STAFF

Chelsea Gulden

Chelsea Gulden, MSW
President & CEO

Chelsea Gulden is a longtime HIV advocate, service provider and inspiring national speaker. She joined the RAIN staff in 2010 after creating and implementing the first comprehensive program serving HIV-positive youth in North Carolina, Empowering Positive Youth (EPY). EPY regularly receives national attention for its peer leadership model. The program has served over 1,000 positive youth through individual case management and support groups.

Gulden began working in the HIV service sector shortly after her own diagnosis. She is an expert in HIV service delivery, programming and prevention. She brings 15 years of experience in coordinating programs for optimal health.

Recently, Gulden spoke at the national virtual Ryan White conference and was a co-presenter on Intersectional Stigma and HIV for the National Institute of Health. She is currently Co-Chair of the Ryan White HIV Planning Body for Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Union, and York Counties.

She is a presenter at national conferences, college campuses and a frequent guest on radio/television broadcasts. In 2006, she was a panelist on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Gulden has conducted prevention work in Ghana Africa and participated in the U.S. Executive Summary Report advocating for Comprehensive Sexual Education in schools.

Gulden has received numerous honors including features in POZ Magazine and HIV Plus.

She holds a Masters of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research focused on the intersection of intimate partner violence and HIV. She has additional training in trauma-informed care.

Lauryn Banks
Retention Specialist

Diana Barrera
Lead Retention Specialist

Darlena Blackwell, MA, M.Ed
Director of Client Relations

Joyce Brooks, MHA

Joyce Brooks, MHA
Grant & Donor Relations Manager

Jazmin Cedeno

Jazmin Cedeno
Benefits Manager

Devin Cokley

Devin Cokley
HIP Program Manager

Da'Ron Henderson

Da'Ron Davis-Henderson
EPY Peer Navigator

Jay Hayes, LCMHC
Bilingual Mental Health Therapist

Keisha Holmes
Property Manager

Erick Jamison
Peer Outreach Specialist

Savannah Lawing, MPH
Development Specialist

Laurita Lezama
Bilingual Medical Case Manager

Beverly Mitzel, M.Ed

Beverly Mitzel, M.Ed
Benefits Manager

Maria Jose Mulgado

Maria Jose Mulgado
Data & Quality Specialist

Jacki O'Dierno, MA
Director of Administration

Deion Pendleton
HIP Lead Coordinator

Valetta Rhinehart, MA, LMFT

Valetta Rhinehart,
MA, LMFT
Mental Health Therapist

Brayan Salazar Marin
HIP Navigator

Ronald "RJ" Sharrow
Retention Specialist

Stephanie Sherard

Stephanie Sherard
Investigation Specialist

Jarmel Smith

Jarmel Smith
Director of Outreach

Nathan B. Smith

Nathan B. Smith
Vice President, Philanthropy

Laurenzo Surrell-Page
EPY Peer Navigator

Terrell Thibeaux, MS

Terrell J. Thibeaux, MS
HIP Support Specialist

Demetrice Whiteside
Medical Case Manager

Sarah Yum, MA, LMFT

Sarah Yum, MA, LMFT
Mental Health Therapist

Leadership Team

Chelsea Gulden, MSW
President & CEO

Darlena Blackwell, MA, M.Ed
Director of Client Relations

Jacki O'Dierno, MA
Director of Administration

Jarmel Smith
Director of Outreach

Nathan B. Smith
Vice President, Philanthropy

Medical Case Management Staff

Laurita Lezama
Bilingual Medical Case Manager

Demetrice Whiteside
Medical Case Manager

Empowering Positive Youth Staff

Da'Ron Davis-Henderson
EPY Peer Navigator

Laurenzo Surrell-Page
EPY Peer Navigator

Health Insurance Assistance Staff

Jazmin Cedeno
Benefits Manager

Beverly Mitzel, M.Ed
Benefits Manager

Counseling Staff

Jay Hayes, LCMHC
Bilingual Mental Health Therapist

Valetta Rhinehart, MA, LMFT
Mental Health Therapist

Sarah Yum, MA, LMFT
Mental Health Therapist

The Drop Staff

Devin Cokley
HIP Program Manager

Deion Pendleton
HIP Lead Coordinator

Brayan Salazar Marin
HIP Navigator

Terrell Thibeaux, MS
HIP Support Specialist

The Havens Staff

Keisha Holmes
Property Manager

Peer Retention & Support Staff

Lauryn Banks
Retention Specialist

Diana Barrera
Lead Retention Specialist

Erick Jamison
Peer Outreach Specialist

RJ Sharrow
Retention Specialist

Stephanie Sherard
Investigation Specialist

Fundraising & Marketing Staff

Joyce Brooks, MHA
Grant & Donor Relations Manager

Savannah Lawing, MPH
Development Specialist

Administrative & Program Support Staff

Maria Jose Mulgado
Data & Quality Specialist