About NYWUSA

Lori Hoff is the CEO and Founder of Outreach Ministries International (OMI), the nonprofit behind NYWUSA. She led the first National Youth Week across the United States on June 13, 2015. A licensed therapist, Lori previously worked with the State of New Jersey supporting at-risk youth, served as Board Chair for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and established a food pantry for working families in Middlesex County. She holds a B.S. in Ministry from Calvary Theological and a Master's in Child and Adolescent Therapy from Cornerstone University. Alongside her nonprofit leadership, Lori is a full-time Technology and Engineering Manager at AT&T in Dallas, Texas, and served four years as National Mentoring Officer for Women of AT&T.

Wayne Sims serves as Vice President of NYWUSA. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he earned his MBA from the University of Dallas after attending Benedict College on a baseball scholarship. His career has spanned business, education, and technology — from Operations Manager at Sherwin-Williams, to teaching sixth-grade mathematics and serving six years as a school principal in Dallas, to his current role at AT&T as a Business Strategist focused on Generative and Agentic AI. Throughout it all, his passion for equipping young people with the skills, opportunities, and mindset to lead prosperous, purpose-driven lives has remained the cornerstone of his work.

Ludjy Gedna serves as Parliamentarian for NYWUSA and is currently a student at the University of Florida. She is passionate about youth leadership, community engagement, and creating spaces where young people feel confident and supported in using their voices while building practical life skills. Ludjy brings intentionality and a collaborative spirit to every space she's part of.

Tashmarie Smith serves as Board Secretary for NYWUSA. A lifelong entrepreneur and strategic operations leader, she currently manages operations in the construction field alongside freelance work spanning account management, process optimization, and business development. Tashmarie holds a B.A. in Business Management from Johnson & Wales University and an M.A. in Psychological Services from Kean University, and plans to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is driven by a passion for service and actively supports community initiatives.

Fareeha Mohammad leads NYWUSA's social media and digital communications, and has been a member of the board since December 2020. Outside of OMI, she is a graduate public health student concentrating in health management. In her free time, she enjoys reading and exploring her interests in personality theory and marine biology.

Dr. Bobby Carter serves as Technology Lead for NYWUSA. A Senior Change Manager and organizational change practitioner, he has supported large-scale technology and business transformation initiatives at organizations including Microsoft, Red Hat, and CBRE, helping leaders and teams adopt new systems, processes, and AI solutions. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Psychology from The Chicago School, where his research focused on project managers' well-being and mastery goal orientation. Dr. Carter resides in the Dallas, Texas area and is passionate about youth development, education, and mentorship.