Jimmy Becker, M.B.A.; Founder, Financially Speaking
Jimmy Becker is the founder of Financially Speaking where he provides one-on-one financial planning services that are unbiased and actionable. He also creates and presents customized workshops on many dimensions of financial decision-making to employee groups, adult education learners, and graduate students. Jimmy began his career on Wall Street as an options trader and understands the financial services industry from the inside out. He earned a B.A. in economics from Brown University and an M.B.A from the Yale School of Management.
Alex Bickford, M.B.E.; Director, College Finance, Bright Horizons College Coach
Alex Bickford joined Bright Horizons College Coach as part of the college financing team from the education finance department of Citizens Bank. Before his stint with Citizens, he worked as an assistant director of financial aid at Southern New Hampshire University. Alex has spent most of his professional career working in financial aid and has assisted traditional undergraduate, adult learners, and master’s degree students in financing their educations. He has a master’s degree in business education, a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management, and an associate’s degree in culinary arts.
Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, L.M.S.W.; Owner and Founder, Mind Money Balance
Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, owner and founder of the financial wellness business Mind Money Balance, is a biracial, certified financial therapist and a Licensed Master Social Worker, who began her career in mental health treatment and advocacy. She was always interested in mental health and found an even greater love in working at the intersection of mental health and money. Lindsay is the facilitator of the Financial Empowerment Initiative, a five-part workshop series on financial wellness at the Center for the Education of Women+ at the University of Michigan. She is a published author of the book, The Financial Anxiety Solution, which helps people work through their anxiety when it comes to engaging with their money. Lindsay has been featured in major media outlets, including Vox, CNN, Real Simple, CNBC, NPR, Bustle, HuffPost, and more. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan, with certificates in financial social work and financial therapy. Lindsay lives with her partner and their dog on the occupied land of the Anishinaabe, also known as Michigan.
Kristen Cascio, M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W.; Program Manager, MIT HR Work-Life
Kristen Cascio is a licensed independent clinical social worker and a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor. Kristen is a program manager for Work-Life, where she oversees MIT MyLife Services and backup care benefits, coordinates programming via the Seminar Series, and works on a variety of resources and projects to support the overall wellbeing of MIT’s community. Prior to joining MIT, Kristen was a behavioral health care manager at Tufts Health Plan, where she worked directly with individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses to coordinate the resources needed to achieve safety and wellness in the community. Kristen has extensive experience in crisis intervention, including conducting emergency mental health assessments and staffing 24-hour crisis hotlines related to mental illness, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Kristen received her B.A. in psychology from Clark University and her M.S.W. from Simmons University.
Geraldine Castañeda, B.A.; Senior Manager, College Admissions, Bright Horizons College Coach
Geraldine Castañeda is a passionate advocate for students in the college admission process. Prior to joining Bright Horizons College Coach, Geraldine served as the assistant dean of admissions at Pomona College, where she was responsible for the recruitment, evaluation, and enrollment of students from Northern California and the Midwest. Geraldine has previous experience as an ESL college and career coach, where she spent time supporting students in their understanding of and quest for vocational opportunities and college achievement in both English and Spanish.
Patricia C. D’Agostino, J.D.; Partner, Margolis Bloom & D’Agostino
Patricia C. D’Agostino is a partner at Margolis Bloom & D’Agostino, practicing in the following areas: estate and long-term care planning, MassHealth applications and appeals, planning for children with special needs, settlement planning, guardianship and conservatorship, and probate administration. She has developed a specialized practice in advising clients on how to supplement the cost of care at home or in an assisted living facility through the use of myriad MassHealth, Veterans Administration, and low-income programs.
Cora Megan D’Alessandro, M.A., IMH-E®; Parenting Teacher and Coach, Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
Cora Megan D’Alessandro is an early childhood specialist and parent educator who has worked with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families for over a decade. She is currently a faculty member at the University of Connecticut in the Human Development and Family Sciences department, where she teaches courses in early childhood development and education. She formerly served as the director of The Nest Shoreline Campus, an early learning center located in Branford, CT. Cora is a trained Circle of Security Facilitator and a member of the Connecticut Association of Infant Mental Health. She views her work with families through an attachment lens, and provides support and guidance that promotes secure and positive parent-child relationships.
