About CIC

Board of Trustees

Committed to Prevention and Recovery

Jody D’Agostini

Jody is a Certified Financial Planner/Wealth Manager.

Jody is the reason we exist – she is the founder, inspiration and CEO of Community in Crisis and serves on the Finance and Development committees. She is a longtime resident of Basking Ridge. In 2013, two of Jody’s daughter’s friends were tragically lost to an opioid overdose which galvanized Jody to tackle an epidemic that was hidden in the shadows, underfunded and underserved.

Jody is a graduate of Bucknell University with a B.S. in Biology and has a Physician’s Assistant Degree from Rutgers Medical School. In her spare time, Jody enjoys tennis, paddle, swimming, reading, travel, and walking her two dogs.

Jody says, “The opiate epidemic is one of the worst tragedies that we have today hurting our families physically, emotionally and financially. The hope is that we can help to improve our community through prevention and education, taking the stigma out of addiction and helping individuals maintain their sobriety and go on to lead purposeful lives.”

Patricia Aussem

Patricia Aussem is the Director of Clinical Content Development at Center on Addiction, a non-profit in New York City focused on ending addiction. Her expertise is on translating the science of substance use for lay audiences and media, with an emphasis on educating families on the importance of prevention as well as how to intervene in youth substance use. This entails curating information on current drug trends, risk and protective factors, parenting skills, and how to find and access appropriate evidence-based treatment along the continuum of care.

After completing her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the College of St. Elizabeth, she completed 3 years of clinical work at a psychiatric hospital, collaborating with psychiatrists to provide comprehensive treatment plans for adult and adolescent patients on detox, rehab and co-occurring disorders units. She also supervised an intervention program for perpetrators of interpersonal violence at Jersey Battered Women’s Services. Ms. Aussem earned licensure in New Jersey and New York as a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master Addictions Counselor certification. In addition to her work at Center on Addiction, she has a small private practice in New Jersey serving families struggling with addiction and is on the board of Community in Crisis, a local non-profit focused on ending the opioid epidemic.

A resident of Morristown NJ, Pat has served on the Board of Directors since early in 2018 and serves on the marketing committee. She holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology, College of St. Elizabeth 2010; an MBA-Finance, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1985 and a BA Marketing, Michigan State University, 1977. Pat enjoys yoga, almost any sport, cooking and travel.

Pat says, “We have a collective responsibility to ensure our communities have access to accurate information and are able to navigate the treatment system to get quality care related to substance use. Community in Crisis’s mission and vision to make this happen and “can do” attitude inspired me to join forces.”

Brian W. Fahey Jr., Esq.

A graduate of Villanova University and New York Law School, Brian operates a private law practice focusing on property rights (intellectual and real), land use, business entity structure and restructure, litigation, and estate advisory matters, representing and advising individuals, groups, companies and organizations. In addition, while a resident thereof, Brian served Bedminster Township on its Environmental Commission, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, and has served on the Board of Trustees of the Westmont School in Mendham, NJ. Brian currently resides in Tewksbury along with his wife Danielle Meglaughlin, an employee at Atlantic Health, and his sons, Jack and Brian III, currently students at Bucknell University and the Pingry School, respectively.

Dr. Jeffrey Hammond

Dr. Hammond joined the CIC Board in early 2024. A general surgeon who specialized in trauma and critical care, he was previously Chief of the Section of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and medical school. After leaving clinical medicine he was a senior medical director at Ethicon, a J&J company, and then at Pacira Pharmaceutical, where he was the medical director for several clinical trials of non-opioid pain management.

Nationally, Dr. Hammond served on the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma and chaired of the Disaster and Mass Casualty Subcommittee, and was the ACS liaison to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He has also served on the Board of Directors of the American Trauma Society and as the Chair of the Burn Prevention Committee of the American Burn Association. Statewide activities in NJ included the governor’s MEDPREP disaster and emergency preparedness task force and appointment as the first Chairperson for the NJ Health Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (HEPAC), the successor to MEDPREP. He served on the Somerset County COVID Recovery Advisory Committee.

Dr. Hammond was medical director for the UMDNJ paramedic training program, a founding Board member of the Violence Institute of NJ and founding medical director for the RWJ Injury Prevention Coalition, which has now been recognized as the SafeKids Chapter for Middlesex (NJ) county. He currently serves as a clinical director for NJ Special Olympics.

A resident of Bernardsville, he was elected to the Borough Council in 2018 and spearheaded the borough’s anti-vaping ordinance. Currently the Chair of the Bernardsville Green Team, he secured Silver certification from Sustainable Jersey including recognition of Bernardsville as a tobacco-free community.

Karyn B. Lightcap

Karyn joined the CIC Board of Directors in November 2023, having been a longtime supporter. She was elected to serve as Treasurer in September 2024 and is also a member of the Risk Management Committee.

