Meet the Leadership

I am originally from and was raised in the Greater New Orleans, LA, USA, and was born in Metairie, LA, USA. I graduated from Believer's Life Christian Academy in Gretna, LA, and later attended Nicholls State University, in Thibodaux, LA, earning an associate degree in general studies, Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge, LA earning bachelor's degree in general studies with minors in history, political science, and sociology, and Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA, earning a Master's degree in Social Sciences with a concentration in History, and later began doctoral studies for a Ph.D. in public policy, public finance concentration. In my academic studies I switched majors from being an accounting major to being a social science major both in my undergraduate and graduate experience, I often found that social and political problems may both compliment and/or overlap business problems. Over the years, I have worked various roles, such as, as a retail manager, insurance agent, realtor, specialist in state government, a social studies teacher, and as a University History Instructor. 

Valerie Barnhart is a dedicated and results-driven property manager with a strong background in operations and leadership. Prior to stepping into property management, Valerie spent nearly a decade in the car wash industry, where she advanced from associate to Director of Operations at Mammoth Holdings LLC. In that role, she oversaw 14 locations and led teams of district managers, site managers, and assistant managers, consistently driving growth, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Valerie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is currently completing her Master’s degree, expected by the end of the year. She plans to continue her academic journey by pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration to further expand her expertise in strategic leadership and operational excellence.

Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, Valerie serves as a youth group minister at her local Life Church and enjoys gaming, personal development, and quality time with family. Her commitment to continuous growth and empowering others defines her approach to both work and life.

I was born in Los Angeles California and moved to Louisiana at 8 years old. I graduated from Kinder High School. After High School I attended LSU for 2 years where I majored in criminal justice but did not graduate. On returning home I attended Delta School of Business where I majored and graduated in Business Management. In my spare time I enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends 

Jarek Smith is a results-driven operations leader with more than a decade of experience in business management, strategic planning, and executive-level operations. His career spans multiple industries including Property Management, facilities management, retail, organizational development, and entrepreneurship—where he has built and led high-performing teams, scaled service delivery systems, and managed multimillion-dollar portfolios.

Jarek holds a high school diploma and has completed college coursework in business administration. While he may not hold a formal degree, his real-world experience speaks volumes. As a successful business owner and executive, he has developed a proven track record of improving performance, optimizing processes, and driving sustainable growth. He’s a firm believer that performance, experience, and passion often outweigh titles on paper—and his leadership reflects that.

He joined the World Investment Fund because he believes in its mission to empower communities and create economic opportunity through innovation and collective effort. As a Board Member—and a strong candidate for the Chief Operating Officer role—Jarek is committed to building a foundation of excellence, transparency, and long-term impact that will attract both donors and investors.

Known for his sharp instincts, operational foresight, and people-first leadership, Jarek brings more than business acumen—he brings heart. He’s passionate about helping others rise, creating generational change, and serving with purpose.

In his personal time, Jarek enjoys traveling, staying active, watching sports, and spending quality time with family. He believes in authenticity, consistency, and the power of collective action.

Crystal has been a public servant for over two decades. Crystal has worked across agencies focusing on strategic organizational design initiatives to support the values of compassion, integrity, fairness and inclusion in state systems. She has over seventeen years of experience in improving human resource, business and social service functions, acting as a leader, trainer, and practitioner in nonprofit sectors. Crystal is a graduate from the University of Delaware with a master’s degree in human services administration and an emphasis in Public Relations. When she is not maximizing her skills to serve, Crystal enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and relaxing whenever possible.

Founder & Visionary, Aligned Access LLC

Tahirih Daniels is a dedicated advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and equity, proudly serving as a board member of the World Investment Fund. With a servant’s heart, she is committed to shedding light on the barriers faced by persons with disabilities, championing their right to accessibility, inclusivity, and equitable opportunities.

As the Founder & Visionary of Aligned Access LLC, an advocacy-driven initiative currently in development, Tahirih is focused on building tools, training frameworks, and awareness campaigns to promote accessibility and inclusion. This initiative centers on education and empowerment, equipping communities and nonprofit organizations with the knowledge and resources to foster more inclusive environments.

Through her work with the newly formed World Investment Fund board, Tahirih actively contributes her expertise, leadership, and advocacy to support initiatives that drive lasting, meaningful change for underserved communities. As the board establishes its foundation, she collaborates with stakeholders to advance accessibility-focused solutions, ensuring that inclusion remains a core priority in investment strategies and community development efforts.

Jeremy Whitley was born and raised in northern Michigan’s lower peninsula. He worked as a laborer at St. Mary’s cement plant to pay his way through the first two years of attending North Central Michigan College before transferring to the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he obtained B.A. in Economics and Peace. Jeremy would continue his academic career by gaining an LL.M. in international human rights from the National University of Ireland.

He has held various analytical research positions including as an acknowledged Financial Market researcher in Ph.D. Meisnner Second Edition of “Correlation Risk Modeling and Management”. And has previous non-profit experience overseeing the research operations of Project Votes Smarts elections monitoring office.

Jeremy has defined his philosophy for economic development as following a holistic strategy, which measures the success of economic development projects on how they increase the well-being of people and communities.

Outside of his professional and academic pursuits, Jeremy spends his time playing music, reading philosophy, training in martial arts, and spending time in nature.