Brooklyn Capital Collective > Board Members

Board Members

Al Florant
Founding Member & President

Al Florant is the founding member and current President of Brooklyn Capital Collective formerly called Brooklyn Cannabiz Collective. He was born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.A. in sociology. He went on to receive a Masters in Social Work from NYU and a Masters in Business Administration from Baruch College. After nearly thirty years as a financial professional at MetLife, Al retired in 2011 to spend more time living his passions of playing golf, traveling the world and networking. Brooklyn Capital Collective is a manifestation of that networking passion.


Valerie L. Johnson
Board Member

Valerie Johnson is a native New Yorker and graduate of C.W. Post College (LIU) earning a B.S. in Accounting. She became a Certified Public Accountant holding various auditing and analyst positions. Upon completion of a Masters degree from Yale, she became an investment banker specializing in public finance. Her interest in education led to her role as the chief operating officer of a nonprofit in Harlem and that position led Valerie to pursue a Masters in Education from Hunter College and join the teaching profession. Upon retirement, she served as founding board chair of two nonprofit organizations. Her recent experience includes leadership roles in Brooklyn Wealth Collective, LLC and Generations Rising, LLC investment clubs. Valerie is also a caregiver for her elderly mother and vlogs under the name Soulful Caring.


Robinsine Sarli
Board Member

Robinsine Sarli, is a native of Orangeburg S.C. and grew up in East Harlem. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Sociology from City College in New York. Robin holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Hunter School of Social Work. She switched careers in the early 80’s to move into the technology field. Robin worked as developer, analyst and project manager at large financial, consulting and logistics companies. After 30+ yrs in technology, Robin returned to her first love of helping and mentoring. She established her own consulting company providing various forms of counseling including Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). She also provides leadership support to Brooklyn Wealth Collective, a newly formed Investment club, as well as Brooklyn Capital Collective.