Meet Our Team

Adalberto Jaimes is a Manager of Economic Opportunity at JVS with over 10 years of financial education and coaching experience. He has developed and delivered financial education programming for the FES Foundation in Bogotá, Colombia, ACCION USA and Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners (NTFP) in New York, the Harvard University Employees Credit Union and JVS in Boston.

Adalberto is passionate about creating economic mobility for individuals and families. He has inspired hundreds of individuals to develop effective budgeting techniques, reduce debt, and achieve long term financial goals.

Adoni Cruz joined MHDB in June 2023, assuming the role of Career Navigator at MassHire Downtown Boston Young Adult Career Center Services. In this role, Adoni connects with individuals aged 18-24, inspiring them to embark on the journey toward becoming empowered working adults. This involves not only refining their professional trajectories but also fostering a foundation that aligns with their aspirations. Adoni plays an important role in equipping them with the indispensable tools needed to set forth on their unique career paths.

With a rich tapestry of experience to draw from, Adoni’s background encompasses impactful work with youth across various camps, along with a tenure in the domain of customer service. These collective experiences have contributed to Adoni’s approach to guiding and nurturing young adults as they discover their professional paths. Adoni graduated from Suffolk University, with a major in Sociology with a dedicated concentration in Youth & Community.

Alejandra Ruiz joined MassHire Downtown Boston as a Career Navigator with the Access to Recovery and Healthcare teams in September of 2020, after working at JVS for four years. Alejandra acts as a liaison for a variety of MassHire programs as well as with several community-based organization in the greater Boston area. She plans, organizes, and facilitates educational courses and workshops at the career center. She recently graduated from Emerson College and earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Theatre and Performance. As an immigrant from Barranquilla, Colombia, Alejandra is passionate about aiding and uplifting people in marginalized communities and helping them reach their full potential.

Alicia Smith is a mission-driven workforce leader with over a decade of experience advancing equitable employment outcomes for diverse populations. Alicia joined the MassHire Downtown Boston team in March 2025 as the Director of Employer Engagement. In her role, Alicia leads strategic initiatives to build employer partnerships, strengthen job placement pipelines and facilitate connections between employers and talent.

Alicia has a strong track record of designing and scaling innovative programs, developing inclusive workforce strategies, and mobilizing cross-sector stakeholders to drive employment outcomes. She is passionate about creating pathways to economic opportunity and mentoring teams to achieve meaningful results. Alicia holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Suffolk University.

Bellie Hacker is the Operations Manager at MassHire Downtown Boston. In this role, Bellie oversees the daily operations of the busy Downtown Boston Career Center and works to build strong relationships with staff and customers. In addition to her operational responsibilities, Bellie is also responsible for managing all external communications across our digital platforms, including social media sites, and the MHDB website. She skillfully manages the design and content of the website, and efficiently executes bulk email campaigns.

Her passion for art and graphic design has made her a dynamic digital marketer, who is able to effectively communicate visual ideas and concepts in a compelling and impactful way. Bellie’s commitment to promoting services and advancing job seekers’ careers is evident in her innovative marketing strategies, which leverage her expertise in graphic design and photography to create eye-catching marketing materials.

Prior to her current role, Bellie worked as a freelance graphic designer, corporate trainer, and is an experienced public speaker. Her diverse skill set and breadth of experience make her a valuable asset to our team at MassHire Downtown Boston.

Catherine Snedeker is a Career Navigator, Webinar Instructor, and Program Liaison at MassHire Downtown Boston. She brings a thoughtful, people-first approach to her work—whether guiding job seekers through career transitions, facilitating group workshops, or building partnerships across programs. Catherine creates space where clients and colleagues feel informed, encouraged, and seen.

Previously, she served as Director of the Allston-Brighton Resource Center, a community-based workforce initiative launched through a community benefits agreement between the City of Boston and Harvard University. She also held project and program roles with the Boston Police Department, supporting cross-agency initiatives focused on organizational training and logistics, project management, communications, and public health.

Catherine holds an M.S. in Leadership and Administration from Boston College’s Woods College and a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Harvard University Extension School.

Dare Adegbesan joined MassHire Downtown Boston in June 2023, taking on the role of Outreach Specialist within the Young Adult Career Center Services. With a dedicated focus on fostering connections, Dare’s mission is to bridge the gap between the Young Adult Career Center and the wider community, with Boston youth Age 18-24. This is achieved through dynamic engagement efforts that involve networking at various events hosted by likeminded organizations sharing similar objectives as the Young Adult Career Center.

