Seven Oaks Community Alliance

Valerie Chapman,Executive Director

Ms Chapman oversees all aspects of Seven Oaks Community Alliance "SOCA". She maintains close relationships with key team members. She has over ten years of fundraising experience with other charitable/political organizations. She brings considerable expertise to the Seven Oaks Community Alliance. Valerie is formally trained as an account executive at Dean Witter (Morgan Stanley). Ms. Chapman has extensive experience with a broad range of individual and institutional investors. An outwardly-focused connector of people and opportunities, Ms. Chapman will collaborate with the founding partners to inspire donors and invest in solutions for the future of our community.

Crishelle Lytle, Administrative Director

Ms. Lytle leads all internal review of processes of “SOCA”, in close collaboration with the Executive Committee,to develop an integrated plan to support growth and achieve the goals and to address new priorities. Ms. Lytle has an extensive 20-year background in the IT field serving in both project management and strategic account management roles. As a project manager, Ms Lytle is experienced in coordinating cross-functional teams setting goals, establishing responsibilities, allocating resources and translating strategies into goals and tasks for delivery.  Ms Lytle has a historyof community-centered involvement through voluntarism, philanthropy, and employment.

Yvonne Jean-Jerome, Finance Director

Yvonne Jean-Jerome is the Finance Director of Seven Oaks Community Alliance.  She is responsible for the oversight of the budgetary process, identifiction and analysis of key business risks. She is also involved with evaluating existing control structures and developing financial processes.   H responsible for ensuring that the organization is in compliance with federal and state reporting requirements.  Her key role is to analyze financial results to support management operations and support the business to achieve strategic, financial, and tactical objectives.

Yvonne is a seasoned business woman with over fifteen years experience in auditing, tax, budgeting, financial process management, and reporting.   Her key strengths include risk management, process improvements, interpersonal communications, and the ability to assemble and direct cross-functional efforts.   

In 1997, she received her Master’s degree in Accounting from Long Island University.  She also attended the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Economics in 1993.  Industry experience includes financial, non-profits, pharmaceutical, and service based companies.  During her tenure in corporate America, Yvonne worked with a wide range of companies including Schering-Plough, American Express Tax and Business Services, Goldman Sachs, Dress For Success, American Red Cross, New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), and Grant Thornton, LLP.

She currently lives in Orange, NJ with her husband and son.

Catherine Reddick, Program Director/ Acting Communications Director

Catherine Reddick (also known as Cathy) is the Program Director and Acting Communication Director for Seven Oaks Community Alliance.  She is responsible for the planning, execution and administration of all Seven Oaks Community Alliance programs and activities.  Her key role is to ensure that SOCA’s comprehensive annual program is created and executed, and that the programs sponsored by SOCA alone or in collaboration with other groups are consistent with the vision and mission of the organization.

Cathy is an adept business woman with an intense focus and a quick smile for everyone she meets.  She brings over 15 years of progressive clinical research experience providing operational leadership, monitoring oversight, and strategic operational expertise in pharmaceutical drug development within high-profile global companies including Novartis Oncology, Pfizer, and Quintiles.  Cathy completed coursework in 1996 and received her undergraduate degree in History (with a pre-medical curriculum) from Duke University in Durham, NC in 1997.  She also attended Regis University where she earned her first graduate degree - Master of Science in Computer Information Technology in 2002, and her second graduate degree – Master of Business Administration with a concentration in healthcare management in 2009.

Since 1994, Cathy has been a member of the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-trained women – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  She is also a life-time member of Cambridge Who’s Who.  In 2008-2009 fiscal year, Cathy served on the City of Orange Citizens Advisory Budget Committee, a position that provides budget review and suggestions for changes to the City Council in Orange, NJ.

In her free time, Cathy is an avid reader, plays the cello, travels quite extensively during certain times of the year, and visits Home Depot (one of her favorite stores) when inspiration hits. 

Cathy currently lives in Orange, NJ.