BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom Shirk, Board Chair
Founder & President at Race Point Advisors & the White Porch Group
Tom Shirk attained extensive senior global executive leadership and management skills during his 25 years in the IT industry and 20 years with SAP AG with expertise in sales, marketing, consulting, product and business development in public and private sector industries while working in 20 with countries generating 80% of group revenues. While holding various board and C-level executive positions, Tom developed strengths and focus from building and scaling new business while creating and working with large, diverse, international and networked teams while living and working in the US, Europe, and Asia. Current focus is on innovative start-up initiatives in the areas of the arts, hospitality, biotech, and not-for-profit support activities. Specialties: Public Sector, Healthcare, Higher Education, Defense, Public Security, BioTech, Arts, Hospitality, Business Development, Software Portfolio Management, Sales, Consulting, Global Operations.
Anna Vouros, M.D., Vice Chair
Primary Care Physician at Massachusetts General Hospital
Anna graduated from Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School and subsequently trained at Boston University and Boston City Hospitals before joining Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in 1995. She currently sees patients in the Center for Specialized Services at MGH, and teaches residents and medical students. She served on the board of the National Charity League and is a member of The Philanthropy Connection. She is an active member of the Concord, MA community, where she lives with her husband and three children.
Peter Alberding, CPWA, Treasurer
Branch Manager, Senior Vice President, Investments at Raymond James & Associates
Peter is a 25-year veteran of the financial services industry and heads Raymond James’ wealth management unit in Boston. Peter joined Raymond James in March of 2014, after 17 years at UBS, where he held a number of management positions, including: Executive Director of Client Development in Zurich, Switzerland, Chief Operating Officer of UBS Wealth Management’s Western Division, and Complex Director of the Boston Office. Peter has comprehensive experience helping individuals, business owners, senior executives and affluent families to successfully manage their wealth. He has completed the Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) designation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. A graduate of Wesleyan University, he is an active supporter of the Wesleyan men’s basketball program and the Berklee College of Music. Peter is an enthusiastic blues guitar player who performs regularly with his band. He and his wife Lynn live in Needham, where they raised their four children.
Lawrence S. Wallach, Esq., Board Clerk
Retired Attorney, Stay-At-Home Dad, Serial Volunteer
Larry graduated with a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and went on to practice family law in Seattle. His career with nonprofits supporting children and families began there, where he was Director of the West Seattle branch of the King County Neighborhood Legal Clinics, he served as a King County Court Appointed Special Advocate (“CASA”) and he mentored pro bono attorneys assisting clients in the King County Family Law Mentor Program.
Larry has served in many capacities and in several different cities with Social Venture Partners, a venture philanthropy non-profit, and currently volunteers with the Boston Debate League, CASA Boston and with Silver Lining Mentoring, where he remains an active mentor. In 2021, Larry’s family launched the Viney Wallach Foundation, providing financial support to nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of young people.
James J. Baker, CFA
Managing Director, Investment Specialist, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Jimmy is an Investment Specialist at the J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Boston, where he is responsible for providing investment strategy and execution across all major asset classes for ultra high net worth individuals, families and select non-profit institutions throughout New England. He grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts and currently resides in Cohasset with his wife Maureen and two young children, Emily and Liam.
Jimmy graduated magna cum laude from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science in Management with concentrations in Finance and Management & Leadership. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society. He has run two marathons as a charity runner, Boston (2017) for the Bill Belichick Foundation and Chicago (2019) for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Katherine (Kappy) Freund
Founder and Principal, Brand Lane Advisors
Katherine (Kappy) Freund has over 20 years of marketing and business development experience with professional services firms, primarily at regional accounting firms. She has led teams and initiatives which have increased firms’ presence in the marketplace, and integrated sales and marketing efforts to drive revenue.
Given the importance of an outstanding online presence, Kappy launched Brand Lane Advisors to ensure that digital initiatives are implemented efficiently, are strategic, and that the website is an effective business development tool that reflects the company’s brand. This allows marketing teams to focus on the critical daily activities that support the business, while their digital initiatives move forward.
Kappy is a member of the Board of Advisors of Jane Does Well. She is a past Board Member of the New England Business Association, the Corporate Volunteer Council of Greater Boston, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Advisory Board, and the American Marketing Association’s Boston Chapter. Kappy is a graduate of Lawrence University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Iliana Joaquin
Digital Campaign Manager, Tessellati, LLC
Iliana Joaquin is a dedicated mentor to two young individuals at Silver Lining Mentoring (SLM). Inspired by her own experiences in the Massachusetts foster care system, she joined SLM in 2019 to share her story and drive change for children in care. Her journey was highlighted in a feature story by the Boston Globe, underscoring the significant impact of consistent and trustworthy mentors on her personal and professional growth.
Iliana holds a B.S. in Business Management with a focus on Marketing and a minor in Communications from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She has cultivated her career through roles at iHeartMedia and the Philanthropy Communications office at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund, prioritizing mission-driven work.
