Kidney Disease and facilitating countless learning sessions on Diabetes Management. Her strong business foundation and technical writing capabilities eventually helped her discover her true passion – helping Minority Owned, Women Owned, and Veteran Owned businesses expand their capabilities and operate from a business funding framework. In 1999, Nakia obtained an undergraduate degree in Accounting from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) – Virginia Union University. In 2008, she earned her M.B.A. from the Executive MBA Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagle. |
Claudia Offei
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Claudia Offei is a creative professional and entrepreneur with over 6 years experience in brand management, digital media, and photography. She holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of West Georgia and is also a member of the Professional Photographers of America.
She is co-creator of a creative digital community in Atlanta, Visual Storytellers of Atlanta (VSofAtL), that focuses on stories and visual content from the perspectives of artists in Atlanta of all disciplines. She brings positivity, and a great attitude along with a strong sense of community to the organization. |