Board of Directors

PHILIP PELOSO, Chairperson

Philip is the Sales Channel Manager of KUKA Robotics Corporation, USA. He has over 29 years experience working in his chosen field of industrial robotics and factory automation. Philip attended Lake Superior State University where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Automated Systems Engineering Technology.

He is a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus and has volunteered as a mentor to local FIRST Robotics teams. His time with the FIRST Robotics program has offered him the opportunity to work with high school level girls and boys to develop lifelong skills. Philip has been recognized by Michigan’s Former Governor Snyder as a proponent for his Marshall Plan to develop the talent of high school students to prepare them for the next generation of careers.

Philip has been married to Debbie for 25 years and is blessed with two incredible daughters, Hailey and Jenna. Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, Philip and his family have called Port Huron their home since 1997. Whether it is pleasure boating or fishing lakes in Northern Ontario with friends and family, Philip enjoys spending as much time as he can on the water.

EBONY CARTER, Trustee

Ebony is an Assistant Principal at Dakota High School which serves the people of Macomb, Clinton Township, and the surrounding communities at large as part of the Chippewa Valley School district.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Grambling State University. Realizing her passion for education, Ebony decided to work for various alternative education programs seeking to improve the math skills of at-risk youth.  During this time, she pursued her Masters in Educational Leadership with a focus in Principalship at Saginaw Valley State University.

Ebony accepted her first certified teaching position at her alma mater, Mount Clemens High School, where she taught for 11 years before relocating to Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Having a passion for urban education, she accepted a position at Howard High School, which at the time was listed as one of the top five failing schools in the state of Tennessee.  Through her hard work and determined commitment, her students excelled and passed their state exams. Ebony was awarded a highly selective, federally funded grant from the United States Department of Education. The Teacher Incentive Fund Grant is awarded as a result of student academic performance in order to maximize programmatic opportunities.

Upon returning to Michigan, Ebony spent two additional years in the classroom before deciding to pursue her goal of administration. She was offered the position she currently serves in as an assistant principal where she is responsible for providing continuous support to both staff and students at the largest high school in the state of Michigan.

Ebony is a proud wife of Vondell and the mother of three children, Evan, and twins, Destiny and Davell. She is excited to have the opportunity share her gifts and talents while serving on the Board of Directors for A Beautiful Me.

ANNETTE DEMARIA, Trustee

Annette is a project manager at an employee-owned environmental consulting firm where she has provided environmental engineering support to public sector and non-profit agencies for the past 25 years. She works on various water resources with a focus on improving water quality and recreational opportunities in southeast Michigan. Her accreditations include professional engineer and Project Management Professional, and she holds B.S. degrees in Environmental Health and Chemical Engineering.  

Annette’s introduction to the A Beautiful Me came at a time when she began focusing on helping young women navigate the trials of the consulting business. Growing up with plenty of self-doubt, she was drawn to A Beautiful Me because of its focus on improving self-esteem in women and girls. She is inspired by the passion of the A Beautiful Me leadership and the creative ways in which the organization fulfills its mission. 

Annette enjoys traveling, nature photography, and crafting. She and her wife reside in Bloomfield Township where they share their home with a minimum of 2 dogs and cats (and a maximum of 4!). 

TORI FERRES, Trustee

Tori is an attorney at Fletcher, Fealko, Shoudy & Francis, P.C., located in Port Huron, Michigan.  Tori handles a variety of litigation matters, including insurance defense, municipal, labor and employment, and commercial litigation.  Her education includes a Juris Doctor from the Michigan State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan.

Tori appreciates the challenges that many women face with self-esteem and confidence, issues that often not only affect women during their youth but also throughout their lifetimes and careers.  Tori firmly believes in the importance of A Beautiful Me’s mission to empower women at a young age to teach them that there are no limits to what they can accomplish.

Tori enjoys spending time with her husband Colin, daughter Margot, and labradoodle Kevin.  She enjoys cooking, reading, and exercising.  She is also active in her church, Holy Trinity Parish, as a lector and Finance Council member.  Tori has volunteered for a number of non-profit boards and other community organizations.
Tori enjoys providing her talents and serving on the Board of Directors for A Beautiful Me.

SHAWN SHACKELFORD, Trustee

Shawn Shackelford has been an educator for over 20 years, starting his career as an English teacher in the Detroit Public Schools, and neighboring Southfield Public Schools in Southfield, Michigan.  Shawn has served as an administrator in Southfield Public Schools, Duval County Schools in Jacksonville, Florida, and Boston Public Schools in Boston, Massachusetts, and has been a principal at all levels. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Student Support and Diversity in the Port Huron Area School District in Port Huron, Michigan.

He has a background in implementing strategies aligned with national and local guidelines for Turnaround school reform in Florida and Massachusetts.  At Central, Shawn has successfully implemented Schoolwide Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (SWPBIS) and created a Refocus Room: a safe space for students that uses asset-based practices to create an inclusive environment that quickly re-engages students in the learning process. In addition, his work includes the school’s partnership with Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Supports (MIBLSI), in a state/national equity pilot which provides professional development on mitigating implicit bias through equitable practices.

Shawn presented at the 2018 National PBIS Leadership Forum in Chicago, IL as a part of University of Oregon professor Kent McIntosh’s presentation, “Neutralizing Implicit Bias in School Discipline.” In June 2019, he was the Keynote Speaker at the Missouri Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Summer Institute. His Keynote Address, “Closing the Gap: Lessons in Equity and Grace,” outlined his school’s success in addressing the disparity in the discipline of black and white students. As a result of this work, Shawn created a male mentoring group for African American boys at Central.

In November 2019, Shawn was honored by the Port Huron Branch of the NAACP with the Youth Sustainability Leadership Award.  In February 2020, Macomb Celebration of Black Excellence awarded Shawn the Educational Impact Award.

Shawn serves as a  member of the Grants Committee and Equity and Inclusion Fund Committee for the St. Clair County Community Foundation.  He is also a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

He holds a B.A in English from The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor,  M.A. in Educational Administration and Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Shawn and his wife Jill reside in Clinton Township, Michigan with their three daughters, Renee, and twins, Olivia and Violet.

JOSEPHINE STARCESKI, Trustee

Josephine is a Computer Information Systems (CIS) professional with a BA in CIS from Walsh College, Troy, MI. She has worked for Kmart Corporation International Headquarters in Troy, Michigan, as a Senior Systems Programmer in the Merchandise Order Processing and Planning Computer Systems. In 1998, she made the choice to stay at home full-time to raise three daughters.

Since then, many volunteer opportunities in her community presented themselves and offered Josephine leadership roles as president of the elementary Home & School Association, treasurer and recording secretary of the high school Mothers Guild and coordinator of several fundraising and social events.

As a 20 year volunteer for Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, Josephine has guided girls and women in support of the mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. As a troop leader, troop committee team member, district coordinator, trainer/facilitator, troop organizer, outdoor program volunteer, council program volunteer, departmental committee member and GSUSA national delegate, Josephine knows that giving girls and women leadership opportunities (large or small) is the key to helping girls develop courage and confidence to feel empowered to do anything!