UTEC’s Leadership Team
Our leadership team represents all programmatic, administrative, fiscal and social enterprise areas of the organization. This inclusive group provides invaluable insights and recommendations in; decision-making, communication with staff, policy development and strategic planning. Their input guides all advancements at UTEC in a cross agency manner designed to best serve our young adults.
Meet UTEC’s Leadership Team
Gregg Croteau
Chief Executive Officer
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Hired as UTEC’s first Chief Executive Officer by the founding group of young adults and community leaders in 2000, Gregg has overseen the growth of the agency from a grassroots safe haven to a nationally recognized youth development organization. Gregg came to UTEC with youthwork experience that ranged from streetwork to program development in Detroit, East Boston, and his hometown of Revere, MA. With an interest in Vietnamese culture stemming from his work with gang-involved Southeast Asian youth, he spent two years working and conducting research in Hanoi, gaining fluency in Vietnamese language.
He has testified at the state and federal levels – one highlight being the 2007 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gang violence through the invitation of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy. He has had the pleasure of leading coalitions to help advocate for the passage of key bills, as well as new programs in our state budget. He is honored to have received awards over his career as a testament to UTEC’s overall work, but most appreciative of the relationships with young adults and staff that have helped bring UTEC’s values of madd love and clean slate to life in so many ways.
Gregg received his B.A. from Wesleyan University (majoring in East Asian Studies). He earned his Masters of Social Work from the University of Michigan, along with associated masters coursework in Southeast Asian Studies. He is a proud son, father, grandfather, grand-dog dad, and third baseman for the Boston Astros (“professionally” amateur baseball league!).
Emma Concepcion
Chief People Officer
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Emma serves as UTEC’s Chief People and Culture Officer, reporting directly to the CEO. In this role, she leads UTEC’s people and talent strategies, manages organizational risk, and oversees the continued development of human resource-related strategies, policies and procedures. She acts as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on employee relations, leadership development, organizational culture and talent management. Emma also plays a key leadership role in advancing UTEC’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of management, helping to embody UTEC’s DEI vision in both workplace culture and practice.
Emma joined UTEC from Bay Cove Human Services, where she served as Vice President of Human Resources and previously as Director of Human Resources. As part of the leadership team, she established Bay Cove’s workforce development team, co-chaired the DEI committee, implemented HR initiatives, improved staff retention and engagement, and aligned human resources strategies with broader organizational goals. Under her leadership, Bay Cove was named one of Boston’s Top Places to Work for five consecutive years.
Earlier in her career, Emma spent a decade as Bay Cove’s Director of Housing. She also brings extensive mediation experience through her involvement with the Harvard University Mediation Program, where she participated in court mediation and training focused on civil, housing and harassment prevention cases.
Emily Forbes
Chief Financial Officer
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Emily joined UTEC in 2017 and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2024. Emily received her Bachelors Degree in Managerial Accounting at Thomas College. After graduation, she entered the nonprofit world and began her career at a Mental Health Agency. She joined UTEC in 2017 and has seen the Agency grow tremendously in the support it’s able to provide not only to Young Adults, but Community Partners as well. Emily’s favorite UTEC value is Be a Sponge, stating that being open to learning, new ideas and experiences allows us to create something valuable from everything we take in.
Anita Moeller
Chief of Staff
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Anita Moeller started her career in Lowell, MA as a community organizer with the Coalition for a Better Acre. From there she became the founding Executive Director of Acre Family Child Care, a non-profit early education and women’s economic development organization. After 15 years at AcreFCC, she joined the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). During her 16 years at EEC, she held many leadership and management roles including Head Start State Collaboration director and Deputy Commissioner for Program Administration. In her current role as Interim Chief of Staff at UTEC, Inc. Anita combines community-based development with her experience in management as she works to support UTEC in its work focused on social justice and increased opportunities for the young adults and families we serve. Anita’s favorite value is Planting Seeds of Peace.
Judy Normandin
Chief Development Officer
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Judy Normandin brings over a decade of leadership in nonprofit development to her role as Chief Development Officer at UTEC. An advocate for social and economic justice, Judy oversees UTEC’s comprehensive fundraising strategy, focusing on expanding individual giving and stewarding transformative philanthropic partnerships. Before this role, she served as UTEC’s Director of Grants, leading institutional giving efforts that secured significant public and private funding. Judy holds a B.A. in Political Science from Bates College and serves on the Board of Waystone Health and Human Services.
