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Celebrating Local Minority & Women-Owned Businesses 

Legislators Paul, Stilley & Davidson Honor Lorraine Lobert Freeman, Dr. Lalitha Ravichandran, Kerri Horgan & Coleen Dahlem, Adrienne Cromartie-Wolf & Mervin DeCosta, and Loreinnie Corchado

The Rockland County Legislature recognized seven residents for their professional successes and community contributions during this year’s Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Celebration.

Rockland County Legislature Vice Chairwoman Aney Paul led the event, joined by Legislators Dana G. Stilley and Beth Davidson. Together, they cited the many accomplishments of the honorees:

• Lorraine Lobert Freeman – Customly Yours, New City
• Dr. Lalitha Ravichandran, MD – Renal Consultants, Pomona
• Kerri Horgan & Coleen Dahlem – The Rail Trail Café & Mercantile, Blauvelt 
• Adrienne Cromartie-Wolf & Mervin DeCosta – My Father’s House, Nyack
• Loreinnie Corchado – Michael’s On Main, New City

Each honoree was presented with a Distinguished Service Award, the Legislature’s highest honor.

“These honorees have demonstrated the incredible skills needed to become successful business owners, including never-ending hard work, commitment to quality, a high standard of professionalism and sheer determination,” Legislator Paul said. “In some cases, they do all of this while also being married and raising families, and they give back to the larger community.”

Legislator Paul chairs the Special Committee on Minority and Women Business Enterprise, whose members also include Committee Vice Chair Dana G. Stilley and Legislators Toney L. Earl, Itamar Yeger and Thomas Diviny.

In 2017, the Legislature proclaimed Nov. 16 as Minority and Women Business Enterprise Awareness Day in Rockland County. Every November outstanding local business owners are honored in recognition of the challenges they have overcome and the successes they have achieved. 

A seasoned seamstress with more than 40 years’ experience, Lorraine Lobert Freeman launched her business, Customly Yours, LLC (Fashion Made Just For You) in 2006. It is located on Main Street in New City and is by appointment only. She is a certified MWBE member, and a member of the Rockland Business Women’s Network and the New City Chamber of Commerce. Lorraine participates in the popular Rockland Fashion Week and has worked with BRIDGES and other organizations aiding the physically disabled, providing classes and creating adaptive wear. She is also the creator of Sitting Pretty, a dress line for the non-standing lifestyle, which she hopes to launch by next spring.

Dr. Lalitha Ravichandran is President of Renal Consultants, a medical group practice in Pomona that specializes in nephrology - the function and diseases of the kidneys. She founded Renal Consultants in 1995 as a solo practitioner and built it into a thriving group practice. She has been active with Jeevan Jyoti, which helps senior citizens in Rockland, and the India Cultural Society of Rockland, which promotes community service, including health fairs, soup kitchens and clothing drives. She served ARC of Rockland as a Board member advocating for the disabled and as a champion of autistic children and adults, having raised an autistic child which she considers her major accomplishment.

Kerri Horgan and Coleen Dahlem were introduced by Legislator Stilley.

“As a small business owner, I know too well the commitment and sacrifice that it takes to run a successful business,” Legislator Stilley said. “Congratulations to Kerri and Coleen for following their dream and embracing their vision for The Rail Trail. Based on the theme of old railroad tracks and trains, this unique café/mercantile space not only serves great food, but you will also find a unique shopping area that features very distinctive items, such as dog bowls, train stickers, and dish towels. And while you are there be sure to view the black and white photos of Blauvelt and Orangeburg train stations and listen for the whistle that will sound like a train.”

Chef Kerri Horgan was classically trained at the Institute for Culinary Education in Manhattan. She began her culinary career working for Chef Alex Guarneschelli at Butter in Midtown and then proceeded to serve up delicious dishes all over Rockland for the past 10 years.

When the opportunity to create something with her sister Coleen presented itself, it felt like a dream come true. On Oct. 4, 2023, the Rail Trail Cafe & Mercantile in Blauvelt was opened. At the Rail Trail, Chef Horgan’s menu is a combination of fine-dining and comfort food.

Prior to the Rail Trail, Coleen Dahlem spent 16 years teaching second grade in the Bronx. Ready for a change, she teamed up with her sister to open the Rail Trail Cafe. Coleen comes to the Rail Trail every day with a passion for creating a welcoming and warm environment.

Adrienne Cromartie-Wolf & Mervin DeCosta were introduced by Legislator Davidson.

“My Father's House has been a welcome and joyful addition not just to Nyack's restaurant scene, but to our community as a whole,” said Legislator Davidson, who represents Nyack and nominated Cromartie-Wolf and DeCosta for the MWBE honor. “While diners from every walk of life enjoy Chef Adrienne and Chef Mervin's Southern cuisine, the restaurant and menu are also a love letter to Nyack's storied and vibrant Black community. And from participating in local events to hiring young musicians to play, they have seamlessly woven themselves into the fabric of our village. Please, visit My Father's House as soon as you can - I guarantee you won't leave hungry.”

Adrienne Cromartie-Wolf graduated from Urban Horizon Culinary Arts in June 2001 and worked within the Urban Horizon Catering Division. She then started her own catering business serving the needs of churches and other clients. She previously worked alongside her late father, Franklin Delano Cromartie, at his catering company, Cromartie Caters.

Adrienne went on to earn masters’ degrees in early childhood education and School Building Leadership from Mercy College and is a certified teacher in the New York City schools. As a woman of faith, Adrienne has dedicated My Father’s House Southern Cuisine to her Heavenly Father, her natural father, and her spiritual father, Bishop Hezekiah Walker. She and her cousin Mervin are delighted to be in the Nyack community where they have felt such a sense of welcome from their new customers.

As the youngest of 11, Mervin DeCosta grew up in a family where food was the heartbeat, bringing everyone all together. Watching his mom and dad cook, he quickly learned that navigating the kitchen was as essential as any life skill. Moving to North Carolina only deepened his love for food – they raised their own produce, learned from aunts who made everything from scratch, and savored homemade jellies and cured meats. These meals were more than just food, they were traditions, seeds planted by their family and brought to life in My Father’s House Southern Cuisine.

Rockland County Legislators Dana Stilley & Aney Paul (left) with Honorees with Adrienne Cromartie-Wolf, Dr. Lalitha Ravichandran, Lorraine Lobert Freeman, Coleen Dahlem & Kerri Horgan & (right) County Legislator Beth Davidson.

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