Board of Dir

Edward “Ed” Green is a founding member of  the RISE Orange County, and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors.  Mr. Green has over thirty years of leadership experience with nonprofits.  Mr. Green previously served as Executive Director of Rebuilding Together of Central Florida and President of the New Jersey Chapter of BDPA (Black Data Processing Associates) and a founding member of Orlando’s Hearts and Hammers.   In addition, Mr. Green has held executive positions in several Fortune 500 companies and has been certified by the Project Management Organization (PMO) as a project management professional.  Mr. Green earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the State University of New York.

Katharine Purnell Scott is the Director and Board Secretary for Rise Orange County.   Ms. Scott has worked in the field of business administration in the higher education sector over the past thirty years.   Ms. Scott served as one of the founding members of the RISE Orange County Board of Directors. She was Executive Director from March 2018 to October 2020 and assisted the community during the recovery process for the survivors of Hurricane Irma.  Ms. Scott holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Management and a Bachelor degree in Business Administration.

Lisa Cassin serves as the Treasurer and a member of our Board of Directors, and was previously employed as a Hospitality Executive, where she held positions as Treasurer and Senior Vice-President, Financial Services.  Her responsibilities included leading large financial teams and managing cash flows for entities with revenues exceeding $1 billion.  Ms. Cassin holds a degree from Pace University and a B.A. in Accounting and Information Services and is a  member of the National Corporate Board Association.  Ms. Cassin  joined Rise Orange County in March of 2022.

Deacon Wilmar Rojas is the Director of Operations at Catholic Charities of Central Florida, and he is also a Deacon in the Diocese of Orlando. Deacon Wilmar has proven adept at inspiring, motivating, and collaborating with diverse groups of residents in the community, further contributing to the development of a culture of faith and service at Rise. Deacon Wilmar’s experience in the construction industry spans over 25 years and provides a wealth of knowledge to our board. As Director of Operations of the Emergency Operations Command for the Diocese of Orlando, Deacon Wilmar’s insights and geographical footprint become a valuable asset.

Dr. Scharlene Ahmed is a member of the Board of Directors and retired leader of the City Orlando Housing Department. Dr. Ahmed is responsible for facilitating undergraduate and graduate-level courses at the University of Phoenix and Gateway Community College as an adjunct professor. She is a subject matter expert in course development with a focus on organizational behavior, development, and learning strategy. Dr. Ahmed previously served as a member of the Central Florida HIV Planning Council on the allocation of resources for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Dr. Ahmed earned a Doctor of Management in Organization Leadership from the University of Phoenix.