THE BOARD | Faceforward

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ADVISORY BOARD

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Darren Darnborough was born in London, UK and now resides most of his time in Los Angeles, but travels extensively between both countries and around the world. He was educated at the University of London, graduating with a 2:1 BA (Hons) Degree in Media Arts. Born into a working class family, he was entrepreneurial from an early age, achieving successes across various self-employed professions and businesses: as an Actor, Filmmaker, Journalist, Event Planner, and Internet Entrepreneur.

As an Actor and Filmmaker,Darren has featured on top TV shows including “True Blood”, “EastEnders” and “The Bill”, starred in over 40 commercials throughout the world for major brands including McDonalds, Budweiser and Dr Pepper, and in award-winning feature films including “Nobody The Great” (Cinequest / Bel Air Festival winner).

He has hosted the technology hours on QVC, at live events for Virgin, and other studio shows. He also writes and produces, with his work being screened internationally, including during Cannes Festival, documented in over 50 countries on the E! Channel, and is currently working on various TV and film projects as a creator/writer/producer with other renowned industry talent, including Timothy Linh Bui (Powder Blue), FilmEngine (The Rum Diary) and a previous president of Warner Bros TV. In Business, Darren has run events companies, including creating an exhibition concept for the aspiring Showbiz industry as a joint-venture with Clarion Events/Earls Court/Capital FM and planning regular events at Sundance and Cannes. He is the co-founder and Strategic Director of Stuck Network Ltd, an internet development business started in 2002, operating the UK and USA’s largest Promotional Staffing Resource website StuckForStaff.comwhich is currently expanding worldwide, and ServingUpStaff.com, a recruitment solution for the Food & Beverage industry. Darren was also an owner offashion brand Corsellis, for which he was closely involved from startup.

Darren is named in the 2010 “Who’s Who of Britain’s Business Elite – Young Business Leaders”, listed as one of 2011’s Most Inspiring People in Gladys Magazine and regularly speaks on business and marketing panels. He is a member of the elite entrepreneur group METal International; was the US Ambassador for The Global Party charity concept(2011);served on the Advisory Board of the Bel Air Film Festival(2008 – 2012);the Gala Committee of Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite’s Rock The Kasbah;the Committee of BritWeek in LA; and co-founded Brits In LA - an expat support and social group, that boasts 3000 members, many of which are highly influential people.

Darren is a published journalist for international glossy magazine Aircrew, FVM Global, 72M and Examiner amongst others with over 100 bylines to his name. His work covers a broad range, from restaurant and travel reviews, to event coverage, features and satirical columns. He is keen on charity work, and has recently been involved with Virgin Unite, the Eve Branson Foundation, Adopt-A-Letter, Love146, Hollywood Arts, CharityLives and previously raised money for the DEC. Darren is a jack-of-all-trades, hopefully a master of many, and believes that variety is the key to a happy and successful life.

Brad Smith moved to Los Angeles from Houston, Texas in 2004 to become the General Manager of Versace on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills until 2006. He then became the General Manager of Roberto Cavalli, also on Rodeo Drive and has held that position for the last 6 ½ years. Growing up a Texan, he began his career in fashion and retail at the Dallas based Neiman Marcus after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He worked at NM for 17 years in both Dallas and Houston in various positions including buying men’s sportswear and holding the Couture Director title in one of the largest and most successful departments in the country.

He knew early on that he had a passion for the philanthropic arena and became a key player in both Dallas and Houston in raising money forvarious organizations in support of both HIV and Cancer. He served on the board of directors for DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fighting for Aids) and HRC (Human Rights Campaign) both of which he also chaired their yearly fundraising events and Gala’s.

Since moving to Los Angeles, Brad became involved with with Deborah Alessi and Face Forward through Roberto Cavalli in 2009, hosting a kickoff event in the Beverly Hills Store. He fell in love with the organization and joined the Board of Directors this past year in support of the annual Gala held in September. Brad sincerely believes that Face Forward is a very unique and well deserving charity that is challenged with getting the message out to the community and educating them on a subject that a great deal of people don’t want to “face”. "We are really saving women and children’s lives one at a time.”

Darren Darnborough

Brad

Smith

Farid

Zekri

As a woman with an entrepreneurial spirit, Alesia worked over a decade in the pharmaceutical /biotech industry, focusing on women’s, internal medicine, wound care, and oncology. Health care was Alesia’s passion; because it allowed her to help others get better.

As a young lady she was always experimenting with skincare products in search to improve her skin health. Frustrated with mass market retail skincare products focusing on Fitzpatrick Skin Types 1-3, she decided to start a skincare line focusing on women of color with Skin Types III-VI. She wanted a clinical grade, natural skincare line that would be most beneficial to skin of color.

When it was time to create a brand name that represented women of color across many continents, she created a name that women of color could identify with, sharing a common bond- Cherishing and Nurturing Brown Skin. Morena means “brown skin female” Bella“means beautiful female in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian.

Alesia’s experience working in U.S. Pharmaceutical and Biotech companies made her dedicated to safety, and ethics, adhering to GMP Guidelines and manufactured from a FDA approved facility. She believes in protecting the environment for our children. All of the packaging is recyclable or recycled materials and animals are protected as well. NO ANIMAL TESTING!!!!

