Our Staff
Development Staff
Emily Wolfe, Executive Director
Bernadine Silvers, Community Engagement Consultant
Charlie McMonigle, Controller
Emily Rivera, Compliance Specialist/Resident Service Coordinator
Jennifer Valentino, Project Manager
Sheylian Berrios-Hernandez, Community Engagement Manager
Emily Wolfe
Executive Director
Emily Wolfe has served as Executive Director since 2017, and previously served as Deputy Director since 2001. Emily also has served as the Project Manager for many of SOC's developments, including 4-40 Vine Street (a major renovation of 74 historic units), North End Gateway (new construction of 57 workforce units), and Rice Heights (44 new single-family homes for low- and moderate-income homebuyers).
Before joining Sheldon Oak Central, Emily worked as a nursing home social worker and a university research grants administrator.
Executive Director
Emily Wolfe has served as Executive Director since 2017, and previously served as Deputy Director since 2001. Emily also has served as the Project Manager for many of SOC's developments, including 4-40 Vine Street (a major renovation of 74 historic units), North End Gateway (new construction of 57 workforce units), and Rice Heights (44 new single-family homes for low- and moderate-income homebuyers).
Before joining Sheldon Oak Central, Emily worked as a nursing home social worker and a university research grants administrator.
Bernadine Silvers
Community Engagement Consultant
Bernadine Silvers co-founded the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON), which advocates for the interests of community residents and helped Sheldon Oak Central acquire and redevelop MLK Apartments, Twin Acres, and Sheldon Oak Cooperative. She led CSS/CON’s growth into one of the most effective of the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (NRZ’s), successfully pushing for the redevelopment of the Hartford Housing Authority’s Dutch Point project into a mixed-income community homeownership and rental community. CSS/CON also helped ensure that residents had a voice in the design of the Convention Center and were hired to work on the construction of the entire waterfront development.
Ms. Silvers has been a strong voice for Hartford residents as a founder of Hartford 2000, the city-wide coalition of Neighborhood Revitalization Zones. She has served on the boards of many organizations, including Riverfront Recapture, the MetroHartford Alliance, the City’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and Sheldon Oak Central, and she is a member of the Hartford Redevelopment Agency.
Community Engagement Consultant
Bernadine Silvers co-founded the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON), which advocates for the interests of community residents and helped Sheldon Oak Central acquire and redevelop MLK Apartments, Twin Acres, and Sheldon Oak Cooperative. She led CSS/CON’s growth into one of the most effective of the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (NRZ’s), successfully pushing for the redevelopment of the Hartford Housing Authority’s Dutch Point project into a mixed-income community homeownership and rental community. CSS/CON also helped ensure that residents had a voice in the design of the Convention Center and were hired to work on the construction of the entire waterfront development.
Ms. Silvers has been a strong voice for Hartford residents as a founder of Hartford 2000, the city-wide coalition of Neighborhood Revitalization Zones. She has served on the boards of many organizations, including Riverfront Recapture, the MetroHartford Alliance, the City’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and Sheldon Oak Central, and she is a member of the Hartford Redevelopment Agency.
Charlie McMonigle
Controller
Charlie McMonigle, CPA, has served as Controller for Sheldon Oak Central since 2001. He oversees all financial policies, procedures, and controls; develops budgets for SOC properties; and monitors their monthly financials. Charlie also monitors SOC’s compliance with grant and contract expenditures and reporting requirements and prepares financial statements for SOC management and its Board of Directors. He has served on the boards of the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON), Capital Region Education Council, Chrysalis Center, and Rocky Hill Board of Education.
Controller
Charlie McMonigle, CPA, has served as Controller for Sheldon Oak Central since 2001. He oversees all financial policies, procedures, and controls; develops budgets for SOC properties; and monitors their monthly financials. Charlie also monitors SOC’s compliance with grant and contract expenditures and reporting requirements and prepares financial statements for SOC management and its Board of Directors. He has served on the boards of the Coalition to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON), Capital Region Education Council, Chrysalis Center, and Rocky Hill Board of Education.
Emily Rivera
Compliance Specialist/Resident Service Coordinator
Emily Rivera joined Sheldon Oak in 2001 as Administrative Assistant and then became Resident Services Coordinator. She is responsible for meeting and event arrangements and providing support to other office staff. As Resident Services Coordinator, she also serves as liaison between the Residents, Management Company and Owners and provides support to a diverse group of residents, mainly family & youth, living in affordable housing sites. Emily is bilingual and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Springfield College. Emily is a Hartford native.
Compliance Specialist/Resident Service Coordinator
Emily Rivera joined Sheldon Oak in 2001 as Administrative Assistant and then became Resident Services Coordinator. She is responsible for meeting and event arrangements and providing support to other office staff. As Resident Services Coordinator, she also serves as liaison between the Residents, Management Company and Owners and provides support to a diverse group of residents, mainly family & youth, living in affordable housing sites. Emily is bilingual and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Springfield College. Emily is a Hartford native.
Jennifer Valentino
Project Manager
Jennifer Valentino, AICP, joined Sheldon Oak in November 2023. She coordinates housing development from inception to completion, including site analysis and selection, project feasibility and financing applications, assembling development teams, permitting, and project oversight. She also assists with long-term organizational strategy, networking and developing SOC’s pipeline. Jennifer was a Town Planner for nearly 18 years in Windsor Locks, CT, where she most recently served as Director of Planning and Development. Prior to this role, she was the Housing Coordinator for the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, acting as liaison to the local Community Development Corporation.
Project Manager
Jennifer Valentino, AICP, joined Sheldon Oak in November 2023. She coordinates housing development from inception to completion, including site analysis and selection, project feasibility and financing applications, assembling development teams, permitting, and project oversight. She also assists with long-term organizational strategy, networking and developing SOC’s pipeline. Jennifer was a Town Planner for nearly 18 years in Windsor Locks, CT, where she most recently served as Director of Planning and Development. Prior to this role, she was the Housing Coordinator for the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, acting as liaison to the local Community Development Corporation.
Sheylian Berrios-Hernandez
Community Engagement Manager
Sheylian Berrios-Hernandez joined Sheldon Oak in September of 2023. She started as a Strategic and Neighborhood Planning intern. During the internship, her work focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts (DEIJ), assisting the strategic planning consultant, conducting research, and managing communication channels such as the website, among other special projects. Sheylian is bilingual and has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Connecticut (UConn). She earned her Master's Degree in Public Administration from the School of Public Policy, also at the University of Connecticut. She now works at Sheldon Oak as a Community Engagement Manager.
Community Engagement Manager
Sheylian Berrios-Hernandez joined Sheldon Oak in September of 2023. She started as a Strategic and Neighborhood Planning intern. During the internship, her work focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts (DEIJ), assisting the strategic planning consultant, conducting research, and managing communication channels such as the website, among other special projects. Sheylian is bilingual and has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Connecticut (UConn). She earned her Master's Degree in Public Administration from the School of Public Policy, also at the University of Connecticut. She now works at Sheldon Oak as a Community Engagement Manager.