Prior to this role, Dare held a position as a Student Ambassador within the Students of Color (S.O.C) Program at Massachusetts Bay Community College. Operating in a leadership capacity, Dare played an instrumental role in encouraging student participation within the MassBay community. By skillfully orchestrating campus events and coordinating meetings, Dare contributed to a vibrant campus life. Moreover, Dare extended support to fellow students both academically and beyond the classroom, fostering an environment of growth and success.

Deisry Huliselan is the dynamic force driving employer engagement as a Business Services Associate within the Greater Boston Area. Stepping into her role in March 2024, she passionately connects employers across diverse industries with their ideal candidates, leveraging individualized services and mass marketing strategies alike. Her efforts transcend traditional boundaries, empowering businesses, employers, and job seekers to realize their mutual objectives.

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing, Deisry brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to her current position at MassHire Downtown Boston. Formerly a Sales Associate, she seamlessly transitioned her talents and passion for aiding others to a broader platform, amplifying her impact within the professional realm.

Frisnel St. Fort joined MassHire Downtown Boston in April 2024 as a Multilingual Resource Center Assistant. In this role, he supports clients who speak Haitian Creole, Spanish, French, and English. Frisnel brings warmth, inspiration, insight, and problem-solving skills to his work—helping clients navigate MassHire resources, build resumes, and complete job applications.

Before joining MassHire, Frisnel worked as a Field Operator at E-Power, a Maintenance Technician with Doctors Without Borders, and a Project Manager at Elmeco. These diverse roles strengthened his communication, technical, customer service, leadership, and teamwork skills. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electromechanical Engineering from the State University of Haiti.

Fernando Alvarez joined MassHire Downtown Boston as a Bilingual Career Navigator on the RESEA team in July 2022. As a Career Navigator, Fernando supports a diverse group of job seekers through educational workshops and individual coaching to help them achieve their career goals. Prior to his work at JVS MassHire Downtown Boston, Fernando worked as a Wage & Hour Investigator at the Mass Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division.

Recently Fernando has been promoted to the position of Senior Career Navigator on the RESEA team. In his new role, Fernando will work alongside Tiffany Lo to build a highly effective team that can help RESEA clients access all the services that our JVS and career center have to offer.

Fernando earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Instruction from the Institute of Higher Education in Paraguay and his Master in Creative Writing from Salamanca University in Spain.

Gail Burton joined MassHire Downtown Boston in October 2022 as a Career Navigator working within the Access to Recovery program.  In this role, she facilitates and co-designs workshops which empower newly returning citizens and individuals recovering from substance use disorder to re-enter the workplace with skill and dignity. Prior to joining MassHire she taught developmental English and U.S. History through the lens of social justice in the Adult Diploma Pathway program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Harvard University and graduated with her master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Drama, Politics and Civic Engagement.

She has studied and currently trains popular educators in the pedagogy of the oppressed of Paulo Freire and is the director of the Center for theater and pedagogy of the oppressed. She is a 2022 recipient of the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) New Works New England Award and 2023 Rhode Island State Council of the Arts (RISCA) Make Art grant in support of her play Truth: A biofictional choreopoem based on the lives and experiences of 19th century black female resistors.

Kevin Parham joined Masshire Downtown Boston Career Center as Senior Director of Operations in November 2021. Having spent over eighteen years in workforce development, Kevin brings vast knowledge of the Massachusetts Career Center system to his new role. His responsibilities include management, compliance, and operating functions at the Career Center and to ensure that high quality workforce development and labor exchange services are provided to Boston employers and jobseekers.

Prior to entering workforce development, Kevin held positions in the private sector as Manager of Customer Services and Support at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and as General Manager of call center operations at Verizon Wireless.

Kevin possesses a broad range of personal interests, for he is a professional musician and author of four published books. Also, he is a recipient of the ‘IBM MEANS SERVICE’ award and the ‘YMCA Black Achievers award.

Leann Dobranski is the MassHire Downtown Boston’s Digital Literacy Career Navigator. She joined the team in March 2025 to launch our Digital Literacy Program, which includes teaching digital skills webinars and in-person computer classes, as well as providing 1:1 digital skills coaching sessions. A long-time educator and project manager, Leann brings a strong digital equity lens and a commitment to meeting people where they are to help them build confidence using computers for their job search and beyond.

