Women in Profile

Kristen Pine
Kristen Pine’s dedication to the Hampton Roads community and commitment to the empowerment of women is evident by her accomplishments, both professionally and personally. Kristen began her career with the YWCA as a volunteer in 2000 and found a home with Response, the arm of the YWCA South Hampton Roads which provides a 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline, hospital accompaniment, counseling and other support services for sexual assault victims and their families.

When Kristen first began as Director, the agency employed just four individuals and depended largely on volunteers to provide services, a daunting task given that Response was, and remains, the largest sexual assault crisis center in the state and provides services to five cities in South Hampton Roads including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk.

Under her leadership, Response has almost tripled its grant funding and grown to a program employing 10 full-time employees and four part-time staff.

A resident of Norfolk, Kristen enjoys traveling, working in her garden, and spending time with her family.

Cindy Jackson
Cindy Jackson has been appointed as he Chief Executive officer of the newly-formed American Red Cross Coastal Virginia Region serving 1.8 million people in 31 Southeastern Virginia communities from the North Carolina border to the Northern Neck. The new regional alignment is part of a nationwide Red Cross restructuring effort. It unites a network of eight Red Cross chapters in the area and forms a more streamlined, efficient operation which builds on the capacity to support and respond to the needs of our communities while making the most effective use of donated dollars.

A native of San Diego with an M.B.A. from National University, she brings 21 years of experience in non-profit management to her new position, including 17 years with the American Red Cross in chapter operations and CEO positions in the Midwest and West Coast.

As the Coastal Virginia Regional Chief Executive Officer, Cindy will have a major role in building support for the Red Cross mission by advancing community outreach and philanthropy efforts.

Kamisha Wyatt
Kamisha grew up and attended elementary and high school on the Peninsula. She is a graduate of Old Dominion University, and matriculated with a degree in Recreation and Tourism Studies Management.. She received her Master's Degree in Counseling and Development from George Mason University. During her student days at GMU, Kamisha was elected as School Counseling Representative to Chi Sigma Iota, an international honor society for counselors. She is very proud of the fact that she worked for George Mason University's Counseling and Psychological Department as a Graduate Assistant for Learning Services.

Kamisha brings a strong commitment to the Peninsula community, and has gained valuable experience in the non-profit world via her work with Big Brother Big Sisters of the Peninsula, Inc. Prior to joining the staff of the YWCA Virginia Peninsula, Kamisha served two years on the Board of Directors, and was actively involved in the Association's "Emerging Professionals" group of 30-and-Under YWCA members.

Outside of work and school, Kamisha's hobbies and interests include going to movies, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Lois Hancock
As a Board Certified Nurse Midwife, Lois Hancock endeavors to bring to her clients a listening ear and a compassionate heart. She has been involved in maternal childcare for 40 years in a variety of positions: from Lamaze childbirth educator, to lactation consultant, and many years as an L&D nurse. She also has worked with the Health Department as a Resource Mother’s coordinator. For the last many years she has had the delight to work with women as a midwife at Hampton Roads OB/GYN in Hampton: educating, inspiring and supporting them through their birthing experience in a local hospital.

Lois also serves as an educator of woman throughout their life span, as a practitioner in the office seeing women with GYN needs. You will often hear her recite to her clients: “knowledge is power, the more knowledge you obtain the better choices you can make, thus the better life for you and your children.”

In her limited spare time she enjoys travel, gardening, and raising orchids. Her greatest joy is spending time with her three adult children, their spouses and her grandchildren. Life is good and full for this baby catcher.

Rachel Tyler
Rachel N. Tyler is the Manager of the Department of Physical Therapy at Orthopaedic and Spine Center in Newport News, VA. Rachel attended the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, where she majored in Biology. She earned a Master’s of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University in Winchester. A practicing Physical Therapist since 2002, Rachel has treated patients and managed staff in both private outpatient PT clinics as well as in rehabilitation clinics. Her areas of specialty include treatment of Woman’s Health issues, Chronic Pain Syndromes and Neurologic Disorders. She is completing Certification as a manual therapist (end of 2012) and plans to become Board Certified in Orthopaedics by the end of 2013 (Orthopedic Certified Specialist).

Rachel chose Physical Therapy because she loves bringing medicine and people together by physically helping her patients reach their goals in the recovery process.

Rachel is a self-described “Foodie” who enjoys discovering new restaurants. She is active in her church and enjoys participating in missionary trips abroad. Rachel was born and raised in Chesapeake and currently resides in Portsmouth, with her two dachshunds, Koko and Jasper.

Alexis Swann

Alexis Swann is a Hampton Roads native. Her present position is Private Banker for the Eastern Virginia region of Wells Fargo Private Bank. Alexis has over 17 years of experience in the financial services industry.

She believes in giving back to her community and has a strong passion for pursuing financial literacy for all. She is a frequent speaker and workshop facilitator on financial topics to many groups and organizations across Hampton Roads.

Some of the organizations Alexis works with are Peninsula Habitat for Humanity, VA Kids Eat Free, United Way Live Smart and the Urban League Guild. Alexis is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta public service sorority and is head of the financial empowerment ministry at Ivy Baptist Church.

In 2007, Alexis received the Women in Business Award for Finance by the Inside Business Magazine. In 2008, the YWCA - Peninsula honored her as a Women of Distinction in the financial industry.

Alexis resides in Yorktown, VA with her husband, Darren and two children, Mikaela and Chandler.

Janet Wilms
Janet Wilms was born in Dayton, Ohio and had lived in six states by the time she was 30 years old. She graduated from the Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University in November, 1992 with her Bachelor’s of Science in Pharmacy. Janet went on to earn her Master’s degree in Healthcare Management from Regis University in 2005.

In 2008, she leveraged this education, a passion to help people, and over 18 years of pharmacy experience to launch her health consultation service, Care Coordination Specialists LLC.

Janet married into the Navy and is now a proud mother of three children, Sean, Shannon, and Kaitlyn. They have a golden retriever named Buckeye, a Russian tortoise named Alex, a gecko named Sandy, and a chinchilla named JoJo.

As time permits Janet enjoys going to the beach, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys watching her children’s basketball and softball games.

Shelley Smith
Shelley Diane Smith has lived in Newport News, VA for the past 18 years. She was born in Strasburg France and raised in Indiana. Shelley’s favorite hobbies include spending time with her husband of 18 years. She has three wonderful children, as well as a mix beagle found at the local SPCA. Shelley spends her time going to soccer, basketball and football games. She and her family love the beach, bike riding and playing board game and watching movies. Her passion is helping others succeed.

Shelley’s community service includes the MS Society, American Red Cross, Children’s Miracle Network and at her parish Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. She is a current and active member of the Peninsula Women’s Network, National Association of Women Business Owners, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, and the Williamsburg Business Association.

Shelley is the Owner of The Alternative Board, peer board facilitator and certified strategic business leadership coach. Prior to owning her own company; Shelley has spent several decades in top executive positions within Marriott Corporation, LTD Management and HMP Properties. Most of those years were spent working directly in the Hampton Roads area.