Meet our Board of Directors
Nikki (Ethridge) Jones
President
Nikki M. Jones, Board President, is a people and culture executive leader with over 29 years of professional business experience with the last 14 spent in the not-for-profit sector. She currently serves as the Chief People and DE&I Officer at the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) where she develops and drives the people and culture strategy for the professional staff and oversees the implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion principles for the association. The association's vision is to achieve gender equality and be the global leader in advancing women into positions of influence and decision-making in healthcare to improve health equity and outcomes.
Nikki joined the HBA in 2009 and has since held executive leadership roles spanning finance, marketing, communications, technology and most recently. people operations. Prior to her not-for-profit experience at HBA, Nikki held finance management roles at Johnson & Johnson supporting the consumer care business and the former healthcare business of Prudential in the accounting and finance area. She is a graduate of Elizabeth City State University (HBCU) with a degree in accounting and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) where she earned the Certified HR Professional designation (SHRM-CP) and is currently pursuing the Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) designation through The Institute for Diversity Certification.
Outside of her professional work with HBA, Nikki partners in life with her husband of over 23 years, Rev. Dr. Christopher Michael Jones, and enjoys watching her two college students and one high schooler mature and chart their own paths through life. She loves dancing, singing, and living out her calling and passion to inspire others for positive impact by serving in various volunteer leadership roles in her church's women's ministry and the greater community. She is also an active 30+ year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Laila Wilson-McCoy
Vice President, Mission Committee Co-Chair
Laila Wilson-McCoy, Vice President/Mission Committee Co-Chair, is an experienced professional in various development and administrative operations roles and is skilled in donor relations, fundraising, and process management. Prior to becoming the Manager of Organizational Initiatives and Planning at Centurion Inc., Laila was the Resource Development Manager at Isles, Inc., and the Development Director at the Waldorf School of Princeton.
Prior to Laila working in the nonprofit industry, she spent over a decade overseeing the US, Puerto Rico, and Mexico fleet operations at C. R. Bard, Inc., a global pharmaceutical medical device manufacturer. During that time, she also held the position of co-chair of the Bard Volunteer Council, organizing employees to achieve annual fundraising goals and volunteer events for various established non-profit and local organizations.
In her spare time, Laila is a review committee member for Cooperman College Scholars and the VP at Shareef Professional Services, where she helps local nonprofits with their fundraising needs. She is the mother of two children, Brie, who resides in NY, and Rell, who is currently in high school.
She earned her BA in psychology at Thomas Edison State University.
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson
Secretary
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson is a product of the Trenton public school system and has obtained advance degrees from Trenton State College/The College of New Jersey, Central Michigan University. Her career as a Social Worker coupled with a commitment to public service led her to the elected position of East Ward Councilwoman and Council Vice-President where she legislated laws for the City of Trenton.
Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson proudly served 7 ½ years on City Council before being elected to fill the vacant New Jersey Assembly seat in the 15th Legislative District. Ms. Reynolds-Jackson currently serves as Deputy Majority Leader and Vice-Chairwoman of the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee. She is a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee, the Joint Committee on Public Schools and the Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment.
The Assemblywoman also serves as a Commissioner on the State of New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. Since graduating from college the Assemblywoman has continued her education through the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority and Rutgers University. For the past 10+ years, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson has been committed to serving her constituents through public service. She has achieved great satisfaction working with various populations, including her neighbors, the homeless, elderly, children, and people with disabilities. Her work has focused on social justice, enforcing business and landlord responsibility, environmental protection, demanding accountability for students, and working with the police regarding crime prevention.
Verlina holds a Master of Science in Administration, Central Michigan University; Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Trenton State College/The College of New Jersey; State of New Jersey Certified Municipal Finance Officer
Verlina resides in the City of Trenton with her wonderful husband, Lorenzo Jackson.
Cameshia Caldwell
Governance Chair
Bio coming soon!
