Our Team
Dr. Marlene Carson
Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Marlene Carson is the Founder and Executive Director of The SWITCH. An author, coach, and active member of the U.S. Advisory Council on Trafficking, Ms. Carson provides recommendations and to national policy and government officials about programs that will end human trafficking.
As the Executive Director of The Switch, Dr. Carson has built multiple social enterprise initiatives to employ survivors of Sex Trafficking. iTHRIVE Academy, iTHRIVE Media Group and the Social Justice Academy all provide vocational training opportunities for survivors, equipping them with the skills they need to thrive and gain employment.
Dr. Carson founded Rahab’s Hideaway in 2008, a trauma-informed residential housing facility for victims of sex trafficking. She also built, “Boujhetto’s Soul Food Restaurant”, a social enterprise that provides vocational training to survivors of sex trafficking.
Sheila White, Director of Education
Sheila White is the Director of Education at The Switch where she provides preventative education, early intervention, and peer counseling to girls and young women in detention centers, group homes, residential facilities, and schools throughout Columbus. Previously, Sheila was the co-coordinator of HIV and Trafficking events for the state of New York. Sheila has also worked as a Development Associate, where she wrote grants, coordinated special events, and worked with donors. A passionate and dynamic presenter, Sheila has spoken at legislative briefings, conferences throughout the United States and the United Nations. Sheila’s advocacy efforts helped pass the 2008 New York York Safe Harbor for Exploited Youth Act, which provides robust support services for trafficking victims in New York, as well as preventative programs. Sheila has been featured on CNN, and in the 2011 documentary, Not My Life, about the global scale of trafficking and modern-day slavery. She is a member of the U.S Advisory Council on Human trafficking where she advises and makes recommendations on federal anti-trafficking policies to the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF).
Jennifer Price, Director of Development
Jennifer is the Development Director at The Switch where she leverages her skills in communication and her passion for victim advocacy to build strategic relationships and develop partnerships for change. Jennifer is a seasoned advocate for victims of sex trafficking, with decades of experience in anti-trafficking work. Prior to The Switch, Jennifer worked in the anti-trafficking field for ten years. Jennifer started her career in direct services, supporting young women between the ages of 12 – 24 victimized by the commercial sex industry. She conducted weekly outreach to the juvenile detention centers in New York City and with The Administration of Child Services before shifting her focus to development, using her skills as a public speaker to garner funding for victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Since then, Jennifer has had the privilege of speaking on numerous panels and facilitating workshops within universities and the New York City Department of Education. Above all, she is passionate about creating a world where girls are loved, respected, and empowered.
Maranda Noble, Project Manager
Maranda is the Project Manager at The Switch where she is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing The Switch’s many projects. With over 20 years of experience in office management, Maranda prides herself on being an innovator and expert troubleshooter. For the past 10 years, Maranda has dedicated herself to working with anti-trafficking initiatives throughout Ohio. Jennifer was previously the co-coordinator of Stories Behind Their Eyes, a student resource and service-learning project that brings awareness to human trafficking. Maranda has also performed street outreach about human trafficking through a local faith based ministry. Maranda is also an entrepreneur, and has founded multiple businesses. Maranda has a passion for supporting others to succeed at their goals.
Brittany Yoder, Creative Director and Social Media Manager
Brittany is the Creative Director at The Switch where she oversees social media marketing, and builds digital anti-trafficking campaigns. Brittany has over 10 years of experience in marketing, having previously worked as both a Marketing Director and a Public Relations Specialist for a large retail company. Brittany is a skilled event coordinator, social media manager, and a talented photographer, designer and editor. In 2016, Brittany was signed as a plus-size model with modeling agencies in New York, Chicago and Ohio. Brittany uses her social media platforms to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of human trafficking, recognizing that many victims are often lured by fradulent promises of modeling careers. Brittany’s dream is to create her own credible, safe modeling agency that empowers girls and young women all over the world.
