Our Leadership Team

Occupation: Consultant to tech startups and non-profit organizations

Education: B.S. Operations Research, Engineering College, Cornell University; M.S. Engineering Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

ESC Involvement: Board Member since Spring 2026, consultant since November 2024

Career Highlights: Gigi had a broad range of responsibilities over 40 years in technology, market research, and consulting. She led multinational teams across multiple continents serving clients in countries around the world. She has been an early stage investor for the past 15 years, focused on technology companies. She currently dedicates her time to working with nonprofit organizations.

Most recently, Gigi was the CEO of Invoke, a real time, online testing platform for video content primarily serving the TV/film/streaming industry. She led the sale of the company to MarketCast in 2022. Before that, Gigi led Academic Management Systems (AMS), a course evaluation platform, and led the sale of the company to Campus Labs in 2017. Prior to those positions, Gigi was EVP/Global Account Director managing two of the largest global accounts for TNS, a WPP company at the time. She was brought into the role following her long tenure as SVP at IDC, a global technology market analysis firm offering research and consulting services.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Gigi currently serves as Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK); and Business Manager, German Shepherd Rescue of New England. Past board affiliations include the board of directors of Invoke and AMS before and during her tenure as CEO, the operational boards of ComputerWorld and NetworkWorld publications, and board observer of companies in which she had invested.

Occupation: Director of Operations, Haley House

Education: BA Sociology & Black Studies and M.Ed. Counseling-Higher Education, Providence College

ESC Involvement: Board Member since Spring 2026, consultant, alumnus of ESC’s Catalyst program, member of the team recognized with the Edmund V. Marshall Outstanding Project of the Year Award at last year’s ESC Celebration of Service.

Career Highlights: As Director of Operations at Haley House, Alex brings a strong foundation in education, along with deep ties to Boston’s BIPOC community and longstanding relationships with community-based organizations.

Occupation: VP Northeast, EPAM (last position held)

Education: AB Harvard University; MBA Harvard Graduate School of Business

ESC Involvement: Board Member since Spring 2026 

Career Highlights: Senior leadership roles with 25+ years leading digital transformation, innovation, and growth. Agency leadership at Sapient and AI-driven development and transformation at EPAM with global industry leaders. Operating roles with startups and big brands including Luxottica, CVS Health

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: His volunteer work with organizations such as the Jericho Road Project and the Greater Lowell Community Foundation reflects a deep and ongoing commitment to supporting community-based nonprofits.

Occupation: Director, Summer Fund, Philanthropy Massachusetts

Education: Dual undergraduate degree in Political Science & Legal Studies from University of Massachusetts Amherst; MPA from University of Massachusetts Boston.

ESC Involvement: Board Member since Spring 2026 

Career Highlights: Sean is Director of the Summer Fund at Philanthropy Massachusetts, where he leads fundraising, grantmaking, and strategic initiatives that expand access to high-quality summer opportunities for young people across Greater Boston. Since joining the organization in 2017, Sean has helped steward the allocation of more than $9 million in grants to youth-serving nonprofits, with a focus on advancing equity and strengthening the nonprofit summer learning sector. He is passionate about building partnerships that connect philanthropy, public policy, and community organizations to create meaningful opportunities for children and families. Before joining Philanthropy Massachusetts, Sean served as a Policy Advisor to Jorge Elorza in Providence, where he focused on education, workforce development, and housing policy. In that role, he helped guide the City’s investment in summer youth employment opportunities and managed partnerships with nonprofit organizations throughout Providence. Earlier in his career, Sean supported program operations for Providence Talks, an early childhood initiative launched through Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge.

Personal info: Outside of work, you can find Sean traveling, golfing, boxing, or strolling along the Charles River Esplanade.

Occupation: VP Finance, Aternity Inc. (last position held)

Education: BS dual major Mathematics and Accounting, Wake Forest University; MS Finance, Bentley University

ESC Involvement: Board Member since Spring 2026. Carol has led strategic planning projects for DOVE domestic violence agency and Union Square Main Streets, as well as staffed projects with Strong Women Strong Girls, East Somerville Main Streets, and Abby’s House.

