We are proud of the community members who serve on our board.
Rev. Ohala Ward, MA, M.Div., PBCC
Executive Director NSEC
Rev. Ward has been the Executive Director of NSEC since 2006. She served as the NSEC’s Fatherhood Initiative Program Manager funded through the St. Louis Community Foundation, in 2004, prior to her promotion as executive director.
Her leadership has enabled the agency to continue serving hundreds of youth and adults in the St.Louis Metropolitan area to gain job skills and long-term employment. She coordinates volunteers from the local community, high schools, colleges, and universities to support the mission of NSEC. This includes students from Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, St. Louis Public School, University of Missouri St. Louis, St. Louis University, Washington University, and Maryville University.
Rev. Ward initiated several capital improvements to the agency facility, including a new facade and signage. She acquired funding support from the St. Louis Development Corporation, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, Nestle Purina, Downtown St. Louis Lions Club and individual donors to support these initiatives. Her leadership, in collaboration with the NSEC Board of Directors, has helped the agency sustain operations, with positive social impact in the community and lives of the individuals it serves. Rev. Ward earned her BS degree from (SIUE), M.A. in HRD from Webster University, and M.Div. Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University. She is a licensed and ordained minister. She believes in showing the love of Christ in the community and to everyone she meets.
April Brown, President
Director, Intern Leadership Program
Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School
April D. Brown is a graduate of Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School. After her high school graduation, she attended Dillard University in New Orleans, LA earning her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. She later attended Webster University in St. Louis, MO earning her Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. She returned to Cardinal Ritter College Prep on two occasions and in two capacities. She served as a recruiter and alumni coordinator. She left Cardinal Ritter College Prep to pursue a career in sales and returned in 2001 as the Director of the Intern Leadership Program where she served for 22 years placing students in internships, high schools, and colleges.
She is currently serving as Director, Internship Management and HR Solutions. Mrs. Brown is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta, St. Louis Alumnae Chapter where she serves on the Public Relation and Silent Auction Committee. She also serves as a Board President for the Near Southside Employment Coalition where she fundraises and assists with program development. She a co-founded the Dillard University-Saint Louis Alumni Association where she served as president for 5 years. Her community service involves speaking to youth about career readiness and about developing professional goals. She is married to Dee Brown and together they have two sons, Aidan who serves in the United States Navy, and Brandon who is an attorney and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and daughter.
Larcell Jennings, Vice President
Scott Airforce Base
Mr. Jennings is a veteran of the United States Army. He is dedicated to helping those in need of employment support, especially our US Veterans. His leadership of 7 years on the Board has been invaluable in helping NSEC carry out its mission to help the unemployed.
Bob Mete, Member
Financial Leader
Bob Mete has over 25 years of financial, strategic, and leadership experience. He is a financial leader who is passionate about leveraging financial insights to empower businesses and drive sustainable growth. Bob spent the first half of his career in commercial lending in a financial and credit risk assessment capacity gaining valuable experience in financial analysis, decision making, business partnerships, and leadership skills. This experience allowed him to move into varied executive accounting and finance roles as a CFO/CAO within several industries.
Beatrice Zdrodowski, Board Secretary
Associate General Counsel
Beatrice was born in Mauritius Island and pursued her university and legal studies in France, England, and the United States. Presently, she is licensed in New York and Missouri, and is the General Counsel (venture capital entities) and the Associate General Counsel (private equity firm) of Gardner Capital. Prior to joining Gardner Capital, she enjoyed the opportunity to provide compliance and legal guidance in both the private and public sectors. She is also an active member of several professional organizations such as the Association of Corporate Counsel-St. Louis Chapter and is a founding board member of a lawyers group at the Missouri Athletic Club. Moreover, Beatrice is the recipient of several regional and national awards such as the ALM “Women Influence & Power in Law Awards”, the Missouri Lawyers Media “In-House Counsel Awards”, and the St. Louis Business Journal “Corporate Counsel Awards”.
Turona Slaughter, CC
Employment Assistant
Ms. Slaughter has been with NSEC for 12 years, after placement through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). She received 2 years of on the job training in office skills at NSEC. She went on to successfully complete technical skills training from MERS Goodwill, at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Business Training Center. Ms. Slaughter has been instrumental in helping NSEC place up to 100 clients a year into employment and aid with transportation to work.