MEET THE TEAM

Travonda Woods, CEO

Travonda is an experienced and trained mentor, coach, public speaker, and educator who has been regionally recognized for fostering DEI programs, community service initiatives, and presenting unique leadership methodologies. She holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering, M.S. in Management & Leadership, and M.B.A. She is a Certified Risk and Compliance Management Professional, Certified Agile ScrumMaster, and trained servant leader.

Travonda has the innate ability to inspire, encourage, and uplift while speaking candidly about challenging issues. As a mentor and coach who gleans from diverse perspectives and promotes the personal and professional development of others, Travonda understands the need to inspire tomorrow's leaders to find purpose in what really matters. As a stage-4 colon cancer overcomer, Travonda strives to intently support those who are either battling or have already won the victory over an invasive disease in gaining a fresh perspective on how to approach life in spite of.

Naomi Catherine, COO

With an educational background in Business, Naomi Catherine is both a mentor and experienced professional in Finance, Administration & Management, and Strategy & Operations. She has received over 8 different corporate honors, certs, and nominations and is awarded for her leadership and proactivity in several community and company program initiatives.

As the daughter of someone who has overcome stage-4 colon cancer, Naomi has come to learn more about the true power of self, of will, of life, and of the mind and just how much these aspects can influence the outcome of adversity. Catherine now sees the need for such an ideology within the health industry and within the lives of everyday people more than ever.

Naomi Catherine is an advocate for quality of life, which she believes is achieved through wellness, purpose, innovation and creativity, spirituality, and healthy community and relationships. Apart from the business world, she is a true lover of sports and fitness, ballet, fashion, travel, linguistics, literature, quality time with loved ones, art, film, music, science, psychology, and anthropology.

Chad Jones, CTO

With over two decades of experience in the Supply Chain industry, Chad Jones brings a wealth of knowledge and a robust set of technical skills to the table. Holding a degree in Business Information Systems, Chad has honed his expertise in a variety of technical domains including Python, HTML, Java, and Cyber Security. Additionally, Chad is certified in both cybersecurity and machine learning, showcasing his commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements.

Outside of his professional life, Chad is a dedicated father to a brilliant teenage daughter. His extensive experience, coupled with his commitment to personal and professional growth, makes Chad a valuable asset to any organization looking to enhance their operations through proven leadership and innovative technology solutions.

Alnita Williams Porea, CGO

Alnita boasts an illustrious 25-year journey in the educational realm from being a passionate math teacher for middle and high school students to leadership roles such as assistant principal and principal. She now serves as the Coordinator for the Center for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Alnita holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Southern University A&M College, a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Xavier University of Louisiana, and is currently enriching her academic canvas as a doctoral student at Capella University.

Alnita was celebrated as the 2016 Orleans Parish Schools Teacher of The Year, 2016 New Orleans Excellence in Teaching finalist, 2018 School Leader Institute Fellow, KIPP New Orleans Math Content Leader for 2022-2023, and 2022-2023 Alliance for Diversity and Excellence Cohort member.

Alnita is the proud owner of juicing company Grace Wellness, and finds solace in reading, writing, and championing health and wellness initiatives, and shares the vibrant journey of life with her husband, Daniel Porea, and children: Sydney, Daniel, Jr., and Isaiah.

Sonya Scott, Board Director

Sonya Scott is a Human Resources professional with experience in the healthcare, corporate, and non-profit industries. She has a passion for helping others to discover their best selves with a natural ability to motivate and inspire with a compassionate yet intentional and accountable mentoring style.

In 2018, Sonya became an Amazon best-selling co-author of Soul Talk Vo. 2, Soul-Stirring Stories of People Who Let Go and Let God and founded Professional Pursuit of Purpose, LLC, a mentoring program for mid-level professionals. In 2019, she published her first book as an independent author, The Workplace Devotional, A Guide to Serving God’s Purpose at Work, and in 2020, she was a contributing author on the 365-day devotional, One DAE at A Time, Intentional Declarations, Affirmations, and Encouragement for Women.

Sonya has been featured in Today's Purpose Woman Magazine, DFWiGospel Radio, The Danesha Rachelle Show, and The Southern Belle Radio Show.

Since her mother’s lymphatic cancer diagnosis and recovery, Sonya has become an advocate of providing emotional support, inspiration, and encouragement to those who have been diagnosed with invasive diseases.

© 2024 Beyond the Stages

Darron Woods, Board President

Darron holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and a Masters of Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas. He served as an educator for 10+ years and held the honor of Lead Teacher in Allen ISD. Darron obtains a Texas certification in School Administration, Special Education, and ESL. He also has a background in Routing Intelligence.

Darron is a licensed minister, public speaker, and transformation coach. Darron currently hosts the Captured Podcast informing listeners of topics surrounding God's biblical principles.

Darron is Travonda's cherished husband who intently supported her and her mother throughout their cancer journeys. Together Darron and Travonda have served as premarital and marital directors for 5 years before becoming certified independent marriage mentors & relationship coaches.

Denise Douse, Board Member

Denise Douse, a detail-oriented and technically skilled Network Analyst with a strong foundation in desktop and end-user support. Her expertise lies in project management and problem resolution, while thriving to deliver effective solutions.

Denise takes pride in her ability to cultivate superior customer relationships, ensuring that every client's needs are met with consistency, professionalism, and care.