Staff

Maintaining a strong management team has been one of our core goals. Our success in meeting this goal is self-evident: Our 4 senior staff members have over 80 years of combined experience in community service and/or management. Below is a brief introduction to our staff.

Mary Gunn, Executive Director

Mary Gunn is the Executive Director of Generations Incorporated, which is host to the Boston Experience Corps Program. Since 2002, she has successfully led the Boston expansion, and has been an active partner and leader in the national Experience Corps network. Prior to her current position, Mary spent over 25 years working in the field of youth development, creating innovative youth programs in Boston’s largest neighborhood. For much of this time, she served as the Executive Director of the Bird Street Community Center, a highly recognized independent youth center, which quadrupled in size during her decade of leadership. Mary has devoted her life to service, beginning as a Peace Corps volunteer in early 1970s, then as a teacher, youth worker, and executive. Throughout her career she has been an activist and advocate for youth, families, and resident-led community development.

Mary lives on the ocean in Lynn, MA. She enjoys kayaking, hiking, and spending good time with friends.

Read Mary's blog here.

Virginia Bridgeman, Program Manager

Ginny coordinates direct service programs in two sites in Dorchester. Prior to this position she served with Generations Incorporated as an AmeriCorps and Experience Corps member. She is retired from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where she worked for twenty nine years as a Research Assistant and a Computer Technician. She holds an Associate’s Degree from Fisher College.

Carol Brown, Morning Receptionist

Carol joined Generations Incorporated in 2004 through Operation A.B.L.E. Previously she worked for 33 years with OneBeacon Insurance Group. She serves as morning receptionist and the source of information regarding all Generations Incorporated staff.

Amelia Day, Development Associate

Amelia is responsible for institutional grant-writing. Previously, she served at Generations Incorporated as an AmeriCorps*VISTA on the development team. She holds a BA in Classics from Bard College, and an MA in Myth and Society from the University of Wales, Lampeter.

Tara Finnegan, Director of Resource Development

Tara writes, develops, and implements the annual fundraising plan of the organization. She served on Generations Incorporated’s fundraising team as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member and has been with us since the fall of 2003. Ms. Finnegan received her Bachelor of Arts in Financial Economics from Saint Anselm College and her Master of Arts in Economics from Northeastern University.

Helen Garretson, MSW, Director of Programs

Helen oversees all of Generations Incorporated's programming with Judy Krenzel. She has over 20 years of experience in management and administration, including experience overseeing a $2 million budget and a department of 60 individuals at the Children’s Hospital in Boston. She served as a program manager for Bird Street Community Center for nearly five years. Helen holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Boston University School of Social Work.

Tom Galvin, Program Manager

Tom oversees the direct service of literacy programs at two elementary schools in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. Last year, Tom served as an Americorps member, coordinating the Generations Incorporated programs at the Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury. Previously, Tom taught high school for many years in Massachusetts. He then moved to Connecticut where he was a high school principal for 21 years, followed by serving as associate director of the Connecticut Association of Schools where one of his major responsibilities was directing the Connecticut Principals’ Center.

Jane Hamel, Training Manager

Jane coordinates training for all Experience Corps Volunteers and AmeriCorps Members. Previously, Jane served at Generations Incorporated as an AmeriCorps member. Prior to that she worked at the Interlochen center for the arts in Michigan and was the training coordinator for the Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol at Ithaca College. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education.

Gina Hey, Program Manager

Gina coordinates direct service programs in Roxbury and Dorchester. Prior to joining the Generations Incorporated team, she worked as a coordinator for the Boston University Initiative for Literacy Development (BUILD) program. Gina previously served at Generations Incorporated as an AmeriCorps member and in the Republic of Moldova as a Peace Corps volunteer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa and a Master’s degree from Boston University’s School of Education.

Chrissy Holt, Director of Finance and Administration

Chrissy is responsible for the day-to-day coordination of office operations, and supports the organizational administrative functions at Generations Incorporated. Chrissy received her Bachelor in Business Administration from Abilene Christian University, and her Master in Business Administration in Nonprofit Management from Suffolk University. Prior to completing her MBA, Chrissy served as the office manager for a property abstracting firm in Abilene, TX.

Katie Klister, Volunteer Manager

Katie maintains, manages and executes strategies for volunteer recruitment, retention, and recognition. Previously, Katie served at Generations Incorporated as an AmeriCorps Lead. Before joining Generations Incorporated, she served as a volunteer teacher at the Martin County Child and Family Development Center for the Christian Appalachian Project in Kentucky. She received her B.A. degree in Family Studies from St. Olaf College, where she studied in Community Development and Sustainability in Guatemala and Cuba.

Judy Krenzel, Director of Programs

Judy oversees all of Generations Incorporated’s programming with Helen Garretson. She has 28 years of elementary and middle school teaching experience, as well as experience in developing and implementing intergenerational programming. She serves as a steering committee member for the Massachusetts Intergenerational Network. She holds a Masters of Education degree.

Julieann Sitler, Program Manager

Julieann coordinates our direct service programs in Roxbury. She has a long history with Generations Incorporated, previously serving on our program team as an AmeriCorps site coordinator at the Tobin School in Roxbury. Prior to joining us, Julieann was a manager at Cambridge Focus Marketing Research. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Public Relations from Boston University. After graduating, Julieann traveled abroad and across the United States for over two years to further research comparative education systems and policy.

Paul Thompson, Program Manager

Paul coordinates direct service programs in Roxbury and Dorchester. Prior to joining the Generations Incorporated team, he enjoyed a long career as a Boston Public School Teacher. Paul has worked as a counselor at the Boston Sickle Cell Center. As a Social worker, he placed older children in adoptive homes. He also provided services to families of abused and neglected children.