Board of Directors
Kathleen Kalil ~ Chairwoman of the Board
Kathleen Kalil holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Henry Ford College and Eastern Michigan University, a Master’s in Psychology and Sociology from EMU, and a Specialist and Ph.D. in Educational and Clinical Psychology from Wayne State University, and attended University of Detroit Mercy Law School for 2 years.
For 33 years, Kathleen taught at Wayne County Community College and also served as a therapist and supervisor at Apex Behavioral Health in Dearborn. A lifelong member of the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights community, she is deeply committed to supporting youth and creating positive change.
Moved by the rising rates of substance abuse and suicide among local teens, Kathleen founded My Potential International Mentoring Program over a decade ago to provide mentorship, friendship, and academic support for incoming freshmen who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, or low grades. Under her leadership, the program has grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds scholarships, develops new initiatives, and offers resources to young people in need.
Michael Pickett ~ Executive Director
Michael earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business & Pre-Law from the University of Michigan. He is the President of Kingsman Financial Solutions, where he helps clients plan and achieve financial security.
His leadership and financial expertise bring valuable insight to the My Potential International Mentoring Program.
Maraj Pickett ~ Secretary
Maraj serves as Secretary of the Board and is passionate about community engagement and creative outreach. She works with Rocket Mortgage and is the Co-Founder of WhyNotCollabDET, a social media marketing and content creation collective. She also coordinates the Zofine Festival Detroit, an event dedicated to mental health awareness and music.
Through her diverse experiences, Maraj brings creativity, organizational skills, and advocacy for youth well-being to the program.
Wiley Pickett ~ Treasurer
Wiley Pickett holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Harvard Business School. A U.S. Army Officer during the Vietnam War, he was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Joint Service Commendation Medal for his contributions to Department of Defense project oversight.
Following his service, Wiley built a 40-year career at Ford Motor Company and served as an Adjunct Professor of Business Administration at D’Etre University.
He has held numerous leadership roles, including President of the Harvard Business School Club of Michigan and Board Chairman of the Elementary School of the Islamic Center of America. In 2024, he was honored with the Imam Mohamad Jawad Chirri Commitment to Excellence Award for his decades of service and leadership in the community.
Richard Shapack ~ Member
Richard Shapack has earned a B.S. in Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a J.D. from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.
As Principal of Shapack Law Group, PLC, Richard concentrates his practice on business law, real estate, and estate planning, with a special emphasis on tax and business planning. Over the course of his career, he has served as a director on numerous corporate boards including those of two exchange listed corporations. He is serving or has served as a director on numerous corporate boards and he has been an advisor to and investor in small businesses including currently serving as the Chair of CAVU International, L.L.C. His legal practice is concentrated in business planning, real estate and tax, with degrees from the United States Naval Academy, Harvard Business School and Catholic University Columbus School of Law. In addition to the practice of law, for almost fifty years he has been actively involved in the acquisition, development, ownership and management of real estate ventures.
On a personal level, he spent eleven years on active duty in the Navy serving on nuclear submarines and at the Navy Strategic Systems Project Office. For the past twenty years, he has been the Chair of the Southeastern Michigan Social Impact Leadership Collaborative and, in addition, a past Chair of the Board of Trustees of Lighthouse of Oakland County; a Board Member of Gesher Human Services, Past President of the Harvard Business School Club of Michigan, General Counsel to and a past President of the Birmingham Rotary Club, etc.
His dedication to mentorship and social impact makes him an invaluable leader within My Potential International Mentoring Program.
Jamele J. Hage ~ Member
Jamele J. Hage is an accomplished attorney and Healthcare Law Arbiter for the American Arbitration Association, bringing more than 30 years of public and private sector experience to her work in health care, government, real estate, and corporate law.
She advises the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, helping to reform processes for handling fraud, waste, abuse cases, and health care licensing matters.
In 2020, Jamele developed a statewide proposal to improve Michigan’s healthcare delivery model, earning the Detroit Legal Scholar Award for her innovative approach. Her dedication to community service extends to her roles as Oakland County Building Authority Commissioner and board member of the Michigan Pharmacist Association’s Government Affairs Committee. She previously directed Wayne County’s foreclosure prevention program, where she designed and implemented an award-winning initiative to protect families and neighborhoods.
Jamele holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University. Her leadership, legal expertise, and commitment to social impact make her an invaluable member of the My Potential International Mentoring Program Board of Directors.