Geeta Chopra
Ms. Chopra is an international businesswoman and self-made visionary who believes in God to accomplish the very best results, every time. She started at the age of 25 and acquired 5 properties by the time she was 33, using the power of leverage and negotiation with banks and key players. She is the founder of Chopra Real Estate Developments Inc. Competitive by nature, she truly believes this company will reach amazing heights due to the positive force behind it. Geeta brings over 20 years of negotiation, sales experience, and specialized real estate knowledge to the audience. As an investor, landlord, developer, and licensed realtor, she was registered with Toronto Real Estate Board for 10 years as a board member. She attributes her success to the ability to negotiate and taking advantage of money being cheap.
As a previous small business owner, she employed 35+ individuals. This includes a development from scratch; negotiation with the SBA for a $1,000,000 build-out of the Johnny Rockets restaurant in Princeton, New Jersey. As the owner operator of Johnny Rockets, she managed a team of 35+ employees at the franchise restaurant, and mastered the art of communication, employee retention, and development in individuals. During this time, Geeta managed all aspects of the company from hiring, training, payroll, vendor negotiations, day to day operations, and accounting / legal.
Ms. Chopra has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the prestigious University of Toronto, and a master’s degree in international business and global communications from The George Washington University, Elliot School of International Affairs, where brilliant minds such as Colin Powell graduated.
Elisabeta Dinca
Bio coming soon!
Reinaldine (Reina) Fleury, M.B.A, SHRM-SCP
Reina Fleury is an accomplished, results-oriented hands-on leader with over 20 years of progressive Human Resources experience in the nonprofit and for-profit sector. Proven ability to lead across multiple functional areas in Human Resources including Talent Management, Change Management, Performance Management and Employee Relations. Team builder and people developer able to maximize talent at all levels. Seasoned presenter and public speaker who can motivate and influence diverse audiences.
Melanie Lowe Hoffman
Nominating Committee Chair
Melanie Lowe Hoffman, has over 15 years of experience in non-profit organizations and higher education institutions, focusing on youth development, gender-based violence and social work education. Within the non-profit environment, Ms. Hoffman has executed a number of leadership programs for teenagers and young adults. Additionally, she has supported non-profits in program development, event management, and fund-raising. Within higher education, Ms. Hoffman was a member of the leadership team at the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at Rutgers University. Currently, Ms. Hoffman is an instructor and advisory for graduate Social Work courses. She has taught Social Welfare and Policy II, Practice II (Macro Social Work Practice), Women’s Issues, Violence and Abuse in Adulthood and Macro Community Practice.
Ms. Hoffman serves as co-chair of the Development Committee and member of the mission committee. Ms. Hoffman has two young children and lives in Hopewell, New Jersey. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading and cooking.
Erin Klebaur
Erin has been helping businesses and organizations create powerful connections with their audiences for more than 18 years. Her diverse background in branding, marketing, creative, and agency operations combined with her consultative approach and passion for helping people succeed ensures our clients and internal teams are empowered to create solutions that inspire — and get results.
Erin has been recognized as Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Women of Achievement, Rider University Alumni Leadership Legacy, SNJ Business People’s Top 40 Under 40, the New Jersey Advertising Club’s Jersey’s Best MARCOM Professionals under 40 and SNJ’s Top Women in Business. She holds a bachelor of arts in communications, with a concentration in business and professional speech and a minor in marketing and advertising, from Rider University.
When this mom of young twin boys has a moment to spare, she enjoys giving back to the community through sitting on Boards or Committees of organizations such as United Way of Greater Mercer County, Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce, and Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Kendra Lee
Kendra Lee is a community champion and the Deputy Director of Programs of Mercer County One-Stop Career Center and Workforce Development Board. She dedicates her time to translating vision into comprehensive strategic plans to improve the performance and productivity of the local workforce development system. She is committed to finding creative ways to assist diverse populations in pursing life changing opportunities, with a particular focus on New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens.
Kendra recently served as a panelist for YWCA Princeton’s Stand Against Racism Thought-Provoking Talks and is a 2022 Tribute to Women Honoree.
Dariel Marius
Dariel Marius is an educator, community advocate and entrepreneur. She is currently a Title 1 Culture and Climate Specialist for the Hamilton Township School District. In this capacity, Dairel create and facilitates Family and Community Engagement Programs. Prior to that role, Dariel has served as second grade schoolteacher. Dariel has also worked at the Hillsborough County School District as Basic Skills Teacher/6th and 7th Grade Math and 8th Grade Writing.
