FAMILIES FIRST - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Principal of Ackman - Ziff Real Estate Group
Adam L. Steinberg is a Principal of Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group, specializing in arranging joint venture equity partnerships, preferred equity partnerships, and high-leverage mezzanine loans. Since joining Ackman-Ziff in 2004, Adam has closed dozens of transactions aggregating more than $2 billion of equity capital. Adam co-heads Ackman-Ziff's Equity Business as well as Equity Approval Committee, which reviews and approves all new equity assignments.
Adam has more than 25 years of real estate investment banking experience. From 2000 to 2004, Adam worked as a vice president in AEW's Partners Group, responsible for the execution of new acquisitions as well as investment management strategies. From 1997 to 2000, he was a vice president in the Investment Banking Group of Lend Lease/Boston Financial, where he was responsible for executing development transactions. Prior to that, he held positions with Rockwood Realty Associates and Allmerica Realty Advisors. Adam began his career as a real estate financial analyst with Salomon Brothers Inc. Adam is a 1988 graduate of Dartmouth College (B.A.) and 1994 graduate of Cornell University (M.B.A.). Adam became involved with Families First through the Father's Breakfast (now the Breakfast Benefit) and chaired the event last year. He and his family live in the Greater Boston area and can often be found at Mt. Snow in the winter. Read Less
Adebola Yakubu-Owolewa is a lifelong resident of Roxbury, Massachusetts. She graduated from Boston Latin School and matriculated at Harvard College, where she earned an A.B. in Applied Mathematics. She worked as a Pharmaceutical Representative for 14 months after college and decided to pursue a career in medicine. She resigned from her pharmaceutical position, took a chance on herself, and enrolled in the post-baccalaureate program at Harvard Extension School to complete her premedical requirements. She also volunteered for three years in the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program's Foot Clinic at St. Francis House taking care of homeless people. Adebola went on to earn her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. She completed her residency in Anatomic Pathology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in Forensic Pathology. She works in Boston as a Board-certified Forensic Pathologist.
While she is very proud of her professional endeavors, her role as a mother to her six-year-old son is her top priority. She previously completed the Power of Parenting program in an effort to continue learning, and the mission and vision of Families First resonated with her. She then completed the Parent Leadership Academy, through which she worked on an independent project geared towards mentoring minority high school students interested in pursuing a career in medicine. She also serves on the Future Leaders of Boston Scholarship Committee at the University Club of Boston. This represents a full circle for her, as she was a 2001 scholarship recipient. She is honored to be in a position to recognize the promise and leadership qualities of amazing young people of Boston. Adebola is equally excited to serve on the Board of Families First, as it represents an opportunity for Adebola to share her perspective and further develop as a leader. Read Less
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Board Chair / Director of Administration - Boston at Latham & Watkins
Ally Turner is an attorney in the Boston office of Latham & Watkins LLP and a member of the Litigation & Trial Department, where she focuses her practice on products liability and complex commercial litigation. Ally is a global co-chair of the firm's Parent Lawyers Group.
Ally has long been interested in child welfare, particularly at the intersection of children's issues and the legal system. Ally earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Cornell University, and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she participated in the Child Advocacy Clinic and interned with the Child Protection Unit of the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.
Ally lives in Manchester-by-the-Sea with her two children, Anne and Henry.
Job Titles:
- Associate Managing Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
- Co - Chair of Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Ariel Cudkowicz is the co-chair of Seyfarth Shaw LLP's national Employment Litigation and Counseling Practice Group and serves on the firm's national Labor and Employment Steering Committee. He is the Associate Managing Partner of the Boston Office. Ariel advises Fortune 100 corporations on compliance with state and federal wage and hour laws and avoidance of litigation under those laws. He received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rochester.
Ariel joined the Families First board in 2017. After attending and supporting Families First's annual Breakfast Benefit for more than a decade, he took on the role of Co-Chair of the Breakfast Committee in 2017 and has increased the event's success significantly. Ariel lives in Newton with his wife and son.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Greater Boston
"Both parents and children are stronger when supportive communities surround them. Families First helps build those communities for parents, and I am proud to be involved in that work."
Arpan Barua joined the Families First team in November 2023 after graduating from Tufts University with a degree in Philosophy and Civic Studies. He has had previous experience working with and teaching children of all ages. Throughout his education and professional experience, he has remained most passionate about the potential for growth and social justice through community.
