OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

SHAWN M. PEARSON | FOUNDER & CEO

Zion Institute Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Shawn Pearson leads the organization with vision casting and new business development in the nonprofit space with asset mapping, strategic planning, public speaking, and tenacious leadership.

As a social impact entrepreneur, Mrs. Pearson's innovative work has resulted in long-lasting, legacy building community impact. In 2022, Mrs. Pearson was named the Minority Business Enterprise of the Year by The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, “Woman with Vision” by the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Horace Steele Child Advocacy award. She was also named as one of the top 100 CEOs in Phoenix by TITAN 100 in 2022 and 2023.

As Founder and CEO of Zion Institute, Mrs. Pearson is the visionary for our campus in South Phoenix called THE WELL @ Zion Institute which offers transformational resources to community including childcare, preschool, social enterprise development, integrated health services, family preservation services, and emergency resources. Mrs. Pearson invests her skills and experience in replicating solutions that impact the quality of people of color and create generational wealth.

Mrs. Pearson's professional background includes three decades of nonprofit administration, public speaking and community service. Mrs. Pearson has advised and trained more than 100 churches, businesses and government partners across the United States, including Arizona, Indianapolis, California, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. She received her formal education in Business Administration at the University of Phoenix. Mrs. Pearson is a wife, mother of 6, grandmother of 15, transformational speaker, teacher and published author. Shawn Pearson is known in the field of consulting as “the Solutionist”.

Erick Pearson | Co-Founder/ Clinical Training Support

Erick is an esteemed graduate of Graduate of Clark Atlanta University (HBCU) and is a pledge to Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Erick's educational background includes a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Master's degree in Education. Erick served for 20 years with City of Phoenix Park Recreation Department, primarily focused on Eastlake Park, where he also served as a sports coach, mentor, and guide for community youth.

Erick is an active member of the South Phoenix and Phoenix metropolitan-area communities with 15+ years serving as Deacon and teacher in AZ jurisdiction, Church of God in Christ.

In his role at Zion, Erick advises and provides training for clinical staff joining the team to foster alignment with Zion's vision for access to quality healthcare for all people.

Kelli Johnson | Executive Education Coach

An accomplished experienced coach, educator, and athlete, Kelli Johnson brings over 37 years of teaching, facilitating, and coaching. She was a public-school educator in California and Arizona for 27 years.

Ms. Johnson earned her Liberal Arts degree at Pepperdine University. She is a certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and have certifications in Diversity Education & Inclusion in the Workplace, and Ethical Leadership.

In her role with Zion, Kelli is a consulting Education Coach, developing and managing the delivery of meaningful learning experiences for all audiences and consumers of the Zion Preschool Excellence Model, advancing the Zion’s mission of furthering educational excellence.

Alfonzo Watkins | MSE, LPC

Alfonzo Watkins MSE, LPC is a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience in the industries of education, social services, correction, mental health, and substance abuse. He has had positions in social services as a case manager for foster care, probation officer for Serious Juvenile Offenders, and Psychiatric Crisis Worker for human trafficking with the Mobile Urgent Treatment Team. Mr. Watkins has been in administrative and leadership positions such as Educational Coordinator, Assistant Treatment Director, Vice President of 24 Care, Clinical Supervisor, and Director of Supportive Services.

Mr. Watkins is the Founder and President of the Wake-Up Program LLC and recently Know Thy SELF LLC agencies where he provides a variety of services and programming for very diverse cultural populations of youth, adults, and families in several different settings: homes, schools, communities, detention centers, juvenile and adult correction facilities.

Mr. Watkins has designed and created curricula for various populations around human development and Manhood/Womanhood Training as well as organized and facilitated training, and workshops for various community and professional organizations. Mr. Watkins a Student of Black/AfriKan Developmental Psychology.

Mr. Watkins has a bachelor's Degree in Community Education and a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology (Focus on Community Counseling) both from UW-Milwaukee. Mr. Watkins served 8 years in USMC from 1988 to 1996.

Buffy T. Wooten | PhD

Dr. Wooten is the originator of Phoenix Professional Practice Associates, a group of independently licensed behavioral health providers. Dr. Wooten is owner and Executive Clinical Director of Wooten & Associates, PLC where she provides individual and group therapy to adults with histories of trauma and abuse. Dr. Wooten's practice also trains doctoral and masters level graduate students in the art and practice of psychology.

Dr. Wooten participates in efforts to support churches and faith-based leaders in understanding and supporting the integration of professional psychological practice into the healthy development of Christian and those seeking spiritual integration while healing.