Jermaine Myrie

Chief Executive Officer

Jermaine Myrie joined MENTOR in April 2023 as the organization’s CEO. Jermaine is an innovative and mission-driven leader with 20+ years of leadership experience across the nonprofit, for-profit and education sectors.

Prior to joining MENTOR, Jermaine served as the chief external affairs officer for uAspire, a national nonprofit focused on college access and affordability, where he set the vision and strategy for organization-wide activities tied to revenue generation and brand building. Jermaine led a multi-faceted external affairs team in achieving consistent success and strategic growth in uAspire’s brand awareness, fundraising, business development, and partnership engagement.

A native New Yorker, Jermaine holds a bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Sociology from Morehouse College, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching, with a focus on secondary education, from Simmons University. Jermaine started his career as an English teacher at the Glover Cleveland Middle School in Boston, MA where he began to live out his passion for and commitment to shaping the experiences of young people through his role as an educator and mentor. Jermaine later went on to hold several business development positions in the for-profit sector at companies such as Novartis, Xerox, Johnson Controls and Aetna Student Health.

Jermaine is also an active community builder and volunteer. He has volunteered for over 15 years at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club of Boston, working with and mentoring over 120 young people each year as part of the Manny Wilson Educational and Basketball Program, and currently coaches youth baseball and basketball in his local community. He is a board member of the American Cancer Society-Eastern New England and currently serves as the Interim Board Chair for The Literacy Lab, a national nonprofit that provides students in communities experiencing racial and/or economic inequities-with evidence-based, culturally responsive literacy instruction as preparation for academic, professional, and personal success. Jermaine also spent ten years on the Boston Preparatory Charter School board with additional service on numerous other boards.

Jermaine currently resides in Massachusetts.

Beth Tallarico

Chief Financial & Administrative Officer

Beth Tallarico serves as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for MENTOR. In this role, she develops and directs the financial management and policy strategy along with managing all aspects of human resources, compliance, information technology, and organizational infrastructure. Her experience in helping nonprofit organizations efficiently and expertly navigate economic conditions for over 20 years, has been critical in leading MENTOR’s efforts to yield greater cost controls, mitigate risks and improve financial outcomes. Prior to joining MENTOR, Tallarico spent more than 15 years at the organization’s Massachusetts-based Affiliate, Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP). Throughout her tenure at MMP she served in many different positions in which she designed and implemented training and technical assistance services to support the youth mentoring opportunities, created and implemented an administrative process to award and manage state mentoring grants, and managed finance and operations for the organization. Tallarico’s leadership extends into the local community. She has volunteered as a Girl Scout troop leader for the past five years and is the past-president of the Hillside Elementary School Parent Teacher Council. Beth holds an Master of Business Administration degree from Boston College and a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from The University of Michigan. Tallarico lives in Needham, Massachusetts, with her husband and three daughters.

Tim Wills

Chief Impact Officer

Tim drives strategy, coordination, integration, and effectiveness of MENTOR’s teams focused in the areas of training and technical assistance; product design, development and ongoing usage; field research and evaluation; strategic partnerships and systems innovation; and Affiliate partnership, support, effectiveness, sustainability, and expansion.

A native of Ferguson, Mo., Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. As a college student, he developed his passion for youth by covering human interest stories as on-air talent for his college television and radio stations which led to a 17-year career in youth development, including at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago, the District of Columbia, and Harford County, Md. In 2016, because of his extensive experience in organizational transformation and increasing club membership, quality improvement, innovative programming and funding, Tim was named the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama. In this role over the last six years, Tim led twelve year-round sites, three summer only programs, a 150-acre campground, and POINTE Academy, a school for detained and adjudicated youth.

He’s received several honors and awards, including Boys & Girls Clubs Professional of the Year for his leadership, Mobile Bay 40 Under 40, and Benjamin Mays Excellence in Mentoring Award. Tim is an active member of the Lion’s Club and a member of the board of directors for Voices for Alabama’s Children and Linking All So Others Succeed (LASOS) in Maryland. He’s completed executive-level training in leadership, non-profit management, and advanced philanthropy from Harvard Business School, Stanford University, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. For 12 years, Tim has been a single foster parent and has fostered over 20 children. He also has spent significant time teaching in VolunTourism trips to Haiti.

