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.