Leann was formerly an Assistant Director in MIT’s Teaching +Learning Lab and she also managed program systems and education at Tech Goes Home, a non-profit leader in Boston’s digital equity space. She has a BSME from the University of Minnesota and worked with the Ministry of Education in Namibia, Africa, to help implement their public school ICT curriculum.

Louis Kaplan is a Financial Empowerment Coach and joined JVS in November 2016. Louis works with clients to improve the financial situations of his clients by increasing their awareness and access to options and resources and helping them design a roadmap to attain their goals. Previous to joining JVS Louis spent 4 years working with low-income seniors as a Nutrition Educator/Outreach Specialist with a Boston area social service organization. Louis made a career change into social services after spending 17 years in the advertising industry. Louis speaks English, Spanish, and French and has experience conducting business in Central and South America. He holds a B.A. from Brandeis University in Latin American Studies.

Maricela Menaker joined the MassHire Downton Boston team in December of 2019 as the Manager of Employer Engagement. However, Maricela joined the JVS team in 2017 as a volunteer, she then became a Post-Employment Career Coach in the Refugee department.   In her current role, Maricela helps develop and strengthen relationships with businesses and supports their workforce needs.  She also leads the planning and execution of job fairs and hiring events.

Melissa Vining joined MassHire Downtown Boston as a Career Navigator in February 2022. As a Career Navigator, Melissa supports a diverse group of job seekers through educational workshops and individual coaching.

In January 2023 Melissa was promoted to Senior Career Navigator. With her extensive background as a professional musician and music teacher, Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role as a webinar expert. Since assuming her new responsibilities, Melissa has made significant improvements to MHDB’s existing webinars and designed several new offerings, resulting in an impressive 20% increase in webinar attendance.

Prior to her work at JVS MassHire Downtown Boston, Melissa worked as an independent musician and music teacher for nearly a decade. Melissa earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa and her Master of Science in Arts Administration from Boston University.

Nicole Bassaleh is the WIOA Program Manager at MassHire Downtown Boston Career Center. Nicole works with clients that are job searching or seeking training opportunities. She provides guidance and job search strategies to help clients with their career goals as well as preparing them to present their best selves to organizations of interest. As WIOA Program Manager, Nicole supports clients through the process of identifying employment focused training programs, and through the grant application process. Nicole also facilitates webinars on the topics of job search strategies, personal branding and digital communications. She has worked previously in various marketing communications roles as well as within higher education in student services. She holds a Master’s in Global Marketing Communication from Emerson College. She also holds a Bachelor’s from Wheaton College in International Relations.

Rahel Amare joined MassHire Downtown Boston as a Career Navigator on January 2023. In her new role, Rahel assists clients in their pursuit of training and job opportunities, providing invaluable guidance throughout their job search journey. With a genuine passion for helping individuals, Rahel is dedicated to making a positive impact on their professional journeys.

Rahel Amare brings extensive experience as a store leader at 7-11 for over 10 years. Her exceptional skills in hiring, training, and developing employees, along with adept expense management and effective communication, have consistently driven team success and fostered collaborative environments.

Rahel’s educational background includes an Associate’s degree in Business Administration, providing her with a solid foundation in key business principles.

Robert Desousa, Joined MassHire Downtown Boston in May 2023 as a Bilingual Career Navigator within the RESEA team. Robert leverages his expertise to offer invaluable support to a diverse range of job seekers, combining educational workshops with personalized coaching to guide them towards their ultimate career objectives.

Prior to joining the MassHire Downtown Boston team, Robert’s background included serving as a Patient Services Coordinator at Mass General Hospital. This experience equipped him with a strong commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others. His unique blend of healthcare and career development insights continues to drive meaningful transformations in the lives of those he assists.

Rose Zheng joined MassHire Downtown Boston in July 2023 as a WIOA Career Navigator. Her role includes assisting clients in identifying training programs, applying for WIOA funding, and providing job search support.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Japanese Language and Literature and a background in education and volunteering, Rose is dedicated to empowering individuals on their career journey. Her diverse experiences in early childhood education, English tutoring, and volunteer work at non-profit organizations have honed her communication skills and empathy, enabling her to connect with clients from all walks of life. Rose’s passion for helping others achieve their career aspirations drives her commitment to provide personalized guidance and support, ensuring that her clients find the most suitable paths to success.

Susan Goldman is an invaluable asset to our team at the Career Resource Center. Her journey began as a client seeking job opportunities after dedicating over 25 years to Medical Administrative work, primarily at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge.