Karyn is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Greater Somerset County YMCA, a $25MM multi-branch YMCA serving Somerset, Union and Mercer counties. She has served in this role since 2011 and was an integral part of the Executive Leadership Team that successfully merged Somerset Valley and Somerset Hills YMCAs in 2015, the first merger of two YMCAs in the State of New Jersey. In addition to finance, she is responsible for overseeing information technology and risk management.

Prior to her role with the YMCA, Karyn enjoyed a successful career as a sell-side equity research analyst specializing in Healthcare. During her 11-year career on Wall Street, she worked for First Boston, Lehman Brothers and SG Cowen.

Karyn has been an active volunteer and supporter of the Somerset County community for over 20 years. She has held leadership roles on several not-for-profit Boards; including Somerset Hills YMCA (2008-2011, Treasurer) and Far Hills Country Day School (2010-2016, Treasurer).

Karyn is a graduate of the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University (D.C.). She lives in Bedminster with her husband Mark and is the proud mother of her adult son, Christopher. She is an avid learner and enjoys swimming, travel and tennis.

Karyn quotes Ronald Reagan: “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone”.

Sam Maddali

Sam Maddali of Bernardsville joined the CIC Board of Directors in 2024, having been a longtime supporter, including hosting the Together We Can gala at his home in 2022.

He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Long Island University and is the founder of United Pharmacy Network, a group purchasing organization for independent pharmacies. A strong advocate, he regularly lobbies at the national level for the rights of independent pharmacies. His professional interests extend to business development, entrepreneurship, and real estate.

Sam serves on multiple boards, including the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, the Bouvé Strategic Advisory Council at Northeastern University, and the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center.

A dedicated philanthropist, he has been a Rotary International member for nearly 30 years and sits on the boards of the Eye Foundation of America and Gift of Life International.

Jean O’Connell

Jean is the Accountant & Treasurer for Community in Crisis and serves on the Finance Committee, Recovery Support Committee, and Beautification Committee. Jean has been with Community in Crisis and on its Board of Directors since its inception in 2013. Jean has a B.S. in Accounting from Long Island University. Jean enjoys golf, tennis, pickleball, biking, reading, cooking, and volunteering.

Jean says, “Hidden in the shadows are those suffering from substance use disorder. With love, support and community we can bring understanding, light and hope.”

Maryann O’Donnell McCoy, Esq.

Maryann joined the CIC Board of Directors in early 2019. She has been a Partner at O’Donnell McCoy Heleniak, LLC, Morristown, NJ, since 2014, a law firm involved in all aspects of trial advocacy with a concentration in defense of personal injury, property damage and coverage cases for major insurance companies, arbitration, criminal, real estate and municipal court matters.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., B.A. and of New York Law School, New York, New York, J.D., Maryann serves on the CIC Board Development and Risk Management committees. Additionally, Maryann’s professional work and experience include: Municipal Prosecutor in the Shared Services Court of the Township of Washington, Morris County, Borough of Mendham and Borough of Califon, Hunterdon County; Municipal Prosecutor in Joint Court of the Boroughs of Madison, Chatham and Township of Harding, Morris County; Court appointed arbitrator in New Jersey Superior Court; Member New Jersey Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Expedited Civil Actions; Panelist Morris County Bar Association 2019 LegalPalooza: Hot Topics in Civil Trial Litigation; Panelist New Jersey Defense Association: 2019 Woman and the Law; Trustee, St. James Church, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 2014-2019.

A resident of Basking Ridge, Maryann lives in Basking Ridge with her husband John, Vice President, JP Morgan Chase in New York, and they together have three children, Connor, Keegan and Shaye.

Maryann says, “I have seen the desperate effects of addiction at a local level as a municipal prosecutor. Putting drug users in jail or imposing fines can make them more prone to committing future offenses, cause them to lose family, jobs and homes, and overstresses the system. Tuned into the justice system’s need to develop more effective responses to drug related crime, CIC’s evidence-based treatment and mission of prevention, with its local roots, offers a resource to make a difference in the approach to the prosecution/rehabilitation of drug offenders.”

Kirti Reddy

Kirti Reddy is an alumna of the London School of Economics and brings a wealth of experience and leadership as Founder and Managing Partner of Cedar Ridge Ventures. Before founding Cedar Ridge Ventures, Kirti worked in investment banking at Deutsche Bank and UBS. Beyond her professional journey, Kirti is a dedicated philanthropist, serving on the boards of The Pingry School, The Rotary Club, Teach for India US and Mantra4Change US. Kirti’s passion for creating positive change is also evident through her role as Managing Trustee of her family foundation, The Kirti and Prashanth Reddy Charitable Trust.

Kirti currently lives in Warren along with her husband Prashanth Reddy, who serves as a Board of Trustee of the Pingry School, and her daughter, Riya, who is a student at the Pingry School. In her free time, Kirti enjoys the arts, swimming and traveling with her family.

