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board of directors
Elisa Johnson, Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Elisa Johnson serves as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of B.L.U. Tier Organization, providing executive oversight, strategic growth direction, and program development centered on strengthening families and increasing access to critical resources.
Her leadership is rooted in a deep understanding of the structural challenges that impact underserved mothers and children. Through intentional program design and cross-sector collaboration, Elisa has built initiatives focused on dignity, resource accessibility, economic stability, and long-term empowerment.
With a professional background in medical coding and healthcare compliance, Elisa brings analytical rigor, documentation precision, and regulatory awareness into nonprofit operations. Her continued professional advancement, including insurance licensure and life coaching certification, expands the organization’s capacity to integrate financial literacy, personal development, and sustainable planning into its service model.
Elisa has cultivated strategic partnerships across nonprofit, civic, and business sectors, strengthening B.L.U. Tier’s ability to deliver measurable, scalable impact. She leads with a systems-focused approach ensuring programs are not only compassionate, but operationally sound and outcome-driven.
Grounded in lived experience and years of professional dedication beginning in early adulthood, Elisa’s leadership reflects resilience, accountability, and long-term vision. Her commitment is to building infrastructure that moves families from crisis to stability and from survival to sustainable growth.
manuel tanori, vice president | Chief Operating OFFICER
Manuel Tanori provides executive-level operational leadership, overseeing program implementation, community partnerships, and organizational efficiency. He brings a background in entrepreneurship, client engagement, and community-centered service initiatives, which inform his strategic approach to program execution and resource management.
Manny has actively supported and organized community-based outreach efforts, including free back-to-school haircut initiatives designed to reduce financial burden for families while promoting dignity and confidence among youth. His direct engagement with families has strengthened his understanding of community needs and culturally responsive service delivery.
His experience in performance-driven environments has equipped him with strong competencies in stakeholder relations, accountability systems, goal tracking, and operational scalability. Manny plays a central role in aligning day-to-day operations with long-term strategic objectives, ensuring that programs are both mission-aligned and sustainably managed.
As a family-centered leader, Manny’s commitment to generational stability and community empowerment directly supports the organization’s vision for measurable and lasting impact.
Freddy Salazar, board treasurer | financial oversight
Freddy Salazar serves as the Treasurer of B.L.U. Tier Organization, bringing more than 20 years of experience in technology, corporate operations, and customer service, along with 15 years of expertise in the financial and banking industry. His background provides a strong foundation in financial oversight, strategic planning, and operational leadership.
Freddy holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Technology and has extensive experience leading complex initiatives and integrating technological solutions into business strategy. His professional expertise supports strong financial accountability and effective organizational management.
He is also actively engaged in fostering inclusive and supportive workplace cultures. Freddy has contributed to corporate employee engagement initiatives and professional development networks including the Hispanic/Latino Organization for Leadership & Advancement (HOLA) and the Disability Action Network (DAN), advocating for representation and community growth.
In addition to his corporate leadership, Freddy is a proud business owner operating a successful Mariscos business that reflects his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to serving the community.
Freddy brings integrity, strategic insight, and a passion for service to his role supporting B.L.U. Tier’s mission of empowering families and strengthening communities.
Gina Bledsoe | board member, finance committee
Gina Bledsoe serves as a Board Member and Finance Committee contributor for B.L.U. Tier Organization, bringing over 25 years of experience in large-scale corporate operations and customer service environments. Throughout her career, she has developed strong organizational discipline, financial process awareness, and administrative consistency within high-volume systems.
With two years of active involvement supporting B.L.U. Tier’s initiatives, Gina contributes to financial oversight, budget awareness, and internal accountability practices that support responsible stewardship of donated funds.
Her background in structured corporate environments strengthens the organization’s commitment to transparency, compliance, and sound fiscal governance. Gina works closely with leadership and the Treasurer to help ensure responsible financial practices that align with ethical standards and the long-term sustainability of the nonprofit’s mission.
Tedric Johnson, secretary | Chief Strategy Officer
Tedric Johnson provides high-level strategic direction, long-term vision planning, and community systems alignment. As Founder of United Black Men (UBM), he has spearheaded multi-layered initiatives centered on advocacy, education, empowerment, and community elevation, serving diverse populations throughout Phoenix and surrounding regions.
With more than twenty years of experience in grassroots organizing and civic engagement, Tedric has facilitated community forums, youth development programs, public safety discussions, and mental health awareness initiatives. His work emphasizes measurable impact, stakeholder collaboration, and culturally responsive programming.
As Chief Strategy Officer, Tedric oversees strategic planning, initiative scalability, partnership development, and long-term sustainability modeling. His leadership ensures alignment between mission-driven programming and data-informed outcomes, positioning the organization for growth, funding readiness, and regional expansion.
Tedric’s strategic philosophy centers on systemic transformation through coordinated action, intentional leadership development, and community-centered solutions.
Marisol Salazar | Director of Community Partnerships & food programs
Marisol Salazar serves as the Director of Community Partnerships and Food Programs for B.L.U. Tier Organization, where she leads initiatives that expand access to food resources and strengthen community partnerships supporting families in need.
With a professional background in the medical field specializing in caregiving, Marisol brings compassion, practical knowledge, and a strong service-oriented mindset to her work. Her leadership helps coordinate food distribution programs and build meaningful relationships with community partners to support families across the region.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Marisol is a devoted caregiver to her elderly father and a dedicated mother of five. She manages the responsibilities of a large family with patience, organization, and unwavering love.
Marisol is also the proud owner of a thriving Mariscos business, where her entrepreneurial spirit and cultural passion shine through in every dish she creates.
Her journey reflects resilience, heart, and the remarkable strength of a woman balancing leadership, caregiving, motherhood, and business ownership while making a meaningful impact in her community.
William Adams, Director of Creative & Cultural Programs
William Adams serves as Director of Creative & Cultural Programs, providing strategic oversight of arts-based youth initiatives that integrate music, literacy, mentorship, and social-emotional development.
An accomplished recording artist and credentialed educator, Willy brings extensive experience in creative instruction, curriculum engagement, and culturally responsive programming. His dual background in professional music and classroom education uniquely positions him to design structured, skill-building creative pathways that promote discipline, confidence, teamwork, and long-term goal setting among youth.
Willy leads the development of multi-platform creative initiatives, including a collaborative children’s music album designed to foster artistic excellence, collaborative leadership, and aspirational achievement. These projects emphasize process-based learning, performance readiness, and measurable skill development in areas such as communication, creative writing, and public presentation.
In addition, he is developing literacy-aligned creative resources, including youth-focused publications that reinforce identity, self-expression, and positive representation. His upcoming memoir contributes to thought leadership in resilience, cultural influence, and personal transformation.
With experience in high-accountability and structured environments, Willy brings strong leadership discipline, risk awareness, and group management capabilities to youth programming. His approach incorporates trauma-informed mentorship principles, ensuring that creative engagement serves as both an expressive outlet and a stabilizing developmental tool.
As a husband and father, Willy’s leadership philosophy centers on generational empowerment and cultural affirmation. He views creative expression not merely as entertainment, but as a workforce pipeline, confidence builder, and vehicle for upward mobility. Through scalable, culturally grounded programming, he works to ensure that youth talent is cultivated into sustainable opportunity.