Our People
Staff
Just A Start’s dedicated staff come to the organization from many different backgrounds with expertise in community development, education and training, real estate, housing stabilization, and financial management. Our staff includes teachers, case managers, licensed social workers, attorneys, trained mediators, construction managers, project managers, and finance and philanthropy professionals.
Executive Team
Robert Brainin
Carmen Chan
Carl Nagy-Koechlin
Danelle Marable
Noah Sawyer
Tsveta Semova
Elizabeth Winston
Administration
Cindy Silva
Controller
617-918-7530
[email protected]
Denise Dao
Senior Accountant
617-356-1793
[email protected]
Sara Cyr
Grant Manager
617-918-7509
[email protected]
Kymira Woodberry
Real Estate Accounting Manager
763-307-4577
[email protected]
Gaukhar Abugaliyeva
Accounts Payable Clerk
[email protected]
Nana To
Staff Accountant
617-315-3395
[email protected]
Monique Collin
Operations Manager
617-918-7539
[email protected]
Jude Alfaro
Manager of CRM & Data Systems and Salesforce Initiatives
617-356-1594
[email protected]
Mary-Kate McGeary
Office Coordinator
617-333-8555
[email protected]
Resource Development
Mathias Vialva
Associate Director of Institutional Giving
[email protected]
617-918-7515
Elizabeth Pierre
Communications Manager
617-918-7522
[email protected]
Caroline Olson
Philanthropy Associate
617-545-7377
[email protected]
Home Improvement Program
Ethan Solomon
Homeownership Programs Director
617-918-7514
[email protected]
Anna Cressman
Senior Homeownership Programs Coordinator
617-918-7513
[email protected]
Real Estate Development
Yolanda Gilibert
Project Manager
617-681-4753
[email protected]
Molly Kaviar
Project Manager
617-917-4913
[email protected]
Madeline Lee
Project Manager
617-918-7540
[email protected]
Connor Ring
Project Manager
617-918-7559
[email protected]
Kevin Nesline
Project Manager
617-918-7519
[email protected]
Housing Services
Marijke van der Hiel
Financial Empowerment Program Manager
(617) 819-7278
[email protected]
Peter Shapiro
Housing Mediation Manager
617-620-9858
[email protected]
Selma DeCastro
Mobility Mentor
[email protected]
Jenny Komatsu
Financial Coach
763-244-8644
[email protected]
Justi Godoy
Mediator and Facilitator
617-918-7791
[email protected]
Jessie Scheffler
Housing Stabilization Administrative Coordinator
617-302-7935
[email protected]
Resident Services
Pierre Fils-Aime
Senior Resident Services Coordinator
617-341-8164
[email protected]
Fenan Samuel
Resident Services Coordinator
617-918-7526
[email protected]
Ishwar Lamichhane
Digital Navigator Fellow
617-344-9583
[email protected]
Adult career training Programs
Korynn Stoyanoff
Director of Adult Career Training
617-918-7502
[email protected]
Ben Jamieson
Associate Director of Academic Programs
617-906-6294
[email protected]
Leora Rifkin Edouard
Associate Director of Operations and Growth
617-918-7555
[email protected]
Tanya Quintanilla
Program and Data Systems Lead
617-918-7520
[email protected]
Ariagnna Abreu-Garcia
Community Outreach & Recruitment Specialist
617-752-3867
AriagnnaAbreu-Garcia@justastart.org
Mary Jo Kiepper
Alumni Programming Manager
617-918-7531
[email protected]
Jessica Dough
Alumni Career Support Specialist
617-604-3410
[email protected]
Stacy Hill
Success Navigator
617-918-7512
[email protected]
Mayolina Seguy
Career Readiness Lead Instructor
617-918-7556
[email protected]
Corey Calhoun
Biotechnology Careers Program Lead Instructor
617-917-5276
[email protected]
Tayo Banjo
IT Careers Program Lead Instructor
617-863-9383
[email protected]
Conor Plunkett
IT Instructor
[email protected]
Kristin Butler
IT Instructor
[email protected]
Helen Davis
Business Communications Instructor
[email protected]
Amerline Occean
Biology Instructor
[email protected]
Gloria Santos
Biochemistry Instructor
[email protected]
Iram Bolanos
Bio Lab Support Technician
[email protected]
Slande Cheridor
IT Support Technician
[email protected]
FIRST LAST
Philanthropy Associate
(617) ###-####
[email protected]
Youth Programs
Nate Bae Kupel
Managing Director of Youth Programs
617-380-3847
[email protected]
Tom Rodriguez, CWDP
Director of Youth Program Pathways
617-918-7528
[email protected]
Andrea Chery
Director of Youth and Alumni Services
617-918-7801
[email protected]
John Shea
Academic Program Manager
617-918-7557
[email protected]
Jasmine Burgos
Youth Entrepreneurship Program Manager
617-918-7507
[email protected]
Rebecca Zlotowicz
Youth Program Operations Manager
617-402-3092
RebeccaZlotowicz@justastart.
