Our Board Members
Our board members either live, work or support the Greater Lowell area. They come from all different backgrounds but come together with one common goal – to build strength, stability and self reliance through affordable home ownership.
For information about joining our board – contactgro.tatibahllewol@ridcexe
Michael Collins, PRESIDENT
Business Development, President -OmniPrinting
Paul Germano, Vice President
Vice President, Enterprise Bank
Paul Germano is a banking executive with over 35 years of experience. He is currently Vice President of Deposit & Payment Operations at Enterprise Bank in Lowell MA and resides in Tewksbury. Prior to Paul’s work at Enterprise Bank, he worked at Cambridge Savings Bank and Beverly National Bank in various management positions.
Silvia Berrio, Secretary
Customer Service Representative, Social Security Administration
Silvia Berrio is the proud mother of two wonderful children. She grew up in Lowell and is currently residing in Westford. She holds a BS is Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Silvia loves working with people and enjoys helping others. Silvia became involved with Habitat for Humanity in 2018 when she became part of the Habitat family through their homeownership program. Silvia Joined the Habitat Board in September 2020 and is looking forward to this new chapter in her life.
Elizabeth Garber, Treasurer
Vice President, Customer Experience Strategy & Programs, Santander Bank
Elizabeth Garber joined Santander Bank in 2018 after more than a decade in England, where she worked to deliver strategic product innovation and service design initiatives with 5 of some of the UK’s biggest brands. She has been recognized by the UK Marketing Society, among others, for her collaborative people-focused approach that drives positive outcomes for businesses and their customers.
While in the UK, Elizabeth partnered with a variety of charities working to build strong communities – both locally and around the world. Most recently, she collaborated with local networks, coaches, and learning professionals to found the South England chapter of the global Lean In organization that works to empower women and girls around the world.
She holds a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences, a Master’s in Psychology, and an MBA. She’s passionate about neuroscience, the psychology of groups, and how all those things come together to propel businesses, groups, and communities forward. Now that she has settled in Westford, MA with her husband and children, the family has become equally passionate about growing vegetables.
Rev. Dr. Katherine Adams
Pastor First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
Katherine Adams is the settled pastor and teacher of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Billerica, Massachusetts. She is passionate about building strong communities by developing relationships and utilizing resources so that needs are met. Her education at Boston University (MDiv) and Chicago Theological Seminary (DMin) encouraged her to engage beyond the walls of the local church, and to seek justice and peace in our homes, community, nation, and throughout the world. Central to her theology is to love neighbors and to make room for grace.
Amanda Berry
Senior Lead Operational Risk Officer and Vice President, Wells Fargo
Amanda Berry is a Senior Lead Operational Risk Officer and Vice President within Corporate Risk at Wells Fargo Bank. In 2008, she began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity through a Paint-a-Thon sponsored by Wells Fargo, and developed a passion for building homes that help the community. In 2014, she led her first build event with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell and has organized or participated in build days with the Habitat Lowell affiliate each year since.
At Wells Fargo, Amanda co-leads the Social Justice Read, Watch and Listen group within Operational Risk. Amanda has devoted time as an art teacher, Junior Achievement volunteer, a W.E.B. reading volunteer, school grant committee member, and a youth lacrosse coach. Amanda resides in Westford, MA, with her ever-growing family.
Jeffrey Brem, PE
President and Chief Civil Engineer for Meisner Brem Corporation
Jeffrey Brem, PE is the President and Chief Civil Engineer for Meisner Brem Corporation in Westford MA. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Maine, Orono. He is a Registered Professional Engineer (civil) in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine and has over 35 years of experience in various types of civil engineering related projects including sanitary sewer, storm drainage and stormwater management, septic system design (SSDS), highways and roadways, surveying, and construction management. He has extensive design experience in private land development projects of all types and sizes as a consulting design engineer. He also has experience as a construction superintendent for residential and commercial projects and is familiar with design and construction practices both in the east coast and west coast areas of the U.S. Mr. Brem has advised the Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) as an appointee of the Commissioner on several task forces and stakeholder committees including stormwater and Title 5, the State Sanitary Code. Jeff serves as a full Board Member of the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts Board of Directors and chairs the Wetland and Water Resources Sub Committee as well as being the past President of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell. Jeff was the developer and builder for the 18 home project known as Juniper Hill in Westford MA where Habitat Lowell built two affordable homes.
Pamela Jacques
AVP, Corporate and Experiential Marketing, NETSCOUT Systems
Pamela Jacques brings a creative mindset to her role as a strategic marketing communications executive. She has more than three decades of experience in the technology space, harnessing her broad background across the corporate, agency and publishing sides of the marketplace to offer a unique 360-degree perspective on achieving business objectives and bottom-line success for companies that range from Internet start-ups to the Fortune 500.
Pamela has distinguished herself as a strategic thinker with a passion for all facets of marketing communications including research, planning and implementation of media and public relations strategies, advertising, customer engagement, online and integrated program development. She prides herself on developing outstanding working relationships and is a leader who truly cares about her colleagues, partners and customers.
She is the AVP, Corporate & Experiential Marketing at NetScout Systems in Westford MA.
Elizabeth Larson
Co-owner, Perfectly Placed for You, Staging & Redesign
Liz Larson, a multi-talented Home Stager uses creative design to capture people’s imagination when transforming properties. Her work has been seen on HGTV’s My Lottery Dream Home with David Bromstad, and in both new construction and older homes across New England.