Executive Board (bios/photos)
Marlene Carson, Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Marlene Carson is the Founder and Executive Director of The SWITCH. An author, coach, and active member of the U.S. Advisory Council on Trafficking, Ms. Carson provides recommendations and to national policy and government officials about programs that will end human trafficking. As the Executive Director of The Switch, Dr. Carson has built multiple social enterprise initiatives to employ survivors of Sex Trafficking. iTHRIVE Academy, iTHRIVE Media Group and the Social Justice Academy all provide vocational training opportunities for survivors, equipping them with the skills they need to thrive and gain employment. Dr. Carson founded Rahab’s Hideaway in 2008, a trauma-informed residential housing facility for victims of sex trafficking. She also built, “Boujhetto’s Soul Food Restaurant”, a social enterprise that provides vocational training to survivors of sex trafficking. A life-long entrepreneur, Dr. Carson created, “The Antidote”, a collaboration of survivors and allies that builds strategic partnerships across local, state and federal agencies to stop human trafficking. The Antidote hosts an annual summit conferences about human trafficking and creates programs that support survivors of human trafficking and prostitution. The Antidote, and Dr. Carson, has received national recognition for the work to promote human rights through ending human trafficking. Dr. Carson is a native, and resident of Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Carson’s heart for victimized people knows no bounds. Her intimate knowledge of human trafficking and its victims has led her to be a sought-after speaker, as the voice of the victim, survivor, thriver, and community changer. Dr. Carson’s passion has fueled the creation of programs that have assisted and empowered thousands of victims of human trafficking.
Maurice Butler
Dr. Butler is an author, teacher, and serial entrepreneur. With more than 25 years of experience as a financial and administrative leader within the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, he has provided effective counsel and guidance to national and international organizations. Known as an “Infopreneur,” Dr. Butler models servant leadership in a manner that builds, mentors, and prepares others to live with purpose and serve with excellence. He is the founder of Striving Toward Excellence in Public Service (STEPS), Inc., a Maryland nonprofit providing developmental, financial and administrative services to nonprofits and small businesses. Dr. Butler provides fiscal and operational counsel and guidance to The Switch.
Christian Karega
Christian is a passionate entrepreneur and business founder. With a BS in Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Christian has over 15 years of experience in organization transformation, business model innovation, and entrepreneurship. As a serial entrepreneur, she has launched several ventures including Ayur Luxe, a premium beauty brand, and Naturally Craveables, a snack foods business, and is proud to apply her gifts in social entrepreneurship to the mission of The Switch.
Lance Robbins
Lance is the Founder, Principal and Manager of Urban Smart Growth (USG), a company he built after spending twenty years rehabilitating distressed inner-city apartment units in Los Angeles. A native of West Los Angeles and a graduate of U.C.L.A. with a degree in economics and history and U.C. Berkeley’s Boalt School of Law, Lance has practiced real estate creditors’ rights, where he learned the critical components of running an efficient and highly effective real estate business. His tenacity and insight have generated over $100 million in value to USG. Lance’s dedication to sustainability led him to the Board of The Switch where he invests his personal time and capacity to secure endowments.
Aaron Iskowitz
Aaron is the Chief Operating Officer of Urban Smart Growth (USG), where he leads company operations, development initiatives and investment decisions. Prior to joining USG, Aaron was a Vice President in the Capital Markets Group at Avison Young and a Senior Associate at The Carlton Group, where he was involved in deals totaling over $4 billion. Before consulting, Aaron was a Project Manager and Financial Analyst at Woodmont Properties, a regional real estate developer, where he oversaw due diligence, the approval process, and maintained ongoing financial projections for various projects. His career experience in development makes him an asset to the Board of The Switch where he focuses his efforts on fundraising.
SurThriver Board
Dr. Marlene Carson, Founder and CEO, The Switch
EleSondra DeRomano, Founder and President, S.T.A.R.S.
Sheila White, Director of Education, The Switch
Jennifer Price, Director of Development, The Switch
Crystal Touchstone, Consultant
Advisors
Shana Clark
Dr. Kim Kiehl
Counselors
Dr. Yaro Garcia
Lisa Gray, LPC
Dr. Diana Morgan