Celebrating the Women Behind Vivian’s Door

• Inspiring Stories

Celebrating the Women Behind Vivian’s Door

Because behind every open door – there’s a woman who refused to close it.

They don’t do it for the applause.

They do it because entrepreneurs in this community deserve someone in their corner. Someone who shows up with a strategy when the road gets unclear. Someone who leads with heart when the work gets hard. Someone who believes – deeply, stubbornly, without apology – that this community is worth fighting for.

This Women’s History Month, we’re pulling back the curtain. These are the women who make Vivian’s Door work – every single day.

The Women Who Keep the Doors Open

Every entrepreneur who walks through our doors is greeted by a team that genuinely cares. These women make sure no one feels lost, overlooked, or alone in their journey.

Ashley Coleman, our intern, brings fresh energy, curiosity, and a willingness to dig in – from daily operations to special projects, she shows up ready.

Mary Kathryn Starks, Customer Service Specialist, is often the first voice entrepreneurs hear – and she makes sure that first impression feels like welcome home.

Jess Prince, Administrative Coordinator, is the quiet force keeping everything moving. Systems, communications, operations — if it runs smoothly, Jess made it happen.

The Coaches Who Change the Game

Good coaching doesn’t just give you answers. It helps you find the strength you already have. These women meet entrepreneurs exactly where they are—and help them see farther than they thought possible.

Lisa Riley, owner of Central Solutions, LLC, is a senior Business Coach and Strategic Planning Specialist for Vivian’s Door. She is a former banker and has a gift for cutting through the noise. She helps entrepreneurs get clear on their goals and build real, sustainable paths to get there.

Valerie Bell Hill, owner of K, K, & K Enterprises, is a senior Finance and Accounting Coach for Vivian’s Door. She doesn’t just coach from a textbook — she coaches from experience. As an entrepreneur herself, she understands the wins, the setbacks, and everything in between.

India Washington, owner of Allygned Wellness and Health, has worn multiple hats at Vivian’s Door — former board member, business coach, and mentor. Her leadership has quietly shaped programs and lives in ways that will be felt for years to come.

The Board Members Who Guard the Mission

Every great organization needs women willing to ask the hard questions, hold the vision steady, and make sure the work stays true to the community it serves. Our board members do exactly that.

Gwen Richardson serves on the Vivian’s Door board, providing care, accountability, and steady leadership. Her day job is Monroe County City Administrator, so she has a strong background in finance and accounting. She brings a thoughtful, detail‑oriented perspective that supports strong governance and long‑term sustainability for the organization.

Stacia Robinson, founder and owner of BeneChoice Companies, LLC, Director of the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs, and an Air Force veteran, brings strong strategic insight, policy awareness, and decades of business leadership to the Vivian’s Door board. Her perspective helps strengthen governance, elevate advocacy for minority and women-owned businesses, and guide the organization’s long‑term impact and sustainability.

Winnie Dotch Jones, owner of Dotch Barber & Styles and a Healthcare Administrator, brings the voice of a business owner and community leader to the table. Her lived experience grounds the board’s work in real‑world impact and local connection.

These women steward our mission with integrity, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to getting it right.

The Advisors Who Keep Us Focused

Strategy doesn’t just help a plan come together. It makes a mission sustainable. These advisors step in with the insight, systems, and clarity that help Vivian’s Door grow with intention — and keep the work strong for the long haul.

Kris Palouda, Marketing Strategist and Growth Consultant, turns big ideas into measurable growth. She helps us sharpen our messaging, build high-converting funnels, and create marketing systems that move the needle.

Lea Ann Skogsberg, helps nonprofits raise big. Peer-to-peer campaigns, major gifts, capital campaigns, special events — she brings the strategy and momentum to get it done.

Polly Stamatopoulos, a forty-year nonprofit leader, ensures the organization is grant-compliant—helping keep reporting, documentation, and required processes organized so funding stays on track and the mission stays protected.

The Founders Who Started It All

No Vivian’s Door without these two.

JaVaughnae Malone, Co-Founder, Marketing Communications Director, and Business Coach, is the storyteller of this organization. She takes the work we do and turns it into words, images, and moments that the world can see and feel. Because impact that isn’t shared isn’t fully realized.

Janice Malone, CEO and Co-Founder, Executive Director, and the organization’s lead Business Coach, is the heartbeat. The vision. The woman who looked at a community full of untapped potential and said — I’m going to do something about that. Her leadership doesn’t just guide Vivian’s Door; it defines it.

 A Final Word

Women’s History Month may come once a year — but what these women build lasts far beyond any calendar.

They are coaches, coordinators, board members, founders, and believers. They are the reason entrepreneurs in South Alabama, Central Alabama, and the Gulf Coast have someone with lived experiences to turn to. Somewhere to grow. Somewhere to belong.

To every woman of Vivian’s Door — thank you. The doors you open change lives. And we see you.