In college, Arpan was heavily involved in the political engagement of his university's South Asian community. From this experience, he continues to be energized by opportunities to build stronger communities and hopes to take such energy to Families First. As a Bilingual Program Coordinator for the Greater Boston Area, Arpan embraces the chance to build communities of parents through the Power of Parenting program. Additionally, as a non-native Spanish speaker, he hopes to approach both English- and Spanish-speaking programs with the enthusiasm and cultural humility he has always carried.
Job Titles:
- Director of Administration & Operations
Ashlan joined the Families First staff in September 2015. She has past experience working with a variety of populations, including homeless youth and children and youth in residential settings. In this work she recognized the great impact that parenting can have on children, families, and communities as a whole.
Ashlan is passionate about providing opportunities for children and families to thrive despite the challenges they may face. She leads the evaluation efforts at Families First in order to continuously improve programming and demonstrate the impact of the organization's work on the lives of families. Ashlan is also a member of the American Evaluation Association.
She earned a BSW with a Second Major in Business Administration from Olivet Nazarene University and an MSW from Boston College.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Owner of Parent
- Program Facilitator
Beth Greenawalt is the founder and owner of Parent-Solutions Parent Coaching and specializes in parent-child connection, building parental confidence, co-parenting strategies, and child-centered divorce. After an initial career in biomedical engineering, she transitioned to being a full-time mom before going back to school and developing her own parent coaching business, Parent-Solutions. Beth chose parent coaching in order to have a positive impact on children and families. Her work focuses on helping create relationships between parents and children that are based on personal values and raising children who feel seen, supported, and loved for who they uniquely are. Beth has deep empathy for the challenges parenting presents and believes that we are all capable of positive change and growth.
Beverly Guerrero-Porter has worked in the nonprofit and education sectors in various capacities throughout her career advocating for the wellbeing of children and families. Through these collective experiences, she has become fascinated not just with human development over the course of the lifespan; but the profound impact that loving parental nurturing and supportive environments can have on creating favorable life outcomes.
Job Titles:
- Site Coordinator at Jamaica Plain Community Connections Coalition Tree of Life & Family Engagement Network
Carolina is the Site Coordinator at Jamaica Plain Community Connections Coalition Tree of Life & Family Engagement Network.
She was born and raised in Colombia, where she graduated with a Bachelor's degree from San Buenaventua University in Medellin-Colombia. She also holds a certification from the Center of Educational Certification in Boston (CED).
In 2009, Carolina came to the United States as an Au pair and from then on, she has worked with young children and their families.
In 2019, Carolina participated in the Power of Parenting program with Families First, and was invited to be a parent leader, doing outreach, providing childcare, and translating materials for workshops. During this time, she also worked as a Parent Partner at East Boston Family Engagement Network and East Boston Social Centers. In her role, she conducted ASQ ES evaluations, welcomed Baby visits, co-lead play groups, and reached out to the East Boston community. After the Power of Parenting program, Carolina joined Families First's Parent Leadership pilot program and later became a Families First Ambassador. Today, Carolina works as the Site Coordinator at Jamaica Plain Community Connections Coalition Tree of Life & Family Engagement Network. Carolina is a happy mother, loving wife, and a proud immigrant. She has two children ages 7 and 9. She strongly believes that her passion for working with different communities and backgrounds reassures her commitment to supporting and helping others in different circumstances. As a mother, she understands the impact that we make in our children's lives. Read Less
Job Titles:
- Researcher
- Assistant Director of Research at Boston Opportunity Agenda
Dr. Fernanda Campbell, Ph.D is a researcher with national and international experience in the fields of public health, neuroscience and education. She serves as the Assistant Director of Research for the Boston Opportunity Agenda. In this role, Fernanda works to increase cross-agencies collaboration around data and research on early education and care, including childcare seats availability and users' perceptions of family engagement practices across Boston organizations. She also co-manages a project to reduce disconnection rates among opportunity youth in Boston. Fernanda holds a degree in Speech & Hearing Sciences from the State University of Bahia and a Master's Degree in Neuroscience from the Federal University of Bahia (Salvador-BA, Brazil).
