Executive Team
Kira Khazatsky, President and Chief Executive Officer
As the President and Chief Executive Officer, Kira is responsible for the overall direction and management of the organization and leads its leadership team. Working closely with the executive team, Kira defines and implements the agency’s strategic plan and mission. Prior to her role as Chief Executive Officer, Kira served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Program Officer at JVS and was responsible for programmatic leadership that reinforces JVS’s mission and values and demonstrates the agency’s commitment to our customers, clients and students.
Jonathan Nierman, Chief Development Officer
Jonathan is responsible for driving the major gifts program and providing strategic direction and oversight for the Development Team, which includes communications, institutional support, and events. In concert with Kira Khazatsky, JVS’s President and CEO, Jonathan manages a robust portfolio of high-level major donors and works closely with the Resource Development Committee of the JVS Board to further strengthen the philanthropic program.
Jennifer Jewell, Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer at JVS, Jennifer is responsible for leading the overall financial strategy and function at JVS, working closely with the CEO, Executive Team, Board of Directors, and senior staff. Jennifer brings over 20 years of nonprofit financial leadership to JVS in her role as CFO. Her experience includes developing internal systems and procedures to support the strategic growth of the organizations she has served. Prior to joining JVS in 2016, Jennifer was the Managing Director of Finance and Operations for the National Center on Time and Learning where she led the financial and operational functions of four related education reform organizations.
Jim Santiago, Chief Information Officer
As the Chief Information Officer, Jim is responsible for leading the overall technology strategy and facilities at JVS. Working closely with the CEO and the executive team, Jim will establish the mission and vision of JVS’ technology organization to foster a value-added, user-focused mindset.
Kadesh Simms, Chief People Officer
As the Chief of People & Culture, Kadesh is responsible for leading the execution of our People & Culture strategy in support of the overall vision, mission, and strategic direction of JVS.
Leadership Team
Amy Nishman, Senior Vice President
Amy is responsible for leading strategic agency initiatives that bring resources to the agency and help JVS become more coordinated and client-centered. She leads our innovative $15 million Pay for Success project, Pathways to Economic Advancement, the first focused exclusively on workforce development. Amy also works on our Public Policy initiatives, as well as agency-wide data quality and continuous improvement. She develops service delivery models that respond to the changing economy, allowing JVS students to move into and up career ladders. She advances the agency’s Public Policy platform through local and state-level workforce policy solutions, and works to improve JVS’s overall data collection and analysis to best measure our impact.
Sher Omerovic, Senior Vice President of Programs
Sher oversees JVS’s Health Care Skills Training Program, Career Path Programming and Academic Services. Sher collaborates with government agencies, ABE programs, and community partners to design and implement partnership models bringing together housing, education, and workforce development agencies to help individuals and families increase their level of economic self-sufficiency through employment, education, and financial empowerment. Prior to JVS, she worked at the Fish Family Foundation, where she developed and implemented a statewide citizenship initiative partnering with multiple community organizations, immigration attorneys, and volunteers to organize large-scale citizenship events across the commonwealth.
Mandy Townsend, Senior Vice President of Employer Engagement
Mandy works with the area’s top employers in identifying, designing, implementing, and providing critical workforce development services and improving job quality. Through leadership and guidance, Mandy works with teams across JVS to ensure the placement, training, coaching, and mentoring needs of our employer partners are met with innovative solutions tailored to current industry trends and individual needs. Mandy began her career at JVS as a Career Coach in the Refugee Services department, and has worked in education and workforce development for over 10 years.
Mirjana Kulenovic, Vice President of Refugee and Disability Services
Mirjana directs the operations of a variety of refugee employment and training programs that help refugees adapt to their new society and gain the skills they need to secure stable employment and self-sufficiency. Prior to joining JVS, Mirjana worked for 7 years at the International Rescue Committee Boston in a variety of programs and roles. In 2001 she helped create and later ran the IRC Voices Program as an effort to educate the Greater Boston Community about refugee issues here and abroad. She has been an outspoken advocate for refugees throughout her work.
Kelly Tessitore, Vice President of Policy and Advancement
Kelly is responsible for the strategic management of JVS’s foundation and governmental relationships, as well as policy work on federal workforce development issues and their implications at the state level. She advances JVS’s vision of connecting public assistance recipients to skills and training opportunities through programs such as SNAP Employment & Training. She serves on the National Advisory Panel on Safety Net and Skills Policy for the National Skills Coalition. Kelly began her career at JVS in the 1990s as a volunteer translating for Russian-speaking refugees.
Doreen Treacy, Vice President of Career Services
Doreen is responsible for setting a vision and leading JVS MassHire Career Center, ensuring high-quality customer services to job seekers and cutting-edge workforce development practices to Boston area employers. A recognized social innovator and thought leader, she brings over 20 years of professional experience and a passion for creating economic pathways for Massachusetts’ residents to her role. For 12 years she directed the CivicHealth Institute where she built a portfolio of asset-building, education, and training programs to address social determinants of health. She was also appointed to represent Gov. Patrick on a legislative Commission to Study the Feasibility of a Bank Owned by the Commonwealth.
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