Indiana Republican Diversity Leadership Series
2023 Cohort
Abimbola Adeniyi (Marion)
Abimbola Adeniyi is a paralegal and assistant director for the statehouse page program. Originally from Nigeria, he has lived in Indiana for seven years and credits the state for positively impacting his career due to its effective and efficient bureaucracy and leadership.
Abimbola has a degree in civil engineering and is currently pursuing a degree in political science at IUPUI.
He enjoys studying and analyzing global political systems, particularly Caribbean nations and developing countries around the world, and takes pride working with others to help improve the general welfare of his community.
Ayodeji Babaleye (Hendricks)
Ayodeji Babaleye is a scrum master specialist. In this role, Ayodeji provides support for multiple cross-functional teams in the faster delivery of high-quality value to clients. He has great interpersonal and leadership skills and has a proven track record of fostering strong relationships among team members as well as building self-managed, high-performing teams that can adapt to changes at any time.
Ayodeji received a Master of Science in information technology management from Western Governors University and currently resides in Hendricks County with his wife and three children.
Maya Angelou Brown (Lake)
Born and raised in Gary, Ind., Maya Angelou Brown is a proud resident of Lake County working in elder memory care and behavioral health.
As a once product of addiction living in public housing, Maya made a decision early in life to not just change the trajectory of her own life, but to help change the trajectory of those suffering from addiction. While living in public housing, she became president of her residence and hosted meetings to counter the negative living situations and hosted events in order to provide resources and opportunities for residents to better themselves.
Maya is devoted mother of six, an active member of the church, and a chartering member of the United Federation of Republican Women of Gary, a chapter of the Indiana Federation of Republican Women, and currently serves as the chaplain. She would like to give back and better her community with near plans on opening THE PLANT INC., a safe place housing facility to those that are challenged with mental health issues, homelessness, and addiction.
Angel Cisneros (Lake)
Angel Cisneros is a first-generation Mexican American from Lake Station, Ind.
Angel graduated from Purdue University Northwest with a Bachelor of Science in business marketing in 2021. Shortly thereafter, he accepted a role as an operations manager for Amazon, where he has been able to further develop his leadership skills.
Angel recently moved to Indianapolis, Ind., and is working to achieve his Six Sigma Yellowbelt Certification.
Chaka Coleman (Hamilton)
Chaka represents clients on regulatory and legislative matters before the state legislature as a lobbyist. Leveraging over a decade of diverse public and private sector experience, Chaka is able to navigate legislative interests to protect the value of the organizations she represents. Her advocacy includes the development of a complimentary government affairs strategy that contemplates both market and non-market environments.
Prior to joining Paganelli Law Group, Chaka worked for the city of Fishers and the Marion Superior Court. She spent her early career at FedEx, where she worked closely with key stakeholders to overcome the regulatory obstacles her import clients faced.
Chaka graduated from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University. During law school, Chaka was a clerk at the Indiana Court of Appeals and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. Additionally, she was a co-fellow in the IU McKinney Program on Law and State Government, where she researched ways state governments could address gun laws and gun violence while simultaneously protecting Second Amendment rights.
Chaka enjoys living in Hamilton County with her family, where she serves on the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Human Relations and volunteered her time serving as a member of the Carmel Rotary. She has also served on the board of the Indianapolis Bar Association and is currently a member of their Commission on Racial Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Evelyne Duge (Johnson)
Evelyne Duge is the regional director of operations for Jaspen LLC. In this role, she is responsible for implementing and revising operational policies and guidelines for the organization, developing and executing new growth directives, liaising with departmental heads to develop financial plans and ensure company-wide operational compliance, overseeing client support services, and more.
Born in Haiti, Evelyne came to the United States at the age of 11. She earned a Bachelor of Science in early childhood of education and taught for four years.
Evelyne is a wife and mother to three beautiful children.
Emily D. Edwards (Lake)
Emily D. Edwards, an inspiring entrepreneur and advocate, has consistently demonstrated her unwavering dedication to innovation and impact. Hailing from the picturesque town of Stallo, Mississippi, Emily's life journey has been enriched by her early memories of baking alongside her mother in their cherished kitchen.
As a former social worker, Emily's passion for helping others led her to assist countless individuals facing diverse challenges. However, driven by a desire to effect positive change in a more tangible way, she made a courageous decision in 2018. Emily sold her private practice and embarked on a transformative path, giving birth to the now-beloved Paradise Spreads™️.
Paradise Spreads™️ is more than a business venture; it's a testament to Emily's deep-rooted connection to her mother's kitchen—a place where love, healing, and delectable treats harmonized. Her company specializes in crafting sweet, pea protein-infused plant-based spreads and snacks, reflecting her commitment to nourishing ingredients and cherished traditions.
Emily's impressive expertise spans an array of domains, including product management, leadership, data analysis, effective communication, nutrition, and program management. Her authentic connections with both customers and vendors showcase her ability to provide unique solutions while fostering a culture of growth and shared success.
