Our People

Staff

Interise has a small but highly motivated and dedicated staff that work hard to promote the interests of small businesses.

J. JEAN HORSTMAN—CEO

Jean has more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, spanning the private, public, and nonprofit sectors and two continents. Before joining Interise as its first CEO, Jean served as the National Director for Civic Engagement and Corporate Citizenship at Citizen Schools. She has partnered with other national social entrepreneurs, serving in senior leadership roles with Manchester Craftsmen's Guild and BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life), and was also the Managing Director of the Society for Organizational Learning. She spent 16 years working in the United Kingdom and Eastern and Central Europe, where she led organizations responding to societal changes related to post-industrialism, post-communism, urban and economic redevelopment, and globalization. A graduate of Duke University and the City University of London, Jean is a fellow of the Society for Organizational Learning and the Royal Society for the Advancement of the Arts, Manufacturing, and Commerce.

• Email: jhorstman@interise.org

BERNARD JOHNSON - DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM OPERATIONS

Bernard leads the development of the Interise membership in Massachusetts.  He also oversees the creation and management of the systems and services needed to scale Interise nationally. Prior to Interise, Bernard served as manager of operations for several commercial real estate properties’ for GE Commercial Finance/InterPark in Boston. In addition Bernard, successfully commanded a start - up division in Downtown Boston with Cintas, in which he performed sales, marketing, and operational management duties. Overall Bernard brings 10 plus years of sales, marketing, business development, and management experience with several industry leaders to Interise. Bernard holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Boston in English.

• Email: bjohnson@interise.org

STEVE KIRK - DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Steve is responsible for the financial and administrative operating plans and systems that support Interise’s strategic goals.  Steve has over 20 years of experience managing international volunteer and educational exchange programs.  Prior to joining Interise, he served as the Director of Finance and Operations for School Year Abroad in Lawrence, MA.  He has held senior management positions at AFS Intercultural Programs/USA, WorldTeach, and Amigos de las Americas.  He also served as the Director of Dreams of Freedom: Boston’s Immigration Museum, a program of the International Institute of Boston.  Steve has served in leadership positions of boards of directors including the international and local boards of AMIGOS, the Overseas Development Network, the parent associations of Fontbonne Academy, and his local parochial school. In 1995 Steve was awarded a Kellogg Foundation-funded Fellowship in International Community Development through Partners of the Americas and currently serves as co-president of the Massachusetts Chapter. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and an M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Houston.  He has also done graduate work in international development and social change at Clark University.

• Email: skirk@interise.org

BRANDON MASTRANGELO - SENIOR MANAGER OF TRAINING

Brandon is responsible for training and supporting  instructors nationally to ensure consistent delivery of programming and quality assurance. He monitors the effectiveness of the curriculum and collects feedback from instructors to continue to evolve our product to meet the needs of our customers.  Brandon previously worked at the International Institute of Boston, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of their economic development department. His work there focused on helping the refugee and immigrant populations in Greater Boston start and/or expand a small business, as well as on organizing and teaching financial literacy courses. Brandon spent the majority of the last two years working with refugees, providing technical assistance around their small business needs, which included: financing, marketing/sales, advertising, business plan development, and networking to find industry experts. Brandon holds a B.S. from Oswego University in Business Administration.

• Email: bmastrangelo@interise.org

LAURA SCARLETT-TAVARES - SENIOR MEMBERSHIP MANAGER

Laura's primary responsibility is to launch and execute Interise's new membership program.  Laura previously worked at the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), where she supported youth entrepreneurship education programs at high schools and community based organizations.  Most of Laura's work at NFTE centered on creating and growing the volunteer and alumni programming, including an initiative to standardize volunteer programs across NFTE's domestic program offices.  Laura has also worked with the Brockton 21st Century Corporation and YouthBuild Holyoke.  Laura holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an M.B.A. from Brandeis University.

• Email: ltavares@interise.org

LAURA MASULIS - SENIOR PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

Laura manages Interise's program evaluation process and works to identify, cultivate, and manage partnerships across the country. In her spare time, Laura volunteers with the Frederick Douglass Square Farmers' Market where she spearheaded an initiative to accept federal food assistance program benefits. Before joining Interise, Laura worked at Public Consulting Group, where she specialized in business process redesign and strategic planning for workforce development, food security, and public assistance agencies around the country. Laura also spent time working in Bolivia at a microfinance institution and at the Center for Women and Enterprise focused on improving the position of women in the business world.   Laura holds a B.A. in Latin American studies with an economics concentration from Wesleyan University. 

• Email: lmasulis@interise.org

MONICA ROYSTON, PROGRAM MANAGER

Monica recruits, as well as enrolls entrepreneurs and provides support for Interise's Worcester County program.  As a former high school English teacher, she has significant experience leading and guiding others towards recognizing their potential.  She has written two novels, serves on the board of an animal welfare non-profit organization, and in early 2012, she founded The Velveteen Inn.  Monica holds an M. Ed. in English. 

• Email: mroyston@interise.org

STACY MCNARY - COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Stacy joined Interise in 2009 as a co-op student from Northeastern University. She works with the Interise team to support public relations and marketing communication initiatives. Before joining the team, Stacy worked as a public relations intern at Solomon McCown & Company and as a marketing assistant at Constant Contact. She holds a B.A. from Northeastern University in Communication Studies with a concentration in organizational communication. 

• Email: smcnary@interise.org

GLENNY REYNOSO - PROGRAM ASSOCIATE (PARTNERSHIPS)

Glenny joined Interise after completing her B.A. in Philosophy from Northeastern University. As the Program Associate (Partnerships) for Interise, Glenny researches new anchor institution partnership opportunities and assists the National and Local Program team  to develop relationships, systems, and services needed to cultivate, secure, and retain partners.

In Glenny’s spare time she enjoys working with DRYVE the nonprofit she co-founded while studying at Northeastern that plans service trips to underserved communities lacking educational resources.

• Email: greynoso@interise.org

EMILY MORRIS - EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CEO

Instructors

Our instructors have experience in running a business, as well as in educating entrepreneurs. You can learn about some of our instructors here.