Meet Our Staff
Jessica Allan (she/her), Real Estate Project Manager | 413.586.5855 ext. 210 | ja@valleycdc.org
Jessica has public and private sector experience in land development, real estate, and affordable housing. Formerly the City Planner in Easthampton, Jessica worked as a Permitting Project Manager at a civil engineering firm administering municipal permit applications on behalf of private developers for commercial and industrial projects in Western Massachusetts. She worked at MBL Housing and Development, providing project management services to nonprofits and for-profit clients for the development of affordable housing. Jessica sits on the Easthampton Community Preservation Act Committee. She holds master’s degrees in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and lives with her family in Easthampton.
Laura Baker (she/her), Real Estate Development Director | 413.586.5855 ext. 100 | lb@valleycdc.org
Laura is a Northampton native. She holds a BA in Religious Studies and a Master’s of Science in Community Economic Development. She has worked for 30 years in the nonprofit and community development sectors, including at the Hampshire Community Action Commission and the HilltownCDC. She has a long-standing passion for affordable housing and has been privileged to work since 2016 developing affordable housing on behalf of Valley.
Alexis Breiteneicher (she/her), Executive Director | 413.586.5855 ext. 190 | ab@valleycdc.org
Alexis has considerable experience working with nonprofit organizations that support low-income communities, with an emphasis on finding solutions to homelessness. She has her Master’s in Public Administration from the Evergreen State College and lives in the hilltowns with her husband, elementary age twins.
Donna Cabana (she/her), Homeownership Program Manager | 413.586.5855 ext. 180 | dc@valleycdc.org
Donna has 20 years of experience with homeownership, foreclosure prevention counseling, and program administration. Donna has administered and provided direct services since joining Valley in 2012. She worked for Way Finders for 11 years in their Homeownership Department. She has worked on many programs over the years including mortgage subsidies, lead paint loans, down payment assistance loans and grant and affordable homeownership opportunities, including resales and new development. She has experience in all areas of homeownership services.
Mariam Khan (she/her), Homeownership Program Assistant | 413.586.5855 ext. 231 | mk@valleycdc.org
Mariam completed her Cultural Studies undergraduate degree and later moved to Amherst for a master’s in international education from the University of Massachusetts. She is currently working as the Homeownership Program Assistant. Mariam has lived in the United States and Lahore, Pakistan, throughout her life. She loves to be outside and be active in some way.
Eyad Salha (he/him), Small Business Advisor | 413.586.5855 ext. 230 | es@valleycdc.org
Eyad is a dedicated finance professional with a rich background and global perspective. He earned his B.S. in Finance from the American University of Science & Technology in Beirut, launching his career with a firm foundation in accounting. His expertise soon led him to Saudi Arabia where he excelled in business development driving growth and innovation. In 2020, Eyad embraced a new challenge by relocating to Massachusetts to further his education. He pursued and successfully completed the MBA program from Isenberg School of Management, UMASS Amherst, honing his skills in strategic management and entrepreneurship. Fluent in both English and Arabic, and proficient in French, Eyad brings a unique multicultural insight to his work, enhancing his ability to connect with diverse clients and colleagues. Eyad’s passion for nurturing startups and small businesses is evident in his professional journey. Prior to joining Valley, Eyad contributed to the economic development in Southern Vermont, serving as a Business Technical Assistance Provider. In his role, Eyad focuses on empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners, meeting them where they are at, to help them navigate the complexities of the business world and achieving their goals.When not immersed in his professional work, you can find Eyad in nature. He finds relaxation and joy in organic gardening, restoring the outdoors through reintroduction of native plants, and spending time with his dogs, Max and Luna.
Sarah Sargent (she/her), Program Director | 413.586.5855 ext. 200 | ss@valleycdc.org
Sarah is a seasoned business professional who ran her own small business, Element Athletics, a premier field hockey club program in the Valley for seven years. She worked for the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce showcasing local businesses in the downtown and surrounding areas by partnering with the city, local businesses, and MassDevelopment. Sarah coached field hockey at Northampton High School for six years. More recently she was a business consultant working with distressed companies to help restructure them, resulting in saving the jobs of those employed by the businesses. She has an MBA from Bay Path University in Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovative Practices and an undergraduate degree from UMASS-Amherst where she was a Division I field hockey goalie.