Her accomplishments have garnered widespread recognition, exemplified by her inclusion as one of the "2022 Women to Watch" by the esteemed Society of Innovators PNW. Furthermore, in 2023, Paradise Spreads was celebrated as a "Minority-Owned Small Business," underscoring Emily's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and excellence.
Alongside her entrepreneurial pursuits, Emily plays a pivotal role at Marian University, where she excels as a Program Manager, channeling her skills to advance educational initiatives. With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Memphis and a Masters in Social Work from Northwest Indiana University, Emily's academic journey has fortified her ability to make a profound impact.
Emily D. Edwards isn't merely an entrepreneur; she's an embodiment of resilience, innovation, and a genuine desire to make a meaningful difference. Her journey underscores that her delectable creations not only tantalize taste buds but also resonate with the heart and soul—a testament to the love, care, and dedication she pours into every jar of Paradise Spreads™️.
Lisa Foreman (Marion)
Lisa Foreman is an innovative entrepreneur and founder and CEO of The Foreman Group, LLC. With years of experience in business leadership and development, she has partnered with institutions to manage operations, finances, and staff, and generated over a quarter of a million dollars in revenue. Lisa is a powerful communicator who leverages team members' talents to achieve organizational goals.
In addition to her business acumen, she has been a critical care registered nurse for over 17 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lisa traveled to the epicenter in New York to use her skills and help fight the pandemic.
Lisa recently graduated with her MBA in healthcare management and is seeking new opportunities and challenges in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Seni Gonzalez Barron (Hamilton)
Seni Gonzalez Barron is the CEO of Seni LLC, co-founder of The Halo App, and strategy director at Aventus Group.
Born in Ciudad Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico, Seni immigrated to the United States in April 1998 not knowing how to speak English. Seni applied herself to learn the American culture, all while adapting to it.
Seni is what many would call a serial entrepreneur. Her first entrepreneurial experience was owning a western-style clothing store from 2001 to 2009. She then decided to reenter the corporate world, and in 2014, took a leap of faith. Her relentless passion for business is reflective in her business accolades.
In 2014, she followed her passion for entrepreneurship and helping other by opening the Mexican restaurant Paco’s Taqueria with only herself and one cook profiting $80 a day. Today, Paco’s Taqueria proudly employs over 60 employees where they help team members to become leaders. Paco’s Taquerias generates well over seven figures with a vision of becoming a nationwide, casual Mexican fast food restaurant while remaining authentic.
Muheto Jackson (Marion)
Muheto Jackson was born in Democratic Republic of the Congo, but grew up with a disability in a refugee camp in Rwanda. Although his entire family lives in Africa, Muheto currently resides in Indianapolis. Muheto holds a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from the University of Kigali and has worked in accounting for a bank. He is also the founder and legal representative of Better Future for Generations (BFG), an organization that aims to reduce poverty, improve technical skills, advocate for vulnerable populations,, and promote entrepreneurship in Rwanda and the United States, with a focus on persons with disabilities, vulnerable people, and youth.
In Indianapolis, Muheto is a community leader and serves as the Vice President of Home Care for M2AFamily Home Care, which was established to provide assistance to the elderly and people with disabilities. Muheto is also involved in a program for education awareness in partnership with Oakwood University in Alabama State, mobilizing youth to attend college. Muheto's philosophy is to dream big, but he understands that dreams without goals are just dreams. He encourages others to do something consistently to achieve their goals and never give up.
Tracy Justice (Hendricks)
Tracy Justice, a first generation American born to Haitian immigrants, is the CEO and Founder of Be Bold Be You, LLC, an HR strategic planning, executive leadership coaching, training & development, think tank company. Talented in her unique approach to challenging thought processes that get in the way of innovative and collaborative thinking, she works with leaders to get clear about their shared vision goals, who they need to be and be intentional about how they show up and interact with others. As “The Boutique CHRO”, she helps to humanize the business model to create the people strategies needed to drive desired business results. She’s also responsible for the Bold Life movement, which is about encouraging others to move towards the Bold Life they envision for themselves. Moving forward, fearless or afraid, she says, is the best way to cultivate boldness. Before starting her company, Tracy worked as an HR Director for the Washington Township Trustee's office in Hendricks County.
Tracy is a certified HR professional, DEI practitioner, and Energy Leadership Index-Master Practitioner. She graduated from Aurora University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, summa cum laude. She volunteers her skills and talents to the DEI and Governance committees with Hendricks County Community Foundation; Director of Government Affairs and Co-Chair of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity with IndySHRM BOD; Co-Chair of Oriole Advocates; Co-Chair of Programs committee, a DEI & Government Affairs committee member with NAWBO; Board Member for BOTA; member of the Indiana Republican Diversity Leadership Series (IRDLS23) cohort; member of Create. Connect. Collab, Tri Kappa, Kiwanis (Plainfield), Avon Chamber of Commerce, ICF and REFORM Alliance.
In her free time, Tracy enjoys spending time with her family, reading, singing and dancing the night away!