Career Highlights: Carol Johnson has more than thirty years of financial management experience in the private sector. She has served as CFO of multiple software companies and also as consultant to small technology companies, bringing deep experience in strategic planning, operations, finance and financial modeling.

Having participated in many acquisitions and reorganizations, Carol has a strong background in managing all aspects of organizational change to ensure alignment of people, systems and processes. In her roles as CFO and consultant, she has developed and monitored operational metrics and mentored employees at all levels of the organization to help achieve the goals of the organization. Carol also served as lead instructor and facilitator for an employer’s implementation of their Total Quality Management program. In that capacity, she facilitated problem solving sessions for both internal and external working groups, including as part of a team supporting Governor Weld and his staff.

Occupation: Principal Consultant & Founder, Perch & Purpose Consulting

Education: Ed. M. in Human Development & Psychology from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a B.A. from Wellesley College.  

ESC Involvement: Board Member since Spring 2026 

Career Highlights: Prior to launching her practice, Nahir served as Senior Director of Leadership Programs, facilitating the implementation and design of Justice Funders’ leadership programs and initiatives to advance restorative practices in philanthropy. Previously, she served as Deputy Director of The Hyams Foundation, where her portfolio focused on education, criminal justice reform, youth and immigrant rights, to advance Hyam’s overarching goal of dismantling economic disparities in Greater Boston and beyond. During her tenure at Hyams, she played an active role in board and funder engagement to resource community power building solutions; bolstering sector infrastructure through participatory design processes with community partners, and network weaving to broker public-private partnerships that resourced the field.

As a changemaker with over 15 years in philanthropy and 20 in the nonprofit sector, Nahir brings demonstrated expertise as a facilitative leader and strategic advisor; adept at network weaving, forging strategic partnerships, and mobilizing resources for social justice movements and community-rooted solutions, while advancing philanthropic practice.  

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Past Board Member, Servicing on Governance Committee: Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants & Refugees

Occupation: Chief Executive Officer, Empower Success Corps

Education: BA, Brandeis University; Ed.M., Education Policy and Management, Harvard Graduate School of Education

ESC Involvement: CEO since August 2025

Career Highlights: Naomi brings extensive leadership experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to her role as CEO of ESC. She previously served as Senior Director of Programs and Strategy at the Dorot Foundation, where she led grantmaking and strategic initiatives. Prior to that, she held multiple leadership roles at the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), including Director of Research and Director of Assessment and Advisory Services. Earlier in her career, Naomi worked in program and engagement roles across education, civil rights, human services, and civic engagement organizations. A first-generation college graduate from rural northern Wisconsin, she is a trusted partner to civil society organizations and a passionate advocate for a strong, equitable nonprofit sector.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Board member, Krupp Family Foundation; Advisory Council member, Horizon Philanthropy

Personal info: She lives in Cambridge, MA with her family, and loves experiencing the world through the eyes of her high-energy kids and testing new recipes from library cookbooks. Hed Ehrlich, spouse

Occupation: Global Research Director, NPD Group, Inc. (last position held)

Education: BA in Art History, Oberlin College; MBA, Simmons University; Certificate in Museum Studies, Tufts University

ESC Involvement: Board Member since January 2023, consultant since 2015

Career Highlights: Carol most recently held Research Director and Product Management positions at The NPD Group, Inc., a market research company. She served as an internal survey research consultant to all business units and launched numerous ongoing research programs in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Previously Carol was COO of STS Market Research where she created and managed a consumer research panel for the apparel industry and oversaw the operational and financial aspects of the company.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Membership & Development Manager at the Photographic Resource Center (volunteer); former board member, Simmons School of Management Alumnae Association; member, New England Museum Association.

Personal info: John Bunzick, spouse

Occupation: Principal, CME Consulting (Retired)

Education: BS, Economics, Boston University; Faculté de Droit et des Sciences Économiques, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

ESC Involvement: Board Member since 2021, consultant since 2018

Career Highlights: Chelinde is the founder of CME Consulting, an independent employee benefits consulting practice. Prior experience in the group insurance business includes Senior Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (1997-2009); Director/Vice President of National Underwriting, Healthsource, Inc. (1996-1997); and Director of Underwriting, Tufts Health Plans (1995-1996). As an ESC Consultant, Chelinde offers expertise in strategic planning, grant writing, needs assessment, and program and service evaluation and has served on ESC consulting teams for ESC clients UWander and Hope House.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Former Board Member, Haiti Development Institute; former Trustee at Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc.; former Chair of the Haitian Multi Service Center Board in Boston, MA.