After working for five years at a safety net hospital in Brazil, treating and researching people with orofacial clefts, Fernanda moved to the United States as a Fulbright scholar and earned a Ph.D. in Maternal and Child Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Read Less
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President, Manulife Financial Corporation, John Hancock Financial Services
Eileen has 24 years of financial and accounting experience, including ten years focused on providing assurance and advisory services to clients. She is currently an Assistant Vice President at John Hancock, where she manages a global team of 18 that is responsible for the development, accounting, and reporting for approximately 50 reinsurance transactions.
Eileen joined Families First's Board of Directors in 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Merrimack College and is a Certified Public Accountant. She is a lifelong Boston resident and has a teenage son and daughter.
Job Titles:
- Government Affairs Lead for MA, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Erin Liang is on the government affairs team at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where she works with Massachusetts elected officials as well as nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Vertex, Erin worked on a legislative and policy agenda for the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association. Erin is a graduate of Wake Forest University, New England Law Boston, and Boston University School of Public Health.
She is also on the board of the Asian American Women's Political Initiative and co-founded a networking group for women in health policy called the WIHP (Women in Health Policy).
Erin lives in Boston with her husband Sam, her son Oliver, and her dachshund Pixel.
Job Titles:
- Library / South End Early Education Center
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Manager
Hannah Chan joined Families First's team in October 2022. Hannah was born and raised in Taiwan. She moved to Massachusetts in 2018 to attend the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, graduating with a BA in Communications. Hannah has always been interested in media as a medium, especially film and social media, as she believes they are the main agencies for how people understand and interact with the world.
Hannah is passionate about being the voice of the unheard and bringing stories that are rarely seen onto the surface. As someone who believes everyone has a story to tell, Hannah has worked hard to ensure all voices are projected and heard. During her university days, Hannah was heavily involved in educating individuals in the Amherst community about Pan-Asian cultures and empowering the narratives of women of color. She is also an advocate for early education of media literacy practices, as everyone in the Age of Information must learn how to safely and healthily navigate the Internet.
Iris Monge was born in El Salvador and raised in Los Angeles, California.
In summer of 2004 she moved to Boston MA. She loves the weather and history found in New England.
She has life experience in addition to a variety of roles in education.
Job Titles:
- Regional Director, Western Massachusetts
"As a father of three, honestly, Families First's mission spoke to me. This position drew me in because I'll be able to build and strengthen communities throughout Western Mass, and at the same time, build and strengthen my own knowledge as a parent and as a community organizer."
Israel, also known as Izzy, is passionate about early childhood and youth development, developing community voice, and enhancing family and community engagement.
At Families First, Israel helps drive forward the organization's strategic partnership development in Holyoke, Chicopee, and Springfield, and he led the launch of the first Power of Parenting and Parent Leadership programs in the region. He brings an immense amount of knowledge and experience to this role.
As Regional Director, he leads efforts around partnership-building, program oversight, and implementation for all programming in Western MA
Job Titles:
- Board Treasurer / Senior Associate, Labor and Employment, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
- Member of the Finance & Audit Committee
- Senior Associate in the Boston Office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Jim is a senior associate in the Boston office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. A member of the Labor and Employment Department as well as the ERISA & Employee Benefits Litigation Team, his practice is focused on the representation of management in a variety of employment matters. He received his JD from Harvard Law School, an MBA from the University of Illinois, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Millikin University. Prior to law school, Jim worked for several years as a consultant with Arthur Andersen, focusing on clients in the financial services, healthcare, and education industries. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant.
Job Titles:
- Senior Evaluation Manager
"Parents have a profound impact on shaping their children's lives, and I am excited to contribute to an organization that supports parents in that journey."
Job Titles:
- Chief Credit Officer of Webster Bank
Jason Soto is the Chief Credit Officer of Webster Bank. As Chief Credit Officer, he oversees Webster's lending strategy and leads the credit risk management governance program. He is responsible for overseeing the credit approval and portfolio management processes for the organization.
Prior to Webster Bank, Jason worked in credit risk management at GE Capital for 16 years, in positions of increasing responsibility.
A resident of Wayland, Massachusetts, Jason is married with 3 children. He received his bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
In the local community, Jason has been active with Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, and United Way.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Greater Boston
"The most overwhelming key to a child's success is the positive involvement of parents."
