Lead by Example

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 Camille Vella-Wilkinson, J.D. 

Camille Vella-Wilkinson, JD, Co-Founder and CEO, is a retired Navy Officer, former elected official, Certified Professional Resume Writer, Outplacement Services provider, and Leadership RI graduate.  Her post-graduate education includes a dual enrollment program at the University of Rhode Island in Labor Studies/Human Resources and a Law Degree at Roger Williams University School of Law.  A recipient of the Roy Wilkens Renown Service Award, she has been nationally recognized by the NAACP "for significant contributions to the USA  in the areas of Civil/Human Rights, Race Relations, Equal Opportunity, Human Resources and Public Service."

Legislative work at the Statehouse included several key laws within Veterans Affairs, including providing a procedure to upgrade the characterization of discharge for gay and transsexual military members who had been penalized based upon their sexual orientation. She also spearheaded the legislation to exempt military pensions from State income taxes. 

During her tenure as an elected official, Camille graduated from the Eastern Leadership Academy, a fellowship program designed to enhance the leadership abilities of state officials from all three branches of government. She was honored with the Legislator of the Year award from the Disabled American Veterans, the YWCA "Woman of Achievement" award, the American Legion Post 43 Auxiliary "Female Veteran of the Year" award and the "Italian-American of the Year" award by the RI Verrazzano Society. 

In March 2024, Camille received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the sponsorship and passage of the Nurse Licensure Compact to support military spouse Nurses and "continuing to serve as a public advocate for our service members and their families."  

In November 2024, Camille received a Congressional Veterans Leadership Award for  "... a lifetime of giving back to the Military and Veterans Community, demonstrating vision and the ability to implement actions to improve the lives of veterans." During the 90th Annual Conference of the RI State Department of Disabled American Veterans, she was elected as the DAV  Second Junior Vice Commander.

Her professional associations include:  American Legion Shield's Post #43, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 9, Warwick Congress of Veterans, Women Veterans Across the Nation Unit 118,  Italian American War Veterans,  (ITAM), RI Military Organization, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Leadership Rhode Island.

Married to Kenneth Wilkinson, a 34-year military veteran and college Math Professor.

  

Dr. Concetta Archer Ed.D.

Dr. Concetta Archer, Ed.D, is a Founder and Chief Operating Officer of MISSION: Boots to Briefcases. Her Doctorate (Ed.D.) is from Nova Southeastern University. in Child and Youth Studies (ages birth through 24 years of age) with a specialization in diagnostic, formative and summative assessments. 

Dr. Archer has been an educator, Academic Coach, School Administrator, college professor, and non-profit organization leader since 1966. Additionally, she established a Mentoring Program for at-risk youth in rural Georgia with soldiers from Fort Benning, GA. Dr. Archer's work on behalf of veterans in Rhode Island was extended to veterans' advocacy at the Statehouse, research pertaining to the PACT Act and targeted outreach assisting the Italian American War veterans. She taught GED classes, English as a Second Language, Mathematics and Citizenship classes.

Throughout the years, Concetta sought opportunities to work with many non-profit agencies and disenfranchised groups including the Rhode Island Indian Council, the Urban League of RI, youth incarcerated at the RI Training School, Delta Kappa Gamma, Ser Jobs for Progress, Year Up, and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9.  

She founded "Leorian Learning Center," which provided adults the skills they needed for upward mobility, engaged citizenship and leading strong families. The Center was absorbed by Federal Hill House in Providence, RI. 

Dr. Archer is now focusing her abundant skills for success on RI veterans and their families.  In November 2024,  she was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by the state's governor in honor of her significant community service and veterans' advocacy. 

Her professional associations include: the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and the National Association of Child Development.