CJ Scarlet, named one of the “Happy 100” people on the planet, is an award-winning author, motivational speaker, and life transitions coach. Her diverse experience in the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors spans 20 years, and she brings powerful perspective to the RCI vision. As Director of Victims Issues with the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, she initiated and co-chaired the implementation of the nation’s first statewide automated victim notification system, which contacts victims when their perpetrators are to be released from custody. This program was selected as a national model by the U.S. Department of Justice.
CJ was one of 20 women in the country selected to present at Springboard Enterprises Mid-Atlantic Venture Capital Forum, which showcases women-led companies to venture capitalists from across the country. As a result of her exposure at this event, CJ was featured in Entrepreneur magazine, Fast Company, Metro Magazine (in which her company was named one of the “High Tech 100” companies to watch in North Carolina), and Triangle Business Journal.
An expert in marketing and public relations, CJ has given speeches and workshops at state, national, and international events; and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs. While serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, CJ was Honor Graduate of her platoon in bootcamp and made the rank of sergeant within three years.
A lupus thriver herself, CJ is a member of the Board of Directors for the NC Lupus Foundation, and also volunteers for Hospice of Wake County, UNC Hospitals, the NC Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and the Greater Women’s Business Council’s Voice Committee.
CJ holds a B.A. in Political Science from Virginia Wesleyan College, and an interdisciplinary M.A. in Humanities with an emphasis on Human Violence and graduate certificate in Women’s Studies from Old Dominion University.
CJ is featured in the bestseller Happy for No Reason by Marci Shimoff and Be Invicible by Vince Papale. Her inspirational book, Neptune’s Gift: Discovering Your Inner Ocean, is being heralded by Chicken Soup for the Soul author Jack Canfield as the “Jonathan Livingston Seagull for the new century.” CJ, the mother of three grown children, resides in Clayton, NC, with her husband Wes Walters.
