501c3 nonprofit organization
About CR Skills Foundation
Our mission is to empower youth through Community, Education, and Fitness.
We connect them to opportunities that build confidence, discipline, and lifelong success.
The Board of Directors
Cedric Robillard
Founder of CR Skills Foundation
Founder/Head Coach - Youth LV Aces Basketball
Cedric Robillard is a lifelong athlete, coach, and mentor dedicated to developing young athletes both on and off the court. Born in San Bernardino, California, Cedric competed in varsity basketball from 2001–2002 and varsity track and cross-country from 2000–2002. He continued his basketball career at the semi-professional level, playing in Albuquerque, New Mexico (2013–2014) and Las Vegas, Nevada (2017–2018). Since 2004, Coach Cedric has been coaching youth basketball, helping athletes build confidence, discipline, and a strong work ethic. In 2016, he founded the LV Aces Youth Basketball Organization and the CR Skills Foundation in Las Vegas, creating opportunities for youth through athletics, education, and community involvement. As a highly respected trainer, Coach Cedric has worked with more than 20 professional athletes, over 100 collegiate athletes, and more than 1,000 high school, middle school, and elementary school athletes. His passion for mentorship and player development continues to make a lasting impact on young athletes throughout the community.
Karina Melendez
Director of Operations
Karina Melendez serves as the Operations & Communications Director and Trustee for CR Skills Foundation, where she oversees organizational communications, event coordination, community engagement, and operational support. With nearly two decades of experience in the medical field, she brings strong leadership, organizational expertise, and a passion for serving others. In addition to her work with the Foundation, Karina is an experienced event planner and the owner of Kandles By Karina, a small business built on creativity, dedication, and community connection. As a proud mother, she is deeply committed to empowering youth and helping them reach their full potential through mentorship, education, and positive opportunities. Karina believes in the Foundation’s mission to strengthen communities through education, fitness, and service, and she is passionate about inspiring young people to become confident, capable, and successful leaders in their own lives.
Celeste Parrish
Director of Marketing
Celeste is a CTE Graphic Design & Multimedia Arts teacher with over 15 years of experience in education. Her career spans roles as an Adapted PE teacher, Jobs for America’s Graduates specialist, freelance graphic designer, and project manager—cultivating a robust and diverse skill set that has made her adaptable, collaborative, and eager to learn. Beyond the classroom, Celeste is a freelance graphic designer, voice actor, and mother of three amazing children. At her core, Celeste is an artist devoted to sharing what she loves most: the power of creativity. She views creativity as a form of emotional alchemy—transforming inner experiences into expressive, healing moments that bring joy, release, and connection. Through her work, she aims to uplift, empower, and unite others through the art of imagination.
Meet the Advisory Board
Wesley Nee
Wes Nee is an officer at The Neon Foundation, a family-founded philanthropic organization that supports initiatives in healthcare, education, and sustainability. Dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and strengthening communities, Wes serves on the Advisory Board of Make Us Visible, a nonprofit advancing the inclusion of Asian American history and contributions in K–12 education, and on the Sports Business Advisory Board at Arizona State University. Before transitioning into philanthropy, Wes held positions with Life Time Fitness and Nike and served as a varsity basketball coach for five years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication from Arizona State University in 2015 and became a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine in 2018.
Temeka Bryant
Temeka Bryant is Ms. Black Nevada 2026 and the founder of Project F.O.R.K., an initiative dedicated to addressing food insecurity in Southern Nevada. Through her work, she is committed to serving families, building community partnerships, and creating lasting impact through compassion and action. She is also a mother of two and the founder & CEO of Teez Custom Apparel, specializing in high quality custom brand apparel.
