Who We Are

Heather, the Young Adult Career Center Manager, strongly believes that the young people of Greater Lowell are the future of the workforce. With that vision she leads the team at the center with a focus on youth-centered design, hands-on work training and soft skills work readiness. Heather was born and raised in Lowell, completing all her schooling including college at UMASS Lowell in the public school system. She sits on multiple committees within the city including the Lowell Youth Development Collaborative, Mill City Prevention Network, Greater Lowell Substance Use and Abuse Prevention Committee and the Greater Lowell Youth Council.

Heather was recently recognized as one of the 2020-2021 Distinguished Young Professionals and strives to bring that energy into her work every day. She uses personal barriers that she has overcome to connect to young people and show them that past tragedy does not dictate your future.

In her free time, Heather is an entrepreneur, going on year three of her own business. She also spends many long mornings inside of a hockey rink watching her son play junior-level hockey and many long afternoons on the soccer field cheering on her daughter.

Victoria, who has spent four summers at the Career Center -managing youth summer employment, recently graduated earning her Bachelor of Science (B.S) degree and is excited to join the MassHire family full-time.

In her Career Advisor role, she works closely with young adults who are striving to earn their High School equivalency certificate. Her main objective is to encourage them to reach their goal and provide support along the way. Victoria enjoys seeing these young adults prosper and grow. She strives to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all students.

Ashley joined the MassHire Lowell Young Adult Career Center in November of 2022. Her current role at the center is as a Young Adult Career Advisor who helps young adults find jobs, work on their resumes, enroll in subsidized work programs and assist them in finding overall success. Ashley graduated in 2021 with her bachelor’s in Criminal Justice at Salem State University with a minor in psychology. She always had a passion for helping people and going above and beyond to make sure young people have a path and can see how to reach their goals.

Ashley works closely with at risk young adults that want to get started in the workforce. Ashley strives to make sure young people visiting the career center are happy, and that they feel like they are in a supportive and safe environment. It is truly a rewarding experience to watch young adults succeed because she makes an impact on them every day.

Janessa joined the Young Adult Career Center in June 2023 as the Administrative Assistant. Janessa has spent most of her life dedicated to supporting at-risk youth in positions with the YWCA of Lowell as well as the Boys and Girls club of Greater Lowell and Lowell Public Schools. Janessa has also spent time supporting adults with substance use or co-occurring disorders within the Lowell community. After 2 years of employment with Lowell Public Schools as the infamous Ms. B, Janessa saw the opportunity to join a team where she could bring to the table her experience and ability to connect with young adults, in a setting where she is exposed to youth through all walks of life. As a young adult, Janessa adopted the idea that every child needs at least one person to show genuine belief in them in order to spark belief in themselves in a time in their lives where society tries to dictate who they are or who they can be. Janessa wants to be a positive role model in the lives of our youth because she was privileged enough to have a positive mentor in her life as she was growing up.

On a personal level, Janessa spends most of her time being a mother to her two amazingly energized twins, a son and daughter. She is also a very active member of her church community where she inspires others through liturgical dance. When she’s not at church or watching her kids follow their dreams, you can find her trying to be a powerlifter, doing karaoke, dancing in the rain, or working on her side Makeup Business! A quote Janessa lives by daily from one of her favorite childhood movies, A Cinderella Story, is “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

Natalie joined the MassHire Lowell Young Adult Career Center in March of 2024 as a Career Advisor. She brings a wealth of experience and a passion for helping young adults navigate their career paths. Natalie graduated from Framingham State University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Diversity Studies. Her academic background has equipped her with a deep understanding of social dynamics and the importance of inclusivity. Natalie’s interest in human services began at a young age. However, it was during her internship with Horizons for Homeless Children that she felt a profound motivation to make a difference. Witnessing the resilience and strength of homeless individuals inspired her commitment to supporting others on their journeys. 

As a Direct Care Counselor, Natalie worked closely with at-risk youth in a group home setting in Lowell. She also worked as a Mental Health Counselor on the adolescent unit of an inpatient hospital. In both roles she was dedicated to helping young individuals overcome many challenges and obtain life skills.

Natalie is a strong advocate for holistic well-being. In her free time, she practices yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to maintain her own balance and believes in the power of these practices to enhance mental health. Her compassion for making a positive impact in other people’s lives drives her work. She genuinely cares about helping individuals find fulfilling career paths and achieve their goals. 