Now a member of our Program Team, Jennifer originally joined Families First in 2021 as a new mom participating in the Power of Parenting program, where she learned and experienced different ways to help the development of her children.
Jennifer was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and attended high school and college in the United States after moving here as a teen. From a young age, she has been involved in different communities not only as an activist but also as a mentor, and her background in marketing and sales further enables her connection with a variety of communities.
Jennifer is passionate about her community, and she will continue to develop her skills and education to be a better source of support for the community she serves.
Job Titles:
- Director of Development & Communications
"Having worked in youth-centered nonprofits, I can clearly say that the work we are doing at Families First with parents and caregivers is crucial to child development. When parents create a strong home environment, children receive the support they need to be resilient and make healthy choices."
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Community Engagement at the Possible Zone
In his current role, Juan Carlos leads The Possible Zone's efforts to collaborate with nonprofit and business partners to provide comprehensive support and work-based learning opportunities to our students, and to ensure TPZ is responsive to community needs. Juan-Carlos is passionate about working on challenging projects that have strong, long-lasting impacts on peoples' lives and their communities. His professional background is in Business, Economic Development, Leadership, Multicultural Affairs and Macro & Micro Lending.
Juan-Carlos worked for Families First in 2017 as their Partner Relationship Manager where he led the innovation of the Parent Leadership Program.
In 2020 Juan-Carlos was trusted to lead the one-year planning process heading the Living Safely in Jackson Square Coalition, culminating in the successful awarding of a three years implementation grant. He also served as the Education Committee Chairman of the FDIC's national initiative, the Alliance for Economic Inclusion, whose mission was to enhance the economic well-being of low-and moderate-income families and immigrants by working with financial institutions and other partners to bring the unbanked and underserved into the financial mainstream. Prior to that, he worked in banking for East Boston Savings Bank where he helped develop the Latino market. He was a Program Director for ACCION USA, the national arm of the largest international micro-lender. He also served under the Menino administration as a Program Director for the Boston Main Streets Program, focusing on economic revitalization of commercial districts as well as business retention and capital attraction. Juan-Carlos has a strong commitment to community service he has served on numerous boards as a trustees. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Universidad mayor de San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia and a Certificate from Boston University - School of Management. He is originally from La Paz, Bolivia and loves, skydiving and to play the Zampoña (a Bolivian pan-flute). Read Less
Karen Mejia has over 10 years of experience working with parents, youth, and the immigrant community. Karen currently works for Kids In Need of Defense as a Social Services Coordinator for the last five years. Prior to her work at KIND, She worked for Massachusetts General Hospital's Chelsea Campus as a Community Health Worker, providing support to families with a wide range of services, including basic medical care, mental health assessment and referrals, school access advocacy, truancy diversion, and parenting classes. She was awarded the Ernesto Gonzalez Award for her excellence and dedication to vulnerable patient populations at MGH. She was also the designated complex population health worker working under a Chelsea Police grant, conducting home visits along with the FBI Gang Unit, providing support to families involved in high-profile gang violence cases.
Karen has been a certified facilitator for the Parent Leadership Institute in various Massachusetts cities training parents to advocate at the local and state levels. In a personal capacity, Karen volunteers with her faith community as trauma group facilitator, and as a youth leader. Being an immigrant from Central America with life experiences similar to our clients, Karen is very well-known as an immigrant issues advocate, supporter, and social services professional. Karen also has 2 children and loves to run marathons. Karen has a Master's degree in Education of psychological study with a minor in child trauma.
Job Titles:
- Regulatory Preparedness Program Manager
- Senior Administrator for Quality and Compliance in the Transplant Service Line at Brigham and Women 's Hospital
Konique Ballah is the Senior Administrator for Quality and Compliance in the Transplant Service Line at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). In this role, she oversees the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program and is responsible for regulatory compliance.
Laura Quiñones was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has held a variety of roles in the field of education, including teaching preschool-through-college-age students. She led the office of student affairs for a college, trained educators who serve English-language learners, and facilitated learning experiences for adults. She chose to become a Program Facilitator because she knows firsthand the challenges of raising a little one and the importance of having access to a community where parents can gain information and resources, bond over the joys and struggles of parenting, and grow as individuals and parents.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Lead, Slalom Consulting
As a Client Service Lead with Slalom Consulting's Boston office, Quinn Moore directs teams of technology and business advisory consultants serving locally-based companies to build for their future. Defining and delivering solutions spanning customer experience, application development, analytics, and organizational change management, these teams support clients ranging from Fortune 500 to emerging mid-market growth companies. Quinn's internal operations responsibilities include business development, career mentoring, and corporate citizenship leadership.