She is considered an expert in her field by many top producing Real Estate agents, local and Master Builders, as well as industry affiliations. Liz was awarded Top 5 Stager, by the Home Staging Redesign Association. The Northeast Association of Realtors named Perfectly Placed For You, as the Business Partner of the Year, 2011 and 2016. Liz is most proud of the 5 convective Houzz Service Awards. They remind her she and her team is truly making an impact, standing out in the staging world, and checking off clients expectations.
She captivates thousands of followers to interact with her on social media with on point staging tips, design inspiration, and the ever popular Sunday Pic(k) Facebook post . Her welcoming approach and eagerness to help clients as they prepare to buy and sell is what sets her apart, and one of the many reasons Perfectly Placed For You has a large loyalty customer base.
As an experience stager colleagues gain training and growth under Liz’s direction. Liz served 2 years as the Marketing Chair and 2 years as treasure, for the Mass Chapter Real Estate Staging Association, is the Chair of the YPN Committee for the North East Association of Realtors, and sits on the Board for Habitat for Humanity, Lowell. Liz is dedicated to give back and participates in Women Build with Habitat for Humanity, giving her time and” muscle” once a year. Perfectly Placed For You acts as an Ambassador to Catie’s Closet with a clothing and toiletry drive each year.
Clients tell Liz that she artfully organizes staging projects into clear and manageable steps for them, while creating a property that makes great first impressions. She praises her best friend and business partner Jan Poulain for her success. Together they are united forming a stronger result driven and fun loving staging empire.
Leah Manganaro–Paglia
Real Estate Specialist, Reliable Results Realty
A lifetime resident of Massachusetts, Leah grew up in Winchester and has lived in Westford since 1996 with her husband and 4 children. Leah has always had a passion for real estate. She worked in the family’s real estate company during the summers while attending Providence College. After college she went to work for a real estate management company in Waltham. Later, she obtained a law degree from the New England School of Law and practiced as a real estate law attorney for nearly 15 years. Residential real estate sales is a great fit for her, because of her extensive knowledge and experience negotiating with contracts. She brings this ability to the table with her buyers and sellers.
Leah prides herself on accountability, attention to detail and personal service which create a trusting relationship with all her clients and she builds lifelong relationships with many of her clients. Whether buying or selling, be it your first home, your last home, or building your investment portfolio, Leah will deliver the unsurpassed service you deserve.
Leah’s second passion is ice hockey. She not only enjoys watching the Boston Bruins but she is an active participant in the local women’s ice hockey league. After a long week of real estate she will often take to the ice to relax. In 2016, Leah’s team won the Women’s Adult National Championship Title for their division. She also enjoys walking her 3 dogs, Dakota, Gig and Spanky. And when time allows she will sneak in a Bikram Yoga class.
Christopher Marzilli,
Director, Lightning Platform Success, Salesforce.com Inc.
Christopher Marzilli is a strategic leader, technical architect and solutions-oriented thinker with a passion for leveraging cloud technologies. He has over 15 years of experience in the hi-tech industry working for both small startups in large enterprise organizations in a number of roles including IT Director, Senior Cloud Consultant, Customer Support Director and Product Management. Since 2014 Chris has been working at Salesforce.com and is responsible for driving Customer Success on the Salesforce Platform giving him the opportunity to work with many of Salesforce’s largest customers, most of which are on the Fortune’s top 100 companies list. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Management & Information Systems from St. Joseph’s University and recently completed his MBA at nearby Southern New Hampshire University concentrating in Business Intelligence and Big Data.
A lifetime resident of Massachusetts, Christopher grew up in Shrewsbury and now lives close by with his wife, two kids and his loveable but very chatty beagle. An avid build day volunteer Chris has been organizing Habitat for Humanity build days for his co-workers for almost five years now and is also the past Board Secretary for Habitat Lowell. He loves getting hands-on with this volunteering and will never turn down the opportunity to operate any power tool, under the proper supervision of course! To relax Chris can often been found hiking local trails with his dog or attending Red Sox games with friends as a lifelong “bleacher creature”.
Lozitha Nzula
Executive Assistant
Lozitha Nzula is a seasoned Executive Assistant with over 15 years experience. In recent years, Lozitha has been working in the financial services industry.
Lozitha is a resident of Lowell, who is passionate about public health and is a former board member of the Coalition for a Better Acre. Lozitha became involved with Habitat for Humanity of Greater while building several Habitat homes in Lowell. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa’s Graduate School of Business Leadership and bachelor of Commerce Degree majoring in Marketing Management from the University of South Africa.
Melissa Robbins, Legal Counsel
Attorney, Farrell & Robbins, P.C.
Melissa Robbins is a partner at Farrell & Robbins, P.C.. Ms. Robbins has been actively involved with the legal aspects of the development, financing and construction of real estate and affordable housing for the last fifteen years. During that time, Ms. Robbins has been promoting smart growth and affordable housing for developers, as well as non-profit and governmental agencies through the use of local zoning, M.G.L. Chapter 40B and other creative methods.
Ms. Robbins and attorneys within her firm represent developers, as well as affordable housing advocates across Massachusetts.
Jeff Turcotte
Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union
Jeff Turcotte joined Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, headquartered in Lowell, in August of 2020, where he serves as Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer. He has a combined 26 years of experience in the banking industry, focused in multi-family residential and construction financing.
Residing in Leominster, MA, Jeff is married with four grown children. He holds a BS and an MBA in Business Management from Fitchburg State University, and is licensed as a Construction Supervisor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Additionally, Turcotte is the former Board President of the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce (2018) and a Board Member from 2007-2020.
Jeff is no stranger to “getting his hands dirty.” Whether it’s at a Habitat build site, or in his home garage building Hot Rods with his Dad, Jeff is right at home with a hammer or wrench in his hand.
Kevin Fusco, Executive Director
