Development Associate

Jeanette Ardanowski received her B.A. in English from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York and her M.S.W. from Boston College. Her professional experience includes paralegal work, counseling and advocacy. Jeanette believes that Families First is a perfect match for her because of its strengthed-based mission to build positive relationships between parents and their children. She also values the professional, supportive and innovative work environment of Families First. As Development Associate, Jeanette is responsible for assisting the Director of Development in the areas of annual fund and special events.

Nicole Cleckley, M.Ed.

Curriculum Coordinator

Nicole received her B.A. from Georgetown University and M.A. in English from Tufts University.  She went on to earn a M.Ed. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Cambridge College.  In addition to her therapeutic work with children, families, and couples as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and clinical member of the AAMFT, she has extensive and varied experience in program development, training, and teaching.  Before her move to Families First, she was an Assistant Director at Council for Relationships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Nicole joined Families First in 2007 and is primarily responsible for managing, developing, and expanding Families First’s portfolio of curricula, educational materials, and products. 

Sue Covitz

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Sue is responsible for exploring and developing key relationships with a variety of organizations and stakeholders. Sue brings over fifteen years of experience in non-profit coalition building, community organizing, and management consulting. Sue formerly served as the Executive Director of Greater Options for Adolescent Lives, and has worked as a non-profit and public health consultant for the past five years. She received a B.A. in Philosophy from Haverford College, and an M.S.W. from Boston College. Sue is the parent of two young children, and has participated as a parent in Families First workshops.

Michael Goldman

Director of Finance & Administration

Michael Goldman is a graduate of Brandeis University with an MBA from Dartmouth College. Prior to joining Families First, Michael was CEO of a Washington, DC-based publishing company. He has also worked in management consulting and founded his own chocolate company. Michael's previous non-profit experience includes work with VISTA and Heifer Project International. Families First attracted Michael because he saw the opportunity to have his everyday work-life make a valuable contribution to the community and found the family focused mission of Families First particularly appealing.

Charles Huschle

Development Officer

Charles Huschle joined Families First in 2007 as Development Officer, responsible for the management of institutional fundraising efforts, working with the Grants Officer to identify funding prospects, creating and writing grant proposals, and maintaining relationships with foundation and corporate officers. He comes to Families First with many years experience as a teacher, parent, and volunteer with other nonprofit organizations. He has developed fundraising materials for the nationally-known Lung Cancer Alliance, consulted for the spinal cord injury rehabilitation department at the Boston Medical Center, and taught classes at First Parish Church in Weston, MA. He holds a B.A. in English from Wesleyan University, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. As a parent of three children and two step-children, he has first-hand knowledge of the need for parenting education, and brings this conviction to the work of securing funds for our mission.

Jessica Kirkpatrick, MSW, LCSW

Program Coordinator

Jessica Kirkpatrick attended graduate school at Boston University, earning her Masters in Social Work with a clinical focus and group work specialization. She is responsible for developing new contract programs with community organizations, coordinating logistics for contract site programming, and managing contract processes including outreach, program scheduling, delivery, and follow-up. Jessica has experience working in collaboration with the Department of Social Services and the Department of Youth Services and recently came on board with Families First after working within the field of social work acting as the sole social worker of an after school program. While engaging in direct service, Jessica realized the strong correlation between healthy parenting and child success, which motivated her decision to join Families First.

Crista Martinez, MSW, MBA

Executive Director

As the Executive Director of Families First Parenting Programs, Crista Martinez has extensive background in social services, non profit management, and community outreach, and provides leadership and vision throughout the organization.  She is an Adjunct Professor at the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, serves as a Board and Executive Committee Member for the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and is a volunteer member of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team.  Prior to joining Families First, Crista was the Executive Director for Dorchester CARES Coalition for Children and Families in Dorchester, Massachusetts.  In addition, she was the Program Director for Y.O.U. Inc.’s The Wetzel Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she participated in the design, development, and implementation of the state’s first intensive-acute residential treatment center for children and youth.  In 2001 Crista was selected from among 500 nonprofit leaders to be honored with a Eureka-Boston Fellowship and in 2006 Crista was the recipient of the “Ten Outstanding Young Leaders” Award presented by the Boston Jaycees. She has an M.B.A from Boston University, and a B.A. and M.S.W. from the University of Tennessee.

Madeleine Otani Oldman

Program Associate

Madeleine came to Families First in 2002 as a volunteer for the Program Department and was hired as the Program Associate in 2006.  As Program Associate, Madeleine is responsible for coordinating program logistics and collecting evaluation data.  She received a B.A. in Elementary Education from Marylhurst University in Oregon, as well as an Early Childhood and Infant & Toddler Certification in Montessori education.  During her tenure at the Cambridge Montessori School, Madeleine worked as a Primary and Toddler Master Teacher, Director of Admissions, and was involved in their Parenting Education Program.

Susannah Pearson

Office Administrator

Susannah received her bachelor's degree in Communications from Indiana University and a Paralegal Certificate from Northeastern University. Susannah joined Families First as the Office Administrator in April of 2007. Prior to joining Families First, she worked as a paralegal for a small law firm in South Boston and was drawn to Families First's mission of helping parents with the difficult task of raising children.  Her major responsibilities include assisting the Executive Director, managing the office, acting as Board Liaison and assisting other departments with projects.    

Katie Skoog

Director of Development

Katie graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2003.  After earning a B.A. psychology and political science, Katie joined Teach for America in Houston, TX where she taught Special Education Resources to children in grades K-6.  As an educator, she was able to see, first hand, the link between effective parenting and positive educational experiences.  Her commitment to non-profit organizations, and strong belief in the need for accessible parenting education and support for families of all backgrounds attracted her to Families First in 2005 where she worked as the Development Associate. Katie now oversees the Development program at Families First, including grant acquisition, annual fund, special events, and major giving.

Randi Walsh

Director of Programming

Randi oversees the Program Department at Families First. She is responsible for the development of innovative and effective parenting curriculum and the implementation of parenting education and professional development programs.  She also contributed leadership to the Parenting Education Summit in May 2007.  Randi brings extensive experience in the development and management of family support and education services in the southeastern, metro and Greater Boston regions of Massachusetts.  She formerly served as the Prevention Director at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (M.S.P.C.C.).  She received a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and an M.A. from Boston College.