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OUR TEAM

Chelsea Gulden, MSW
President & CEO

SHE/HER

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. 

Jessica Aleman 
Bilingual HIP Navigator

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Darlena Blackwell,
MA, M.Ed

Director of Client Relations

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Joyce Brooks,
MHA
Grant & Donor Relations Manager

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Jazmin Cedeno 
Senior Benefits Manager

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Devin Cokley
HIP Program Manager

HE/HIM

Kevin Garcia-Sanchez 
Trilingual HIP Peer Support Specialist

HE/HIM

John Gray
Retention Specialist

HE/HIM

Savannah Lawing,
MPH

Development Specialist

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Laurita Lezama 
Bilingual Medical Case Manager

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Beverly Mitzel,
M.Ed

Benefits Manager

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Maria Jose Mulgado 
Data & Quality Specialist

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Jacki O'Dierno,
MA

Director of Administration

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Deion Pendleton 
HIP Lead Coordinator

HE/HIM

Charles Perez 
Bilingual Peer Retention Specialist

HE/HIM

Elgin Phillips, Jr. 
Director of Outreach

HE/HIM

Valetta Rhinehart,
MA, LMFT

Mental Health Therapist

Ediana Sharpe,
MSW, LCSWA

Bilingual Mental Health Therapist

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Ronald "RJ" Sharrow
Housing Manager

HE/HIM

Stephanie Sherard 
Investigation Specialist

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Nathan B. Smith 
Vice President, Philanthropy

HE/HIM

Anthony Walton-Tate 
Peer Outreach Specialist

 THEY/THEM

Chris Washington 
Peer Prevention Navigator

HE/THEY

Demetrice Whiteside 
Medical Case Manager

HE/HIM

Leadership Team

Chelsea Gulden, MSW
President & CEO

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

Jacki O'Dierno, MA 
Director of Administration

Elgin Phillips, Jr.
Director of Outreach

Nathan B. Smith 
Vice President, Philanthropy

Case Management Staff

Laurita Lezama
Bilingual Medical Case Manager

Demetrice Whiteside
Medical Case Manager

Empowering Positive Youth Staff

Please contact Darlena Blackwell at 704-249-0810.

Health Insurance Assistance Staff

Jazmin Cedeno
Senior Benefits Manager

Beverly Mitzel, M.Ed
Benefits Manager

Counseling Staff

Valetta Rhinehart, MA, LMFT 
Mental Health Therapist

Ediana Sharpe, MSW, LCSWA
Bilingual Mental Health Therapist

The Drop Staff

Jessica Aleman
Bilingual HIP Navigator

Devin Cokley
HIP Program Manager

Kevin Garcia-Sanchez
Trilingual HIP Peer Support Specialist

Deion Pendleton
HIP Lead Coordinator

The Havens Staff

RJ Sharrow
Housing Manager

Peer Retention & Support Staff

John Gray
Retention Specialist

Charles Perez
Bilingual Peer Retention Specialist

Stephanie Sherard
Investigation Specialist

Anthony Walton-Tate
Peer Outreach Specialist

Christopher Washington
Peer Prevention Navigator

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