Diversity & Inclusion Board

William Whitfield is an operations professional for the District government. He has over 18 years of professional experience managing projects from $3M to over $300M in scope from his time in both the public and private sectors. William started his professional career in the field of architecture with ten years of architectural experience and over eight years of operations management experience in the non-profit and government sectors. William has extensive knowledge in workforce development, procurement, budget and financial management, program management, project management, as well as people management. William is also a bit of a nomad, having lived in Phoenix, AZ, Chicago, IL, Brooklyn, NYC, and now Washington, D.C. He enjoys meeting new people and cultivating community wherever he goes.

William obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies. He obtained his Master of Business Administration degree from Benedictine University with a concentration in Marketing.

Chris Parkison is the Group Fitness Manager at VIDA Fitness at the Yards, Gallery Place, and City Vista locations. He practiced law for ten years in the District of Columbia before becoming a full-time fitness instructor and Personal Trainer and has worked at VIDA Fitness since 2013.

Francisco Durán serves as Superintendent of Arlington County Public Schools. Dr. Durán has a diverse background in education, having been a special education paraprofessional for thirty years and teaching Spanish, social studies, and language arts. He’s also served in various other positions, such as an activities director, athletics director, assistant principal, principal, regional superintendent, superintendent, and Chief Equity Officer. He has been an adjunct professor for 18 years, teaching diversity, equity, and Inclusion courses.

Dr. Durán is a former Virginia State Board of Education member, President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS), and the Chair of the Human Rights Commission for the City of Alexandria.
Dr. Durán earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of New Mexico, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from San Francisco State University, and a Master of Education and a Doctorate in Organization and Leadership from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Larry Brown is a Senior Membership Advisor at VIDA Fitness Logan Circle and has been a member of the VIDA staff since 2011. He has more than 25 years of management, communications, and sales experience and a passion for leadership, community, and building connections among people.

Larry is a native of Roanoke, Virginia, and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from Howard University. He began his career as an award-winning breaking news and criminal justice newspaper reporter before moving into local government communications and marketing. Along with membership sales, Larry has also worked fitness facility operations as part of the opening team of VIDA’s flagship location on U Street. He enjoys travel, music, writing and baking.

Samantha “Sam” Hawkins is the CEO and Founder of Hawkins CPA Solutions, LLC, an accounting firm based in Maryland, where she focuses on providing solution-driven services to assist her clients with meeting their personal and business goals.  She holds both a B.S. in Accountancy and an M.S. in Taxation from The American University in Washington, DC. She is a licensed certified public accountant (CPA) in DC, MD, and VA. With more than 20 years of professional and leadership experience, Samantha shines in the areas of leading the efforts of organizations and mentorship.

Samantha is an active National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA) member and has held various positions within the organization, including serving on the Eastern Region Leadership Board.  She was recently appointed to serve as the Treasurer of the Missouri Acres Homeowners Association, Inc., where she will be responsible for fully implementing an accounting system and processes.

In addition to being a full-time entrepreneur and caregiver for her mother, she enjoys working out at VIDA (The Yards), spending time with her family and friends, volunteering, traveling, and focusing on self-care.

Known for her tenacious energy, ambition, and commitment to physical fitness, Michaela Brown is a Regional Group Fitness Manager at VIDA Fitness, Inc., where she empowers the company’s culture, operations, and community impact. A veteran of the fitness industry with over 20 years of experience as an athlete, coach, personal trainer, and group exercise instructor, her success in the field comes as no surprise. Before joining VIDA’s team, Michaela was a successful entrepreneur, having run a popular women’s fitness studio for 12 years in Washington, DC. Her certifications include NASM-CPT, AFAA Group Exercise, Barre Fitness, Les Mills Advanced Bodypump Instructor, TRX, and Pilates Mat, to name a few. With a proven track record in driving organizational excellence and steering positive collaborative environments, she serves as Chairwoman of VIDA Fitness, Inc.’s first Diversity and Inclusion Board, lending a wealth of vision and experience to the organization’s mission.

Michaela earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Georgetown University, with dual minor degrees in Japanese Language and Communications. She also takes great pride in being the first Black letter-winner and captain of the university’s Women’s Field Hockey team. Michaela served two terms as the President of Georgetown’s Collegiate NAACP Chapter, and one term as the Vice President of the Nu Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., so chairing VIDA’s Diversity and Inclusion Board feels like a return back to her true roots of public service, social justice, and activism. It is with this energy and passion that Michaela seeks to use her knowledge, resources, and platform to blaze trails for the next generation of diverse fitness professionals.