Certifications: CLU, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), American College of Financial Services.

Personal info: Sylvia Stevens-Edouard, spouse

Occupation: Founder and President, Marketing & Management Associates for Nonprofits

Education: B.A., Barnard College; Master of Arts and PhD, Columbia University; MBA Northeastern University.

ESC Involvement: Board Member since January 2025. Dorothy was the Board President at the Worcester Art Museum when she recommended ESC to develop the museum’s multi-year strategic plan.

Career Highlights: Dorothy works with regional and national foundations, arts commissions and arts councils, as well as cultural, educational, and human services organizations. Her projects include strategic/business planning; governance, organizational and operational assessment; market research and audience development.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Recent past Board President, Worcester Art Museum; board member The Greater Lowell Community Foundation and Arts Extension Service of UMASS, Amherst. Past Board chair YWCA Boston; co-chair WGBH Community Board; Leadership Board Beth Israel Lahey Hospital; board member Visitors Studies Association, New England Museum Association, Massachusetts Foundation for Humanities, The Bostonian Society; Barnard College President’s Advisory Council and Class Vice President.

Personal info: Multi-cultural, multi-lingual; born in China, grew up in Malaysia, lived in New York City and Paris, calls Massachusetts her home today. Patrick Courtin, spouse

Occupation: Interim Chief Financial Officer, Brighton Marine (last position held)

Education: BS and MS from MIT, MBA from Boston University

ESC Involvement: Board Member since 2024, Finance Committee Member since 2023, consultant since 2019

Career Highlights: A senior manager with broad-based experience in manufacturing, technology and financial services including international operations, along with advising non-profits on financial sustainability and board governance. Background includes leadership and strategy-setting roles in finance, accounting, planning, acquisitions and divestitures. Served as CFO at WobbleWorks, Inc., 2016-2018; and Founder and Principal/Practice Director at Patina Solutions, 2003-2016. Currently advises women-owned start-up businesses on strategic planning and how to achieve profitability. Occasionally accepts interim CFO positions.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Former member of the Executive, Finance, Audit and Auction committees for the Center for Women and Enterprise. As former Treasurer, communicated to the Board on a quarterly basis on the status of the financial and cash position of the organization and provided financial forecasts.

Certifications: Former CPA

Personal info: Enjoys traveling, hiking, and bicycling

Occupation: Director of Nonprofit Lending, Silicon Valley Bank (last position held)

Education: BA, Hobart & William Smith College

ESC Involvement: Board Member since 2021, Board Treasurer since April 2023 – 24, Board Co-chair since 2024, Finance Committee since 2021, DEIB Committee since 2020.

Career Highlights: Penny has over 35 years of financial services leadership experience in private banking, wealth management and commercial banking, most recently with SVB (a division of First Citizens Bank where she was a Director in the Nonprofit Lending Specialty Lending Group. She has served in leadership roles for nonprofits with revenue ranging from $17 million to start-up, primarily in the education and social services sectors. In March 2019, she earned a Certificate in NonProfit Board Consulting from Board Source (Washington, D.C.), formally deepening her governance expertise. Penny’s interest in board governance, strategic planning, commitment to accessible capital and resources for under-represented populations, are integral to the range of Boston-area nonprofit organizations and professional associations she has led and supported. 

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Lead Boston (YW) graduate – class of 2021; The Philanthropy Connection Board member and Education Committee Co-chair – currently.  Past Board affiliations include Focus on Tanzanian Communities, Minds Matter Boston – Board Vice Chair and Governance Committee Chair; Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Trustee; Miss Porter’s School Board Chair and member, fifteen years; Boston Estate Planning Council, Trustee; and Family Services of Greater Boston. 

Certifications: Certificate of Special Studies in Management & Administration, Harvard University; Certificate in Financial Planning, Boston University; Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting, BoardSource. 

