Staff Directory
The MSBDC Network's Northeast Regional Office is staffed by
professionals with extensive business experience and excellent
educational backgrounds. Click on a link below to go to a staff
member's biography.
Nancy Gerardi | Awilda Irizarry | Kaitlin Muldoon | Rosa Taormina
Nancy Gerardi, Regional Director
Nancy joined the staff of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center’s Northeast Regional Office as regional director in June 2019.
Prior to working for the MSBDC, Nancy was the proud owner of Gerardi & Associates LLC. G&A, LLC was comprised of a highly-qualify network of individuals who process real estate transactions throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In addition, G&A, LLC offered consulting services for over ten years in multiple facets of business operations and management with a concentration in organization leadership, project management, information processing; planning and allocation of resources. Giving clients ability to manage cross-functional teams and provide guidance that enhanced their performance in a manner that incorporates the organizations vision and culture. G&A, LLC was a strategic partner for business advising on financial and human resource matters with a focus on financial sustainability and the long-term success of their clients.
Nancy holds a BS from Salem State University and a J.D. from New England School of Law. Her interests are volunteering at her daughters’ school and the local food bank.
Awilda Irizarry, Senior Business Advisor
Awilda has over seven years of experience in
banking. Her areas of expertise include all phases of
small business operations, including business planning,
financing, and market research. Awilda is fluent in both
English and Spanish, and is familiar with the Hispanic
market from soup to nuts. As a business advisor, Awilda
helps business owners build sales and marketing
operations.
With her unique combination of
skills in strategic planning, marketing, sales,
financing, business development and performance
management, she has helped business owners launching
successful businesses.
Awilda holds a Bachelor
of Science degree from Salem State University in
geography and a Master’s degree from Lesley College in
international relations.
La señora Irizarry
tiene sobre siete años de experiencia en la banca. Sus
áreas de conocimiento incluye todas las fases de
operaciones de empresas incluyendo planeación,
financiamiento, y análisis del mercado. Awilda domina
la lengua inglesa y española y esta muy familiarizada
con el mercado hispano de la a la z. Como consejera de
negocios, Awilda ayuda a los empresarios a incrementar
operaciones de ventas y mercadeo.
Con su
única combinación de destrezas en planeamiento
estratégico, mercadeo, ventas, finanzas, desarrollo de
negocios y gestión del rendimiento corporativo, ella ha
ayudado a dueños de negocios arrancar negocios exitosos.
Awilda es licenciada en Geografía por la Universidad
de Salem y cuenta con un Máster de Relaciones
Internacionales por la Universidad de Lesley.
Kaitlin Muldoon, Client Services Coordinator
Kaitlin joined the staff of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center’s Northeast Regional Office as a client services coordinator in December 2019.
Prior to joining the MSBDC, Kaitlin was a member services counselor for AAA Northeast. Kaitlin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Salem State University with a minor in Sociology.
In her spare time, Kaitlin enjoys spending time with her Golden Retriever, Cooper, and designing and selling handmade jewelry.
Rosa Taormina, Business Advisor
In January 2021, Rosa began working for the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Northeast Regional Office as a CARES Act advisor where she assisted Massachusetts small businesses in navigating over $50M in federal COVID relief. Starting in April 2022, Rosa began working with our core clients and reaching out to current and past clients.
Prior to joining the MSBDC Network, Rosa was the assistant director of Operations, Assessment and Accreditation at the Bertolon School of Business at Salem State University where she was a member of the initial AACSB accreditation team (successfully earning accreditation as of December 2020). Prior to that, she worked as a program manager in higher education for 13 years.
In addition to her role at the MSBDC, Rosa is also a resource for fellow union members, serving as the grievance officer for the Association of Professional Administrators, Salem Chapter.
Rosa hails from a family of entrepreneurs and small business owners in both the food and clothing industries. She too is a small business owner since 2009, making, marketing, and selling fashion and home accessories.
Rosa was the first in her family to graduate college. She holds a BA in Social Science from Providence College and a JD, with a focus in litigation, from Massachusetts School of Law. Born and raised in Connecticut, Rosa has called Massachusetts home for the last two decades. She currently resides in Beverly with her husband, two daughters, and Boston Terrier named Jackie Daytona.