President

Jazmin Felix is a seasoned Human Resources professional with nearly a decade of progressive experience across the education and supply chain industries. Her career is distinguished by a strong foundation in relationship-building, talent development, and organizational impact. Part of her professional journey includes several years working at a charter school, where she mentored students, partnered closely with educators, and fostered an environment that supported both academic achievement and personal growth. 

    Complementing her career in HR, Jazmin has dedicated over twelve years to youth sports organizations, reflecting her deep-rooted commitment to mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement. Throughout her HR career, Jazmin has built a reputation for leading strategic initiatives that enhance workforce engagement, strengthen talent acquisition efforts, and drive operational excellence.

    Jazmin holds a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, underscoring her commitment to continuous learning and professional excellence. Through her work with an environmental services organization, Jazmin is proud to contribute to an industry that plays a critical role in protecting and shaping a more sustainable future. 

    Her experience in Human Resources has given her valuable insight into the evolving skills and competencies needed for the next generation of the workforce. She is especially passionate about empowering young women with the tools, confidence, and opportunities to succeed, and is excited to support and be a part of The Imara Project’s mission to inspire, prepare, and uplift future women leaders.

Vice President

Alisa Bender is a dedicated senior education leader with over 20 years of experience serving the Hawai'i State Department of Education in school, complex area, and state-level leadership roles. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her ability to coordinate complex initiatives and align operational systems to better serve students and educators. Alisa currently serves as a Principal-in-Residence at the HIDOE Leadership Institute, where she focuses on statewide leadership development and strategic coordination.

Guided by a deep sense of servant leadership, Alisa’s professional journey is rooted in her Christian values of humility, integrity, and compassion. She views leadership fundamentally as an act of service, dedicated to honoring those entrusted to her care and stewarding resources with a focus on the greater good. Her expertise in building high-performing cultures and fostering inclusive environments was notably demonstrated during her tenure as Principal of Hickam Elementary, which was designated a National Blue Ribbon School.

Alisa holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Chaminade University and a Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Beyond her professional kuleana, she finds purpose in her faith, family and friends.

"I am truly humbled to be a part of such a visionary service like The IMARA Project, working alongside others to empower the next generation of girls to lead with confidence and purpose." ~Alisa Bender

Treasurer

Christa Bender is a multidisciplinary operations, finance, and program management leader with over 15 years of experience spanning luxury hospitality, creative industries, and government contracting environments. She brings a unique blend of structured financial expertise and creative operational thinking, with a career focused on building efficient systems, strengthening organizational performance, and aligning execution with long-term strategic goals.

Christa began her career in luxury hospitality where she advanced into senior leadership roles overseeing VIP services, events, and revenue-generating operations within high-volume, high-expectation environments.

As Director of VIP Services at a luxury hotel in Waikiki, she led teams responsible for client experience, event execution, and contract management while driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships and pricing analysis. Her leadership contributed to high revenue performance, elevated guest experience, and successful execution of large-scale private and public events.

Building on this foundation, Christa transitioned into financial and program management within complex government contracting operations, where she currently serves as the Lead Financial & Program Management Operations Analyst.

In this role, she manages financial execution, forecasting, contractor oversight, and compliance reporting. She has developed and maintained financial tracking systems and reporting frameworks that support federal evaluations, ensure contractual compliance, and enable transparency and accountability.

Alongside her professional work, Christa is a devoted mother to her daughter, an experience that further informs her perspective on leadership, responsibility, and long-term stewardship. Her accumulated experience has inspired a passion for giving back to the next generation of young women through The IMARA Project, providing supportive spaces where they are seen, valued, and empowered to pursue their ambitions.

Founder & Executive Director

Dr. Kim L. Muñoz is an educator, mentor, leadership development professional, Gulf War veteran, and Marine Corps civilian with more than two decades of experience serving diverse communities through education, leadership, and public service.

She holds a Doctor of Education degree with a specialization in e-learning and a Master of Arts in English Literature. Throughout her career, she has served youth, families, military communities, educators, and seniors in leadership and service-oriented roles across the United States and abroad.

Her professional journey began in the United States Army while stationed in Nuremberg, Germany. Since then, she has supported youth programs in New York City, taught in Louisiana public and private schools, served as Director of Education in Ramstein, Germany, managed an assisted living community in the Atlanta area, supported military-connected families as a Regional School Liaison Officer in Honolulu, Hawaii, and assisted transitioning service members at Camp Pendleton, California.

Today, she serves as an Education and Learning Faculty Advisor at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, where she designs and facilitates instructor and staff development programs focused on maneuver warfare, leadership, executive communication, and professional growth.

Throughout her career, Dr. Muñoz has worked with diverse youth populations, including military-connected students, Native Hawaiian youth, underserved communities, students experiencing housing insecurity, and young people from a wide range of cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds.

As Founder and Executive Director of The IMARA Project, she is committed to helping girls build confidence, develop leadership skills, and thrive through mentorship and community support.