Abbie Evans

Chief External Affairs Officer

Michael Garringer

Senior Director of Research & Quality

Sandy Martins

Senior Director of IT & Operations

Sandy Martins serves as MENTOR’s Senior Director of Information Technology & Operations. Raised in Boston by strong women, she’s a proud first-generation Cape Verdean American who values hard work and perseverance. For Sandy, work reflects who she is: a leader, a collaborator, and a strategist. She’s spent the last 17 years helping companies and organizations implement and improve business processes by managing complex, technology-driven projects while supporting their mission and strategic vision. Sandy has diverse expertise in the technology sector, including network technology, health IT, and software application development. By strategically implementing project management and agile frameworks, Sandy evaluates business needs, delivers solutions that achieve results, and positively impacts the end user. Her passion for project management permeates her professional and personal life. A former member of Rhode Island’s non-profit project management organization, OSPMI (Ocean State Project Management Institute), Sandy was the Director of Administration before joining the Board as Vice President of Administration for three consecutive terms. There, she gained recognition for increasing membership retention and successfully executing chapter meetings and workshops that enabled members to upskill. Her mission-based focus and change management expertise will be put to good use as MENTOR continues to expand its impact on the community. As the Senior Director of IT & Operations, Sandy leads the organization with innovative solutions to efficiently and effectively manage operational processes and change. She guides the internal technology committee to assess and recommend organization-wide technology improvements while fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and learning. Additionally, Sandy manages the organization’s roadmap of enterprise initiatives, ensuring a growth plan aligned with MENTOR’s mission, vision, and values. Sandy, a lifelong learner, holds a bachelor’s degree in computer graphics and New Media from Johnson & Wales University (Providence, RI) and a Master’s in Business Administration from Providence College. Sandy loves spending time with family and being outdoors, whether cycling or hiking. 

Alana Hill

Senior Director of Development

Alana Hill is the Senior Director of Development at MENTOR. In this role, she collaborates with the Development team to oversee institutional donor prospect identification and research, stewarding and relationship management, proposal development and grant writing and reporting. Previously, Alana served as the Director of Institutional Giving at Bottom Line, a national leader in college access and success support for first-generation students. While at Bottom Line, Alana developed the organization’s institutional engagement and stewardship strategy to increase foundation and corporate giving and retention. Formerly, as the Director of Development for College Bound Dorchester, she helped develop the fundraising plan and strategies to raise $15M over three years to support the launch and growth of the Boston Uncornered initiative. Alana began her nonprofit career serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Literations, where she went on to spend several years as the Manager of Corporate & Foundation Relations. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston College. She resides in Asheville, NC with her husband and Weimaraner.

Donna Pina Robinson

Director of Finance

With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit financial management, Donna Pina Robinson brings a wealth of expertise to MENTOR. Her professional journey has been dedicated to optimizing financial systems, ensuring compliance with nonprofit accounting standards, and empowering teams with the knowledge to make informed fiscal decisions. Donna thrives on making complex financial data accessible and enjoys guiding non-financial staff through understanding reports and budgets, fostering greater collaboration and transparency.

Donna holds an MBA from Simmons School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Bentley University. She is deeply passionate about MENTOR’s mission and is thrilled to contribute her skills to advancing its goals.

When not managing finances, Donna enjoys reading and experimenting with new recipes, much to the delight of her husband.

Jen Bourgoin

Director of Affiliate Relations & Engagement

Jen Bourgoin is the Director of Affiliate Relations & Engagement at MENTOR. In this role, she serves as the lead strategist for engagement with MENTOR’s national Affiliate Network and creates systems and communications streams to support their professional development and continuous improvement. Jen has nearly a decade of experience within the mentoring field, including designing and implementing local, national, and global mentoring programs. Prior to MENTOR, Jen served as the Mentor Program Manager at The Clubhouse Network, where she managed a federal youth mentoring grant through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and oversaw implementation of The Clubhouse Network’s mentoring model at 130 Clubhouse locations worldwide. Jen started her career serving as an AmeriCorps member at Literations, where she facilitated a school-based mentoring program in South Boston and Dorchester, and later worked as a Program Manager at MENTOR from 2015-2018. Jen has a master’s in education focused in Instructional Design from University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a Bachelor’s in Political Science and German Studies from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts.

Jeronima Nix

Director of Workplace Mentoring

Jeronima Nix (name pronunciation here) is the Director of Workplace Mentoring at MENTOR. It was through her own mentor in college that she discovered how she could expand on equitable change and wrap-around support for youth as a career. During her graduate school experience, she learned about the role policies play in the systems she grew up in and around. This led her to enter the non-profit space with Breakthrough Providence (BTP). She was fortunate to meet many people who challenged her thinking and work and gained the invaluable experience of understanding how systems impact all areas of an organization. During her time at BTP she oversaw student recruitment and support, event planning, program implementation, fundraising and development, marketing and communications, operations, staff recruitment/hiring/training, partnership management, curriculum design, and recently launched their high school program. Through her latter work she centered career readiness while helping youth build their social capital—done in partnership with board trustee members, leadership council members, community stakeholders, and tapping into her own network.

In her current role, Jeronima supports organizations and employers in identifying their mentoring program model and scaffolding to success. The focus: to establish high quality mentoring experiences/resources that allow youth across the nation to enter major job markets and to support employers in enhancing relationship centered practices in the workplace. She understands there are many pipelines to youth success, and connecting them with employers who see, value, and support them is a pathway she’s excited to expand and innovate on. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Roger Williams University and a master’s degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs from the University of Connecticut.