Liz Sullivan (she/her), Fiscal Director | 413.586.5855 ext. 150 | ls@valleycdc.org
Liz has a rich and varied 20-year history of helping small businesses, startups, and nonprofits thrive and grow. With a background in the public sector as well as Fortune 500 multinationals, she has brought financial best practices and a solid and sustainable business model to support strategic planning and decision-making in senior management teams. Working at Valley has allowed Liz to bring her skills to bear in a way that positively affects people’s lives.
Joshua Swift (they/he), Office Manager | 413.586.5855 ext. 170 | js@valleycdc.org
Joshua has a degree in psychology, dance, and facilitation from Hampshire College. They handle office, administrative, and data management for Valley and provide support to all of Valley’s programs. Prior to working at Valley, they worked as a Care Resource Coordinator with Partners in Health on the MA COVID-19 response. They live in Belchertown with their loved ones, two cats, and three chickens.
Twonnisha Winbush (she/her), Associate Project Manager | Fellow for Equitable Affordable Housing 413.586.5855 ext. 220 | tw@valleycdc.org
Twonnisha was born and raised in Dorchester and in 2010, her family experienced a fire that changed their lives forever. Losing her childhood home made her feel lost. She and her family stayed with friends and relatives because they couldn’t find affordable housing that would accommodate their financial state.
Getting accepted into this Fellowship is a dream come true for her. Twonnisha has dealt with housing insecurities, and it was a journey she would not want anyone to go through. There was rarely anyone working in the places that she went to for help who looked like her or who showed compassion. Twonnisha wants to help families and individuals become stable and create generational wealth.
Catherine Wolkowicz (she/her), Programs Finance Director | 413.586.5855 ext. 170 | cw@valleycdc.org
Catherine has a 25 year history of working in non-profit financial management. She is committed to strengthening non-profits that serve their communities. Her past experience includes Finance Director positions at Hilltown Community Development, Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority and Safe Passage as well as other area non-profits. She holds an Accounting degree from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from the University of Hartford. Catherine lives in Whately with her family and has chaired her town’s Housing Committee and is a past member of the Community Preservation Committee.
Working at Valley will allow Catherine to combine her passion for helping organizations build affordable housing in her favorite area communities!
Bill Womeldorf (he
/him), Real Estate Project Manager | 413.586.5855 ext. 160 | ww@valleycdc.org
Bill has a diverse background in the built environment having worked his early career in architecture and engineering firms, and then receiving his degrees in Architecture & Building Science Technology. He worked extensively with the Mass Save energy efficiency program through the pioneering years of Passive House and Electrification where he spoke at regional conferences as a technical expert. He owns a portfolio of apartment buildings which he redeveloped and self-manages. He is passionate about sustainability and helping develop under-utilized sites and blighted buildings in his local community.
2023 Board Members
We are seeking new board members from our community. If you are interested in joining our board, please fill out this form.
Richard Abbott – Treasurer – Rich is a retired certified public accountant. He had his own tax and accounting practice in Easthampton for 30 years. During that period he worked with various non-profit organizations throughout Western Massachusetts. He is a director and on the audit committee of Easthampton Savings Bank and the Hometown Financial Group. He is also the chairperson of the Open Space Committee in the Town of Hatfield where he lives with his wife Ellen. Rich is a former Peace Corps Volunteer. Rich has been on the board of Valley CDC for more than 6 years.
Kim Alston – Vice President – Kim Alston is a Program & Communications Manager, and Muslim Student Advisor in Smith College’s Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. She has served the College for 11 years, guiding students on their spiritual path and working on issues of equity and social justice. She advises multiple student secular and religious organizations, including Al Iman, the Muslim student organization. She has been on the board since 2018.
