Meet Our Team
Leadership
Dr. Aaron J. McLeod, Esq., D.Min.
Managing Attorney & Co-Founder
Dr. Aaron J. McLeod is the Managing Attorney and a co-founder of Difference Makers Asset Protection. A licensed Illinois attorney with nearly two decades of experience, his practice centers on estate planning, asset protection, real estate, and business law. He earned his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he was a Thurgood Marshall Fellow, and Law Opportunity Fellow.
Beyond the law, Dr. McLeod is serial business owner, nonprofit executive, and a college professor. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinity from Harvard University’s School of Divinity, with additional study at Harvard Business School, the Kennedy School of Government, and MIT’s Sloan School of Management. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College . His work as a lawyer, social justice advocate, and professor shapes DMAP’s mission to bring serious protection within reach of the families and business owners who need it most.
Jeffrey L. Goldberg
Co-Founder & Chief Accounting and Financial Officer
Jeffrey L. Goldberg is a co-founder of Difference Makers Asset Protection and serves as its Chief Accounting and Financial Officer. An experienced accountant and tax professional, Jeffrey leads the firm’s tax and financial strategy through its MTG affiliate, guiding individuals and businesses through complex tax matters with a careful, detail-driven approach. Clients rely on him for accurate, insightful solutions that strengthen their financial position.
Jeffrey brings a strong background in finance and accounting to DMAP’s coordinated approach, working hand in hand with the legal team so that every plan is sound in both law and numbers. Based in the greater Chicago area, he has also earned a Juris Doctor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Trina Haley McMillan, MBA
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer
Trina Haley McMillan is a co-founder of Difference Makers Asset Protection and serves as its Chief Operating Officer. An accomplished operations and technology leader, Trina has held senior roles as a Chief Information Officer, Chief of Staff, and portfolio manager, guiding complex projects and financial operations for large organizations. She brings that same discipline to DMAP, making sure the firm runs smoothly and serves its clients well.
Trina earned her MBA from DePaul University’s Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business and has also studied at Northwestern University. A committed advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, she helps guide DMAP’s mission to open the doors of wealth protection to families and communities that have too often been left out.
Legal Team
Micheal A. Smith, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Micheal A. Smith serves as a Staff Attorney at Difference Makers Asset Protection, practicing through McLeod Legal Advisors with an emphasis on estate and probate, real estate, family, and business and corporate law. He has practiced law for nearly three decades. For many years he ran his own firm, guiding closely held and nonprofit corporations through transactional matters — forming legal entities, negotiating and drafting contracts, and handling employment issues. He began his career in the corporate practice group at Dykema Gossett PLLC, where his work spanned securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and financial institutions.
Micheal pairs his legal skill with a strong business and financial background. Earlier in his career he served as a financial reporting analyst at a major Detroit bank and as an audit staff accountant at Price Waterhouse, giving him a firsthand understanding of the numbers behind his clients’ goals. He earned his Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University. An ordained minister, he brings both sharp counsel and genuine care to the clients he serves.
Lauren M. Scott, Esq.
Of Counsel
Lauren M. Scott serves as Of Counsel to Difference Makers Asset Protection. An attorney, strategist, and advocate, she brings extensive experience advising senior executives and elected officials and guiding complex matters across education, employment, and entrepreneurship. She is widely recognized as a trusted advisor and a leader in higher education.
Lauren earned her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and is based in the Washington, D.C. area. Her strategic judgment and her commitment to equity and opportunity strengthen the DMAP team and the clients it serves.
Wende Williams, Esq.
Of Counsel
Wende Williams serves as Of Counsel to Difference Makers Asset Protection. A seasoned Chicago attorney, she has practiced for more than 25 years and has led her own firm since 1990. Her work spans civil rights and constitutional law, wrongful prosecution and wrongful conviction, police misconduct, wrongful death, and malpractice, along with probate and wills matters, family law, criminal defense, and general litigation. Clients count on her to be dependable and to work hard on their behalf through difficult situations.
Wende earned her law degree from the University of Denver College of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Roosevelt University. That blend of legal skill and financial training makes her a valuable resource to the DMAP team and the clients it serves.
Lynda Holiday-Lawrence
Executive Paralegal
Lynda Holiday-Lawrence serves as Executive Paralegal at Difference Makers Asset Protection, where she supports the legal team and helps keep client matters organized and moving forward. She brings strong organizational and people skills along with a background in professional consulting and leadership.
Lynda earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from DePaul University. An ordained minister and community advocate, she is known for her care for people and her commitment to service — qualities that fit naturally with DMAP’s mission-driven approach to protecting families.
Deida Massey
Executive Paralegal
Deida Massey serves as an Executive Paralegal at Difference Makers Asset Protection, supporting the legal team and helping keep client matters organized and moving forward. A senior-level paralegal, she brings years of professional experience and a careful eye for detail to her work. Deida is a graduate of Alabama State University and Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Beyond her legal work, Deida is an entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist. She is the founder of Reel Beauty, Inc., a nonprofit that provides self-esteem workshops for young women, and the author of “Face Values: The Foundation of Beauty.” Her heart for serving others fits naturally with DMAP’s mission-driven approach to protecting families.
Robin Jackson
Legal Assistant
Robin Jackson serves as a Legal Assistant at Difference Makers Asset Protection, where she helps keep client files and daily operations organized and running smoothly. A native of Chicago, she brings a strong sense of order and reliability to the team. Robin attended Langston University in Oklahoma and recently retired from Chicago Public Schools, where she served for many years as a school clerk — experience that makes her a steady, detail-minded support for the firm and its clients.
Paula Zumbado
Executive Assistant
Paula Zumbado is a Costa Rican philologist and Spanish professor with a deep-seated passion for the power of language. Her professional journey is defined by the belief that clear communication is the foundation of every success. Paula began her legal career as a vital communication link and translator between attorneys and clients, ensuring that no detail was ever lost in translation.
Now a key member of the DMAP team, Paula leverages her linguistic expertise to draft and edit precise, professional, and impactful legal correspondence. Although she transitioned into U.S. law from a background in linguistics, she has mastered the field through extensive technical drafting and research. Paula is dedicated to connecting with people and ensuring that every client feels heard and supported throughout their legal journey.
Karen Rivera
Legal Assistant
Karen Rivera serves as a Legal Assistant at Difference Makers Asset Protection, with a focus on coordinating a wide range of business transactions for the firm’s clients. A native of Chicago, she is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Illinois and has worked as a paralegal in a busy litigation practice. That mix of real estate knowledge and legal experience makes her especially skilled at keeping diverse, moving-part transactions on track from start to finish.
Jaziel Z.
Director of Communications
Jaziel serves as DMAP’s Director of Communications, combining a background in project management with hands-on expertise in marketing, planning, and audiovisual media. A major force behind the brand's online footprint. On a daily basis, he bridges the gap between high-level strategy and hands-on execution. He oversees team communications to keep projects moving smoothly, focusing heavily on driving cohesive online marketing campaigns.