Personal info: Bob Weeks, spouse

Occupation: Director for Public Service and Pro Bono, Boston University School of Law (last position held)

Education:  BA, Princeton University; JD, Harvard Law School.

ESC Involvement: Board Member since April 2021, consultant since December 2021

Career Highlights: Prior to joining the Boston University School of Law in 2019, Toni was the founding director of the Senior Fellows Program at the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). During an earlier stint as a CLF staff attorney, Toni worked on a wide range of issues, from transportation policy and stormwater management to renewable energy and regional climate action. She has also served as executive director of Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, and as a litigation associate at Ropes & Gray.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Board Member, Charles River Watershed Association (2020-present; Board Chair 2023-25); Board Member, Just Zero (2023-present); Advisory Board Member, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (2008-present); Formerly National Advisory Board, Union of Concerned Scientists (2007-2014), Head Coach, Girls on the Run Greater Boston (2015-2017).

Personal info: Kevin Dutt, spouse

Occupation: Executive Director for the Arts, Boston Public Schools (Retired)

Education: MFA – Music Performance/Education – Governors State University

ESC Involvement: Boar Member since 2022, Fellow at Fort Point Arts Community, Inc. in 2022, consultant since 2020 

Career Highlights: Myran is an educator, executive and consultant with over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector providing access to quality education and arts and culture. A key focus of her professional career has been working with organizations on strategic and transition planning, program development and implementation, collective impact model development and public-private partnerships.She has held senior leadership positions with the Boston Public Schools, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Longy School of Music at Bard College. Myran has received local, national and international recognition for her work in arts and culture, arts education and arts policy reform. Her recognition includes EdWeek’s “Leader to Learn From” award; the Massachusetts College of Art and Design’s “Excellence in Arts Education” and the “Unsung Hero” award from Boston Dance Alliance. Myran serves as a lead member of the Statewide Arts Coalition, elevating the role of arts and arts education in Massachusetts, initiating legislation and policy reform.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: American Repertory Theater, Board of Trustees; Boston Arts Academy, Board of Trustees; Boston Landmarks Orchestra – Board of Advisors; Community Music Center of Boston, Board of Trustees; EdVestors, Board of Trustees, Longy School of Music at Bard College, Board of Trustees; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Board of Advisors; Boston Chapter of the LINKS; and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Psi Omega Chapter, Boston.

Personal info: Kenneth Brass, spouse

Occupation: Chief Financial Officer, Haemonetics Corp. (last position held)

Education: BS Industrial Engineering, Stanford University; MBA, Columbia University

ESC Involvement: Board Member since January 2025, Member of Finance Committee, Co-chair of DEIB Committee since April 2025, Consulting Skills faculty, consultant since 2008

Career Highlights: Ron has held leadership roles with global companies in manufacturing industries such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer products. CFO, Haemonetics Corp.; CFO and  head of operations, Converse Inc.; CFO Europe, Middle East and Africa, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Focus on manufacturing and supply chain management, financial sustainability, operational effectiveness, information systems and turnarounds.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Volunteer mentor with Boston YMCA Training, Inc. computer and office skills career training program for adults since 2008. Formerly member of YMCA Education and Training branch advisory board and partners council; board member, finance committee and chair of audit committee of the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston; board member, treasurer, Morris County (NJ) Rehabilitation Center (Easter Seal).

Personal info: Julie Ryan, spouse

Occupation: National Director of Programs, Liberty Mutual Foundation (last position held)

Education: Jackson College/Tufts University 1972-1976; Certificate Grantmakers for Education Executive Sessions at Harvard Graduate School of Education: Certificate Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship for ESG/CSR Executive Track, 2020.

ESC Involvement: Board Member since January 2025. Member of ESC Governance Committee beginning May 2025. Like many I had heard of (Executive Service Corps) as it became Empower Success Corps—and knew several affiliated consultants. Previously my team assessed ESC proposals for Liberty Mutual Foundation. In 2023-2024, I completed the Catalyst Fellows training in Cohort II.

