Janessa Dukes

Janessa Dukes brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and advocacy to her work in the nonprofit sector. With a background in civil engineering, she spent 10 years in engineering and manufacturing roles focused on facilities management and asset management. During this time, she developed a passion for advocating for women in the workplace, as well as for minorities such as African Americans and parents, rising to the role of North American head of women in her organization while also renovating over 10 mothers' rooms to support working parents. Dukes continues her commitment to community through extensive volunteering with the Girl Scouts of the USA, serving as a troop leader and cookie manager, and managing inventory for the entire Girl Scouts of Hawaii council, which impacts approximately 3,000 girls. She has helped distribute thousands of cookies to local nonprofits including the Food Bank of Hawaii and the USO. A graduate of North Carolina A&T, where she earned a degree in civil engineering cum laude while running Division I and III sports and logging 70 miles per week, Dukes was an All-American in AAU and USATF for Junior Olympics in track and field and cross country. She attributes her success to the dedication, integrity, and ability to juggle multiple responsibilities she developed through athletics from third grade onward, supported by coaches, family, and community.