LEANA WALCOTT

Ms. Walcott worked for many years with young people first with summer youth programs in Brooklyn. An avid tennis player, she taught tennis to young women through the Division of Recreation in Plainfield, NJ. She was also the event planner and recording secretary for the Plainfield Tennis Council. Most recently, she has been involved with the Shiloh Economic Entrepreneurial Life Long Development Corp. (SHEELD) helping their endeavor to expose young people to golf in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas. Leana  has hosted Celebrate Women Celebrate You (CWCY) White Events since 2010, honoring three women since its inception.

Leana maintains that young women need a safe and nurturing space that can function as a sounding board for their fears, a developmental haven for their professional interests and goals, and a prism that allows them to see and to connect to positive and progressive women, thus The Chrysalis Project, Inc. was born in 2014. Mrs. Walcott believes that positive young women develop into positive and progressive community-based and global leaders. The Chrysalis Project will create avenues allowing young women to be nurtured and prepared to go through high school and be ready to face their college years with confidence and goal readiness.

Today, Mrs. Walcott resides in Plainfield NJ with her husband Steven Walcott and has been an active Plainfield, NJ community member for 25 years. Leana has a Degree in Business. She also received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Accounting after working in the financial arena for many years. She held a position of Assistant Comptroller of Accounts Receivable for the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority. Leana, a world traveler is very interested in the different cultures inherent in our communities today. She enjoys playing golf and volunteers at the Annual Celebrity Golf event sponsored by the Original Tee Organization. She is also an avid tennis player, competing in the adult league of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for over eighteen years. Leana is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church and dedicates her talents and services in the Finance, Travel and First Impressions Ministries. Mrs. Walcott is also the treasurer on the Friends of Plainfield Public Library (FOPPL) board. She aspires to form positive community networks and to act as a conduit for forward movement.

Linda HINES

Linda has over twenty-five years of professional experience where she has held supervisory, sales & HR positions in the Insurance and electronics industries, a program coordinator for a Welfare-to-Work program as well as positions in state and local government. Most recently, she has been employed with the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority for almost 15 years as an executive and/or administrative assistant in various departments within the organization.  Linda is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield where she is involved in the Music, Dance & Media ministries, Women's Fellowship and an active member of her cell group.  A native of North Carolina, Linda holds a B.A. degree from Bennett College, in Greensboro.  Linda is a recent member of the CWCY/The Chrysalis Project Board where she serves as the Board Secretary.  She resides in Plainfield and is the mother of three adult sons.

tonya s. Mcneil

Tonya S. McNeil is an Accountant and the Controller at Northeast Carpenters Fringe Benefits Fund office (formerly the New Jersey Carpenters Funds) located in Edison, NJ.  A Multi-Employer Pension, Annuity, Health and Vacation Fund. Tonya joined the Carpenters Fund in 1986 as a Staff Accountant. With over 30 years of work experience with the same company Tonya gained extensive knowledge and experience through varies roles as she worked her way up the corporate ladder. Currently she is responsible for the financial accounting functions and the oversight of the financial accounting process of the company. This includes ensuring financial activities are completed timely and accurately, and that accounting records contain information necessary to meet reporting requirements to management, tax compliance and reporting of financial results. She prepares all the accounting work for the Northeast Carpenters New Jersey Office ranging from investment portfolios, tax returns, journal entries, reconciling monthly bank statement to managing staff.

In addition, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc(DST), National Association of Black Accountants(NABA), Celebrate Women Celebrate You (CWCY) and a lifetime member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield, NJ. Tonya is a graduate of Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting.  She is also a lifetime of the Morgan State University Alumni Association. Tonya is married to Lee and has four adult children.

Cathy Daniels Brimmer

Cathy Daniels Brimmer is a graduate from New Jersey Institute of Technology with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science. She also possesses a Master of Science Degree in Technology Management from Stevens Institute of Technology, and a Masters certificate from George Washington University.

Cathy is employed with AT&T; most of her work experience has been in Information Technology (Finance, Billing, and Supply Chain).  Prior to joining AT&T, Cathy was a consultant working on many systems and technologies for fortune 100 companies. Cathy is currently a Senior Technical Director in IT Technology, business intelligence data analytics supporting Global Systems.

Cathy supports numerous community organizations; she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Lifetime member of National Council of Negro Women, and National MBA.  Cathy is an Aspiring Academy Mentor; she works with homeless shelters, transitional home for women, and Feeding the Children program. She is also the STEM champion for national WOA.

Cathy is currently a dfree instructor, the Chief Financial Officer for Women of AT&T New Jersey, International Development Chair. She was past President of the NJ Alliance Headquarters chapter, whereas she served many years past National Vice President of the Alliance.  Cathy also played a major role on the AT&T Corp. /SBC merger transition Team for the consolidation of the business resource groups.

Cathy received the Humanitarian award from the National Council of Negro Women. In addition, she received the Presidential award from AT&T for outstanding international business initiatives. She also received the President’s award from IMI Inc. for technical excellence.

Cathy worked on the National Alliance conference registration team, fundraising and national professional development committees which supported over 7000 members nationwide. She was the Fundraising Chair for NJ headquarters of the Alliance, whereas she was instrumental in raising an enormous amount of money for scholarships to support UNCF. Cathy worked over 15 years on CJA fundraising committee and was the past chair for technology.  Cathy was a soccer mom and soccer club manager for many years.

Cathy is the proud mon of two children.

Geraldine agurs

Geraldine “Geri” Agurs has over 35 years of experience in providing high-level executive administrative support to the executive leadership team of profit making companies, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.   In this role, Geri has been responsible for enhancing executive effectiveness by providing information management support; supervising staff; preparing statistical reports; handling information requests; maintaining executive appointment schedules, planning conferences, and scheduling meetings;  planning and managing projects; maintaining records management database systems and performing general office duties.