Susan transitioned into a volunteer role at MHDB and later served as a SCCEP intern at Career Resource Center. Her commitment and dedication were quickly recognized, leading to her progression to her current position as a full-time Career Resource Center Associate.

In the Career Resource Center, Susan’s dedication knows no bounds. She assists every job seeker, ensuring they overcome obstacles, utilize our resources effectively, and leave equipped with valuable insights and opportunities guiding them towards the fulfilling career paths they deserve.

Susan holds a Masters in Social Work from Boston University and has a rich history of volunteerism in arts administration and human services throughout her career. Her passion for helping others and extensive experience make her an invaluable member of our team, driving positive outcomes for our clients.

Tania De La Torre joined MassHire Downtown Boston as a Bilingual Career Navigator in April 2025. In this role, she supports job seekers from diverse backgrounds and experience levels, helping them build the skills needed to navigate the job search process and secure meaningful employment through community partner locations in Boston and nearby neighborhoods.

Tania holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and a Master’s degree in Social Investment Management from Universidad del Pacífico in Peru.

Before joining MassHire Downtown Boston, Tania worked in the public and nonprofit sectors in Peru. Her experience includes leading social projects in education, training, food security, and humanitarian aid, working with children, teenagers, women, and elderly populations. This background has given her the skills and motivation to support and strengthen communities.

Tania is passionate about empowering individuals and communities, guiding them in their job search, and helping them reach the goals they set for their lives.

Tiffany Lo joined MassHire Downtown Boston Career Center as a Career Navigator in March 2020. She assists job seekers with the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment Program (RESEA) to help them maintain their UI benefits, as well as educating them on how move forward advancing their career goals. She also facilitates webinars and performs various services at the Career Center. In April 2022 Tiffany was promoted to a Lead Career Navigator on the RESEA team.

In February 2023 Tiffany was promoted to a new role as a RESEA Manager, in this role Tiffany will build on her previous achievements and work to further enhance the services provided by her team to RESEA clients. With her leadership and guidance, the team will be able to provide a comprehensive suite of services that will help clients access all the resources offered by JVS and the Career Center.

In her previous career Tiffany worked in travel industry, and in an elderly service agency, her focus was customer service.  As a customer service agent and an immigrant to the United States, Tiffany understands the challenges of starting new life in a new place.  Her multi language abilities in Cantonese, Mandarin and English allows her to assist job seekers and UI claimants navigate the unemployment maze.  She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree in Management.

Tracy Clarke joined MassHire Downtown Boston this July of 2023 as a Career Navigator. With a strong background in case management and career counseling, Tracy came to MassHire after working for a women’s transitional housing program in Seattle, WA, where she ensured that after their two-year tenure in the program, the women were able to successfully move on to long-term employment, sustainable, fair-market housing and fulfilling lives.

Tracy works with the HVAC program at 75 Federal Street. She identifies suitable candidates for the program and provides them with job coaching. She is dedicated to ensuring that the HVAC graduates possess all the tools that they need to find successful and sustainable employment in their chosen field.

Tracy graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing, and English Literature, and a B.A. in Psychology from Fordham University in New York where she is originally from.

Trish Anjesky joined MassHire Downtown Boston in July 2023 as a Career Navigator. With a unique ability to establish genuine connections with clients, she excels as a career coach, guiding individuals towards discovering the most suitable training and career paths that align with their aspirations. With a genuine passion for helping others, Trish provides comprehensive support throughout her clients’ job search journeys, assisting them in pursuing training and job opportunities.

With over 20 years of experience in education, including senior roles at esteemed institutions like Lincoln Tech Institute and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Trish brings a wealth of expertise to her role as a Career Navigator. She has successfully guided numerous prospective students through the admissions process while passionately advocating for their educational goals. Now, at MassHire Downtown Boston, Trish is committed to leveraging her experience to positively impact the professional journeys of clients by assisting them in obtaining training opportunities that will elevate their career paths.

Yama Estime joined MassHire Downtown Boston as a Career Navigator in January 2025. As an ATR Career Navigator, Yama leads a three week, job-readiness training, to support individuals along their journey to success. Before her work at MassHire, Yama earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in criminology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During Yama’s four years at UMass Amherst, she worked in the North Hampton Community Corrections Office, conducting group therapy sessions with inmates to better prepare them for life after imprisonment. Yama’s mission in life is to help as many people as she can reach their full potential.