Sarah has dedicated the past 11 years to the Human Services field, building experience in a wide range of roles including Direct Support Professional, Job Coach, Direct Care Counselor in a group home setting, and ABA work. Through working with individuals of all ages and abilities, she has developed a strong passion for supporting young adults as they navigate life, career goals, and personal growth. She believes in encouraging others to recognize their strengths and reminding them that they have support while working toward their dreams. She is currently enrolled at Northern Essex Community College pursuing her Associate’s Degree in Human Services and is expected to graduate in May 2027.

Outside of her professional and academic life, she stays busy being both a devoted mom and a bonus mom. She enjoys cheering on her youngest daughter at dance competitions and proudly supporting her oldest daughter as she works toward her dream of becoming a registered nurse. Family is very important to her, and she loves bringing everyone together around the table through cooking and shared meals. In her downtime, she also enjoys spending time with her pug, Marco, who is a special part of the family.

Hetal joined the MassHire Lowell Young Adult Career Center in June 2026. Prior to joining the team, she spent significant time volunteering and helping young people develop their SAT preparation, presentation, and writing skills. She is passionate about making a positive difference in others’ lives and enjoys helping individuals build confidence and discover pathways to achieve their goals. In her role, Hetal works with young adults, providing guidance and support as they pursue their personal, educational, and career aspirations. She is dedicated to empowering others and helping them reach their full potential.

On a personal note, Hetal earned her Bachelor’s degree in Finance with a minor in Management from Suffolk University in 2017. She later received her Master’s degree in Business Analytics from Boston University in 2021. Outside of work, Hetal recently got engaged and enjoys making the most of her free time. Dance has always been a big part of who she is. She competed on a nationally ranked college dance team and served as team captain. Whether she’s dancing, traveling to a new destination, or reading a great book, she loves experiences that inspire creativity and connection.

Tayshean Lebron began his journey with the YouthWorks Program in 2019, gaining hands-on experience through opportunities with the Boys & Girls Club of Lowell and the City of Lowell Department of Public Works. These experiences helped him develop strong communication, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership skills while discovering his passion for working with and supporting young people.

After returning to the program in October 2024 as an ARPA participant and part-time Career Counselor, Tayshean continued to build his experience working directly with young adults. His dedication and commitment led to his transition to a full-time Career Advisor in December 2025. Today, he provides Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to students with 504 plans and IEPs, helping young people build career awareness, job readiness, workplace skills, and confidence as they prepare for their futures.

Tayshean is passionate about helping young people recognize their potential and believes that with the right support and opportunities, everyone can build a meaningful and successful future. A quote that has remained especially meaningful to him is, “Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them.” Outside of work, Tayshean enjoys spending time with his pets and unwinding with one of his favorite hobbies—gaming.

Gerry joined MassHire Connecting Activities in November 2024 after a 36-year career in the printing industry. Gerry has a long history of working with youth from coaching girls’ softball, tee-ball, little league, and senior league baseball and working at his church with the CYO.
Gerry believes that assisting young people has they enter the work force is an important endeavor. Helping a student with a resume, doing mock interviews, reviewing with students their expectations for working and letting them know what an employer expects of them, will only assist them in their transition into the workforce.

A key objective of Gerry’s work is to engage a diverse range of businesses, employers, and trades in creating meaningful opportunities for young people. He works to demonstrate the value of partnering with our program—not only through hiring young people, but also by speaking at schools, participating in job fairs, offering internships, and providing opportunities for students to shadow professionals in the workplace. These experiences expose young people to a wide variety of career pathways, help them connect their interests to real-world opportunities, and can inspire them to pursue careers they may never have previously considered.

When not at work, Gerry stays busy with his family and his 7 grandkids attending their sporting events, dance recitals and school plays. He’s a big Red Sox and Patriot’s fan and enjoys spending Sunday’s in the fall with his wife watching the football games.

Colleen joined the MassHire Connecting Activities Team in June of 2023, bringing with her a passion for helping people discover their potential and build meaningful futures. A proud graduate of Greater Lowell Technical High School, Colleen continued her education at Middlesex Community College before earning a Bachelor of Science in human services from Springfield College.

For more than 20 years, she has built a career centered on service, support, and empowerment. From her work as a Treatment Counselor in a correctional facility to her roles in workforce development and community engagement, Colleen has helped individuals from all walks of life overcome obstacles, build confidence, and create new opportunities for themselves. Whether working with youth, older adults, individuals with disabilities, or justice-involved populations, she is passionate about meeting people where they are and helping them move forward.

Born and raised in Lowell, Colleen is deeply connected to the community she proudly calls home. Her love for the city and its people drives her commitment to helping young adults and job seekers discover their strengths and build successful futures. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her husband and their two teenagers, enthusiastically supporting their activities and celebrating their achievements along the way.