EXECUTIVE GOVERNANCE

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President/Founding Team Member 

Chief Financial Officer

 A proud Puerto Rican, dedicated philanthropist, and mother, Frances Montenegro brings a powerful combination of executive leadership and lived experience to the Rise Up Woman Foundation. A rising activist voice for survivors of domestic violence, her commitment to meaningful change is deeply rooted in her personal journey and global perspective.

Frances migrated to the United States at age 11, excelling academically and later earning a B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida, which included specialized international studies in Russia. As a Latina, professional, and mother, she understands firsthand the profound resilience required to overcome systemic challenges and succeed. Her greatest inspiration drives from her two sons, fueling her unwavering commitment to raising awareness and fostering a world where respect and dignity are instilled from childhood.

An avid global traveler who has explored 17 countries and more than 40 cities, Frances embraces cultural diversity—a quality that greatly enriches her strategic vision. Confident yet accessible, she seamlessly combines her legal background, cross-cultural insights, and dynamic leadership style to inspire, empower, and lead impactful advocacy for women everywhere.

Vice President/ Founding Team Member  

Chief Executive Officer   

 A lifelong advocate for the rights of women and children, and a dedicated philanthropist, Maria N. Santiago brings decades of distinguished leadership across government, non-profit sectors, and corporate enterprise to the Rise Up Woman Foundation. Born in Puerto Rico, she earned a B.A. in Sociology with a Minor in Social Work—an academic foundation that fueled her enduring passion for human causes and systemic community well-being.

Maria began her career on the front lines as a Child Abuse Protective Investigator for the Departments of Children and Families in both New Jersey and Florida. Witnessing firsthand the devastating impacts of abuse, this pivotal experience solidified her commitment to providing robust structural support, protection, and an influential voice for vulnerable populations. Her executive acumen further expanded as the Program Director for the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development in New Jersey, where she successfully engineered and delivered vital services to high-need communities.

Beyond her non-profit leadership, Maria has held key strategic positions within the Government of Puerto Rico, advising and driving initiatives within both the House of Representatives and the Office of the Governor. A dynamic entrepreneur, she has also founded and led highly successful corporate ventures across real estate development, finance, and international business consulting. Blending deep regulatory expertise with an unyielding dedication to human dignity, Maria commands the executive vision necessary to build a permanent, institutional-grade legacy of economic and personal empowerment for women.

  Secretary/Director of Philanthropy 

Originally from Sri Lanka and of Indian descent, Thiruthambigai “T.J.” Jeyaselvan moved to the United States over thirty years ago in pursuit of an empowered future for her family. Through her profound personal journey, she has championed the truth that a woman’s ultimate value is defined by her inner resilience, strength, and self-worth.
A highly successful corporate executive and co-owner of a thriving hotel chain, T.J. brings extensive professional expertise across banking, sales, and high-level hospitality operations to the Rise Up Woman Foundation. Alongside her corporate success, she is a deeply devoted mother whose exceptional dedication has guided her daughter to become a Doctor of Medicine at Tampa General Hospital, and whose life and advocacy have been profoundly shaped by raising her son with autism. Her unwavering dedication to helping her children thrive stands as an inspiring blueprint for balancing executive enterprise with compassionate advocacy. Deeply passionate about female empowerment, T.J. firmly believes that every woman possesses inherent, unique talents and deserves the right to live fearlessly. She is fully committed to leveraging her business acumen to help women discover their voice, reclaim their personal power, and rise with confidence in every aspect of their lives.

Chairwoman/Attorney   

Erin E. Morse, Esq. is a highly knowledgeable, strategic, and trial-tested family law attorney dedicated to guiding families through their most complex and challenging transitions. Melding creative legal strategy with razor-sharp business acumen and formidable courtroom prowess, Erin provides an unparalleled level of advocacy and structural legal protection for her clients. As a rising powerhouse in the Central Florida legal community, she honed her litigation skills under the mentorship of a distinguished veteran attorney, cultivating a lifelong passion for compassionate, results-driven family advocacy.
Erin’s dedication to service extends deeply into the community, where she actively volunteers and interns with prominent civic organizations, including the Orange County Bar Association, the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the American Bar Association, and the Guardian ad Litem program. She has also proudly lent her expertise to the Office of the Governor of Florida in Orlando and the Coalition for the Homeless in Central Florida. Bringing a profound understanding of family dynamics and institutional legal frameworks to the Rise Up Woman Foundation, Erin ensures that the organization’s legal initiatives offer robust, top-tier empowerment and protection for women reclaiming their futures. 

 Communications Director/Community Director

A dynamic communicator, media producer, and community advocate, Patricio Solano brings an exceptional multi-disciplinary background to his role as Communications Director for the Rise Up Woman Foundation. Born in Chicago and of Mexican and Ecuadorian descent, Patricio’s profound commitment to community service is deeply rooted in his personal journey. Raised by a single mother, he understands firsthand the intense vulnerabilities and structural hardships families face when navigating crisis moments alone—a lived experience that completely fuels his professional passion to ensure no woman stands without a supportive alliance.

Patricio commands a unique professional versatility, combining over six years of rigorous experience across multiple legal fields—including criminal defense, housing law, corporate compliance, and debt negotiation—with a technical background in Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics from Westwood College of Aviation. Transitioning his legal assistant background into a highly successful marketing and media career, he serves as a prominent voice in the Central Florida media landscape, producing and hosting three distinct Orlando-based podcasts. Leveraging his innate talent for interpersonal connection, media strategy, and legal frameworks, Patricio leads the foundation’s communications department with a singular focus: elevating corporate partnerships, amplifying survivor stories, and expanding the organization's community network to ensure family always comes first.

 Attorney/Advocate

Attorney Gabriela A. Bonilla is a first-generation Venezuelan-American, a Miami native, and a powerful legal advocate for social justice. She attended Florida International University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a Minor in Women’s Studies—an academic focus that ignited her lifelong passion for systemic activism and community defense. Driven to translate her activism into powerful legal advocacy, Gabriela moved to Orlando to attend the Barry University School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree.
Upon her admission to the Florida Bar, Gabriela dedicated her talents to public service, working for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State Attorney’s Office. There, she was assigned to a specialized unit assisting with the prosecution of capital homicides and resentencing cases. She furthered her impactful public service career with Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, providing vital, compassionate representation to under-privileged families and survivors of domestic violence across all aspects of family law. Bringing a formidable blend of trial experience and deep empathy to the Rise Up Woman Foundation, Gabriela is dedicated to protecting families and ensuring every woman receives the personalized, genuine, and top-tier legal protection she deserves.