About NAWAIQ - The National Association of Women in AI

LaVada English is an award-winning educator, author, and visionary leader shaping the future of work at the intersection of technology and humanity. As Co-Founder and Co-CEO of the National Association of Women in AI (NAWAIQ), she's building a national movement that empowers women to lead confidently in the age of artificial intelligence.

From her roots in Philadelphia, PA, LaVada has become a trusted voice on leadership, inclusion, and AI strategy. She is the Founder and CEO of Bright Places, Inc., a leadership and culture transformation firm with clients spanning corporate, government, and education sectors.

Her work has earned her recognition as one of Arcadia University's 2025 Women Who Lead and recipient of the Pacific USA "CEO of the Year" Award for excellence in EdTech training. A certified Intercultural Capacity Coach, LaVada brings 25 years of experience helping executives and teams drive performance through communication, innovation, and emotional intelligence.

An alumna of Arcadia University with a BA in Communication and Journalism and an MBA in Human Resource Management, she also serves as the Immediate Past-President of the National Association of Women Business Owners - California.

LaVada is the author of Finding Peace in Chaos, Leading Through Change, and the children's book Kyla Believes. Her life's work bridges wisdom and innovation, showing leaders how to use technology and self-awareness to create more human-centered workplaces.

Melissa Northway, MS, is a nationally recognized financial services professional, award-winning author, and Co-CEO & Founder of the National Association of Women in AI (NAWAIQ). With a Master of Science degree and more than a decade of experience in wealth building and financial education, Melissa is dedicated to helping women and families create long-term prosperity and financial security.

Her exceptional performance in the financial industry has earned her recognition among the Top 100 National Life Group Agents and as a Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) qualifier, honors awarded to the industry's highest-achieving advisors. In 2023, she was named one of NAWBO California's "Top 10 Women Business Owners of the Year," and in 2025 she was nominated for the NAWBO OC Remarkable Women Award.

Melissa is a former President of both NAWBO California and NAWBO Orange County, where she championed statewide initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs and strengthening chapter collaboration. She also completed the prestigious Management Development for Entrepreneurs (MDE) Program at the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 2023, further elevating her capacity to guide business owners through growth, strategy, and financial leadership.

Beyond finance, Melissa is an award-winning children's book author, bringing creativity, storytelling, and empowerment into her broader mission of helping families and communities thrive.

Through NAWAIQ, Melissa is committed to harnessing the power of AI to expand access to wealth-building tools, elevate women's economic opportunities, and shape a more equitable financial future.

Dr. Chelsea Foster is a life-long learner and servant leader who loves to work with youth and the young at heart. With over twenty-five years of experience as a PreK-20 educator, she has taught multiple disciplines from preschool to college, led as the Head of School (CEO), worked as an HR consultant, served on Boards, participated in several accreditation teams, and helped organizations and individuals to navigate micro and macro changes. Dr. Chelsea is also a PreK-College Curriculum Designer, a writing coach and published author of: Take Care: A Devotional for Caregivers, Cuídate: Una Devocional para Cuidadores and a bilingual children's book called Chloe, the Mom Doctor.

Dr. Chelsea is a proud alumna of the following institutions: West Chester University, the University of Puerto Rico, LaSalle University, Villanova University and Eastern University. Professionally, Dr. Chelsea has spent many years teaching Spanish, ESL, English, History, and technology. In addition, she is a credentialed and experienced Principal, Superintendent and Human Resource Manager. She understands the unique dynamics of education in the traditional public school, charter school and private school sectors whether delivered virtually or in a brick and mortar. Her doctoral research and expertise has focused on how educational leaders provide sound educational opportunities for marginalized communities despite political, economic and race challenges.

Dr. Chelsea believes that resilient individuals are the cornerstone of thriving communities. Through dedicated efforts and a commitment to continuous growth, she strives to empower others to face challenges, embrace their potential, and contribute positively to their communities. Her goal is to inspire hope, foster resilience, and create lasting change, one shift at a time. Every growth shift we make, whether personal or professional, is a step towards building a stronger, more connected world for good. Dr. Chelsea Foster lives with her husband in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and they have four accomplished young adult children.

Aimee Rickabus, MFA, is the CEO of Tomahawk Information Solutions and founder of The Manage Her, a media and education brand empowering women at the intersection of leadership, technology, and personal transformation. As a published author, podcast host, and advocate for digital inclusion, she helps women harness AI and innovation to scale their businesses and expand their potential.

With a Master of Fine Arts degree and extensive experience in technology leadership, Aimee brings a unique blend of creative insight and technical expertise to the NAWAIQ Board. Her work focuses on making emerging technologies accessible and actionable for women entrepreneurs and business leaders, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to thrive in an AI-driven economy.

Through The Manage Her platform, Aimee has created a community where women can learn, connect, and grow together, addressing the challenges of modern leadership while embracing the opportunities that technology presents. Her podcast and educational content have reached thousands of women, providing practical strategies for integrating AI and digital tools into their professional lives.

