Leadership Team

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!).

Deeply moved and inspired by UTEC’s Mission and Core Values, Paula joined UTEC in October 2022 as Chief Development Officer.

With a long-standing career as a changemaker, social innovator, and non-profit management leader, her passion and relentless commitment to serving underrepresented groups is distinguished by her natural ability to engage diverse communities towards positive change. As a social entrepreneur, she finds new pathways to ignite, inspire, and develop traditional and non-traditional funding sources.

Throughout her career, Paula has devoted herself to building infrastructures and launching sustainable programs that result in deeper donor engagement and involvement.

As a first generation bilingual Latina from a historically underserved community, she is committed to creating opportunities for members of our most vulnerable communities. Prior to joining UTEC, Paula served as Chief Development Officer for National Medical Fellowships.  She directed development efforts and managed mission-driven teams for United Way, Easter Seals and Arthritis Foundation.  Paula is a proud Lowell resident and is committed to creating new opportunities for the Young Adults that we serve.

Terri’s career has included work in for-profit (technology) and non-profit (Financial Services and Behavioral Health) organizations before coming to UTEC in 2017. Her experience includes finance, and operations management. At UTEC, Terri leads the Finance team and Outsourced IT team and is part of the UTEC Leadership Team. She works with all staff across UTEC. Her favorite UTEC values are Respectful Curiosity, and Think Big and she is an obsessive gardener.  Terri holds a BBA in Business from Penn State University. 

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.

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. 

Sakieth “Sako” Long has lived and worked in Lowell for over 35 years. Sako grew up in Lowell and, as an immigrant, understands some of the challenges that Lowellians face. Sako started his career in youth development working as an Outreach Worker for UTEC. He spent the next 12 years helping UTEC develop programs to help serve proven at- risk youth. Sako left UTEC and worked for the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA) and then Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA). Sako returned to UTEC in 2020 and is the Senior Director of Re-entry and Outreach. Sako also serves as the Board President for Thrive Communities. He truly believes in our community and continues to be active in as many ways possible. In his free time Sako loves to be out on the water, he’s an avid fisherman, loves the outdoors, competing competitively in cornhole, and spending time with his wife and 2 amazing daughters.

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.

Leslie Rivera is a community advocate and youthworker from Lowell, Massachusetts. Leslie is currently the Assistant Director of Streetworkers at UTEC supporting and coaching the Streetworker team. Leslie has worked in the youth development and community-building field for the last 20 years, the last 15 years at UTEC working with disconnected young adults in Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill. Leslie is a facilitator and culture keeper with experience in gang meditations, establishing gang peace treaties, coordinating community peace events, and street outreach. Leslie has held many roles at UTEC including supervisor of the Streetworker team, a Theory of Change committee member, and supervisor of the Transitional Coaching team at UTEC. Leslie is a trained Peacemaking Circle Keeper and is a Psychology major with ample life experience. She is currently part of the Leadership Team at UTEC and Chair of the DEI Advisory Committee. The community recognizes Leslie as a key person in Lowell as someone you can turn to for any type of help. She is affectionately nicknamed, “The Ghetto’s Angel.”

Amanda Kuffoh recently joined UTEC in mid August of 2022. She serves as the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Professional Development. Prior to this role, she was working with Greater Boston Legal Services as a Legal Advocate where she represented clients who needed assistance or representation on matters such as employment discrimination, SNAP assistance, and housing advocacy for marginalized and low income communities. She also worked with the NAACP as an Organizer and D.E.I education liaison where she assisted in the movement of racial justice in the state of Massachusetts. Amanda holds degrees in Political Science, Philosophy and Government. She hopes to assist and guide UTEC in leading the revolution of DEI and social justice.

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 is the Director of Transitional Coaching . He is a long time resident of Lowell, working with UTEC for the past 18 years in a variety of roles. He is a graduate of UMASS Lowell with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Anthony loves helping young adults, seeing them accomplish their goals, and moving on to be successful .

Ricardo Febles is the Senior Director of Social Enterprises for UTEC. He leads strategic operations of three social enterprises (Mattress Recycling, Culinary and Woodworking), and is responsible for determining opportunities for enterprise growth and expansion.   He believes in being a sponge and is always striving to strengthen his skills by embracing feedback and working collaboratively.

Chris entered the food business as a 16 year old dishwasher and hasn’t left the business since. His career has led him from working in various forms of restaurants to being part of leadership teams at Whole Foods Market and Sweetgreen. Chris continues his work with food and food justice at UTEC where he oversees the operations for their food social enterprises. Chris is very proud of his part in launching the Madd Love Meals program that brings healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate food to the Merrimack Valley community.