Quinn joined the Families First board in 2018. He grew up in western Pennsylvania and graduated from Brown University with a combined Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. He now lives in Jamaica Plain with his two sons.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Programs
"With decades of experience as an educator working with children, I deeply understand the significance of child development, particularly how crucial the early years are. Collaborating with caregivers is critical in influencing positive outcomes for children. By aligning together, we possess the ability to utilize effective strategies to raise resilient children and make inroads to decreasing the academic gap. This ongoing collaboration is at the core of what we do at Families First, and it is a key reason why I take immense pride in being part of this team."
Maridel Perdomo joined Families First in February of 2024.
Maridel joins Families First from Schools for Children, where she was the Director of Extended Learning Programs. There, she was responsible for multi-site programs for 200 students and leading 30 staff members. While in this role, Maridel was deeply passionate about strengthening the interrelationships between caregivers/parents and their children. Prior roles have included Site Director of the YMCA at Gardner Pilot Academy, Preschool Director at Pine Village Preschool, and roles as Job Developer and Youth Program Director with Centro Latino. Maridel earned her master's degree in public administration from Framingham State University, her bachelor's degree in psychology from Salem State University, and also holds a degree in Human Resource Administration from Cecilio Acosta University in Caracas, Venezuela. Recently, Maridel served on the Board of Trustees of Watertown's New Rep Theatre, where she was a member of the Diversity Committee and was involved in fundraising, budgeting, and the annual planning process.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, National and Major Accounts, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Michelle Fatsi is responsible for the National & Major segment of customers for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, including retention sales and health engagement strategy. Michelle joined Blue Cross in 2018 as a senior client director to lead the Hospital and Higher Education verticals. Prior to Blue Cross, Michelle led large group retention and new business sales in Massachusetts for Key and Municipal customers at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. She also worked as a managing consultant at Strategic Benefit Advisors providing health and welfare consulting. Michelle's career has focused extensively on large employers and designing comprehensive health care benefit strategies to achieve diverse health and wellbeing objectives.
Michelle earned a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is also an Executive Leadership Program Fellow of America's Health Insurance Plans. Michelle newly serves on the Program Committee for the New England Employee Benefits Council and enjoys opportunities to educate on industry topics. Read Less
Job Titles:
- Intensive Foster Care Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families
As an educator, clinician, and social worker, Michelle has worked in the areas of child welfare, early education, homelessness, substance abuse, and domestic violence. In addition to her professional experience, Michelle also brings a belief in the wonder of childhood, the power of healing, and the importance of laughter.
She is currently an Intensive Foster Care Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Michelle holds a Master of Science in Social Work from Simmons College, and she is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. After serving as a Parenting Educator for many years, Michelle joined Families First's board in 2016.
Mirella, who joined the Families First board in spring 2019, is a medical laboratory technologist at New England Baptist hospital and lives in Boston with her two daughters. A two-time participant in Families First programs, Mirella continues to be part of our parenting program through her work as a Parent Leader.
Job Titles:
- Consultant With the Challenge Success Initiative at Stanford University
Pam has over three decades of experience engaging with non-profit institutions in an executive management or volunteer leadership capacity. Her work has primarily been focused in the areas of human services (especially children and youth) and education. Pam is currently a consultant with the Challenge Success Initiative at Stanford University. She consults with partner schools throughout the East Coast to explore root causes of student stress and develop strategies to improve overall student well-being and engagement with learning. Her role specifically emphasizes the importance of parent and family engagement as critical components of community change. Pam also serves on the East Coast Advisory Board for Challenge Success.
