Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn recently appointed a new slate of officers and five new board members. “Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn is fortunate to have such a diverse, dedicated, and talented roster of leaders as we head to 2024. Our professional staff and volunteers look forward to working with the team to help build a new generation of leaders,” said Executive Director Deb Ansourlian.
The new slate of officers includes president Siobhan Kelly, Advisory Services Marketing Director, Empower; vice president, Marcel Quiroga, TQM Wealth Partners; treasurer Eileen Wynne, former Vice President & Chief Accounting Officer, Analog Devices; and clerk Diana Mandra, Senior Vice President, Salem Five, New board members include Annalisa Di Palma, Owner, bREAL Health & Fitness; Alexa Hadfield, Senior HR Business Partnership Staff Manager, Lynn Supply Chain, GE Aviation; and Kristen Porter, Director, PwC. Teen board members include Zainab Lawal and DeeDee Okusanya.
“We are keeping the girls the center of the conversation. We continue to build strong, smart, and bold young women supported by an outstanding staff, volunteers and generous donors,” notes incoming president Siobhan Kelly. “I am excited about this talented and diverse board that includes women and men across varied industries and backgrounds. We will be guided by a very thorough and robust strategic plan,” says Kelly, who is looking forward to the launch of Project Accelerate. The program will accelerate young women’s trajectories through college and career entry, leveraging partnerships with corporations and social impact organizations to ensure both their preparation and their access to positions of influence.
Annalisa Di Palma
Annalisa has a long history with Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn. A former board president, Annalisa has a strong connection to Lynn through her mother and grandmother. She is currently the chair of the Salem State University Foundation Board and owner of bREAL Health & Fitness Coaching. A certified health coach, fitness trainer, and running coach, she co-owned and operated a new boutique fitness studio concept on the North Shore of Boston and later found her niche in motivating individuals to achieve their wellness goals. She received her MBA at North-eastern University and her Bachelor of Science at Boston College. Di Palma has served in volunteer leadership roles with organizations including The Food Project, UNICEF, and Girls, Inc. of Boston and Lynn and brings extensive experience in board governance, fundraising, and strategic planning to the non-profit sector. “I am thrilled to be back on the board and super invigorated,” says Di Palma, who recently served as a member of the strategic planning committee.
Kristen D. Porter | Director, PwC
Kristen has been involved with Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn since 2020, primarily teaching STEM programming through PwC. She currently serves as the Director, Tax Reporting & Strategy at PwC where she also was a Tax Asset Management Senior Associate. Her work has led to the rollout of STEM programming to eight other Girls Inc. affiliates across the country through PwC. A graduate research fellow at Suffolk University, she was a corporate tax intern at State Street Corporation. She received a Master of Science in Taxation at Suffolk University and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. “I want to continue to develop my relationship with Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn and become further involved with the organization,” says Kristen.
Alexa Hadfield | Senior HR Business Partnership Staff Manager, Lynn Supply Chain, GE Aviation
Alexa, Senior HR Business Partnership Staff Manager, Lynn Supply Chain, GE Aviation, has been involved with Girls Inc. since 2018 when she joined as a mentor for Teen Leader-ship Academy (TLA). Alexa has been mentoring every year since – mostly with the TLA with one year of junior college mentoring. She has held many roles at GE Aviation including Engineering HRBP Staff Manager, Employee HR Manager, and Union Relations Specialist. Hadfield received her Master of Science in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from West Virginia University where she also earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism.“ I am excited to serve on the board of directors and have continued opportunity to work directly with the girls as well as with program leadership to continue to grow the impact,” says Hadfield.
Meet Our Teen Board Members
Zainab Lawal | Lynn English High School
Zainab is a senior at Lynn English High School where she is a member of the National Honor Society. Lawal has been involved with Girls Inc. for seven years. Along with being a Teen Health Ambassador Peer Leader, she has been a senior mentor and is involved with the Teen Leadership Academy and Project Accelerate. “I want to give my voice as a teenager so peo-ple can have a better perspective into what teens are thinking,” says Lawal.
DeeDee Okusanya | Lynn Vocational Technical Institute
DeeDee is a senior at Lynn Vocational Technical High School where she is a member of the National Honor Society. She has been involved with Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn since 7th grade. Along with being a Teen Health Ambassador, she was a Woke Women Facilitator and has worked on the Period Poverty Drive and Climate Change Project. Okusanya has been involved with the Teen Leadership Academy, Career Path, College Access Mentoring, and Project Accelerate. “I think it’s a great opportunity to be on the board of directors. I am excited to offer my view and help make changes,” says Okusanya.