Dan Madri
Vocational Instructor, Construction
617-430-7313
[email protected]
Derek Wood
Vocational Instructor, Construction
617-918-7501
[email protected]
Dalya Ackerman
STEM Instructor
617-918-7529
[email protected]
Ty Gonzalez
Front Desk and Operations Associate
617-918-7532
[email protected]
Board of Directors
All members of the Board of Directors serve as active volunteer leaders of Just A Start. Board members are residents of Cambridge and surrounding communities and include current and former participants of Just A Start’s programs, including residents, graduates of our career training programs, YouthBuild alumni, and Home Improvement Program participants. The Board brings diverse expertise in public policy, housing, real estate development, nonprofit and corporate management, community development, financial management, workforce training, youth development, and more.
Zoe Weinrobe
Chair Zoe Weinrobe is the Director of Real Estate at 2Life Communities. Zoe has devoted herself to the field of affordable housing finance and development for nearly two decades. Since joining 2Life Communities in 2016, she has overseen completed development projects totaling more than $100 million, projects in development totaling over $200 million. Zoe has a Master’s in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated with honors from Cornell University. She lived in Cambridge for 10 years before moving to Watertown, where she currently resides.
Max Clermont
Vice Chair Max Clermont is an Associate Director with Vertex Pharmaceuticals where he leads the company's patient advocacy strategy for the Northeast Region. Prior to Vertex, Max was a Senior Technical Advisor with Partners In Health United States advising public health practitioners and organizations on how to build more resilient, community-oriented health systems. He has leverageable expertise in the social determinants of health, public/private partnerships and the use of measurement and evidence based practices to drive KPIs in numerous sectors. He serves on the board of directors for Bottom Line and is a former board member of Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and Center on Halsted. He holds a M.P.H. from Brown University with a concentration in health services, policy & practice.
Jeffrey Myers
Clerk Jeffrey Myers, a Cambridge resident since 2007, is employed as a Research Director at Colliers, leading the research operation of the Boston office. Jeff has expertise in market dynamics of metros across the country and spent more than a decade as a consultant to institutional commercial real estate investors. He has also served as a public-sector planning professional and has provided consulting services to non-profit organizations. Jeff holds a Master of Science in Real Estate from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Urban Planning & Development from Ball State University.
Michael Kuhn
Treasurer Michael Kuhn serves as Chief Credit Officer in Commercial Lending at Cambridge Savings Bank, playing a pivotal role in maintaining the enduring partnership between Just A Start and the bank. Prior to this, he gained valuable experience at Rockland Trust Company and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. His educational background includes a B.S. in Finance from Rowan University and an Associate's degree in Computer Science from Camden County College. Michael's extensive financial expertise, combined with his commitment to community collaboration, ensures the continued success of initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth and stability in partnership with Just A Start and Cambridge Savings Bank.
Tara Dendy
Tara Dendy has lived in Cambridge for over ten years raising her children in a Just A Start community. Tara is the manager of state-funded individual homelessness resources for the commonwealth of Massachusetts. She was previously the Program Director for Community Cooks and was responsible for overseeing 800 volunteers who prepared food to vulnerable neighbors seeking assistance from human service agencies, students working to improve their lives in after-school programs, and families struggling with food insecurity. She also held positions at Elizabeth Stone House as Director of Adult Programming and the Community Resource for Justice as the Director of the McGrath House.
Jack Donahue
Jack Donahue is a Managing Director in Accenture’s Strategy consulting practice where he works with companies to develop and implement strategies that improve their financial performance, transform their operations, and identify areas for growth. Prior to his career in Consulting, Jack served as an officer in the US Navy. He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and has an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Jack currently lives in Cambridge with his wife and son.