Pam has been actively involved as a Board member of Community Action Partners (CAP), a joint program for alumni of Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. In this role, she manages consulting projects for non-profit clients in the Greater Boston area. Her recent CAP projects have included formulating a strategic framework for growth and expansion for Families First, an award-winning parent education and leadership development program based in Massachusetts. Pam has continued her involvement with Families First, both as an advisor and committee member, to help create and implement a national expansion plan for the parent leadership program. Pam also led a team in designing a talent management strategy for Strong Women, Strong Girls, which is a multi-generational girls' mentoring and empowerment program in Boston and Pittsburgh. In addition, her CAP tenure includes partnering with the Steppingstone Foundation to craft a set of "whole child" outcomes to assess community impact. The Steppingstone Foundation offers academic, social-emotional, and college readiness programming to Boston-area students. Pam has just recently been nominated to serve as Co-Chair of the CAP Board for the upcoming two-year term. Her past experience includes serving as Vice President of Community Investments for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay (Greater Boston), responsible for allocating $28 million in community grants. She has also worked with Boston-area non-profit organizations including the March of Dimes Foundation, the Alliance for Young Families, Citizen's Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), Boston Children's Services, and Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. In the private sector, Pam was a management consultant in the health care practice at Booz, Allen & Hamilton. Pam holds a Master's in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where she was a Kennedy Fellow. Her studies focused on Child/Family Policy and Education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics and a Certificate of Women's Studies from Duke University. Pam lives with her husband in Sherborn, MA, and has two grown sons plus a Bernese Mountain Dog, Magnolia. Read Less
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager of Institutional Giving
Petra Raposo joined Families First in July 2024 as a member of the Development team. She previously worked in a variety of non-profits in both administrative and program support roles, most recently at the Animal Rescue League of Boston. She has a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College, and is passionate about writing, media literacy, mental health, restorative justice, and animal welfare (among many other things).
Petra grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts, and has lived in the Boston area since 2010. She is inspired by Families First's mission and programs and is excited to join the team!
Job Titles:
- Counselor
- Program Administrative Coordinator
Raymond Perkins joined Families First's team in November 2021. Raymond graduated from Hampshire College with a degree in Biology and Creative Writing. He is excited about providing resources to communities that are in need. He is passionate about social justice, sustainability, and accessibility. He is an uncle to six nephews and nieces.
In the past, Raymond has worked as a camp counselor for a camp geared towards children with learning disabilities and has volunteered with a nationwide organization that provided clubs and activities to children teaching them skills from communication to raising animals.
Job Titles:
- EVP, CRE Division Executive, Brookline Bank
- Executive Vice President and Division Executive of the Commercial Real Estate at Brookline Bank
Bob Brown, an Executive Vice President and Division Executive of the Commercial Real Estate at Brookline Bank, leads a professional commercial real estate team with loan commitments approaching $4 billion. Bob joined the Bank in 2010 and sits on various committees at the Bank including CRA, ALCO, Credit, and Operations Risk. During Bob's time as EVP, he initiated the creation of a Community Development and Lending group to assist with capitalizing low and moderate income housing. Bob's experience spans 30 years in the commercial real estate space. Prior to joining the Brookline Bank, Bob served as the Market Manager for KeyBank's CRE Income Property Group, in addition to various commercial real estate positions at BankBoston and Moran & Associates.
Mr. Brown's career in lending includes construction, non-stabilized, mezzanine, permanent (agency, balance sheet, CMBS, and Life), syndications and asset recovery. Bob earned his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut, served on the Board of the Real Estate Finance Association, and belongs to other commercial real estate associations including RELA and NAIOP. Bob currently resides in Hopkinton, MA with his wife and three children. Read Less
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Greater Boston
Rosemary Adorno is of Puerto Rican decent. She was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. She joined the Families First team in September 2022 as the Greater Boston Program Coordinator for the Power of Parenting Program. In addition to her work as a Parent Leadership Ambassador with Families First, she worked for the ABCD Head Start community as a case manager and then ERSE Specialist. She actively volunteers at various nonprofit agencies. She was a Parent Partner at Nurtury Learning Lab and is a Parent Leader for the Smart from the Start program. Rosemary is a single mother of four children. She has worked and been very active in the childcare field since she herself was 14. She is passionate about her community and the families that she comes across. Rosemary started her involvement with Families First as a parent enrolled in the Power of Parenting program in 2019 because she enjoys spending time with her children and continuing to further her education and resource connections as much as possible.