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Steve Dimitriou, A.I.F, C.P.F.A.; Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Mayflower Advisors
Steve Dimitriou is a co-founder and managing partner at Mayflower Advisors, with more than 30 years of experience in the retirement-plan industry. He has been named Retirement Plan Advisor of the Year by PlanSponsor Magazine, and is the former president of both the American Retirement Association (ARA) and the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), the largest retirement-plan advocacy group in the nation and the preeminent sponsor of professional development and continuing education in the industry. As such, he meets regularly with congressional members and various governmental agencies, and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. Steve has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (A.I.F.) and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (C.P.F.A.) designations, and is a graduate of Colby College, where he earned an Honors B.A. in both physics and economics.
Nicole Doyle, B.A.; College Admissions Consultant, Bright Horizons College Coach
Nicole Doyle has spent her entire career in education. She was a work-study student in the admissions office at the College of the Holy Cross, a tour guide, and a senior interviewer. After graduation, she spent one year on the West Coast participating in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps before returning to work at Holy Cross as an admissions counselor. There, she developed a program to increase the number of international students on campus and traveled extensively throughout Europe and Central America. Most recently, Nicole spent many years in the admissions office at Skidmore College conducting interviews, providing information sessions to students and families, and reading over 1,500 applications each year. Nicole holds a B.A. in political science from the College of the Holy Cross.
Lauren Dumont, Psy.D.; Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director, Kendall Psychological Associates
Dr. Lauren Dumont is a clinical psychologist and the clinical director at Kendall Psychological Associates based in Cambridge, MA. Through her work in private practice, she engages with individuals, couples, and groups to help them achieve enhanced wellbeing. Dr. Dumont integrates empirically based techniques with tailored approaches for each of her clients. She also regularly works with companies and organizations in Cambridge to promote employee and organizational wellbeing through seminars, workshops, and groups. Her knowledge base, expertise in stress management, and sense of humor often put people at ease as they navigate their journeys toward health and wellness. Dr. Dumont holds a doctorate from Loyola University Maryland and has worked in various outpatient settings, including New York University, the University of Delaware, and Drexel University.
Tanika Eaves, Ph.D.; L.C.S.W., IMH-E; Assistant Professor of Social Work, Fairfield University Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies
Tanika Eaves is an assistant professor of social work at Fairfield University’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. Tanika holds a B.A. in psychology from Fairfield University, an M.S.W. from Rutgers University, and a Ph.D. in human development and family science from the University of Connecticut. She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 20 years and holds the CT Association for Infant Mental Health Endorsement as an Infant Mental Health Specialist. Her professional experience includes child and family guidance clinics, early intervention programs, early childhood mental health consultation, policy work, parent-infant psychotherapy, and training/consultation with home-visiting clinicians. Her research investigates the individual and organizational factors related to work-related stress management among frontline and supervising infant mental health practitioners.
Dionne Garcia, S.H.R.M.-C.P., B.A.; Faculty Retirement Plan Counselor, MIT
Dionne Garcia is the faculty retirement plan counselor at MIT, where she assists faculty as they transition into retirement. Prior to joining MIT, Dionne acquired over 15 years of experience as an enrolled actuary with the DB Pension Administration and other actuarial work. Dionne holds an Honors B.A. in actuarial science from Western University, and a S.H.R.M.-C.P. designation.
Josh Hsu, M.F.A.; Client Services Director, ArborBridge
Josh Hsu has over 20 years of experience in the test prep industry—and 22 years of experience teaching music, directing, acting, and playwriting to high school, college, and graduate students. He has tutored thousands of students for standardized tests, such as the SAT, ACT, AP, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, and more. Not only a tutor, Josh has also trained hundreds of tutors and teachers, designed and written curricula for standardized exams, and designed and coded educational apps. Today, he continues to support families by helping them plan their test preparation journeys. Josh earned his M.F.A. in drama from the University of California, Irvine.
