Dorletta is an experienced Education Administrator with a demonstrated history of working in the education and not-for-profit industries. Dorletta is skilled in Management Non-Profit Organizations, Coaching, Teen Programming, Admissions Counseling, and Public Speaking. Strong business development professional with an MBA focus in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago and a B.A. from Stanford University.

ABOUT    

With more than two decades as a strategic and results-driven leader, Dorletta Flucas Payton has helped both for-profit and non-profit organizations achieve proven results in the areas of leadership, goal setting and managing teams. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.

Dorletta is known for her excellent leadership, management, and communication skills along with her dedication to fostering a working environment that encourages individual development, collaboration and optimal team performance.

As the Director of College and Career Readiness for the Valley View School District, she leads district initiatives to create a post-secondary education/ college and career readiness culture to support the district’s goal of every student graduating from high school ready with a plan to complete the education and training needed for them to be successful in their chosen career. She is the district administrator for school counselors, facilitates the district’s College and Career Readiness Steering Committee, leads the K-12 college and career readiness program, and coordinates professional development for school counselors.

As chairperson of the DuPage County Afro-Academic Cultural, Technological, Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) program (an academic enrichment program for African American high school and middle school students), she has led the program to the top in the nation by partnering with organizations, corporations and community to prepare students for competition in the areas of STEM Research, Humanities, Business, Performing Arts and Visual Arts.

Dorletta’s past experience includes top corporations that include Procter and Gamble, Chase Bank and National City Bank (now PNC Bank). She has also consulted and collaborated with the National PTA and Kettering Foundation.

Dorletta’s work has been recognized by various organizations including the DuPage County NAACP, that twice awarded her with the President’s Award; the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce, Bolingbrook Rotary and Kiwanis clubs and local churches.

Dorletta is a former entrepreneur, who started Clearview To College Admissions Consulting to help students and their families prepare for and achieve admission to the best-fit college/university of their choice.

Dorletta is fluent in Spanish, having lived in Spain for over three years, she worked and volunteered in the Hispanic community in the Chicago area.

Dr. Michael Ellison has been a successful administrator in higher education for several decades focusing on university admissions/recruitment, academic advising, retention, student affairs and teaching.  He spent 25+ years at Chicago State University (CSU) where he excelled in a number of positions to include: Admissions Counselor/Recruiter, Director of Pre-Medical Education Programs, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions for the College of Pharmacy and Instructor.  He was recruited to serve as the Associate Dean for Admissions and Assistant Professor for the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.  After serving in this capacity for six years Dr. Ellison was asked to return to CSU to assume the role of Interim Vice President of Enrollment Management by then university Interim President Dr. Rachel W. Lindsey. 

Dr. Ellison also has experience with creating a student-centered admissions environment from scratch.  He has developed everything needed to successfully recruit, admit and matriculate students for both a medical school (Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine) and a pharmacy school (Chicago State University College of Pharmacy).  He also has experience with accreditation efforts and student retention.  

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Education and his Master of Science in Occupational Education degrees from Chicago State University.  He went on to earn his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois graduating in the top of his class.  

Helping students to succeed with academic excellence is Dr. Ellison’s passion.  Throughout his career he has aided many students, particularly those from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds with gaining access to higher education.  He is most proud of the educational successes and professional accomplishments made by the students he served throughout his career.  Many of these individuals still maintain a relationship with him.

Dr. Ellison has been actively involved with several professional organizations/associations such as the National Association of Medical Minority Educators, Inc. (NAMME), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) and others, to advance his work with educational equity for minority and disadvantaged students.  He continues to serve on numerous committees and working groups that address diversity, inclusion and equity in higher education, specifically admissions. 

Dr. Ellison lives in Illinois and is passionate about continuing to support student enrollment and recruitment efforts.  He currently serves as the Associate Dean for Admissions for Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago, Illinois.

Concept Artist/Writer, history enthusiast and Telly nominated producer of the 1999 documentary, “Soul of a People.” Filmed on location at DuSable Museum of African American History, Chicago History Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago to showcase snippets of the Black experience circa 1450-1900. 

Greathouse self-describes as an “Entrepreneurial Evangelist” who channels God gifts at the grassroots of community. Her company (Custom Community Creations, LLC) was awarded Best Small Business of 2015 by the Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce.

Toni’s mission is spelled out in the letters of her first name. The words they form motivate her to… Take On Neighborhood Interaction by Trying Out Novel Ideas.  

In 1996, Toni stepped out on faith to start-up. She celebrated 26 years in as a Self-Employed Artist on February 1, 2022. That same day, the Joliet Herald published the first of a series of opinion pieces on a passion project to launch the first annual Juneteenth in downtown Joliet. The objective is to incrementally increase connectivity in an atmosphere infused with history and nostalgia. 

Pivoting on Purpose, Toni is rebranding herself as a “Social-Entrepreneur” merging strategy and design to develop intersections where diverse people engage to break down racial barriers then bridge them by building empathy and understanding… a solution to fill gaps. 

Juneteenth in Joliet was developed to spark civic/civil conversations emphasizing progress and improvement. The ask is – to do – what you can… with what you have… where you are to navigate the minefield of hidden racial bias. The take-away empowers all to think before responding. This stance introduces a creative solution to facilitate the uncomfortable process of racial healing.

Toni’s career emerged from familial exposure. She is third-generation college educated on the maternal side and a fourth-generation entrepreneur on the paternal side. A 1986 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Toni followed in her mother footsteps to the Carbondale campus. It was the same path previously trodden by her grandfather who attended when the school was a Teacher’s College. While on campus Toni met her husband (1982) in a union that produced their daughter a 2014, alumni. While on campus their daughter distinguished herself pledging Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. undergraduate Delta Beta Chapter, 30 years after Toni (1983). She was elected SIU-C student body president her junior year and campus homecoming queen senior year. Brittany parlayed a degree in Finance into a position with Accenture in London, England. 

Post emancipation, Toni’s great-great grandfather (a silversmith) left the planation to sell his in rural Pennsylvania. His daughter owned a beauty shop and “Dew Drop Inn” club that hosting “Chitlin’ Circuit” entertainers. Her son (Toni’s father) took entrepreneurship one step further. Throughout the 1980’s his baseball board game was sold in Sears and Kmart stores. He mentored Toni from start-up (1996) to his death in 2017. Their crowning achievement was becoming a Walmart Supplier where her adult coloring books (featuring his passion for Classic Cars) across on Route 66 were sold in retail stores nationwide.

Lisa is the proud Owner of MsPsGFree Inc., a Chicagoland Area Whole Foods Supplier of gluten free cookie bars & granola. Lisa is an experienced owner with a demonstrated history
of working in the food production industry.

About:
Lisa has been gluten free since 2009. Her business emerged from the desire to break the cycle of early familial deaths from bad health habits. The business was formulated from the experience of working Farmers Markets combined with classes through the Sunshine Gospel Ministries.

Education & Skills:
Lisa received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice Degree from Western Illinois University, which she parlayed into 27 years of Law Enforcement experience with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For years, Lisa shared her “sweet gluten free treats” with incarcerated individuals. Those men planted the idea and offered constant encouragement to dip her toe into the pool of entrepreneurship. Lisa is additionally skilled in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Customer Service, Data Entry, Sales, and Small Business building.