Shawne has been a Families First Program Facilitator since 2001. She has facilitated parenting workshops in a variety of settings, including transitional housing and educational centers. Shawne is currently the Senior Mentor Supervisor for Dare Family Services, where she works with specialized foster parents and children.
Job Titles:
- Owner and CEO of HomeCare Hands
Sina Holloman is the Owner and CEO of HomeCare Hands, a distinguished home health care and medical staffing agency based in Springfield, MA. Since founding HomeCare Hands in January 2015, Sina has led the company with visionary leadership, establishing multiple divisions including Homecare, Medical, Civic (Humble Heroes), the Sharecare Program for Independent and Assisted Living Communities, and the educational division HCH EDU. Under her direction, HomeCare Hands has thrived, delivering exceptional staffing solutions tailored to diverse client needs while maintaining a commitment to high-quality service.
Sina oversees all aspects of operations, focusing on recruitment, client relations, finance, and compliance across each division. She is known for her innovative business strategies that adapt to evolving client and patient needs, fostering a culture of excellence and compassion throughout the organization. Sina has built strong partnerships with healthcare providers, facilities, and community organizations, enhancing service delivery and community engagement. Her professional achievements include recognition in the BusinessWest 40/40 Class of 2012 Alumni and a featured biography in Marquis Who's Who. Sina is also a respected professional speaker on healthcare, entrepreneurship, and leadership topics, and actively serves on boards and councils related to healthcare, business, and community development. Read Less
Stacey joined Families First in July 2008 as the Office Administrator/Executive Assistant after working for several years in office administration in the corporate sector. Since that time, she has also provided administrative support to the Development and Program departments.
Stacey became Officer Manager in May 2016. Her major responsibilities include overseeing office operations, acting as liaison to the Board of Directors, and providing administrative support to the Finance department. During her non-Families First time, she enjoys swimming, Red Sox baseball, and cheering on her nephews at baseball, football, and hockey.
Job Titles:
- Enrollment Platform Project Manager at City of Boston - Office of Early Childhood
I am a mother of two young children who aims for an equitable and fairer world for all. My passion for equity goes back to my childhood years in my native Peru. Throughout my life, I have witnessed the many ways in which individuals from marginalized and at-risk communities face systemic barriers and discrimination, preventing them from accessing opportunities and realizing their full potential. I welcomed my first child in 2014 shortly after immigrating to the United States. The need to understand how to best support my children sent me back to academia. As a result, I have dedicated my career to advocating for communities, particularly for children. I firmly believe that parents have the power to raise resilient children who can overcome adversity and thrive, despite the many challenges they may face.
My work focuses on empowering parents and caregivers with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to support their children's development, growth, and success. I believe that by uplifting families, we can uplift entire communities, breaking down barriers and creating a more equitable and inclusive society for all. As a fearless advocate for children, I have worked tirelessly to address the root causes of inequality, working with community organizations, schools, and policymakers to promote systemic change. I am deeply committed to social justice and believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling, happy, and prosperous life, regardless of their background or circumstances. Through my work, I hope to create a world in which every child can reach their full potential, where families are supported, and where equity and inclusion are valued and celebrated. Read Less
Sue Covitz is the Executive Director at Families First. She has held leadership positions with the organization since 2006. Her roles have included Director of Strategic Partnerships, Director of Outreach and Education, and Deputy Director.
Since becoming the Executive Director in 2016, Sue has more than doubled the budget and staff at Families First. She has led the development of 3 business plans and expanded the organization's footprint to Western MA and across the state. The new Business Plan includes the potential for the organization to expand outside of Massachusetts.
Over the past few years, Sue has centered the voices of parents in the organization. She supported the launch of a Parent Representative Committee which ensures that parents are consulted on key decisions being made in the organization. During her time as Executive Director, 4 parents have joined the Board and 4 parents have been hired as full-time employees.
Prior to joining Families First, Sue served as the Executive Director of Greater Options for Adolescent Lives. She has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, coalition building, and community organizing.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Haverford College and a Master of Social Work from Boston College. Sue is the parent of two daughters and participated as a parent in Families First workshops when her children were toddlers.
Job Titles:
- Founder & Chief Transformation Officer, Riverwise Leadership
Sue's mission is to help leaders and organizations do change better. Working at the intersection of leadership coaching, team effectiveness, and change management, Sue empowers leaders and teams to reach their next great destination by embodying purpose, strength, and fluidity.
