Meet Our Staff
Jessica Allan (she/her), Real Estate Development Director | 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. 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 Project Manager | 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.
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.
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 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 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), Finance 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 allows Liz to bring her skills to bear in a way that positively affects people’s lives.
Joshua Swift (they/them), 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 two chickens.
Catherine Wolkowicz (she/her), Programs Finance Director | 413.586.5855 ext. 232 | cw@valleycdc.org
Catherine has a 25 year history of working in nonprofit financial management. She is committed to strengthening nonprofits 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 nonprofits. 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 allows 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.
2025 Board Members
Richard Abbott, Treasurer, 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 nonprofit organizations throughout Western Massachusetts. He is a director and on the audit committee of bankESB 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. Rich is a former Peace Corps Volunteer.
Kim Alston, Vice President, is a Program & Communications Manager, and Muslim Student Advisor at Smith College’s Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. She has served the College for over a decade, 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.
Alexandra Aguirre, is a dedicated advocate for community development, small business growth, and economic empowerment. With 15 years of experience in the small business and nonprofit sectors, she’s worked with the International Language Institute, Green River Festival, and the Holyoke Public Library. She’s also volunteered for EforAll and Latinas413, supporting initiatives that uplift and empower communities in Western MA. As the owner of Let’s Do Business, Alexandra specializes in guiding entrepreneurs by providing strategic financial advising and fostering sustainable business growth. As a new Board member, she is excited to collaborate with the team and contribute her expertise to strengthen local communities and make a lasting impact.
Sophie Chambers is a social work professional with a strong commitment to social justice causes. She worked overnights at Craig’s Doors shelter the first winter she lived in the area, and has continued to support local efforts to address the housing crisis and other manifestations of inequity in her personal and professional capacities. A highly skilled communicator and facilitator, Sophie excels at bringing a systems framework to her work, ensuring that individuals are met with compassion at the intersection of their lived experience and societal context. Sophie holds a BA from Vassar College in Peace and Conflict Studies and a MSW from University of Maryland, Baltimore. She lives in Holyoke with her husband and dog.
William 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.
Richard Griffin Jr. is a dedicated leader in community and economic development, currently serving as the Vice President of Community Development at MassDevelopment, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ premier finance and development agency. With a strong track record in strategic planning, public-private partnerships, and economic empowerment, Richard plays a key role in fostering inclusive growth across Massachusetts. Richard brings over a decade of experience in economic development, having previously served as the Senior Project Manager of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Springfield for five years. He worked extensively with businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities to drive investment, revitalize urban areas, and create opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs. At MassDevelopment, Richard oversees key statewide initiatives, including the One Stop for Growth programs: Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Equity Program, and Collaborative Workspace Grants, ensuring that funding and resources are equitably distributed to support economic and community-based projects. His work has had a direct impact on job creation, infrastructure investment, and business sustainability across the state. A graduate of Tuskegee University with a degree in Business Management, Richard is passionate about leveraging economic tools to create sustainable, community-driven change.
Hugh Heisler 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 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 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.
Dorothy Nemetz, President, was an attorney is a prior life. She serves on the board of the Northampton Community Arts Trust and was instrumental in the creation of the 33 Hawley community arts facility. She also serves on the board of the Northampton Center for the Arts and is a past member of the board of the Northampton Education Foundation. She served Congregation B’nai Israel in Northampton for many years in many capacities, including president, fundraising chair, and personnel chair.
Jeremy Payson, is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB). He is responsible for GCB’s financial planning, management, and execution of its financial activities and strategies – ensuring that GCB is true to its mission of remaining healthy, safe, and sound to best help make the communities the Bank serves stronger. An important part of this community support is support affordable housing initiatives. Jeremy has been in banking for more than a decade, prior to joining GCD he worked in various finance roles with Northern Bank & Trust, Berkshire Bank, and Big Y Foods. He and his wife live in Westhampton and he’s a lifelong resident of western MA.
Greg Richane, Clerk, 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 and son.
Tasha Sams works at Main Street America where they lead development and oversee delivery of the organization’s education and training offerings. Before Main Street America, Tasha served as Executive Director of the Kentucky Entrepreneurship Education Network, a nonprofit serving Kentucky’s budding entrepreneurial talent. In 2021, Tasha launched Home Appalachia, an initiative geared to uplift the talent of the LGBTQ+ community in Eastern Kentucky in alignment with broader economic development and revitalization efforts. Recognizing the inextricable link between diversity and economic development, Tasha is an accomplished and respected leader in the national field of inclusive innovation, and they were instrumental in the development of ecosystem success in Kentucky. They hold a bachelor’s degree in English Education and a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership from Eastern Kentucky University.
Dr. Leslie A. 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 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, and Racial Justice and Equity.