About, Advisors, Board

Bria Maness:

Youth Development • Mentorship • Community Leadership

Bria Maness is the founder and Executive Director of The Girls Academy, where she works to empower young women through mentorship, education, leadership development, and life skills. Her work centers on helping young people build confidence, resilience, and the tools to thrive.

As an advisor to Heart Beats Community Café, Bria brings valuable perspective on mentorship, community engagement, and creating environments where people feel seen, supported, and empowered..

Maggie Kane

Pay-What-You-Can Café • Nonprofit Leadership • Food Access

Maggie Kane is the founder and Executive Director of A Place at the Table, Raleigh’s first pay-what-you-can café. Through its innovative model, A Place at the Table brings people from all walks of life together to enjoy a meal while providing multiple ways for guests to participate and contribute.

Maggie brings invaluable firsthand experience to Heart Beats, providing guidance on the pay-what-you-can model, café operations, fundraising, volunteer engagement, food access, and creating a dining experience rooted in dignity and community.

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Reed Frankel

Entrepreneurship • Collaboration • Community Building

Reed Frankel is an entrepreneur, collaborator, mentor, and community builder who brings a thoughtful and practical approach to turning ideas into action. His experience connecting people, identifying opportunities, and helping organizations think strategically provides valuable perspective as Heart Beats grows.

As an advisor, Reed helps Heart Beats think creatively about partnerships, business strategy, community connections, and the relationships needed to build a strong and sustainable organization.

Sam Poley

Restaurant Operations • Marketing • Strategy • Durham Community

Sam Poley brings extensive experience across food, hospitality, business strategy, marketing, and the Durham community. A former chef and restaurant owner, Sam understands firsthand both the operational realities of running a restaurant and the importance of creating experiences that connect people through food.

His broader career in business, communications, and organizational strategy adds another valuable perspective. As an advisor, Sam helps Heart Beats navigate restaurant operations, business strategy, communications, community connections, and the work of building a welcoming and sustainable café in Durham.

Cindy Finley

Nonprofit Leadership • Advocacy • Community Care

Cindy Finley brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and supporting vulnerable communities. As Executive Director of RiverCross Global, she has helped advance work focused on bringing healing, hope, and support to children who have experienced trauma and difficult circumstances.

Cindy brings Heart Beats a compassionate, people-centered perspective and provides guidance on nonprofit leadership, serving individuals with dignity, and building an organization grounded in empathy and meaningful community impact.

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Keosha Shuler

Community Advocate • Author • Mentor

Keosha Shuler is an author, mentor, mother of eight, and compassionate community advocate whose work is rooted in faith, encouragement, and service to others. She has spent years supporting and feeding people experiencing homelessness while offering encouragement and connection to those who may otherwise feel unseen.

Keosha brings an important community voice to Heart Beats, helping us remain grounded in dignity, compassion, and a genuine understanding of the people and community we hope to serve.

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Rosaria Crolla

Restaurant Operations • Hospitality • Entrepreneurship

Rosaria Crolla is an experienced restaurateur who has spent more than two decades building and operating successful restaurants. She developed, owns, and manages The Italian Club family of restaurants in Liverpool, bringing extensive firsthand experience in restaurant operations, hospitality, leadership, and navigating the challenges of the industry.

Rosaria advises Heart Beats on the practical realities of running a restaurant—from operations and customer experience to building a strong team and sustainable business—while keeping hospitality and genuine human connection at the center.

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Catherine Kelly

Founder / Board Chair

Catherine Kelly is the founder of Heart Beats Community Café, bringing more than 25 years of experience in strategy, sales, operations, supply chain, and business leadership at Lenovo. A graduate of NC State University, she combines her professional experience with a lifelong passion for cooking, serving others, and bringing people together around food. Catherine founded HBCC with the belief that everyone deserves access to a nourishing meal, meaningful connection, and the dignity of belonging—regardless of their ability to pay.

Lainey Bass

Treasurer

Lainey Bass is a graduate of UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and spent seven years in banking before dedicating her time to raising her family. She brings financial experience, thoughtfulness, and a natural gift for hospitality to the HBCC board. Lainey believes some of the best connections happen around a shared table and loves creating nourishing meals, minimizing waste, and making people feel genuinely welcome. Her financial background and heart for hospitality make her a natural fit for HBCC’s mission.

Paul Kelly

Secretary

Paul Kelly earned his MBA from Campbell University and his undergraduate degree from NC State University. His career in software development has included leading global teams, people, and complex projects with an emphasis on empathy, quality, and collaboration. Paul believes food has a unique ability to bring people together and create moments of connection, particularly during difficult seasons of life. He brings thoughtful leadership, organizational experience, and a deep commitment to helping HBCC become a welcoming place where everyone belongs.

Anita McLeod

Board Member

Anita McLeod brings more than 25 years of diverse business and leadership experience spanning entrepreneurship, finance, legal services, and aviation. She has served as a Controller and Treasurer for a successful woman-owned business and works as a paralegal and North Carolina Guardian ad Litem, advocating for children and families. A licensed FAA private pilot, Anita brings precision, discipline, financial expertise, and a strong commitment to service. Her broad experience and passion for helping others strengthen HBCC’s work to build a welcoming and connected community