Key Staff

Howard L. Haughton
Chief Executive Officer
​Mr. Haughton brings more than 20 years of business and management experience, and more than a decade of nonprofit and humanitarian experience to this new role as the permanent CEO; however, he is not new to Eva’s Village. With a degree in Business Administration from Stockton University, he served as a member of Eva’s Senior Management Team as Chief Operating Officer for 14 months prior to assuming the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer in January 2021; a few months later, by unanimous vote of all Board Members present, Howard became the permanent CEO in April of 2021.
    As a senior management team member, he worked to manage and address logistical and organizational challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As COO, he oversaw and strengthened the accounting, finance, and information technology teams while supervising the facilities management, security, and operations departments.
    As the CEO, Howard continues to be a firm believer in community, social service, and the importance of anti-poverty and wellness programs. Reinforcing his commitment to the community, he presently serves on numerous boards in the local area, including his role as the Board Secretary for the Englewood Public Library. Additionally, he was elected to the Englewood Board of Education from 2012 to 2015, where he served as Board President from 2013 to 2015.

Kevin Kelly 
Chief Operating Officer
​Mr. Kelly is the Chief Operating Office for Eva's Village and is responsible for all clinical and non-clinical programs, including, but not limited to the Halfway Houses, Shelters, Outpatient programs, and Food Services. He is deeply committed to the mission and value of Eva's and brings a results-focused and hands on approach to the business operations, fiscal leadership, and change leadership with an ability to quickly respond to the ever-changing dynamics and challenges of our organization.
    Kevin has more than 35 years of experience in senior management roles for both non-profit and for-profit organizations. His diverse and broad experience in operations and finance for healthcare organizations gives him a unique perspective.
    Kevin is a quality-focused and critical-thinking individual in driving best practices and high standards of excellence to enhance operational excellence and services. He is a recognized strategist for identification of key projects to transform underperforming or deficient areas, enhance or integrate systems, improve processes or procedures to optimize safety, regulatory compliance, and reporting. ​

Valerie Pitts
Vice President, Human Resources
Ms. Pitts is responsible for human resources management at Eva’s Village.  She has worked in Human Resources for most of her 25-year career with experience in benefits, employee relations, payroll, talent acquisition, and supervision.
​    Valerie has held senior management and consulting positions with large, mid-sized, and small companies in various industries: insurance; manufacturing; travel; marketing; financial services; healthcare; restaurants; and  not-for-profit organizations. She is a certified and active member of SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management).

Laura Van Bloem
Senior Director of Development & Communications
Ms. Van Bloem is responsible for all development and communications activities and for delivering on fundraising goals.
Working closely with the executive team and individual program leaders, she develops and executes fundraising and communication strategies to meet the needs of the organization. Laura manages the development team who prospects, cultivates, and stewards relationships with individual donors, corporations and foundations, and major donors through appeals, special events and other relationship-building techniques.
In addition, she is responsible for all government grant-related activity including researching grants, supervising government grant writing and budgeting, and reporting.
​Laura oversees all outward communications including advertising, social media, website, e-marketing, media inquiries, and press releases and acts as the spokesperson for Eva’s Village when the CEO is unavailable.

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