Geri is one the founders of the UC TEAMS Charter School and High School/College Leadership Academy, serving Kindergarten thru 12th grades.  Geri has served on numerous boards and in various teaching capacities for several Baptist Conventions, such as Progressive National Convention/Congress of Christian Education, Middlesex Central Baptist Association, NJ State Baptist Convention, National American Baptist Convention.

Geri received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Management from West Virginia State University, and her Master of Theology, New Brunswick Theological Seminary.  Geri resides in Plainfield, New Jersey and a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church, Plainfield, NJ.

karen D. Alexis Holloway

Karen D. Alexis Holloway is the Assistant Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the Borough of Carteret located in Carteret, NJ.  Her role is to provide executive support and effective administration to help promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity and a suitable living environment free from discrimination to low income families; primarily to enhance the life of residents and community through Local and State Programs and Federal Regulations that are governed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Karen has been employed with the Carteret Housing Authority since 1991 and has over 25 years of Public Service. She is honored to serve as a Public Official for the Borough of Carteret. She was promotion to Assistant Executive Director from Housing Manager in year 2000.  She is a certified Public Housing Manager, (PHM) and Section 8 Housing Manager, (SHM).  In 2004, she was awarded her Executive Housing Management Training and Certification Requirements from The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers; Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Currently, she is a consultant and provides executive support for 2 other Public Housing Authority’s in New Jersey.     

Born in Savannah, Georgia, and continuously enjoying the culture and charm of the South is what led Karen to Nashville, TN.  There, she attended and graduated college from Fisk University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science, (BS) degree in Business Administration.  After college, she returned to her childhood home in Plainfield, NJ and later moved to West Orange, NJ where she now resides with her husband and son.

Karen is an active member of The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) as well as the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA). She is highly dedicated to her church family and is a member of Christ Church in Montclair, NJ where she was married to her husband, Owen Holloway in 1997.  As a member of Christ Church, she serves in the Media Ministry and other Ministry Platforms that provide essential needs to the homeless.  In addition, she is an original member of Celebrate Woman Celebrate You (CWCY) and strongly approves in its mission.  

In her relaxing moments, Karen enjoys creative writing, traveling and is an epicurean that loves the art of culinary culture. She aspires to market and launch her own culinary creation in the near future.

It is in Karen’s desire to retire within the next 5 years and to fully enjoy life in sunny Florida with her loving family and close friends.

Lydia Troutman

Lydia Troutman is the Associate Director, Sterile Quality Assurance Microbiology Merck & Co, Total of 36 years in the Pharmaceutical Industry with increasing levels of responsibility, 25 years with the former Schering Plough Corporation, acquired by Merck & Co. 2009. Undergraduate studies in Zoology, Rutgers University, completed degree with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration Caldwell University, Graduate courses I industrial Microbiology and Physiology of Microorganism, Seton Hall University.

Member of Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) and Task Force Environmental Monitoring and participating author of the PDA Technical Bulletin #13 Fundamentals of Microbiological Monitoring Program. Member of the Profession Microbiology, Education and Discussion Industry group. Recipient of the YMCA Black Achiever Award, Represented Schering in NJ Junior Achievement Program and Technical Training Project to provide Laboratory Internships.

Member and Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Spirit of Giving Foundation, Inc. Served as President and Vice President of North Stelton Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) purposed to develop and administer economic, cultural, social and educational community based programs to revitalize the community. Participated in grant sourcing and drafting if successful grants. NSEDC programs include community food programs, job resource center, youth outreach programs, housing counseling agency and Housing Programs.

Marie Joyner

Marie Joyner was born in Pennsylvania and studied Retail and Marketing at Syracuse University. Upon completing her studies, she worked as a Buyer for the ever popular Macy's, NY and as a Product Developer for Liz Claiborne, Inc., where she traveled  the Far East, Italy and the United States. With the birth of her son, she felt the need to become more grounded and opened her own Art Gallery/Bookstore - Majoco Collections in Plainfield, NJ., When the devastation of September 11th hit the world, she found it necessary to return to the corporate sector. 

Today, you can find her on the campus of Saint Peter's University as the Resident Dining Manager. She is also the Co-Founder of Literary Voices - a sisterhood of woman who recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. She is the mother of one son who is a sophomore at Bryant University in Rhode Island.

PATRICIA FIELDS

A lifelong resident of NJ, Pat Fields is the President of Meetings of the Minds – an event management business.  She retired from Alcatel-Lucent (a spin-off of AT&T) in 2001 after 24 years of service in both corporations.  Her diverse career culminated in her serving as a Human Resource Manager, responsible for the distribution of more than $400 million through the Family Care Development Fund’s nationwide resources for child care and elder care programs that had a benefit for corporate employees.  Pat also held the position of National Program Chair for The Alliance of Black Telecommunications Employees for 10 years, during which time she organized Regional and National Professional Development Conferences (annual budgets in excess of $3 million) and grew member participation from 250 to nearly 5,000 attendees while exposing members to high profile, successful role models and entertainers like Maya Angelou, Susan Taylor, Juwanza Kunjufu, Cornel West, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee etc.   

A loving daughter, mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Pat dedicates much of her personal life to volunteer activities, serves on a number of boards and is the recipient of numerous awards e.g., the USA Freedom Corps Award received during private audience with President George W. Bush; the NJ “Martin Luther King – Drum Major for Community Service Award” and listed as one of the “100 Most Influential in NJ”.   She holds a BA degree in French (Spanish minor) from Rutgers University.