Mid-Atlantic Region Alumni Profiles

Yvette Brown
Company: Clean Markets
Title: Executive Vice President and Principal
A Better Chance School: Baldwin School, ‘78
Bio: Yvette joined Clean Markets in 2009, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry and utilities sector and proven success in marketing and sales. Prior to joining the company, Yvette held management roles at PJM Interconnection, the world’s largest wholesale electricity market and transmission grid operator, in Generation Planning, Capacity Market Operations, Customer Relations, and Training. She was Director of Marketing for Exelon Energy’s $1B electricity commodity business and held several management roles at PECO Energy. Yvette has demonstrated success across industrial, commercial and residential electric and natural gas markets in engineering, operations and market development. Yvette possess that unique combination of education, industry experience and expertise that drives success. Yvette earned her MBA from Villanova University and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Engineering from Swarthmore College.

Judge Charles Hayden
Company: Municipal Court of Philadelphia, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
Title: Judge
A Better Chance School: Solebury, ‘74
Bio: Elected to a six-year term in November 2009, the Honorable Charles Hayden currently sits on the Municipal Court of Philadelphia, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Over the thirty years of his career, Judge Hayden has been a solo practitioner in general practice, an Assistant Public Defender and a litigator with a small Center City law firm, an environmental lawyer with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, an Associate with Saul Ewing LLP (a major Philadelphia law firm) and an in-house with Waste Management, Inc (a Fortune 500 company). In addition, he has served as a panelist/instructor for legal seminars and courses in a variety of areas including: the Clean Air Act; toxic torts; environmental law; negotiations; trial advocacy; administrative proceedings; construction contracts and litigation.

Prior to his recent elevation to the bench, Judge Hayden was Chief Counsel and A.A. for Congressman Chaka Fattah for five years. In that position, he reported directly to the Congressman and he was responsible for all legislation and policy matters, with the exception of appropriations. A former Vice President of the Barrister’s Association of Philadelphia, Judge Hayden has twice received the President’s Commendation. He has been the Chairman of the Environmental Law Sections of the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia and the Federal Bar Association, Philadelphia Chapter. He has also served as an Investigator for the Judicial Selection Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Judge Hayden has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, including the Community College of Philadelphia Paralegal Studies Advisory Board; the Mayor’s Oversight Committee for The President’s House; the SHARE Food Program, Inc.; the Greater Philadelphia Chapter, A Better Chance, Inc.; the National Alumni Board, A Better Chance, Inc; the Defenders' Association of Philadelphia; the Crime Prevention Association of Philadelphia; the Law and Public Safety Stakeholders Partnership; the Philadelphia Mental Health Care Connection (PMHCC) Board; the Corporate Alliance for Drug Education; the Radnor A Better Chance, Inc. Board and the E. Luther Cunningham Community Center. Judge Hayden is a native Philadelphian who was educated K-9 in the Philadelphia public school system. He attended Solebury boarding school on a full academic scholarship as an A Better Chance Scholar. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Carleton College in 1978 and his Juris Doctor from the Antioch School of Law in 1981. He currently lives in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia with his wife of twenty-five years and their two children.

Darryl Hamlett
A Better Chance School: Fieldston School, ‘83
Bio: Darryl Hamlett is currently employed in two fields: Information Technology (IT) and Education. During the day, he is a Business Analyst; in the evening and on weekends, he is a Professional Tutor. He has worked as a Business Analyst for 13 years in several industries including Insurance, Medical Testing and Pharmaceuticals, and Mutual Funds. Prior to becoming a Business Analyst, Darryl was a Structural Engineer for 6 years at PECo Energy. He has been a Tutor for more than 20 years, assisting students in Mathematics, Writing, Physics, and Spanish. Darryl is a graduate of Brown University with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Civil Engineering.

Teka Johnson
Company: KPMG
Title: Audit Associate
A Better Chance School: Fieldston School, ‘83
Bio: Teka Johnson was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Penn State University in December 2011 with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accountancy and a minor in international business. During her college career she participated in many extracurricular activities such as the Business Society, Student Government Association, National Association of Black Accountants, and Peer Tutoring Program. Teka Johnson is currently pursuing a certified public accountant (CPA) designation. She will begin working with KPMG this fall as an audit associate.

David Ruiz
Company: Girard College
Title: Upper School (Grades 7-12) Academic Dean
A Better Chance School: Brooklyn Friends School, ‘75
Bio: Mr. David Ruiz is a native New Yorker and twenty year veteran of both independent and charter school education. He has worn many different hats in those years. Mr. Ruiz has served as a Dorm Head, Director of Cross-Cultural Advising, Dean of Students, Principal and Director of Upper School. He has taught Social Philosophy, Latin American Studies, United States History, and American Foreign Policy. Mr. Ruiz earned his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in History and Spanish Literature and his M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, majoring in Teacher Education and Multicultural Curriculum Development. Mr. Ruiz is currently the Upper School (Grades 7-12) Academic Dean at Girard College in Philadelphia, PA. He aspires to one day be a Head of School.