Beginning September 1, 2025, the first 300 services aimed at athlete wellbeing will be offered Pro Bono, focusing on enhancing sports performance through performance psychology and sports psychology techniques to elevate performance.
Elevate's Board of Directors
Mariemilia (Mari) Larrea, Psy.D.
Dr. Larrea is the founder and CEO of Elevate. Serving as a temporary chairman to the association and oversees the strategic aspects and manages the operational components.
Dr. Mari Larrea, Psy.D., brings an elite level of clinical and performance training to her work with athletes, leaders, and high-achieving individuals. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology, a master’s in Psychology, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.), specializing in health and performance.
Her training includes advanced work in biofeedback, individual, group, family, and couples therapy, as well as specialized training in sex therapy. She has been mentored by top-level sport psychologists and has provided performance optimization and mental skills training to Division I athletes and professionals.
Dr. Larrea has trained and practiced in major markets including Miami and Atlanta, and now resides in Colorado while offering services nationwide.
Dr. Larrea's passion for athletics, faith, and performance psychology stemmed from her training in a faith-based institution and as a professor of performance psychology. She created this nonprofit to help bridge the gap between performance, sexual and gender identity, and faith through a holistic approach through the lense of one message: love God and love your neighbor (Mark 30-31 NIV).
Paula Gonzalez
Paula is a dedicated Venezuelan immigrant whose passion for serving others has ignited a powerful force for positive change in any community she is involved with. Paula holds a B.A. in mass communication with a minor in Advertising and Public Relations. Currently, she serves full-time as a Program Manager for a local non-profit in Miami, Florida with a special focus on collective impact initiatives to target complex social issues like generational poverty, and gentrification in at-promise neighborhoods. In addition, she is now pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Miami.
As a member of Elevate, Paula serves as the CEO and as a board member. She is responsible for overseeing the company’s function, employees and volunteers, as well as certain day-to-day activities.
Psalms 4:3 NIV
Armand Fontes
Armand Fontes is currently a partner and Executive Producer at Elevate Creative, a creative agency that specializes in video production. As a partner, Armand helps oversee and lead strategic initiatives that support the overall growth of the company from both an operational and revenue standpoint. As an executive producer, Armand serves as a key account executive for Elevate Creative’s national and regional brands, while also leading/managing large-scale video production projects.
As a member of Elevate Ministries' board of directors and active treasure, Armand is excited to contribute to a movement that is based in faith, mental health, and recreation. Armand will help counsel key personnel on strategic decision-making, while also overseeing and providing fiduciary guidance that leads to the growth of the brand.
