Advisory Board

ALICIA VERDUN

Interim Board President, Board of Directors

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Lionel has over 30 years of experience in the accounting, finance and treasury management within a variety of business industries. Currently, he is an owner and partner of Cobb, PLLC, a Certified Public Accounting Firm that focuses on helping business owners, non-profit companies and individuals in the areas of tax, accounting and advisory services. He also is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and serves as Trustee Chairman at Greater Providence Baptist Church; in this role, he is responsible for helping the church set financial policies and procedures for the Trustee Ministry, preparation of the Church’s annual budget, preparing financial statements and bank reporting. Lionel has a BS degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Winthrop University.

Alicia Verdun is the founder of Verdun Consulting. Ms. Verdun’s passion for assisting others is reflected in the company’s mission to foster meaningful connections to information, expertise, legal protection services through LegalShield and opportunities that drive her clients’ business forward. As a Certified Go-Giver Coach, Ms. Verdun uses The Endless Referrals System to help clients develop a consistent stream of prospects that are converted into lifelong Personal Walking Ambassadors. While she has dedicated her professional legacy to the success of small businesses, Ms. Verdun’s career includes extensive experience in the corporate sector. She worked for Delta Resources where she played a major role in assisting with the automation of the New York City Transit Authority Budget System and the New York Telephone Yellow Pages. She then moved on to Bankers Trust where she worked as business analyst. Then she accepted an opportunity as a Technology Executive for Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. Ms. Verdun has received several notable accomplishments throughout her career including being recognized in Ebony Magazine as one of "100 of the Most Promising Black Females in Corporate America." 

JEANNINE KRING

Vice President, Board of Directors

Healing Vine Harbor is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.

Board of Directors & Staff

Connie spent 6 years as a Nursery School Teacher and recent retiree after 16 years as a Personnel Director at E.A. Associates.  She is an active member of the National Council of Negro Women, East Bronx Section . She coordinated college bound program for at risk teens from 2005 - 2012. She is Past President of NCNW – EBS and after her tenure, serves as Corresponding Secretary for 4 years and is involved in event planning and fundraising for the section. As an artist, in the entertainment field, she was a band leader and also was one of the business owners of the Sound Pipers for over 30 years. She and her brother started a travel business, ABC Travel, where she handled booking of all destinations, client relations, travel arrangements, hospitality and serviced over 350 clients over 20 years. Connie has performed secretarial duties being on the Board of NCNW and is professional, reliable and quite skilled in administration. 

Brenda S. Thompson is a proven strategic workforce and business development professional with over 25 years of industry experience in relationship building with educational institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Fortune 500 corporations.

 She received her Master of Art (MBA) in Business Management from Strayer University, Bachelor of Art (B.A.) in Economics from Tougaloo College, Human Resources Management Certification and Project Management Certification (PMP candidate). Ms. Thompson is also a Certified Workforce Developer from the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Fast Start and Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS). She is also a veteran of the United States Army Reserve. 

Ms. Thompson currently serves as the Regional Workforce Manager for NC, SC and VA for a training company that provides training leading to national certifications in Healthcare, IT and Project Management. 

704-561-1128 

admin@healingvineharbor.com     

8920 Lawyers Rd # 690483, Charlotte, NC 28227

An energetic and engaged retiree, Jeannine Kring brings Healing Vine Harbor her extensive experience in leading strategic and tactical initiatives across a broad spectrum of IT management disciplines for large financial services companies.

As a new member of the HVH Board, Jeannine looks forward to using her almost 40 years of experience in business management, software quality assurance; project management, process reengineering and systems analysis to assist Healing Vine Harbor as the organization grows and expands their reach and impact.

A lifelong advocate for supporting and developing women, Jeannine has served as a Board Member for the Dayton, OH based The Linda Vista Project, held multiple leading roles in the GE Women’s Network and the Mint Hill Women’s Club, and is an active volunteer for Servant’s Heart of Mint Hill Assistance Programs.

Jeannine received a BS in Business Administration and Management from Redlands University in Redlands, CA and is Six Sigma Certification from JPM Chase.  She lives in Mint Hill with her husband and two, very large, Golden Retrievers.

Connie Questell


LIONEL SARGENT

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Tracey Questell

​Executive Director/Founder

Tracey Yvette Questell as a young girl always had a love for people. Her compassion for those hurting inspired her to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hampton University and a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from New York University. She began her work as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. mentoring young girls. Her charge is to help those women who are not prepared for adulthood. Because they have aged out of the foster care system/their homes or current housing situation, they are no longer safe or stable. They lack preparation or resources for the future and end up in shelters, jail, or bounced around from place to place. To combat this situation, Tracey has created Healing Vine Harbor Inc., (HVH). Healing Vine Harbor will work towards filling basic needs such as housing, safety and security. HVH's goal is to equip women through a holistic approach. The core values are integrity, education, work ethic, community service, self-awareness and self-sufficiency. Tracey has expertise in counseling, group facilitation, program development, team building, drop-out prevention and retention, college preparation, curriculum planning and coordination. She spent over 20 years in the counseling and education field. She has worked with all populations including youth, women and men. She has worked various modalities including drug rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, college preparation, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling and developing mentoring programs.

Tracey has worked in various residential programs, therefore, knows the inner workings of how to operate a residential program. She founded and managed a college preparation program called F.A.T.C.O. (Future Advancement through College Orientation) and has handled hiring and training staff, budget development as well as curriculum development. She was an educational consultant for the Board of Education and the Governors Committee for Scholastic Achievement and she has gained various experience in management, supervision and training experience throughout her 30 year career in the human services field.

Currently Tracey is a resident in Mint Hill, North Carolina. She is also a college counselor, adjunct instructor and personal counselor at Central Piedmont Community College. Knowing how essential God is in her life, Tracey became a member of New Beginnings Church in December 2011. She is one of the co-leaders of the Excel College Ministry.

Although Healing Vine Harbor has not opened a residential facility yet, Tracey spends her free time building the business, fundraising and currently offers monthly workshops for young women ages 18 and older who need life management and independent living skills.

BRENDA S. THOMPSON

Board of Directors