About Us

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

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

James (Jamie) Fountain

Director of Career Services

James (Jamie) Fountain recently moved to Boston from San Francisco, CA. James attend the University of Georgia, where he graduated with a master’s degree in Business Administration. Later in his career, he attended the University of California-Berkeley where he earned a master’s degree in Social Work. Before joining NECAT, James worked as a Program Director of Workforce Development for several community-based organizations in San Francisco including Larkin Street Youth Services. Most recently, James served as the Acting Executive Director at Lena Park Community Development Corp in Boston. James is looking forward to sharing his experience in designing trauma-informed programming and working in collaboration with NECAT employer partners to provide the most supportive work environments for NECAT’s graduates.

Phone: (9780 868-7020
Email: jfountain@ne-cat.org

Ayanna E. Hines

Deputy Director

Ayanna has an affinity for organizations whose work focuses on teaching and learning, the human condition, and/or capacity building for historically marginalized communities. She is a seasoned professional with experience and exposure across a range of disciplines in the non-profit sector – affordable housing, athletics, cultural economic/business development, education, human services, religion, and youth development.

Living has taught her that life requires intentional balance. She embraces active aging as a lifestyle and has recently taken to social media where she shares fitness videos and messages on wellness. A creative in her own right, she makes artisanal cranberry sauce in 3 flavors and enjoys working with paper to wrap gifts and create custom handmade invitations.

Born in Mississippi and cultivated in Massachusetts, she is an alumna of Howard University.

Phone: 617-442-3600
Email: ahines@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

Nancy McGeoghegan

Development Director

Nancy has 25 years’ experience generating millions of dollars, acquiring ten of thousands of customers, and strengthening donor loyalty. As a senior executive and leader of NECAT’s fundraising and marketing and communications programs, Nancy will be responsible for donor management, fundraising, events, communications, and strategic partnerships.

Phone: (617) 442-3600
Email: nmcgeoghegan@ne-cat.org

Chef Saba Wahid

Culinary Instructor

Chef Saba has been working in the culinary industry for many years.  Her career started with catering in NYC, then evolved into culinary media development out in the Middle East/Dubai.

When Saba returned to Boston, she started teaching at Sur La Table in Copley, then transitioned to become a culinary educator at a local high end appliance showroom.

Saba most recently won a cooking competition on Food Network called Chopped: Martha Rules where she received numerous accolades from Martha Stewart herself.

This past Spring,  Saba decided to invest her winnings into a small business and launched a new Food Truck concept called Kush Modern Mediterranean which is currently in operation in Boston.

Now as a chef instructor and in catering business development at NECAT she’s very excited to join the team!

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Lib Gatti

Wellness Program Manager

Lib (they/them) comes to NECAT with 10 years of experience working as an advocate and thought-partner with folks whose lives have been made chaotic by systemic oppression. Prior to joining NECAT as the Wellness Programs Manager, Lib worked in various capacities with folks who are unhoused. They have an MDiv from Boston University, with specialized trainings in trauma-informed care and crisis management. They are bilingual (English/Spanish) and love learning from the Chefs and students new ways to enjoy delicious food!

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