Aimee is honored to join the NAWAIQ Board to help shape a future where women's voices, creativity, and ethical leadership guide the evolution of artificial intelligence. She believes that when women are equipped with the right knowledge and resources, they become powerful agents of change, not just adopting technology, but shaping how it serves humanity.

Mr. Gregory Scott has dedicated his career to promoting social justice and inclusion and improving the well-being of underserved and vulnerable populations. A passionate visionary and change agent, Mr. Scott has demonstrated successful experience as an executive in both the private and nonprofit sector. He leads his teams in producing world-class services, strong organizational development acumen, and economical solutions to address challenging social issues affecting disenfranchised individuals and their families. Tackling topics such as racial equity, poverty, economic empowerment, youth development and education, inadequate healthcare, social services and families, food insecurity and hunger, acute case management, mental health and substance use counseling, affordable housing, and homelessness to name a few. Mr. Scott has garnered both corporate and individual philanthropic support and is known as a thought-leader in the industry.

Mr. Scott serves as the President & CEO of Community Action Partnership of OC (CAP OC), a leading national network championing the war on poverty, racial and economic equity, strengthening families, education and youth development, financial stability, and community and economic development. He also has served as President and CEO of New Directions for Veterans and the Weingart Center, both in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Scott's leadership is pivotal in providing exceptional social justice programs and services that enable people to achieve pathways to prosperity for themselves and their families. His efforts have led to substantial growth through the addition of quality programs, marketing, advocacy, media and public relations, branding, increased community partnerships, asset generation and fund development, strategic planning, board training and development, and the building of strong organizations during very challenging US economic periods.

He has been honored with many accolades, including the Joining Forces award from Former First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden (for a comprehensive national Veterans support initiative), Lifetime Achievement Award, Ford Unsung Hero Award, Weingart Center Community Award, National Black MBA Association Community Hero Award, J.U.G.S. Los Angeles Community Leadership Award, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Community Leadership Award, and the Bank of America Builders Award. He was also featured in the inaugural Suite Life SoCal Magazine, voted #1 in Orange County 25 top influencers in 2020, and named in the top 500 in the Orange County Business Journal in 2021.

Mr. Scott's additional experience includes serving as Regional Vice President for Sylvan Learning Systems, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Youth Association, and National Director for AmeriCorps for YouthBuild USA. Mr. Scott currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Anaheim Workforce Development Board, Southern California Edison Consumer Advisory Board, the Southern California Counseling Center (SCCC), Nonprofit Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC), and the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles (IVCLA). He held board executive committee positions with the Los Angeles Center of Community Economic Development (Chair), the Breese Foundation Board of Directors (Vice Chair), the Board of Directors for the Orange County YMCA Community Services Branch, and Holman Community Development Corporation (Vice Chair).

Before his move to the Los Angeles community, Mr. Scott was appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board for the Massachusetts Service Alliance Commission, charged with allocating funds to public service organizations and initiatives for national service. He was also a member of the National and Community Service Coalition and the National Youth Employment Coalition.

Born and raised in Paterson, NJ, Mr. Scott is a proud graduate of the iconic Eastside High School featured in the famous movie, Lean on Me. Mr. Scott holds a bachelor's degree from William Paterson University and received his Master of Science degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University. He holds certificates from the Wells Fargo Executive Director Program, African American Board Leadership Institute, and the Executive Leadership Program at the Stanford University School of Business.

Brian Northway is a seasoned technology and business executive with over two decades of experience driving innovation, operational excellence, and strategic growth across multiple industries. His career has been defined by a commitment to leveraging technology as a catalyst for business transformation and sustainable competitive advantage.

Throughout his career, Brian has held leadership positions where he has successfully led cross-functional teams, developed and executed strategic initiatives, and built scalable technology platforms that drive measurable business results. His expertise spans technology infrastructure, digital transformation, financial services innovation, and strategic business development. He has a proven track record of identifying emerging market opportunities and translating them into actionable strategies that create value for organizations and their stakeholders.

Brian's approach to leadership combines technical acumen with strong business insight, enabling him to bridge the gap between technology capabilities and business objectives. He is known for his ability to build high-performing teams, foster cultures of innovation, and drive organizational change in dynamic market environments. His experience includes managing complex technology implementations, negotiating strategic partnerships, and leading operational transformations that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

In the financial services sector, Brian has been instrumental in driving digital innovation initiatives that enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and create new revenue opportunities. He understands the critical importance of technology in enabling financial inclusion and expanding access to essential services, particularly for underserved communities. His work has focused on leveraging emerging technologies to create more efficient, transparent, and accessible financial solutions.

Beyond his professional achievements, Brian is passionate about supporting initiatives that empower individuals through technology and education. He believes strongly in the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to create opportunities for economic advancement and social impact. His commitment to these principles aligns closely with NAWAIQ's mission to equip women with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to leverage AI for personal and professional success.

As a board member of the National Association of Women in AI, Brian brings strategic insight, technical expertise, and a dedication to creating pathways for women to thrive in the AI-driven economy. He is committed to supporting NAWAIQ's vision of empowering women through technology education, advocacy, and community building, and to helping shape an inclusive future where women are leaders in the AI revolution.