Dariel has a Master of Arts, Certified NJ Reading Specialist from Rider University. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Northeastern University. She was named New Jersey Governor's Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Dariel is active in the community. Her volunteer experience includes Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and NACCP. She is also an independent business owner in fashion.
Altagracia Montilla
Altagracia is a visionary leader and holistic strategist known for driving development, innovation, and growth. She leverages her backgrounds in education, research, and change management to cultivate healthy organizational communities. Her motto is “if we can imagine a world that should exist, then we can create it.”
She’s a change-maker who uses imagination, courage, and ingenuity to navigate challenges within organizational spaces. For over a decade, Altagracia has innovated systems across the non-profit, education, and corporate sectors. She's repeatedly set organizational records in strategic outcomes and made history launching successful programs. Recently, Altagracia excelled to become the youngest, first woman, and first person of color to serve as a C-suite executive in a national organization's 40 year history.
Known for creating immersive experiences that inspire, connect, and heal people, Altagracia is a community organizer at heart. Her passions include exploring what motivates people, what inspires people, how people learn best, the intersection of human connection and data, and what it takes to build and sustain equitable spaces.
Altagracia’s work is rooted deeply in her belief that the conditions for change towards a liberated world start with each of us. Altagracia is the CEO of A.M. Consulting, an industry leading firm leveraging the powers of data, human connection, and a network of 50+ experts to transform workplaces into communities that are safe, supportive, engaging, and inspiring for all. She's a dynamic facilitator, public speaker, and coach. She founded Freedom Readers, the world’s only virtual book club designed specifically for people passionate about social justice.
In addition to serving on the YWCA Princeton board, Altagracia is the Board Chair of the arts education organization, Spark House. She also serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coalition Leader of the political and economic advocacy organization, Devotion USA.
Tara Oakman, PH.D
Mission Committee Co-Chair
Tara Oakman, PhD, is a deputy director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, working on health and health care systems transformation. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2013, Oakman spent many years working at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on implementation of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") and earlier on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Oakman received a BA in political science from Brown University, a Masters of Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a PhD in health care policy from Harvard University. She has written and lectured on the uninsured, Medicare, health care reform, and a host of other issues.
Tara lives in Princeton with her husband, Jeffrey, and children. She has been active in the Community Park Elementary School PTO serving as past president and is now a Vice President in the Princeton Public Schools PTO Council.
Leena Shah
Development Committee Chair
Leena Shah is a passionate and results driven pharmaceutical director with 15 years of global drug development expertise including scientific due diligence of pre-clinical to launch-ready business development opportunities and operational implementation of global Phase I to IV programs. She is currently the Executive Director of Oncology/Tumor Strategies for Bristol-Myers Squibb. Leena is recognized for leading and mobilizing large, highly engaged, collaborative, multidisciplinary, global teams that respectfully challenge each other’s conclusions to deliver high quality results. She also has a track record in project leadership, strategic thinking, project management, problem solving, line management, clinical operations, business and clinical development planning in multiple therapeutic areas. Her specialties include Business Development, Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Project Management, Global Medical Affairs.
Ermine Smith
Strategic Plan Committee Chair
Ermine Smith has an extensive background in Operational Financial Management. Ermine is a retired Director Team Leader of Finance from Pfizer, Inc. She has with over 30 years of experience with pharmaceutical corporations Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), where she held positions of increasing responsibility, from internal audit, to budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and analysis, as well as data and compliance management. Ermine held an expatriate assignment in Brazil for 2 years, as Finance Director while she was at GSK, functioning in a hyperinflationary environment. She has led teams of up to 10 managers and has managed multi-million dollar projects.
Ermine believes that careful analysis based on solid research is essential to support decision making in all areas, and particularly where financial decisions are concerned. She believes that good financial planning and management are practical tools that are within the grasp of every person in the community. She is a strong advocate of financial literacy for all.
She currently volunteers at Princeton Community Works and is on the boards of the Trenton Circus Squad and the YWCA Princeton, where she is an active member of both Finance Committees. Additionally, she is an active member of the Strategic Planning Committee of the YWCA board. She does consulting upon request. She resides in Princeton, NJ.