MEET THE ADVISORY BOARD
Felicia R. Ocdise
Board Member
Felicia R. Ocdise has a 20 year career within the financial sector. Currently, she is a Compliance Director at Community Choice Financial, Inc. where she specializes in financial governance. Her responsibilities include: risk assessment and management, analyzing and reporting compliance data to stakeholders and key individuals, facilitating company exams with federal and state regulators and third-party auditors, and compliance training and development. Felicia is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with focus in Business Administration. Felicia was a participant in the Harvard Business School Manage Mentor program, and was featured in the Who’s Who In Black Columbus publication. She is an active member of her sorority where she has served as the financial secretary, treasurer, and now serving on the finance committee. Felicia is a strong proponent of financial literacy and being “financially fit”. Outside of her professional career, Felicia is committed to educating individuals, specifically youth and young adults, with the knowledge base and skill sets to make sound financial decisions.
Dr. Jelynn A. Martin
Board Member
Dr. Martin is the pastor of Mount Sinai United Holy Church in Akron, Ohio. Within the United Holy Church of America, she serves in leadership at both the district and international levels of the organization as the Education Department President and Director of Planned Giving, respectively.
Within these roles, Dr. Martin serves to meet the educational needs of over 300 churches world-wide. She is a bi-vocational pastor who works as a Pharmacokinetic Research Scientist II for Charles River Laboratories. Prior to her role as a Research Scientist at Charles River Laboratories, she worked as their Manager of Clinical Pathology for 4 years. From Charles River Laboratories she received the Employee Recognition Award for her outstanding efforts towards improving company workflow and processes by the Employee Engagement Team.
Until June 2019, Dr. Martin was also a part-time Senior Lecturer in the Engineering and Science Technology Department at The University of Akron. She was noted for presenting scientific topics and materials in ways that were both challenging and engaging. She facilitated lectures that presented the most mundane topics in ways that were practical and sometimes unconventional.
Dr. Martin was awarded The Certificate of Excellence and recognized as the department’s Outstanding Faculty Member for 2016-2017. Dr. Martin is a graduate of Wittenberg University with a Bachelor degree in Sociology with a Chemistry minor. Dr. Martin also completed post-baccalaureate studies at The Ohio State University. It was there she found her passion for research and went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Chemistry and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biomedical Sciences from Wright State University.
Dr. Jelynn A. Martin's research has been published in several national scientific journals and books, and she is also a contributing author in the Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry.
Samuel “Chris” Suel currently serves as the Assistant Director of Community Affairs for Mayor Ginther, prior to this role Chris lead My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) as a Program Manager for the City of Columbus, Department of Neighborhoods. As the MBK Program Manager, Chris focused on addressing persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential by targeting barriers to success at the individual, organizational and systematic levels. Chris utilizes his background in working with diverse communities throughout the City of Columbus to build collaboration amongst stakeholders to improve outcomes in the community.
Chris is interested in helping the African- American community through civic endeavors, education, resources and community empowerment. He was a past member of CULYP (Columbus Urban League Young Professionals) and he is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Alpha Rho Lambda Chapter. Chris serves on the Committee for Junior Esquires of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and a current board member for Starfish Alliance. Chris also serves as a SGT in the United States Army Reserves, he deployed to Iraq, Syria and Kuwait from 2018-2019 for 11 months. He attends Gospel Lighthouse Church and volunteers regularly at Windsor Academy Elementary and Linden McKinley STEM.
Before working for the City of Columbus, Chris was a Case Manager for Franklin County Children Services. He would later serve with the Community Outreach unit with Franklin County Job and Family Services. Chris is a graduate of Wright State University, from which he earned degrees in Sociology and Business Management. He is currently finishing his Masters in Public Administration at Franklin University.
Chris Suel
Board Member