Lisa J. Drapkin
Lisa Drapkin has been living in Cambridge since the late 80’s and she loves it! Through the years, she has devoted her time to many causes and is passionate about the work that Just A Start does. She is the Co-Founder of Denman Drapkin Group at Compass Real Estate and oftentimes remarks that she works in “unaffordable housing by day and affordable housing at night”. Lisa has a well-deserved reputation for her knowledge of real estate and is renowned for her high energy level and enthusiasm. For JAS, she has served as the Board Clerk, Campaign Co-chair for the Rindge Commons Campaign, and serves on the Real Estate committee. She lives in the Riverside neighborhood with her wife, Debbie, and her 4-legged best friend, Harper.
Carlos Espinoza-Toro
Carlos Espinoza-Toro is a results-driven economic development professional with over ten years of experience developing and implementing place-based initiatives. He collaborates with nonprofits, government agencies, banks and CDFIs, foundations, colleges and universities to improve the lives of low-income populations. Currently, Carlos is the Director of Equitable Economic Development at Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit dedicated to making a good home possible for the millions of families without one. His commitment to equitable development and his extensive network make him a valuable asset in creating lasting positive change in underserved communities.
Shawn Fitzpatrick
Shawn Fitzpatrick, a seasoned professional with 22 years in the Biotechnology field, currently holds the role of Head of Manufacturing at Resilience. A proud alumnus of Just A Start's Biomedical Careers Program, where he graduated in 1997, Shawn's journey has come full circle as he now sits on advisory boards for local schools with Biotechnology programs. In this capacity, he plays a crucial role in shaping course curricula and delivering guest lectures. Shawn's dedication to both his career and giving back to the educational community showcases his commitment to advancing Biotechnology and nurturing the next generation of talent in this dynamic field.
Samuel Mamo
Samuel Mamo was born in Ethiopia and immigrated to the United States in 2001. He holds a Master’s degree in Accounting and completed his management education in Ethiopia. A graduate of Just A Start’s Biotechnology program, he excelled as valedictorian and had the honor of serving as a graduation speaker. Just A Start played a pivotal role in his career development, providing invaluable training and support that shaped his professional journey. Currently, Samuel is pursuing a PhD in Health Administration and holds a leadership role at Thermo Fisher Scientific at the Vertex site. He is a proud father of three children, including his eldest son, who recently joined Harvard University, and two daughters who are excelling in school. He lives in Cambridge with his wife and daughters. Passionate about giving back, Samuel is eager to serve on the Just A Start board to support the organization that has profoundly impacted his life and career.
Joel Miranda
Joel Miranda is the Senior Advisor for Global Opportunity Youth Leadership at the Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit organization that gathers diverse, nonpartisan thought leaders, creatives, scholars and members of the public to address some of the world's most complex problems. Joel previously served as the Senior Director of Leadership Development and Graduate Leadership at YouthBuild USA. Joel was a 2012-2013 Community Fellow at Boston University School of Management’s Institute for Non-Profit Management and Leadership and a graduate of the 2014 American Express Leadership Academy for emerging non-profit leaders.
Peter Munkenbeck
Peter Munkenbeck, who graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Public and International Affairs, earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, and was admitted to the bar in Massachusetts. From 1978-81, he was responsible for the redevelopment of several large waterfront industrial and mixed use parcels while employed at MASSPORT. He then spent 16 years at The Community Builders. Since 1997, he has been actively involved in the development and/or financing of multifamily affordable housing on behalf of 15 community development corporations in Boston. He resides in Cambridge.
Mahmoud Raya
Mahmoud is a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group, where he advises clients on strategy, risk, and operations topics. He has advised public and private financial institutions on commercial and residential real estate financing. Mahmoud began his career as an Economist at the US Department of Commerce and has held roles at GE Capital and Morgan Stanley. He holds degrees in international relations and economics from George Washington University and Johns Hopkins University.
Sara Reese-Monestime
Sara is a certified career advisor with over 15 years of experience developing education and training programs. Her passion lies in collaborating with employers in designing internships, pre-apprenticeships, and work-based learning initiatives. In April 2024, Sara joined the Job Connector by MIT as the Manager, where she leads the organization's impactful work in connecting individuals to meaningful career opportunities. Her commitment to leveraging her years of career development experience continues as she supports both job seekers and employers in building successful, sustainable workforce development initiatives. Sara is a lifelong Cambridge resident who currently lives with her husband, two daughters, and dog in North Cambridge. She holds a master’s degree in education and considers herself a career changer, having transitioned into career advising after years of working in the music and entertainment industry.