Jessica Parker
Chief Operating Officer
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Jessica joined UTEC in April 2021 as a Special Projects Consultant. In March 2022 she transitioned into the role of Sr. Director of Special Projects. Today, she is the Chief Operating Officer. Before starting her own consulting business, Jessica was the Chief Operating Officer for various organizations in the Education, Training, and Development industries. Jessica has over 15 years of experience and has helped organizations and teams expand their skills, learn how to support each other, and put knowledge into practice for overall personal and professional success, thus increasing productivity and effectiveness. She successfully prioritizes and drives multiple concurrent projects while utilizing data and analytics to inform decision-making processes. In addition Jessica was simultaneously and successfully writing, administrating, and reporting on state and federal grants. Over the years, Jessica has also provided consultation for non-profit organizations, helping them identify, create, and implement key new start-up programming and providing guidance and/or creating systems for effective operations.
Tamara Soraluz
Chief Programs Officer
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Tamara Soraluz is a Peruvian immigrant who has worked with young adults for over 10 years. As a social worker and youth worker, Tamara’s favorite value has always been “Assume Goodness” because the heart is always good and young people have always proved this to be true.
Nichelle Sadler
Executive Director of the Training Center for Excellence
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Nichelle served as a senior program director at UTEC in 2012-2013 and then, in 2018, rejoined UTEC as Interim Chief Program Officer. She is now serving as the Director for the Training Center for Excellence (TC4E), the premier training facility in Massachusetts for addressing gun violence through both a public health and racial equity lens. Between her UTEC roles, Nichelle served as Chief of Staff to District Attorney-Elect Rachael Rollins and Chief of Staff to Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson. Raised in Boston, she actively participated in Boston’s local community centers throughout her youth. Following college, she joined the staff of Boston Community Centers’ Streetworker program where she began her career working high-risk youth at a very difficult time for the city when crime among youth was high. Prior to her work at UTEC, Nichelle was the Boston Area Director for Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps, where she oversaw two community-based programs. Nichelle’s experience provides her with the kind of leadership and experience that is needed to undertake community initiatives serving impact young adults.
Anthony Ellis
Senior Director of Program Innovation and Impact
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Anthony is the Senior Director of Program Innovation and Impact. He is a long-time resident of Lowell, working with UTEC for the past 18 years in a variety of roles. He graduated from UMASS Lowell with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Anthony loves helping young adults accomplish their goals and move on to be successful.
Leslie Rivera
Senior Director, Training Center for Excellence
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Leslie Rivera is a dedicated community advocate, youth worker, and mentor from Lowell, Massachusetts, with 31 years of experience in youth development—18 of those years spent at UTEC. Throughout her career, Leslie has played an essential role in supporting young adults in Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill. As Senior Director of Training and Capacity Building at UTEC’s Training Center for Excellence, she has championed the importance of culture, advocating for the recognition and appreciation of direct service staff.
A trained Peacemaking Circle Keeper and culture keeper, Leslie brings deep expertise in gang mediation, peace treaties, street outreach, and community healing. Her leadership at UTEC has included managing the Streetworker and Transitional Coaching teams, serving on the Theory of Change committee, and chairing the DEI Advisory Committee.
Leslie is not only committed to professional excellence but also to transformative leadership. For her, leadership is about leading by example—rooted in equity and fostering an environment where everyone collaborates and supports one another. Her approach empowers others, whether in the community, with young people, or within the organization itself. She believes in the power of teamwork, and in elevating those around her, ensuring that all voices are heard, respected, and valued.
Beyond her professional achievements, Leslie is also a mother, grandmother, and a mentor who celebrates culture while uplifting those who work on the front lines of community service. Her focus on transformative leadership, combined with her dedication to equity and collaboration, makes her a guiding force in the lives of many.
Leslie is not only committed to professional excellence but also to transformative leadership. For her, leadership is about leading by example—rooted in equity and fostering an environment where everyone collaborates and supports one another. Her approach empowers others, whether in the community, with young people, or within the organization itself. She believes in the power of teamwork, and in elevating those around her, ensuring that all voices are heard, respected, and valued.
Beyond her professional achievements, Leslie is also a mother, grandmother, and a mentor who celebrates culture while uplifting those who work on the front lines of community service. Her focus on transformative leadership, combined with her dedication to equity and collaboration, makes her a guiding force in the lives of many.
Will Vilas-Novas
Director of Culture and Talent Development
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Will Vilas-Novas (a.k.a Will from Brazil) joined UTEC in January of 2013. Will’s favorite UTEC’s Core Values are Madd Love and See Beyond the Mask. He enjoys spending time with his family, coaching soccer, and traveling around the world.
Leadership Representation
We believe it is essential that the team responsible for making decisions represents the community we serve.