Career Highlights: Klare retired in 2021 as the National Director of Programs at Liberty Mutual Foundation. She supervised the philanthropy team, reporting to the Foundation President. The team implemented LMIG corporate giving and had oversight for strategy, impact/KPI’s and contributions in Boston, Seattle, Ohio, and Dallas. The foundation invested almost $40M in nonprofits that changed the lives of some of the most vulnerable, seeking to promote equity and self-empowerment. Prior to that position, Klare was a department head at the Boston Public Schools, and a Senior Advisor to then Supt. Carol R. Johnson. Klare’s professional experience blends leadership and expertise from over four decades in philanthropy at the State Arts Council (now MCC), Bank of New England, Boston Globe Foundation, and Barr Foundation. Klare has also held advisory, staff, and board roles at local and national nonprofits such as EdVestors, Boston Educational Development Fund, Grantmakers in the Arts, Funders Together to End Homelessness (Youth Homelessness sub-group), Philanthropy MA (Summer Fund Committee), New England Blacks in Philanthropy, The Urban Farming Institute of Boston, Action for Boston Community Development, and the Boston Children’s Museum.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Vice-President of The League of Women for Community Service, Board of the Grimes King Foundation; Advisory Boards: Higher Ground, The Samaritans; and Member Bethel A.M.E. Church, Jamaica Plain.

Selected Awards: Citation From the Boston City Council for Advancing Educational Equity Through Philanthropy 2022/ Boston Education Fund, Trailblazer Award for Educational Equity 2022/ Eastern Bank “Community Advocacy Award” with Sarah-Ann Shaw 2018/ Boston Celtics “Heroes Among Us” Award 2012/ Boston Center for the Arts/ Arts Champion Award 2011/ Discover Roxbury, Roxbury Puddingstone Award 2010 / Black Ministerial Alliance Award 2009.

Personal info: Michael Claytor, spouse; adult children from prior marriage Eric Shaw-Moss IT professional in Biopharma and Caroline Amina Shaw-Moss (LICAT) Art Therapist.

Occupation: Financial executive for global information services and software companies (Retired)

Education: A.B. (Economics), Dartmouth College; MBA (Finance), Cornell University.

ESC Involvement: Board Member and Treasurer since 2024, Finance Committee Member since 2023, consultant since 2018, Board of Directors, Treasurer, and Board Chair for ESC of Northern New England, 2015-18 (before ESC-NNE’s acquisition by Empower Success Corps), consultant for ESC-NNE, 2009-18

Career Highlights: Jeff is a retired financial executive for global information services and software companies in the U.S. and U.K., 1980-2008. Positions various financial analyst and manager positions at Dun and Bradstreet (1983-1996); Finance Director, Cognizant Corporation (1997-1998); Senior Director of Finance, IMS Health (1998-2002); Senior Finance Director, Thompson Reuters (2003-2007) and Vice President of Group Finance at Misys (2008). Also served as an adjunct university instructor of business courses, New England College, (2009-2012) and adjunct Instructor & Course Development, Southern New Hampshire University’s College of Online and Continuing Education, as well as Subject Matter Expert for creation of SNHU’s online undergraduate and MBA finance courses (2012-2021).

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Local election volunteer, 2024; Longtime leadership roles with local Dartmouth College alumni organizations (1983-2021).

Personal info: Active hiker (currently at 15 of NH’s 48 4000-foot peaks) and trail bicyclist

Occupation: Director of Strategic Management, U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Center (last position held)

Education: BA from Wellesley College, Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University

ESC Involvement: Board Member since 2023, consultant since 2018

Career Highlights: For over 30 years, Rachel worked for the Volpe Center, a fee-for-service consulting organization within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Rachel held numerous positions including Director of the Technical Center for Transportation Policy and Planning—with a staff of 74 employees, a portfolio of 142 projects for over 50 customers, and a $40 million annual budget.  She capped off her career as a key senior advisor to the Volpe Director, identifying and leading major strategic business and organizational initiatives.

Other Boards/Activities/Affiliations: Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center (Current); Advisory Board, Women’s Transportation Seminar; Transportation Research Board, Management and Productivity Committee.

Selected Awards: U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary’s Award: National Conference on Marine Transportation; Volpe Director’s Award for Integrity, Loyalty, Teamwork and Leadership; Coast Guard Award for Sustained Delivery of Outstanding Products and Services.

Personal info: Mark Winkeller, spouse