Peter Rooney

Peter graduated from the Wharton School school at the University of Pennsylvania and spent his career in investment management and consulting with MetLife, Fidelity and Hewitt Associates. He has been past President of the Board of COPE Center in Montclair, New Jersey, which provides counseling for drug and alcohol addiction.

Peter enjoys tennis, platform tennis, golf and skiing and is the president of the Morristown Field Club. He lives in Basking Ridge with his wife, Kathy.

Chris Schroeder

AVP Corporate Development, Ammon Labs

Chris has served on the CIC Board of Trustees since May 2017 and is a member of the CIC Recovery Support Task Force. In his capacity as a recovery advocate, he has been a Board Member of C4 Recovery Solutions and the NCADD-NJ. Chris has hosted XM Satellite radio shows, hosted the web based show Afflicted and Affected – interviewing leading figures in addiction and alcoholism treatment, worked as a Media Director and hosted cable TV shows.

Chris has lectured at and consulted with treatment centers for over 20 years on best practices and recovery philosophy. Chris has a true calling to help those suffering from addictive illness and alcoholism and those having difficulty achieving sobriety. Chris has a way of communication that will inform anyone of the nature of this illness and how it can be overcome. He lives with his wife, Andrea, in Bedminster NJ and enjoys music, literature, and history.

Chris says, “I have been involved most of my adult life supporting recovery processes. The CIC teams are amazing people working toward prevention/treatment/recovery and I am grateful to be included with them all.”

Katy Soulas

Katy Soulas is a Registered Nurse Manager, Children’s Specialized Hospital Ambulatory Care Center in New Brunswick, NJ. A resident of Far Hills, NJ, and mother of seven, Katy has been involved in the Bernards’ Township community as a Cub Scout den mother in Pack 454, a homeroom mother, a team mom for several sports, a t-ball coach, a CCD instructor at St. James School of Religion, and a substitute school nurse in the school district. She served as a member of the Bernards’ Township Municipal Alliance for three years.

In the earliest days of Community in Crisis, Katy was involved in researching all successful evidence- based programs surrounding addiction prevention, and instrumental in showcasing the 40 Developmental Assets of Successful Families to the community. Katy was instrumental in creating CiC’s largest public event, introducing Chris Herren and The Herren Project to an audience of 1,000 attendees. Currently, Katy is leading CIC’s “Alternative Approaches to Pain Management in Older Adults” to caregivers and seniors in Somerset County.

Katy earned her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and is certified to teach Creativity in Business from Stanford University. She is a 500-hour certified Baptiste Yoga instructor and earned her teaching certificate in Social Responsibility through the Baptiste Institute. Currently Katy leads group meditation in an Eckert Tolle Power of Now Online Study, and teaches Baptiste Power Yoga and Chair Yoga.

In her free time, Katy enjoys running with her dog, Mia, and taking hot yoga classes. She is an avid reader, and especially enjoys research. She feels immense joy bringing chair yoga to adults recovering from cancer. Finally, when there is spare time, Katy likes gardening, cooking, hiking and biking.

Patricia Ventura

Experienced Financial Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry. A passionate and dedicated financial executive who brings energy, focus, and alignment to organizations. A trusted leader who develops teams through a collaborative mentoring style. Extensive experience in accounting, finance, cash management, human resources, budgeting, and risk management in the construction industry. In the past 8 years has sold two construction companies and is currently working as a fractional CFO. She lives with her husband of 35 years in Pittstown and has three grown sons. In her spare time enjoys trying to improve her golf game!

Peter Webster

Resident Managing Director, Aon

Peter joined the CIC Board of Directors in 2019 and immediately volunteered to help the Risk Management committee. Faced with the challenges that COVID-19 has presented our communities, he has been a most welcome addition to the team! Peter’s education includes RVCC, Business and Marketing, Kellogg Catalyst Executive Program and the Harvard Advanced Leadership Program. A resident of Lebanon, NJ, Peter is an auto enthusiast, a musician and a mentor, and enjoys music, mentorship, and clay shooting. Peter confesses his guilty pleasure is reality TV! Peter is also a member of the Boards of New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the Commerce and Industry Association of NJ (CIANJ).

Peter quotes Margaret Mead: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.‘

Laurie Wolfe

Laurie Wolfe joined the CIC Board of Directors in 2020. She is a Managing Director, Wealth Advisor at Peapack Private Wealth Management, a division of Peapack-Gladstone Bank. Ms. Wolfe is a financial services professional specializing in tax preparation, planning and compliance for individuals and their businesses. She works alongside the firm’s investment advisors, advising them in matters relating to taxation and their impact on their clients’ Investment and Financial Plans.

Laurie graduated from Fairfield University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner™. Laurie has three adult children – Baker, Matthew and Molly. She and her husband, Bud, live in Basking Ridge, NJ. Laurie enjoys reading, visiting the NJ shore, biking and most recently, playing pickleball. The Community in Crisis cause is one that is very important and very personal to her.