About Us

Vic Acosta

Career Services Director

Phone: 617-442-3600, ext 718
Email: vacosta@ne-cat.org

Tiara Andress

Culinary Instructor

Tiara, originally from Mississippi, has traveled extensively, working as a Chef de Partie for Lindblad Expedition cruises, at Camp Kippewa in Maine, and as a Professional Kitchen Intern at America’s Test Kitchen. Prior to joining NECAT, she was the Culinary Arts Program Director at Northeastern Technical College in Cheraw, South Carolina. She holds an M.A. in Food Studies from Chatham University in Pittsburgh.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: tandress@ne-cat.org

Jon Braley

Volunteer Career Coach

Jon Braley is our volunteer Career Coach assisting students through all phases of their job search. He also coaches students in some of the soft skills essential to their success after they have been hired. In his long career prior to joining NECAT, Jon held finance and operations management positions at Honeywell, Data General, Digital Equipment and Compaq, eventually retiring from Hewlett Packard. He is also a certified mediator.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: jbraley@ne-cat.org

Elise Brandwein

Student Services Director

With six years’ experience as an admissions advisor at Le Cordon Bleu, Elise is skilled in working with a diverse student population ranging from recent high school graduates to career changers.

Phone: 617-442-3600 ext 704
Email: ebrandwein@ne-cat.org

Bobby Corry

Maintenance

Bobby is NECAT’s longest-serving team member and has been with the organization since it opened in 2013. He is our go-to man for anything and everything the building needs and he keeps our training center clean as a whistle. He also has some of the team’s best sartorial sense.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: info@ne-cat.org

Josephine (Joey) Cuzzi

Executive Director

Joey has had an extensive career in public service. Prior to NECAT, Joey served as ED of the East Boston Y for eight years. Under her leadership, the Y’s initiatives flourished, widely recognized for their program quality and innovation, and she instituted a scholarship program and obtained private funding for the construction of an East Boston teaching kitchen and garden. Joey also worked in PR for the Piers Park Sailing Center in East Boston. She previously spent nearly 20 years as the Director of Communications for the Massachusetts Port Authority.

Phone: 617-442-3600 ext 711
Email: jcuzzi@ne-cat.org

Chris Faison

Culinary Instructor

Chef Chris Faison is the Culinary Instructor for NECAT’s Re-Entry Program. Chris is a graduate of Johnson & Wales. He is also a Dorchester resident with extensive experience as a chef and instructor.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: c.faison@ne-cat.org

Brianna Hughes

Case Worker

Brianna Hughes is NECAT’s Life Coach/SEL Facilitator. She was a Re-entry Services specialist at a state prison, a family services residential counselor, and is experienced in individual and group counseling.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: b.hughes@ne-cat.org

Martha Leahy

Deputy Director

Martha Leahy is a food executive and chef with over twenty-five years of experience. She has worked as an Executive Chef for restaurant chains, as a Corporate Executive Chef in research and development for both retail grocery stores and in manufacturing, as VP of Purchasing and as a consultant. Martha is also experienced in teaching and leadership training. She has worked every position in a restaurant through the years, from dishwasher to Executive Chef for a twenty-restaurant chain. Martha holds degrees from the University of Michigan, Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island and the International Culinary Institute for Foreigners in Italian Cooking in Italy.

Phone: 617-442-3600 ext 720
Email: mleahy@ne-cat.org

Tom Nelson

Culinary Instructor

Tom has ten years of teaching experience, both in a university setting and with a similar non-profit in California. He has an additional thirty years of experience in professional kitchens. He has a wealth of knowledge and extensive curriculum development experience. Tom works with students through the second half of the program and masterfully oversees the entire class while providing critical one-on-one support.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: tnelson@ne-cat.org

Anthony “Big Time” Seymour

Case Worker

NECAT is honored to have Big Time on its team. For decades, he has worked tirelessly to reduce youth violence in the city, most recently for Boston Centers for Youth & Families’ innovative Streetworkers Program. Big Time knows everyone, and is skilled at making all the right connections to get people on the path to stability and success.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: aseymour@ne-cat.org

James Swasey

Culinary Instructor

James has extensive experience as a culinary arts instructor at the high school and professional culinary school levels, as well as experience as a Sous Chef and Pastry Cook. He has also supervised buffet and banquet production for a 700-member private club.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: jswasey@ne-cat.org

Jessica Williamson

Development Manager

Jessica has worked in the non-profit sector for her entire career, across causes she feels passionate about and on both sides of the Atlantic. Prior to joining NECAT she lived in Northern England for five years where she helped launch a new center for contemporary art and discovered the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. Jessica holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.A. from the University of Westminster, U.K.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: jwilliamson@ne-cat.org