OUR TEAM

Chelsea Gulden

Chelsea Gulden, MSW
President & CEO
SHE/HER/HERS

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.

Darlena Blackwell, MA, M.Ed
Director of Client Relations
SHE/HER/HERS

Joyce Brooks, MHA

Joyce Brooks, MHA
Grant & Donor Relations Manager
SHE/HER/HERS

Jazmin Cedeno

Jazmin Cedeno
Senior Benefits Manager
SHE/HER/HERS

Devin Cokley

Devin Cokley
HIP Program Manager
HE/HIM/HIS

Da'Ron Henderson

Da'Ron Davis-Henderson
EPY Peer Navigator
HE/HIM/HIS

Kevin Garcia-Sanchez
Trilingual HIP Peer Support Specialist
HE/HIM/HIS

John Gray
HIP Safe Space Coordinator
HE/HIM/HIS

Jay Hayes, LCMHC
Bilingual Mental Health Therapist
HE/HIM/HIS

Keisha Holmes
Property Manager
SHE/HER/HERS

Savannah Lawing, MPH
Development Specialist
SHE/HER/HERS

Laurita Lezama
Bilingual Medical Case Manager
SHE/HER/HERS

Beverly Mitzel, M.Ed

Beverly Mitzel, M.Ed
Benefits Manager
SHE/HER/HERS

Maria Jose Mulgado

Maria Jose Mulgado
Data & Quality Specialist
SHE/HER/HERS

Jacki O'Dierno, MA
Director of Administration
SHE/HER/HERS

Deion Pendleton
HIP Lead Coordinator
HE/HIM/HIS

Valetta Rhinehart, MA, LMFT

Valetta Rhinehart,
MA, LMFT
Mental Health Therapist
SHE/HER/HERS

Brayan Salazar Marin
HIP Navigator
HE/HIM/HIS

Ronald "RJ" Sharrow
Retention Specialist
HE/HIM/HIS

Stephanie Sherard

Stephanie Sherard
Investigation Specialist
SHE/HER/HERS

Jarmel Smith

Jarmel Smith
Director of Outreach
HE/HIM/HIS

Nathan B. Smith

Nathan B. Smith
Vice President, Philanthropy
HE/HIM/HIS

Laurenzo Surrell-Page
EPY Peer Navigator
HE/HIM/HIS

Anthony Tate
Peer Outreach Specialist
THEY/THEM

Demetrice Whiteside
Medical Case Manager
HE/HIM/HIS

Paris Wiley
Retention Specialist
SHE/HER/HERS

Reece Yoho
Benefits Assistant
HE/HIM/HIS

Sarah Yum, MA, LMFT

Sarah Yum, MA, LMFT
Mental Health Therapist
SHE/HER/HERS

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
Senior Benefits Manager

Beverly Mitzel, M.Ed
Benefits Manager

Reece Yoho
Benefits Assistant

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

Kevin Garcia-Sanchez
Trilingual HIP Peer Support Specialist

John Gray
HIP Safe Space Coordinator

Deion Pendleton
HIP Lead Coordinator

Brayan Salazar Marin
HIP Navigator

The Havens Staff

Keisha Holmes
Property Manager

Peer Retention & Support Staff

RJ Sharrow
Retention Specialist

Stephanie Sherard
Investigation Specialist

Anthony Tate
Peer Outreach Specialist

Paris Wiley
Retention 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