Kathy Kasabula, B.A.; Program Manager, MIT HR Work-Life
Kathy Kasabula oversees the many services that support MIT’s Technology Childcare Centers (TCC) and works closely with MIT’s child care management vendor, Bright Horizons, to ensure that TCC centers are able to meet the needs of the families they serve. Kathy visits all TCC locations regularly and works closely with parents and a host of MIT departments in order to coordinate projects, establish systems, monitor activities, and resolve problems. Kathy also manages the MIT Childcare Center scholarship program for employees and postdoctoral scholars, leads “Choosing Quality Childcare” sessions, oversees the campus lactation rooms, and is a contributor to many Work-Life projects offering support to MIT children and families. Kathy holds a B.A. in communication from Rhode Island College, a graduate certificate in project management from Boston University, and is certified in the Classroom Assessment Scoring System®, a leading quality improvement system for measuring and improving classroom interactions.
Lorene Lacey, B.S.W., M.Ed.; Mental Health Clinician, Workplace Options
Lorene Lacey is a highly experienced mental health clinician specializing in Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and family services. With a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in education, Lorene has a robust track record of delivering webinars and workshops worldwide, enhancing the understanding of mental health, trauma, resilience, and effective management of personal and workplace stressors. She was a medical social worker with elders for many years, working with families who were caregivers in their home, as well as supporting a variety of seniors who needed assistance or further placement plans depending on their situation. Her expertise extends to providing clinical consultations for managers on issues such as addiction, absenteeism, stress management, and depression/anxiety. Lorene is dedicated to fostering wellbeing in both personal and professional
environments.
Michael Marquez, Psy.D.; Psychologist; Co-Owner, Bmore Liberated
Dr. Michael Marquez is a licensed psychologist and co-owner of Bmore Liberated, a group practice of queer-identified therapists whose passion lies in providing affirming care for marginalized communities. He has experience providing outreach and consultation with several organizations and clinics, with a focus on optimizing relationships and happiness during the pandemic and organizational policies to be more inclusive. Dr. Marquez holds a Psy.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Katherine McHugh, M.S.; Founder of AWAKEN Wellness Resources
Katherine McHugh is a personal development consultant and a certified Social Emotional Learning (SEL) educator in corporate and academic settings. She brings over 20 years of experience in the fields of mindfulness, positive psychology, change management, and human flourishing. Katherine is the creator and voice of the Mindfulness Meditation Series for the international wellness platform, MeQuilibrium. With Hasbro Studios, Katherine designed guided children’s meditation videos for The Be Fearless Be Kind Initiative, whose mission is to nurture compassion in our youth globally. As one of the first teachers at E-mindful, she delivered some of the first live, online mindfulness training sessions in the U.S. Using the latest in scientific research along with the wisdom of awareness practices and strategies, Katherine guides participants through processes proven to optimize wellbeing, helping them to grow and thrive.
Lisa J. Meltzer, Ph.D., C.B.S.M.; Licensed Child Psychologist, Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
Lisa J. Meltzer is a licensed child psychologist who is board-certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine by the American Board of Sleep Medicine and is a Diplomate of the Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine. She is the co-author of Pediatric Sleep Problems: A Clinician’s Guide to Behavioral Interventions, and for more than 22 years has provided clinical treatment and education for sleep problems in children 6 months through college-aged. Lisa is the owner of Nyxeos Consulting in Denver, CO, providing pediatric sleep solutions for researchers and clinical providers, and is a professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Health and a professor of family medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Her funded program of research focuses on sleep health across development, objective and subjective measurement of pediatric sleep, the impact of changing school start times on health outcomes, and pediatric sleep health disparities.
Ben Neely, B.A.; Chief Academic Research and Impact Officer, Revolution Prep
Ben Neely has spent more than 20 years helping families make their best decisions around the standardized testing process. After beginning his career as a high school math teacher, he held roles in curriculum development and engineering management, and has been with Revolution Prep for 15 years. Ben earned his B.A. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley.
Heidi Roth, R.D., L.D.N., B.S.; Owner, Heidi Roth Nutrition
Heidi Roth is a registered/licensed dietitian, health coach, and nutrition expert with a passion for health and wellness. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in nutrition and dietetics. Heidi spent the first part of her career as a critical care neonatal dietitian and pediatric nutrition specialist. She went on to found her own corporate wellness consulting business, with a goal of making science-based nutrition recommendations simple, real, and fun. Today, Heidi shares her enthusiasm for nutrition and wellness virtually and in person through webinars, worksite seminars, individual counseling, and healthy food demonstrations. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and skiing, and considers herself to be a total foodie.