Yolanda Hall
Yolanda Hall has 25+ years of Pharmaceutical and Biotech industry experience in regulatory operations, consulting services and quality assurance. She provides strategic and regulatory submission support for products at all development stages and across various regulatory regions for a multifaceted client base. Her in-depth knowledge and experience in client services and project management have allowed her to build a US based team that successfully combines technical expertise and effective communicators who are fully trained to handle multiple client scenarios, scalable and focused on core capabilities. She is passionate about keeping current with industry best practices and trends and utilizes this knowledge to enhance customer engagements. As Vice President, she is key contributor of the Pharmaceutical eConsulting (PeC) leadership team and plays a vital role in corporate strategy, business development and overseeing high-performing teams. Prior to joining PeC, Yolanda held positions at leading regulatory submission solutions consulting firms with increasing responsibilities including Director, Operations and Strategic Planning. In a span of 4 years, she increased the Regulatory Services customer base by 288% while maintaining a 90% retention rate. Ms. Hall received her Master’s in Science Drug Regulatory Affairs and Health Policy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science, School of Boston.
Bruce Byrd
A native of Camden, New Jersey, Major Byrd attended Morehouse College and Rutgers University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science. After attending Officer Candidates School, he was commissioned in December 2009 and reported to The Basic School in Quantico, VA. After completion of the Logistics Officer Course in January 2013, First Lieutenant Byrd reported to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan. As the G-4 Motor Transportation Officer and Squadron Logistics Officer, Captain Byrd participated in exercises in Australia, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. From November 2015 to June 2016, Captain Byrd deployed with the Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan as the Assistant Operations Officer to the Afghan Local Police Special Operations Advisory Group. Following this deployment, Captain Byrd was assigned to Third Marine Regiment, Third Marine Division in Hawaii where he served as the Regimental Maintenance Management Officer and Logistics Officer for 1st Battalion, 3d Marines from August 2016 to September 2019. During this time, he participated in exercises in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. In September 2019, Captain Byrd was assigned to Marine Corps Recruit San Diego, California and served as Assistant Series Commander, Company B and Logistics Officer for 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment. Following his promotion in April 2020, Major Byrd transferred to Headquarters and Service Battalion and served as the G-4 Assistant Operations Officer. In August 2020, Major Byrd received orders to Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the Operations Officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 11, Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and Logistics Officer for Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group. In February 2023, Major Byrd assumed duties and responsibilities as the Inspector and Instructor, Truck Company, Twenty-third Marines, Fourth Marine Division. Major Byrd’s personal decorations include: Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He is married to the former Kalani Galloway from Alexandria, VA and they have 2 sons: Jai’lyn and Bruce Jr. Since retiring from the Marine Corps, Bruce has combined his passion for leadership and sports by transitioning into the civilian sector as an Operations Supervisor at Fanatics, a global leader in licensed sports merchandise and e-commerce. He oversees high-volume fulfillment center operations, ensuring customers receive their favorite teams’ apparel and memorabilia with speed and accuracy.
Iris Melendez
Iris Melendez brings more than 15 years of dedicated experience in the community college system to her role as Associate Vice President of Human Resources at the College of Southern Nevada. A champion for the people who drive student success, Iris provides strategic leadership in compensation, policy, and compliance, ensuring that organizational goals are met through a lens of equity and effectiveness. Throughout her 12 years in HR leadership, Iris has focused on cultivating positive workplace environments and strengthening the institutional framework of higher education. Her background in both operational and macro-level HR management allows her to offer a unique perspective on organizational sustainability and employee engagement. Iris earned her B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Chini Everett
Chini Everett was born and raised in Vallejo, California. She is a proud mother of two and a dedicated professional with a strong academic and career foundation in technology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Clark Atlanta University, which led to her first role as a software engineer in Washington, D.C. at the National Security Agency. Driven to continue growing, she went on to pursue her master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University. After returning to Sacramento, California, Chini focused on building both her career and her family. With a long-standing entrepreneurial spirit, she followed her dream of owning a business by opening a daycare, allowing her to balance her professional goals while being present for her children. In 2020, Chini relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she expanded her career into real estate by becoming a licensed agent. With over 20 years of experience as a real estate investor and homeowner, she brings valuable insight and a genuine passion for helping others build wealth through real estate and achieve the dream of homeownership.