Jessica Haggett Silverman

Affiliate Expansion Director

Jake Sullivan

Senior Manager of Field Learning

Jake Sullivan (he/him) serves as the Training Delivery Manager at MENTOR, where he plans, curates, and delivers training and professional development content for mentoring practitioners, MENTOR Affiliates, and other audiences to execute MENTOR’s national training strategy.

With a background and passion for LGBTQ+ youth advocacy, mentoring, project management, training development, and facilitation, Jake has worked at several nonprofits, working directly with young people, and in program operations at local and national levels. His goals ultimately are to co-create equitable and engaging ways of sharing knowledge, and to uplift the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2019, Jake co-founded Linked Mentoring, a virtual mentoring program for LGBTQ+ youth, that strives to create transformative mentorship opportunities where LGBTQ+ young people are invited to explore their passions, agency, and personhood alongside an intergenerational community. He currently serves as the Director of Mentorship, co-leading the organization alongside an incredible team of queer and trans leaders.

Originally from western Massachusetts, Jake now lives in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Clark University with a degree in Psychology and Community, Youth, Education Studies. In his free time, Jake loves to read, be outside, collage, spend time with friends, watch reality TV, and hangout with his cat Beetlejuice.

Gabriela Castillo

Individual Donor Relations Manager

Gabriela is the Individual Donor Relations Manager at MENTOR, where she drives strategies for donor cultivation, engagement, and stewardship. With a background in grassroots organizing and the performing arts, Gabriela brings a unique perspective to her role in the non-profit sector. Prior to joining MENTOR,

Gabriela was also a professional dancer for 18 years. This fueled her passion for ensuring young people have access to creative outlets. With her dedication to making a positive impact, Gabriela is committed to advancing MENTOR’s mission of empowering youth through mentorship.

Hayley St. Germain

Digital Marketing & Design Manager

Hayley St. Germain serves as the Digital Marketing and Design Manager at MENTOR. In this roll she assists the Marketing and Communications team with graphic design, website design, email design, and branding. A native of central Massachusetts, Hayley holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from DePaul University in Chicago. Since graduating in 2017, she has lived in Germany working as an Au Pair and worked in two non-profits on the island of Nantucket before joining MENTOR.  She enjoys using her creative abilities to promote youth mentoring. She currently resides in Providence, RI.

Rachel Bennett

Research Manager

Rachel Bennett is the Research Manager at MENTOR. In this role, she supports MENTOR’s original research-related projects, which include both original research studies and the translation of mentoring research for use by mentoring practitioners and programs.  Rachel collaborates with researchers and evaluators to build tools and resources to help mentoring professionals make use of evidence-based findings and do the critical work of supporting positive youth outcomes.

Rachel holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  Prior to joining MENTOR, Rachel worked on a variety of research and evaluation projects including a randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of a mentoring intervention for youth who have experienced trauma, and most recently, supported middle and high schools throughout the U.S. to implement a substance-use and violence prevention program.  When she is not working, Rachel can be found serving as a volunteer mentor, on long walks with her dog, Banjo, or learning everything she can about sustainable gardening.  She lives in Lafayette, Colorado with her spouse and their cat and dog.

ShaVonte’ Mills

Corporate Partnerships Program Manager

ShaVonte’ is the Program Manager, Corporate Partnerships at MENTOR. In this role, she evaluates programmatic trainings and resources to ensure efficiency and quality support for Affiliates and corporate clients. ShaVonte’ works alongside the Systems Innovation team in the effort to ensure safe and effective mentoring spaces for mentors and youth in the workplace. She also assists the team in providing technical assistance to companies, collaborating on reporting outcomes, and enhancing our products.

ShaVonte’ is from rural eastern North Carolina. She graduated magna cum laude from UNC Chapel Hill, and later earned her PhD in History and African American and Diaspora Studies from Pennsylvania State University.  Her educational pursuits allowed her to explore and research community schools in Boston, MA, Oberlin, OH, Sedalia, NC, and Dakar, Senegal.

ShaVonte’ comes to MENTOR having developed curriculum, served as an instructor, and published work on the education networks of the 19th century with a focus on Black communities. ShaVonte’ was most recently the Employment Placement Manager at Year Up where she educated and supported young people in navigating the corporate field while working with local staffing firms to identity employment opportunities. ShaVonte’ will continue to promote relationship-centered mentoring and support youth retention in the workplace.

Yogita Tahilram

Manager of Digital Content & Engagement

Yogita is the Manager of Digital Content and Engagement with the MENTOR team, and her passion for communications, people, and working for social change led her to this role.

She spent her life growing up between South Africa and India, learning French and Spanish, and pursuing her love for content creation and marketing. She has worked in different fields such as education, insurance, public relations, and youth-led non-profits.

Yogita holds a master’s degree in management from Duke University and is excited to bolster the mentorship movement with her varied skillset. She hopes to engage with, and build inclusive communities with her work.

In her free time, Yogita loves to read, doodle, and spend time outdoors.