William Fontes – Mr. Fontes is Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending for bankESB, focusing on helping members of the business community with industrial and commercial real estate financing. He is responsible for the Bank’s affordable housing initiatives. He has been in commercial banking for more than 30 years, with 20 years spent serving the needs of small and medium-sized businesses within Hampshire County. Before joining bankESB, Mr. Fontes was with Bank of Western Massachusetts (now Peoples United Bank) and Shawmut Bank of Hampshire County. A resident of South Hadley, he is a Director of Promoting Downtown Amherst (now Amherst Business Improvement District), and the South Hadley Baseball Association.
Hugh Heisler – Hugh has been a shareholder of Heisler & Feldman, P.C., since it was founded in 1996 until he assumed Of Counsel status in 2016. In addition to his work at the firm, Mr. Heisler served on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Justice Project for seventeen years and was its President for eight years. He also worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Dickinson R. Debevoise, District Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Before founding the firm, Mr. Heisler was the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts’s Executive Director and Litigation Director/Acting Executive Director for Essex-Newark Legal Services. Mr. Heisler is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and the federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Emily Laufer – Emily works closely with populations to fight against poverty. Her passion for anti-poverty work began when she had her first child. In college, she focused on how the government systematically oppresses Black, Brown, and low-income populations. She has her Masters degree in Public Policy from UMass Amherst. and currently works in UMass Student Parent Programs where she assists students who are also parents in meeting their basic needs to attain degree completion. She previously worked at The Care Center in Holyoke serving pregnant and teen moms in enrolling in higher education institutions. Emily has served on the Northampton Housing Authority Board as a resident commissioner and on the Tapestry Board. She is excited to bring her knowledge around being a tenant and a board member.
Theresa LaValley – Theresa has lived and raised a family in Hampshire County for 30 years. She worked for the Town of Amherst as the Registrar of the Amherst Leisure Services and Supplemental Department, as well as the Hadley Housing Authority as the Executive Assistant. Theresa enjoys volunteering in her community and throughout the US. Gardening, international cooking, and Pan-African dance are among her interests.
Kristen Mara – Kristen is a seasoned executive and licensed attorney with over 20 years of experience in operations, service excellence, project delivery, and state and federal regulation. She has a versatile business background and has worked in both corporate and start-up environments and non-profit organizations. Kristen received her undergraduate degree in Government and Public Policy from Smith College and holds a law degree from Western New England University School of Law.
Dorothy Nemetz – President – Dorothy is a non-practicing attorney, a graduate of Hampshire College and Rutgers University School of Law. She is the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Northampton Center for the Arts and a member of the Board of Directors of the Northampton Community Arts Trust. Dorothy is a member of the board of directors of the Northampton Education Foundation. She served Congregation B’nai Israel in Northampton in many capacities, including the president, fundraising chair, and personnel chair.
Greg Richane – Clerk – Greg specializes in network engagement, group facilitation, communication, public policy, and event planning. His experience includes campaigns and issue advocacy efforts focused on economic and social justice. He hails originally from Western New York, and came to the Pioneer Valley after time in New York City, San Francisco, and Providence. He lives in Easthampton with his wife Amy and son Sam. He has been on the board since 2016.
Dr. Leslie A. Saulsberry – Dr. Leslie Saulsberry is the CEO of The Whole Institute, LLC, located in Amherst, MA. She guides organizations in Organizational Effectiveness and Development; Change management and Leadership; Leadership Development; Organizational culture assessment and change; Organizational evaluation and learning approaches. She hosts international retreats for women in leadership; affinity group coaching for women in leadership; and coaches women in creating, building, and growing their companies, careers, and cultivating expansive lives. She is a Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker/Author, and TV/Media Guest Expert.
Carol Walker – Carol Walker is retired from a 40+ year career in affordable housing and human services. Her expertise is in grant writing, marketing, and communications. She lives in Hatfield and has a particular interest in rural issues.
The Board of Directors has the following committees: Governance, Finance, Real Estate, Resource Development, Racial Justice and Equity and ad-hoc committees.