Deidre DeJear

President and CEO

DeJear’s career of nonprofit and community leadership demonstrates her dedication to providing impactful community support. As President & CEO of Oakridge Neighborhood, DeJear leads Iowa’s largest affordable housing complex, dedicated to enriching diverse communities through exceptional housing and inclusive support services. Prior to joing Oakridge Neighborhood, DeJear was a long-time owner of a consultancy working with clients on developing and implementing financial education and small business development, and was the 2022 Democratic nominee for Iowa Governor. She serves on the boards of the City of Des Moines Housing Services, The Directors Council, and Wright Foundation, and as Board Chair of Healthy Birth Day. She is a member and officer of the Des Moines Chapter of The Links Incorporated, and she has served on the boards of the Des Moines League of Women Voters, By Degrees, Iowa Community Capital CDFI, and others.

 

Management Team

Almardi Abdalla

[email protected]

Vice President

Family and Workforce

Programs

Kristin Clayton

[email protected]

Vice President

Finance and Administration

 

Bethany Davis

[email protected]

Vice President

Early Childhood

Sheri FitzPatrick

[email protected]

Executive Assistant and

HR Administrator

Travis Hamilton

[email protected]

Director

Public Safety

Mike Hill

[email protected]

Facility Director

Christine Irvine

[email protected]

Vice President

Communications

Vernon Johnson

[email protected]

Vice President

Youth Education and

Engagement

Kristin Littlejohn

[email protected]

Vice President

Development

Pat Palmer

[email protected]

Vice President

Housing

John Spinks

[email protected]

21st CCLC Program

Coordinator

Oakridge Neighborhood Board of Directors

President – Dr. Andrea McGuire, Dr. Andy McGuire & Associates

Vice President – Skylar Mayberry-Mayes, PhD, The Jacobson Institute at Grand View University

Secretary – Emily LeMay, Global Atlantic Financial Group

Treasurer – Mark Wiltse, F&G

Assistant Treasurer – Erin Kuhl, Krause Group

Immediate Past-President –  Martine Olson-Daniel, Wells Fargo

Marcy Baker, Sammons Financial Group Companies

Rona Berinobis, Athene

Carol Bodensteiner, Writer/Editor

Jamie Buelt, enQStrategies

Diana Dubuisson, Dotdash Meredith

Albert Farr, DMACC Urban Campus

Jessica Feeney, Atlantic Bottling Company

Sharon Gaddy-Hanna, Bankers Trust (retired)

Tim Haight, Deere & Company/John Deere Financial (retired)

Matt Haney, John Deere Financial Services

Michael Hutney, Consultant

Mary Johnson, Assured Partners

Nalo Johnson, PhD, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation

Kent Kramer, The Foster Group

Joyce McDanel, UnityPoint Health Des Moines

Peter Ngo, resident representative

Kuuku Saah, Ntontan RE

Deidre Williams, EMC