Sherri Snelling, M.A.G.; Consultant and Corporate Gerontologist
Sherri Snelling is a corporate gerontologist, “authorpreneur,” and founder/CEO of Caregiving Club, a strategic consulting and educational content creation firm with an expertise in caregiver wellness, well home design, and brain health/Alzheimer’s disease. She is the author of the new book, Me Time Monday – The Weekly Wellness Plan to Find Balance and Joy for a Busy Life, and is the host of the podcast, “Caregiving Club on Air.” Snelling writes articles, appears on TV and radio, and has served on aging and caregiving advisory committees for the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and Georgetown University. She has a master’s degree in gerontology from USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and a master’s certification from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Alice Strachan, B.S.; Consultant, Facilitator, and Mediator, Workplace Options
With a foundation rooted in human-centered development, Alice Strachan brings over two decades of passion and commitment to helping individuals and teams thrive. Her background in kinesiology and psychology informs her holistic approach to training, emphasizing well-being, collaboration, and inclusive leadership. Alice has worked across diverse industries, from healthcare to community services, fostering environments of growth, respect, and innovation. Known for her vibrant personality and deep empathy, she inspires trust and brings genuine connection to every engagement.
Megan Stubbendeck, Ph.D.; CEO, ArborBridge
Megan Stubbendeck is a 17-year veteran of the test prep industry with nearly 20 years of teaching experience. She facilitates programs to help parents and counselors understand the testing process and feel empowered to help their students. During her long education career, Megan has written curricula for a variety of exams, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, ISEE, SSAT, and U.S. History, for a number of test prep companies. She has also tutored more than 1,000 students and trained over 600 tutors. Megan earned her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where she taught in the history department.
Shannon Vasconcelos, M.A.; Senior Manager of College Finance, Bright Horizons College Coach
Shannon Vasconcelos has worked in student financial assistance at Boston University and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she served as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid. At Tufts, she was responsible for reviewing financial aid applications, determining financial aid awards, and helping families through the college financing process. In addition, Shannon has served as an active member of the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Early Awareness and Outreach Committee, as a trainer for the Department of Education’s National Training for Counselors and Mentors, and as a volunteer for FAFSA Day Massachusetts. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Massachusetts and an M.A. in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University.
Andie Lei Wang, M.S.; Retirement Plans Manager, MIT
Andie Lei Wang manages MIT’s retirement plans and the team that delivers retirement services to members of the MIT community. Prior to joining MIT, Andie acquired over 12 years of experience as an associate consultant, working on various actuarial and benefits projects—and another seven years of experience as a retirement finance manager, managing pension, 401(k), and other retirement plans. Andie holds an M.S. in actuarial science from Boston University and is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (A.S.A.).
Aaron Weintraub, M.S., Curriculum Advisor, Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
Aaron Weintraub has thirty years of experience in supporting families of children with special needs. Aaron’s approach is focused on recognizing strengths in the child and family system and draws from experience working in settings from infant development centers, public schools, university instruction, adult day services, private practice for children with special needs, and everything in between. Aaron has three children whose ages range from an adult daughter to a young son. Aaron is serving as both a teacher of live online classes and virtual parenting coach. He is the director of Kids Cooperate in Tolland, CT and the family specialist at CLICC supporting parents who are incarcerated.
Gayle Parker Wright, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.-R.
Gayle Parker Wright is an L.C.S.W.-R in NY, a licensed social worker in NJ, and a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor. She graduated from Howard University with a B.S. in social work and from Columbia University with an M.S.W. Gayle is currently working toward her doctoral degree at Simmons University. She has over 30 years of experience working with individuals and families in underserved communities, and has provided services to populations such as foster care, criminal justice, mental health, substance abuse, case management, juvenile justice, and geriatrics. Gayle has worked in and provided services in various settings, such as residential, corrections, substance abuse, mental health, respite, and private practice. Over the last 25 years, she has served in many leadership roles, providing management oversight and clinical consultant services to community agencies. Gayle is a motivational speaker, sharing her life experiences and information to empower others.