Marie Y. Lemelle

More than 15 years ago, Marie Y. Lemelle's entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish Platinum Star Public Relations and Management. Platinum Star, a certified MWBE, was established to assist underserved businesses and women business owners to achieve their goals through positive and consistent exposure. Ever evolving, her clients have covered the gamut from boxing to the entertainment, film, and music industry and from health and wellness, corporations and to nonprofit organizations that provide services to military veterans and other underserved populations. As an entertainment publicist, Marie has increased the star ranking of several actors, producers, directors, writers, musicians at red carpet events and beyond.

She has taken her passion and savvy for public relations, community outreach and branding/marketing to her role as Director of Publicity and Strategic Business Development for One Monroe Entertainment. Working closely with directors, producers, and actors has afforded opportunities for her to take on a producer's role in several short and feature film projects.

Formerly, the Executive Director for the Dorie Miller Memorial Foundation founded by WWII Veteran Stephen E. Sherman, Ms. Lemelle was successful in raising the visibility of the nonprofit and assisting with the Foundation's mission to connect veterans with evidence-based healthcare, telemedicine, wellness and family consultation, employment programs, eradicate homeless veterans, and more.

For her unwavering commitment to empowering and mentoring women, young girls, and the community at large, she has received numerous honors and certificates from elected officials and national organizations such as the National Association of Female Executives 2008 Women of Excellence Award for Community Service and the Community Advocate of the Year by the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. in 2007. In 2015, she co-founded with client Shawn McDonald a movement called, "Champion World USA," to bring unity to the universe.

A committed activist and civic leader, she is a member of the New Frontier Democratic Club, National Association of Female Executives, the National Congress of Black Women, the National Association of Black Journalists, Women In Leadership Vital Voices, and the Los Angeles African American Women Public Policy Institute. She is featured in the 2008 and 2009 Who's Who in Black Los Angeles, which highlights the positive achievements of African-Americans and provides a valuable resource and networking guide for the entire community. She is a member of Women in Film and the PBS Community Council.

Her community outreach is evidenced by years of civic service as a former commissioner for the City of Glendale's Commission on the Status of Women and formerly as an appointed State Board Member in 2010 by Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass to the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Ms. Lemelle earned a Master's in Business Administration from the University of La Verne. Her Bachelor of Science degree was obtained from Excelsior College. Marie also received a Professional Certificate in Journalism and Public Relations at UCLA. She is a 2008 graduate of the Los Angeles African American Women Public Policy Institute's Public Policy/Leadership Program offered at USC. Her latest endeavor is the completion of the certificate program, "Dispute Resolution Mediation," sponsored by the City of Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.