To give back to the community Alesia joined FACE FORWARD Inc, a nonprofit organization with a dedicated team of healthcare professional providing facial reconstructive surgeries and psychological counseling pro bono to women and children victimized by domestic violence. Besides raising the awareness of this organization, for each sale of Morena Bella Skincare products, FIVE percent of the proceeds will go to the organization to help women and children back to a positive recovery and their lives.

Currently, she is on the board of directors /fundraising committee with FACE FORWARD Inc, A member of the Cosmetics Executive Women (CEW) organization, Dermatology Nursing Association, National Association of Professional Women, Skin of Color Society, Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and American Melanoma Association.“A Healthier Skin is Beautiful Brown Skin”

Alesia

Alaziz

Sarah

Zahran

Sarah Z. joined Face Forward in 2012 and has been a vital part of our Board ever since. Sarah first started as Face Forward’s Event Coordinator for our Gala with her company Sarah Z Events. She organized the entire evening from the auction, entertainment, and run of show. After the event Sarah became the Executive Director of Face Forward and currently she sits on our board of directors.

Before her time with Face Forward Sarah worked in Human Resources and started her own company Sarah Z Events. In 2013, Sarah partnered with Luna Gardens Events to become their COO and CO-Owner. Luna Gardens Events has been designing and decorating Face Forward’s Gala since 2011.

Dr. David

Alessi

Dr. Steven Greco was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He is a graduate of the Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland in 1984. He was accepted directly into dental school from high school through the Case Western Reserve Pre-Professional Scholars Program. He completed a Post-Doctoral General Practice Residency at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston in 1985 and graduated from the prestigious F.A.C.E. Institute in San Francisco in 1998.

Dr. Greco has completed a Comprehensive Esthetic Residency from the renowned Esthetic Professionals Dental Education Center in 2005 and the Advanced Occlusion Residency in 2006. Dr. Greco is also certified in the use of Cerec and Invisalign technologies. He is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Cosmetic dentistry, Beverly Hills Academy of Dentistry, and various advanced study clubs. Dr. Greco remains very enthusiastic about learning better ways to serve his patients.

Dr. Greco has a lovely wife and three beautiful children.

Dr. Steven

Greco

Dr. David Alessi is a world-renowned plastic Surgeon and is doubled board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Since opening his own practice, Dr. Alessi has kept abreast of various rhonoplasty, brow lift, and facelift surgical techniques and breakthroughs and is often sought out internationally to lecture on a myriad of topics within his field. He is widely respected with many patients traveling abroad to seek his facial plastic expertise. His practice includes entertainers, athletes, royalty, business executives and physicians from all around the world. Dr. Alessi has performed over 16,000 surgeries, including 4,500 nasal rhinoplastic surgeries, 2,000 neck lifts, facelift or other neck surgeries. He delivers the most natural looking results through a variety of trademarked techniques and procedures he personally developed to reduce visible scarring and extensive recovery times for his patients.

Dr. Alessi served as the Chief of Otolaryngology, including Facial Plastics, at Cedars Sinai Medical Center for 10 years. He received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Michigan State University and received his Ph.D. from Wayne State University. Dr. Alessi completed his residency at UCLA School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. He continues to research and perfect his practice as he has developed and trademarked the innovative U-Lift (for neck rejuvenation) and the Invisiline (for combine eyelid and brow rejuvenation). Dr. Alessi publishes medical articles on a regular basis and continuously attracts local and national media to his work.

Performed over 16,000 surgeries
Double Board certified
Two patents
Member of The American Medical Association, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Featured on Television and Publications:

-Entertainment tonight, Discovery Health, CNN, ABC7, CBS, KLTA5, Larry King Live, Elle Magazine, Mens Fitness, Glamour, Montell Williams Show, LA Times, Splash Magazine, Discovery Channel, and many more

Bonnie

Somerville

Bonnie Somerville recently starred in the CBS comedy series “Golden Boy” after completing filming the movie “Seven Below Zero” with Val Kilmer for director Kevin Carraway, and “Fire with Fire” with Bruce Willis for director Robert Vince. Her recent film credits include “How Do You Know” for director James L. Brooks, “The Search for Santa Paws,” the romantic comedy “The Ugly Truth,” starring alongside Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, “Nobody” executive produced by Josh Hartnett and directed by Rob Perez, and the independent comedy “The Best and the Brightest,” alongside Neil Patrick Harris and Amy Sedaris, directed by Joshua Shelov.

Among her notable credits, Somerville has collaborated numerous times with creator Darren Star, on “Cashmere Mafia” opposite Lucy Liu, Frances O’Connor and Miranda Otto, “Kitchen Confidential” with Bradley Cooper, and “Grosse Pointe” in 2000.

At the age of 18, she was “discovered” singing in a nightclub in New York City, and had a development deal with Interscope records as a singer/songwriter. She continues to perform in Los Angeles, and wrote and performed the original song “Winding Road” on the Garden State Soundtrack, which won the Grammy for Best Soundtrack of The Year in 2005 and her new EP is available on iTunes.

Somerville has also starred on the hit television series “NYPD Blue” for its last season, and “The O.C.” Audiences will also remember her as Ross’ girlfriend Mona on “Friends” throughout season eight.

Somerville grew up in Brooklyn, New York and began performing in school productions at a young age. She attended Boston College as a theatre major and went on to study at the Lee Strassberg Theatre Institute in New York City. Bonnie has been a member of Face Forward since 2012, when she hosted the Gala. She continues to spend her time advocating for Face Forward.