
Alandra Barrow
Operations Coordinator

Ovetta Brown
Program Manager

Kayla Calbert
Marketing Associate

Desiree Kemp
Administrative Assistant

Victoria Perez
Student and Alum Success Coordinator

Olivia Pulphus
Development Associate

Valencia Turner
HR Manager

Jessica West
Program Manager
Jason Coleman – Co-Founder / Executive Director

Adrianne Wheeler, Director of Programs

George Wilson, Director of Finance & Operations

Abraxas Thomas, Director of Development and Marketing

Ovetta Brown, Program Manager
I graduated from DeVry University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems in 2009. My mother taught me math, including multiplication and division, every day at age 5, which I hated. It wasn’t until 1st grade when I realized I was ahead of the rest of my class that I gained a love for math. My love for education began at a very young age when I tutored another student at age 6. I later found I had a passion for young people when I took all the kids on the block to Chuck E. Cheese at the age of 14. My passion ignited me to volunteer at Chicago Area Project’s Youth As Resources (YAR) Youth Summits and also work temporarily with the organization’s Year-End Solicitation Team while under the direction of Candace Anderson. I joined Project SYNCERE to afford children in underserved communities the opportunity to learn about engineering and offer alternatives to careers they are most accustomed. Hopefully, this chance will spark interests to pursue degrees in STEM and pay it forward to future generations.
Valencia Turner, Operations Coordinator
I am a graduate of Chicago Vocational High School where I studied Accounting. I attended and graduated from DeVry Chicago with an Associate Degree in Electronics & Computer Technology after graduation I began my career in the telecommunications field working for Motorola- Schaumburg, AT& T wireless, SAC, SBC and Verizonwireless holding various Operations and Administration positions. During my career, I pursued and obtained my Bachelor’s in Technical Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources from DeVry- Alpharetta, GA. I relocated back to Chicago completing both of my Masters’ Degree in Human Resources Management and Public Administration Management with a concentration in Non-Profit from Keller School of Management in Chicago.
My position with Project SYNCERE as the Operations Coordinator allows me to bring my experience in management, operations and leadership together to support the mission and vision of the company. In my spare time, I have served on the Board for Dolton School District -148. Currently, I continue serving the community as a parent volunteer with Perspective-Calumet High School and as a financial consultant for other non-profit organizations shaping the minds of teenagers.
Emily Constantian, Program Manager
I have a Bachelors of Arts in Environmental Studies from Gettysburg College and a Masters of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. I have been managing youth programs for over 6 years, and focus on development and implementation of out-of-school-time programming for young people to grow teamwork and leadership skills and explore possibilities for future careers. I have been with Project SYNCERE since 2017 and enjoy growing the reach of our STEM programs so more students in Chicago can see themselves in the engineering field.
Evin Rayford Johnson, Director of Development & Marketing

Jessica West, Program Manager