Ronald Morrell, Jr. (Grant)
From an early age, Ronald knew he would be going into ministry, business and servant leadership, just not in what capacity. Since then, God has made him into a minister, entrepreneur, community leader, and motivational speaker. Ministry has given Ronald the opportunity to travel the world, playing and teaching in a variety of venues. This experience developed the knowledge needed to run successful businesses and become a force for good in his local community. Ronald often says, “Some may view these things as completely different avenues, but God has placed me in a unique situation with a skill set that allows them to flow together seamlessly.”
In October 2019, Ronald started his first solo business venture, Morrell’s Scooters. Following that, Ronald launched Elevated Events,a premier event center located in downtown Marion. Ronald is currently the executive director for the Boys and Girls Club of Grant County. Additionally, he remains in ministry, working for Youth For Christ as the campus life director for McColloch Middle School.
Ronald is extremely blessed to have a loving wife and two daughters; his inspiration to succeed comes from spending time with them.
Ronald has decided to take his servant leadership calling to the next level by running for mayor of Marion (Ind) and is honored to be the Republican nominee for the 2023 General Election.
Elie Muzungu (Marion)
Elie Muzungu is a customer service supervisor at the United States Postal Services (USPS). At USPS, Elie is dedicated to serve customers by training clerks to perform world-class customer service, ensuring that all employees are properly scheduled to deliver mail in a timely manner to preserve postal dedication towards customers.
Elie was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and lived in a refugee camp in Rwanda for over 15 years. He came to United States in 2009 as a refugee and now lives in Indiana.
Elie is married with three children and puts family and God first.
Federico Ortiz (Tippecanoe)
Federico Ortiz is a driven individual hailing from Colombia, recognized for his dedication to hard work, pro-life principles, and conservative values. Having immigrated to the United States four years ago, Federico is currently in his first semester as a senior at Purdue University, where he is studying political science and public policy with a pre-law focus.
From a young age, Federico has been fortunate to have been involved in both Colombian and American politics, which enabled him to identify a lack of youth leadership in Colombia. This realization compelled him to take action within his community, ultimately leading to him serving as the youth director for the campaign of former Colombian President Ivan Duque.
After arriving in Florida, Federico was struck by the empowerment of the Latino Hispanic community and their increasing influence in politics. He was eager to join the movement and volunteered for a congressional campaign in Miami-Dade County. Upon moving to Indiana, Federico recognized the underrepresentation of the Latino Hispanic community in the state despite accounting for approximately eight percent of the population.
Federico's experience as an intern for the House Republican Caucus at the Statehouse shed light on the underrepresentation of minorities in Indiana, particularly conservative minorities. He believes that young people and minority groups have a responsibility to take action to empower their communities and ensure that the voices of Hoosier Latinos are heard.
Van Sui (Marion)
Van Sui was born and grew up in Myanmar/Burma. She resettled to the United States as a Burmese refugee in 2013 and has been living in Indiana since then. After completion of her undergraduate degree, Van started working at the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and has been serving Hoosiers as the agency's legislative liaison.
In 2019, Van graduated from Taylor University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. In December 2022, while working full-time at IHCDA, she completed her master's degree in leadership and public service from Lipscomb University. Van is passionate about leadership and enjoys serving her community as well as volunteering in political campaigns. In fact, Van was recognized as aRepublican National Committee (RNC) Rising Star in 2023 and participated in the program in Washington D.C.
As a proud Hoosier and faithful citizen, Van looks forward to getting more involved in public service and serving her community.
Vaughn K. Taylor (Hendricks)
Vaughn K. Taylor was born and raised in Tyler, Texas, the third of four children. He has worked in the financial services industry for 25 years and currently works at USA First Financial, LLC, a minority and veteran-owned investment advisory firm; Vaughn is also working toward his Registered Investment Advisor license.
Vaughn attends Kingsway Christian Church and is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He is also extremely active with his local chapter Phi Mu Nu, where he serves as the vice basileus and is a charter member of this chapter.
Vaughn graduated from Baylor University where he met his wife, Laurie. They reside in Avon, Indiana, where they have raised four children and are active with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Pau Thang (Allen)
Pau Thang was born in Burma and migrated to the United States with his family in 1997. Initially, they moved to Bloomington, Indiana but relocated to Ohio, allowing Pau’s father to follow his passion for ministry; however, after learning of the ever-growing Burmese population in Fort Wayne, Indiana, they moved to the city in 2001 and opened a Burmese church. Even as they settled themselves, Pau and his family assisted other Burmese families with their needs.
Having earned his degree in music and ministry, he has an innate ability to help others and soon became an interpreter for the Burmese population for East Allen County Schools. Continuing with his desire to help others as he has done his entire life, he began to delve into real estate. In 2013, Pau became a licensed real estate agent, putting all his energy into assisting his fellow Burmese families.
In 2020, and after taking some time to reconnect, reevaluate, and restructure his goals, Pau decided to join top agent Vonlaree Cheammon with The Cheviron Group at eXp Realty.
Outside of work, Pau enjoys singing with his praise and worship group at church. He loves cooking, reading, and listening to inspirational podcasts.
