Meet The Board

Tracy Cruel is the president and founder of Brie's Gift, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by leukemia, inspired by the memory of her daughter, Brielle. Tracy is a medically retired veteran of the United States Armed Forces, where she served with distinction. Currently, she works full-time as an applications manager at NEOS Technologies and also holds a chef's degree.

A proud mother of three children—Tyrone, Ebone’(Isaac), and Brielle—Tracy's dedication to Brie's Gift is driven by her desire to make a meaningful difference in the community. In her spare time, she enjoys creating crafts that she sells through Brie's Gift to help generate donations for the cause, as well as spending time with her family and her Cane Corso, Zeus.

Nerita Davis Scott is a proud 20-year U.S. military veteran who served in both the Air Force and the Army. Her military career included roles in healthcare, recruiting, human resources, and public affairs, including a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After retiring from the military, Nerita transitioned into civilian roles in public relations, media sales, marketing, facilitation, and military family programs before founding RED | BLUE SOLUTIONS, where she serves as CEO. Based in Georgia, RED | BLUE SOLUTIONS is a veteran-, woman-, and minority-owned company offering training facilitation, notary services, and social media safety education. Nerita is also the founder of Nerita’s Network, a weekly virtual women’s networking space, and Ignite Your Faith, an annual women’s empowerment event. She co-facilitates veteran support programs through Gratitude America and the Veterans and Family Assistance Center. In 2024, she joined the Board of Directors for Brie’s Gift, where she is dedicated to supporting families affected by cancer.

Nerita resides in Columbus, Georgia, with her husband, Bruce Scott, a retired Army veteran. They have two adult sons.

Bruce Scott is a retired U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of honorable service. Born in Alabama and raised in both Michigan and Georgia, he enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 immediately after high school. Throughout his military career, Bruce demonstrated leadership, discipline, and a strong commitment to service.

After retiring from the military, Bruce continued his work in mentorship and youth development as a Junior ROTC instructor at Chattahoochee County High School in Buena Vista, Georgia, where he served for 13 years. Today, he pastors a church in Eufaula, Alabama, where he leads with faith and purpose. Bruce holds an associate degree in General Studies, a bachelor’s degree in religious studies, and is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity.

In 2024, he joined the Board of Directors for Brie’s Gift to help support families navigating medical crises. He lives in Columbus, Georgia, with his wife, Nerita Davis Scott, and they are the proud parents of two adult sons.

Gwendolyn Ellison retired in 2017, marking the end of a distinguished career that spanned multiple fields. Her first retirement was from Giant Food, Inc., in Washington, D.C., after 28 years of service. She then enjoyed a second career with Premier OB/GYN, where she worked for 14 years before retiring once again.

Gwendolyn is a devoted mother of two, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of four. She is an active member of the Christian Life Missionary Baptist Church, where she leads the General Missions Ministry. Her passion for helping others is evident in her volunteer work with the Salvation Army, where she dedicates her time twice a week.

Gwendolyn chose to serve on the board of Brie's Gift to honor the memory of her niece and goddaughter, Brielle. She is committed to continuing Brielle's legacy by supporting individuals who face similar challenges, and she finds purpose in doing so in Brielle's name.

Latasha Cruel serves as the Chief Design and Fundraising Officer for Brie’s Gift, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting leukemia patients and their caregivers. She was born and raised in Albany, Georgia, where she currently resides.

She possesses a background in design and fashion, complemented by over 20 years of experience in the retail industry. Since 2020, she has operated her own business, Forever Sasha Boutique.

Her professional history includes more than 12 years at Old Navy, where she served as a merchandise specialist. Additionally, she has held the position of General Manager at Shoe Station, a local shoe store, for the past eight years.

Driven by the principles of compassion, integrity, and empowerment, Latasha is dedicated to ensuring that Brie’s Gift offers comprehensive support to individuals affected by leukemia—effectively addressing their emotional, physical, and financial needs. In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.