Sue serves emerging leaders and C-suite executives across a range of industries including life sciences, technology, health care, and professional services. She is a highly-rated faculty member for leadership development programs at a leading global professional services firm, and is also the founder and lead coach for "Creating What's Next," a peer-coaching program for women in career transition. She is a frequent speaker on topics like Leading Change, Owning Your Career, and The Coaching Perspective, and coaches executive teams to greater effectiveness through better communication, decision-making, and accountability.
Job Titles:
- Operations & Finance Manager
"Effective parent education can be a catalyst for positive change within families."
Sydney joined Families First team in November 2023. Her decision to join Families First stems from a profound desire to contribute to an organization dedicated to parent education. While studying at Columbia University in Developmental Psychology, Sydney researched parent dynamics and its effects on child development, specifically with the father-child relationship. Additionally, she holds a BA in Child and Adolescent Development and Counseling from San Francisco State University, which began her expertise in understanding the impact of family structures.
Working in schools and various educational nonprofits, Sydney observed firsthand the transformative power of parenting on a child's growth and development. She is driven by the belief that effective parent education can be a catalyst for positive change within families and envisions harnessing her academic achievements and practical insights to enhance and expand our programs, fostering a supportive environment for families to thrive.
Job Titles:
- Family Engagement Manager
- Senior Family & Community Engagement Manager
Hired in July 2021 as the Family Engagement Manager, Tiffany oversees Families First's Parent Leadership pathway as well as Alumni activities. Tiffany began her Parent Leadership journey with Families First by attending a Power of Parenting series hosted by our community partner Higher Ground, and in 2021, she graduated from the Ripple Program, where she supported the Boston Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Community Project by starting a family council.
Raised in Boston, Tiffany brings a lot of experience in community and family outreach to her role at Families First. Her passion for working with nonprofits stems from two different places: the needs of children and the support that caregivers need. Being a part of the Families First pathway has given her a deeper appreciation for how Families First seeks to improve the quality of life for children - two generations at a time, one program at a time.
Tiffany holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a Concentration in Trauma Studies from Endicott College in Beverly, MA. A dedicated advocate for family engagement, Tiffany is the proud mom of a 16-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son who keep her on her toes with their active participation in various sporting events.
With a deep belief in the power of the parent voice, Tiffany is actively involved in several community initiatives. She serves as a member of Boston Children's E-Advisor and contributes her insights as a member of Boston Children's Hospital Emergency Department Family Advisory Council. Additionally, Tiffany is a valued member of the Compass Working Capital Program Committee.
Valeria Payton is an educator with over 20 years of experience as a teacher, school principal, and founder of a school in the south of Mexico. Valeria is committed to supporting parents to acquire the skills that allow them be emotionally available to their children and make deep connections amongst their families. She joined the Families First Program Facilitator team in 2021 and has been leading Power of Parenting programs in English and Spanish.
Vesna Karmelic is a Chilean psychologist, with extensive experience in the education and mental health fields. In her professional career, she worked for more than 20 years in Higher Education institutions in Chile, holding various roles, including undergraduate teaching, teacher training, and leading university outreach projects. She also held managerial roles that included leading the Students Admissions Office, the Center for Psychosocial Intervention, and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership at a public university. Previously, she worked as a child and adolescent psychologist in educational and clinical settings as well as in her private practice.
After moving to Boston, Vesna joined Families First as a Program Facilitator in 2021, where she leads parenting programs in Spanish and English. In parallel, she also works as a Master Observer with the National Institute of Out-of-School-Time.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Finance & Administration
Wendy joined the Families First staff in July 2017 after serving as a board member for two years. She has previously held similar positions for both nonprofit and consulting organizations in greater Boston over the last twenty-five years.
Her major responsibilities include financial reporting to the management team and board of directors, assisting with the financial elements of grants administration, and oversight of human resources.
Wendy is thrilled to bring her skill set to support the mission of Families First. She is passionate about the goal of giving all children the best possible start in life. As the parent of two adult sons, she believes in the tremendous value of the programming that Families First provides. She has a BA in Psychology from Harvard University and an MBA/MSW from the University of Chicago.
Job Titles:
- Community Leader
- Program Coordinator, Western Massachusetts