Meet the Team of Professionals

Meet our Team

Mariel Black

Mariel is a longtime entrepreneur with 20 years of experience building community and small business brands. As the founder of Sinful Treats, she understands what it takes to grow a business while balancing personal life. Her passion for empowering women shows in the spaces she creates, where they are seen, supported and connected to opportunities/ resources. Mariel will continue the work what our RISE founders started by expanding pathways for women to connect, grow and thrive in business and life.

Mariel is a longtime entrepreneur with 20 years of experience building community and small business brands. As the founder of Sinful Treats, she understands what it takes to grow a business while balancing personal life. Her passion for empowering women shows in the spaces she creates, where they are seen, supported and connected to opportunities and resources. Mariel will continue the work our RISE founders started by expanding pathways for women to connect, grow and thrive in business and life.

Program Director

Samantha Gaines

Samantha serves as the Social Media Manager for RISE Women in Business. She supports the community through consistent content, email communication and digital marketing, helping members stay informed, engaged, and connected to upcoming events and opportunities. Samantha’s natural creativity helps bring the RISE message to life.

Social Media

Bea

Bea serves as the Event Coordinator for RISE Women in Business. She helps plan and execute our meetups and workshops, making sure each event runs smoothly and creates a welcoming space for members to connect, learn, and grow. Bea brings genuine enthusiasm to every event through her energy, attention to detail, and love for the RISE mission.

Events Coordinator

How It All Started..

RISE Women in Business was founded in 2023

by Brittany Davis and Jill Johnson.

They created RISE with a heart for connection and a vision for women to grow together through support, collaboration, and community. Their leadership built a strong foundation, and we are grateful for the work they poured into creating the space so many women now call home.

The foundation they built allows us to continue the mission and grow this meaningful work for even more women in business.

Brittany and Jill remain part of RISE today, continuing to serve as advisors as we build what’s next.

Meet the Founders: Brittany Davis & Jill Johnson

Our Mission

RISE Women in Business is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business community. We exist to encourage, empower, and inspire women to achieve the highest and best version of themselves and their businesses through the power of connection.

We create consistent spaces to build real relationships, gain visibility, learn practical business tools, and access opportunities for growth . Through our meetups, business workshops, directory, and member benefits, we help women support one another by choosing members first and turning connection into real results.

We're a Business Community that puts members first, always!

RISE is the place for ambitious women entrepreneurs, small business owners, professionals, and leaders to come together and build an inspiring network.

Our Vision

RISE Women in Business is a nonprofit building a strong, thriving community of women with an abundance mindset and a heart for service, where members are seen, supported, and referred first.

Our vision is a connected ecosystem where women consistently show up for each other, share resources and innovative systems through education, and keep opportunities circulating within the community.

This empowers every member to grow with confidence and reach higher levels of success, not only in business, but also in life and leadership.