At our most recent board meeting, The Children’s Room said goodbye to longtime board members Jonathan DeVito, Tim Gleason, and Katie Gorczyca. Together, they served a collective eighteen years, and we are tremendously grateful for their many contributions to The Children’s Room. With their transition, we welcome five talented new board members to support our organization.
TCR announces the newest appointees to its Board of Directors: Angelo Firenze, Director at YMCA Greater Boston-Sandy Island Family Camp; Joy Fisher Williams, Executive Marketing Manager at Macmillan; Carol Gildea, Retired Software Sales; Parmpreet Kalsi, Founder and Executive Coach at PyschLead; and Ed Orazem, Former President of Family Office Services at Fidelity Investments.
The newly elected Board members will be pivotal in guiding our organization. Comprising individuals with diverse backgrounds, expertise, and a shared commitment to our cause, they provide strategic insights, governance, and support to ensure that The Children’s Room continues to thrive and profoundly impact the lives of those we serve.
“Our newest Board of Directors members represent leadership in various industries, from child development to mental health to finance. These individuals bring new skills and perspectives to the table, enhancing the capabilities of our already talented Board,” says TCR Board Chair Crissy Straub. “The heart of any organization is its people, and our board members are the compass that guides us. With fresh voices, perspectives, and energy, we are better equipped to navigate the ever-changing grief and loss support landscape.”
Angelo Firenze is the Director of Sandy Island Family Camp, a rustic 66-acre island retreat on Lake Winnipesaukee owned by the YMCA of Greater Boston and in operation since 1899. He and his son, Nico, are alumni of The Children’s Room after losing his wife and Nico’s mom, Cassie, to breast cancer in 2019. Before his work with the YMCA, Angelo was a lifelong entrepreneur with wide-ranging experience, having started, managed, and sold various businesses, and in the odd case, even did it successfully.
Joy Fisher Williams is an executive marketing manager at Macmillan Learning with more than 20 years of experience in educational publishing. She earned a BS in Communication at Northwestern University and an MFA in Creative Writing at Emerson College, where she taught first-year composition courses. Her previous board work includes Transition House in Cambridge and the Chelsea Community Kitchen, with fundraising/event planning experience at Habitat for Humanity Boston. Joy and her sons were the direct beneficiaries of TCR’s programming and services when her husband/their father, Brent, died in 2017. It is her honor to support the organization and its staff and families through this new role.
Carol Gildea joins The Children’s Room, having graduated from Regis College and working in software sales before having her three children. She lives in Weston, MA, and looks forward to serving on the Sustainable Funding Committee.
Dr. Parmpreet Kalsi is a Certified Executive Coach, Behaviour Change Consultant, and Founder of PsychLead Executive Advisory. She has worked as a Chartered Health Psychologist in the United Kingdom and held various roles within the National Health Service (NHS) as a researcher, consultant, and published academic in the Psychology faculty at London City University and has extensive experience as a practitioner and consultant in behavioral and psychological invention design. She holds a Doctorate and Master of Science in Health Psychology from London City University, UK, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Nottingham, UK, and ICF certification in Executive Coaching from William James College, Massachusetts. Dr. Kalsi lives with her family in Newton, MA.
Ed Orazem previously worked in financial services at Fidelity Investments and Citigroup. Now retired, he devotes a considerable amount of his time and resources to important causes. He supports organizations in the greater Boston area that serve young people in need. In Montana, where he lives part-time, he focuses on causes that protect wildlife and the environment. Ed and his wife, Robin, live in Wellesley, MA.
These accomplished individuals bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to our organization. Their passion for our mission and unwavering commitment to support grieving children and families will be instrumental in our journey.
