Trusted Mentors Board
Trusted Mentors / Board
The People Behind the Mission
Trusted Mentors is guided by a committed group of leaders who bring diverse expertise, lived experience, and a shared belief in the power of consistent human connection. Our board provides strategic oversight, ensures accountability, and champions our mission to support, stabilize, and empower adults on their journey toward independence.
Allison Allen
Bianca Phillips
Allison Allen is a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner who is currently a director in KSM’s Audit & Assurance Services Group, where she helps clients manage risk, improve efficiencies, and strengthen financial reporting. Allison has served on the Trusted Mentors board since November 2019 and as treasurer since January 2022, providing financial oversight and supporting the organization’s mission. She is passionate about helping others find the mentor to guide their lives as she understands the power of a great mentor. In her spare time, you can find Allison out on a walk with her dogs or reading a good book.
Bianca Phillips is the Director of Family Services at the Indianapolis Urban League, where she leads initiatives focused on housing stability, reentry, veterans, seniors, and family support services. She has served on the Trusted Mentors Board of Directors since 2026 and is a member of the Development Committee. With more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and community engagement, Bianca is committed to building systems that expand opportunity and remove barriers for individuals and families. She is passionate about the power of mentorship, believing that meaningful relationships can create lasting pathways to stability, hope, and long-term success.
Charles Cantrell
Diana Montes-Leyva
Charles Cantrell began working with Trusted Mentors through Indy Give Camp in 2011, when he worked on a programming team to develop a database for managing the organizations mentoring operations. Soon after that work, he became a member of the board and helped in developing strategic plans. He has served on the board since that time.
Cantrell has a degree in Computer Science and Math from Purdue University. His first technical work was in developing control code for industrial laser robots and writing operations and service manual for these machines.
He later worked for a company developing financial management software. Over the years, he has worked in several industries, including hardware, insurance and construction.
Currently retired, Cantrell works in the Trusted Mentors offices as office manager, helping to manage the Nonprofit Salesforce CRM.
Diana Montes-Leyva is the Supplier Diversity Program Manager at IndyGo, where she leads initiatives that expand opportunities for diverse businesses and strengthen equitable procurement practices. As a new member of the Trusted Mentors Board of Directors, she brings experience and a passion for community engagement, strategic partnerships, and creating pathways to opportunity. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Diana moved to Indiana with her family at the age of 10 and is proud of her Mexican heritage and the perspective it brings to her work. She lives in downtown Indianapolis with her husband and is honored to support Trusted Mentors’ mission of empowering individuals through meaningful mentorship and connection.
Ellise N. Johnson
John T. Vance
Ellise N. Johnson is an entrepreneur, community health and equity leader, and adjunct business faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College. She is the founder of The Alkaline Electric Goddess® and serves on the Trusted Mentors Board of Directors. With more than 20 years of experience building businesses, mentoring entrepreneurs, and connecting communities with resources, Ellise brings expertise in entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships, education, and systems building. Through her civic engagement, community leadership, and service focused work, she is committed to creating pathways to opportunity through collaboration, mentorship, and meaningful relationships.
John T. Vance is the Major Felony Paralegal Team Lead at the Marion County Public Defender Agency and an extern with the Public Defender of Indiana. He has served on the Trusted Mentors Board of Directors since 2026, supporting the organization’s work in housing stability, re-entry, and mentorship. John is pursuing a dual J.D. and Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University and is a registered paralegal committed to indigent defense and criminal justice reform. He is passionate about Trusted Mentors’ mission because stable relationships and practical support can help people build stronger futures.
Latosha N. Higgins
Michael Petry
Latosha N. Higgins is Interim Executive Director at Trusted Mentors, Inc. She has served on the Trusted Mentors, Inc. board since 2021, where she currently serves as Board Chair/President, leading board governance, facilitating meetings, managing committees, and supporting fund development.
She brings 15+ years of experience in public-sector and nonprofit legal counsel, compliance, and civil rights, with expertise in employment law, Title VI, Title VII, ADA, and Medicaid regulatory frameworks. A graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law (J.D.) and Widener University School of Law (LL.M. in Corporate Law and Finance), Latosha is also a licensed attorney in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
A St. Louis native, Latosha is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and brings a deep, values-driven commitment to service and human dignity to her leadership.
Latosha is passionate about advancing Trusted Mentors’ mission and ensuring the organization’s continued growth and impact in the community.
Michael Petry is Controller at Omni Electric, LLC. He has served on the Trusted Mentors Board of Directors since 2012, where he currently serves on the Executive Committee as Vice-President.
Michael brings more than 18 years of experience in the Finance and Accounting field. He earned his MBA from Butler University in 2010, and obtained his CPA Designation in 2013.
Michael is a passionate supporter of Trusted Mentors where he’s acted as a volunteer mentor since 2009.
Octavia Winston
Octavia Winston is an experienced healthcare operations, provider relations, and nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of expertise in healthcare administration, provider contracting, and community-based services. She serves as Executive Director of Recovery Café, where she champions hope, recovery, and supportive connections for individuals facing life challenges. As a contractor supporting Child Protective Services, she provides tutoring, visit facilitation, and casework services that strengthen children and families. Known for her collaborative leadership style, she builds strong partnerships, improves organizational performance, and drives positive outcomes across healthcare and human services settings.