Vin Testa began his journey with VIDA Fitness as a Front Desk Team Member in December 2018, as a part-time job while teaching in DC Public Schools. When the pandemic hit in 2020, and he needed to step away from the classroom, Vin explored management positions within the VIDA family, serving as Assistant General Manager and General Manager at City Vista and as General Manager at The Yards.

Vin received his B.A.S. in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Salve Regina University (Newport, RI) and his M.A. in Special Education – Learning Disabilities from American University. Throughout his nine years of teaching, Vin also served as an LGBTQ Liaison in DC Public Schools, providing professional development to colleagues on the school level around serving LGBTQ-identifying youth. Since leaving the classroom, he has continued providing that training at conferences and summits nationwide.

Despite reentering the world of education in August 2023 as Student Affairs Manager at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, VIDA (and the entire UAC family) continues to hold a very special place in Vin’s heart, and he looks forward to serving the community again in this new capacity on the Diversity & Inclusion Board.

Samuel Tatum, Jr. is a multi-media marketing professional who has worked to help companies develop diverse, effective media campaigns and brand strategies that target Black and Minority populations for over two decades. Driven by the passion to strengthen resources and representation for underserved communities in and around the DMV, Samuel works daily to find innovative ways to fulfill that through corporate relationships in various industries. Samuel has various hobbies, including working out at VIDA Fitness. A few of them are fitness, travel, cooking, live music events, and family time.

Caroline is the studio program manager at Vida Reston, where she is dedicated to fostering a culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. With a deep commitment to creating spaces of belonging, Caroline strives to build an environment where all feel valued.  As a lifelong learner, Caroline continuously seeks new insights to advance DEI efforts that positively impact her community, celebrate differences, and uplift everyone. Beyond her work, Caroline enjoys a balanced and active life with her family.  She loves spending quality time with her husband, three daughters, and dog, while also pursuing her interests in powerlifting, yoga, and music!

Hansen Mak is a national security professional currently serving as the U.S. Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director, focusing on national strategy and policy implementation to secure cyberspace and ensure the United States is in the strongest possible position to realize all the benefits and potential of our digital future. He has also been a VIDA group fitness instructor since 2010, coaching a variety of strength and cardio formats. In his spare time, Hansen is a DEIA advocate focused on promulgating legislation, executive orders, accessibility of underrepresented communities and demographics to Federal resources, and promoting understanding and awareness against implicit bias. He has led and organized DEIA initiatives within the Federal government, think tanks, and political campaigns; helping to shape meaningful impacts and deliver results. In addition, he is also an adjunct professor where he teaches a variety of courses focused on national security and foreign policy decision making.

Brittney Rae is a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, with over 14 years of experience in brand marketing and 10 years in culturally competent health and wellness coaching. She co-founded FIT & NU®, Colorado’s first fitness and nutrition club for women of color, to address the lack of representation in the health and fitness industry and create a culturally sensitive environment that combats racial biases. This work earned FIT & NU national recognition, including being honored as a National Small Business Hero by the U.S. House Committee on Small Business in 2019. Brittney’s impact extends to national initiatives, such as consulting on the CDC’s 2022 National Diabetes Prevention Program Campaign, where her focus on culturally attuned messaging led to an exceptional increase in enrollment.

In addition to her work with FIT & NU, Brittney has consulted with health and wellness programs nationally to enhance culturally competent coaching and create inclusive, accessible support for diverse communities, including seniors and individuals from underserved populations. At VIDA Fitness, she is a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and a new DEI board member. Brittney is eager to leverage her expertise to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment, championing diversity, promoting accessibility, and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and empowered.

Ali Rocha began her journey with VIDA Fitness in 2021, initially joining the Sales team at VIDA City Vista and later advancing to an Assistant General Manager role. She currently balances her responsibilities at VIDA with her graduate studies, allowing her to engage with VIDA Fitness team members and guests, as well as partner brands, in a variety of settings.

Ali holds a BA in Drama with a minor in Music from Catholic University, where she honed her skills as a designer, builder, and painter on projects centered on social impact. Her time at Catholic was marked by numerous independent projects that emphasized inclusion and representation. Inspired by her experiences at VIDA and her passion for impactful storytelling, Ali is now pursuing an MFA in Themed Entertainment Design, aiming to create accessible and inclusive experiences for all.

Ali’s blend of operational and creative expertise fuels her dedication to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is honored to bring her insights and passion to the DEI Committee at UA Companies, where she looks forward to furthering an inclusive and empowering culture.