Currently, Iliana excels at Tessellati, LLC, a small agency in Salem, MA, where she specializes in strategic digital marketing driven by data analytics. She leverages data insights to produce innovative digital campaigns, manage media placements, and execute event marketing. Her expertise in strategic implementation and reporting is vital to the success of clients’ digital marketing initiatives.
Outside of her professional and philanthropic efforts, Iliana cherishes time spent nurturing relationships through shared dinners, experiences, and travel.
Andrew Litchfield
Owner and Founder, Penny Investments LLC
Andrew has been working in all areas of real estate since the age of 19. Real estate is not only his career, but his true passion in life. He was introduced to real estate apprenticing via mentorship from a successful investor in the Worcester area, where he was involved in all aspects of the business. He not only obtained creative financing, but acquired properties and managed multiple projects simultaneously. He currently owns several rental properties that he manages, in addition to owning a development business in which he purchases, renovates, and sells properties.
Beyond real estate, Andrew is an advocate for giving back to others. For seven years, Andrew sat on the Board of Directors for Young Voices based in Providence, RI; initially serving on their Development Committee and eventually serving as Board Co-Chair. Young Voices is a youth organization that provides leadership, networking and public speaking skills to high school students.
In his spare time, Andrew spends time with his wife and three beautiful children and travels the world with them; he also loves to golf and read. Because Andrew was mentored so early in life, he has a strong passion for helping others like he was. He provides mentorship opportunities in real estate to coach others on investing and developing real estate.
Matthew Meehan
Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Born in Atlanta Georgia, Matthew settled in Coral Gables, Florida 2 decades ago and is the owner of over 30 companies spanning multiple industries across the US. With a heavy focus on the beverage world, you may have seen some of Matthew’s nationally distributed brands on local shelves including BeatBox Beverages, ShineWater, MATI Energy, and Vizzy Sparkling Seltzer just to name a few. Matthew has been knighted and recognized with titles for his philanthropic efforts by the Vatican, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Georgia, Vietnam, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Portugal.
Matthew is also the Founder of Sunil’s Home Orphanage, a refuge where homeless children in India are provided a loving home, nutritious meals, and the education needed to transform their lives. Matthew has dedicated his time and talents to help children whose voices can barely be heard.
Nationally, Matthew is involved and has served on multiple board organizations and also currently chairs Miami’s Scholarship programs, a role for which he is most passionate. Under his leadership, the program has awarded the most scholarships in the organization’s history – topping $1 million annually assisting countless under-privileged college bound students with the gift of higher education.
Justin Pasquariello, MBA, MPA, Founder
Executive Director, East Boston Social Centers
Justin, adopted at age nine by his foster family after intermittent stays with relatives and his birth mother, founded Silver Lining Mentoring (then AFC Mentoring) during his senior year at Harvard College. Recognizing the importance of many caring adult relationships in his life, Justin created the organization to bring more consistent relationships to other youth in care.
Justin served as our first Executive Director, receiving recognition and support including an Echoing Green Fellowship, the Boston Celtics Heroes Among Us Award, and the Bank of America Local Heroes Award. In 2007, Justin left the full-time ED role to pursue a concurrent MBA/MPA at Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Before joining East Boston Social Centers, Justin was Executive Director of Children’s Health Watch and a consultant at Bridgespan. At East Boston Social Centers, his team is leading work to significantly increase community joy, develop new models of early education and care, and ensure all children in East Boston flourish from cradle to career.
Justin met his wife Vanessa through Silver Lining Mentoring—and they both serve as mentors to Henry and Mike. They are proud parents to Rocco and Skye.
Geoffrey Underwood
Executive Director, Global Sales and Marketing, Morgan Stanley
Geoffrey Underwood is the Executive Director of Global Sales and Marketing at Morgan Stanley. Before that, Geoffrey was responsible for brand marketing at Eaton Vance, a global asset management firm headquartered in Boston, where for a decade, Geoffrey and his team developed Eaton Vance’s communications strategy to engage financial advisors and investors through websites, advertising, collateral, database marketing, content marketing, events and creative excellence. The role required stewardship of Eaton Vance’s marketing budget, marketing technology platforms and outside agency/partner relationships.
Prior to Eaton Vance, Geoffrey served in general management and marketing strategy positions at digital advertising agencies Digitas and Modem Media, with clients ranging from AT&T, Microsoft, Charles Schwab, SunTrust Bank and InterContinental Hotels Group. He started his career working for the National Geographic Society, supporting K 12 educational programs on the subject of geography. Geoffrey earned degrees from both Amherst College and Northwestern University. He, his wife and three daughters live in Cambridge, MA.
Monique Marshall Veale
Director, Dover Sherborn METCO Program
Monique Marshall Veale has over 20 years of experience working with children and families from various walks of life, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds in urban and suburban environments. Monique’s primary focus has been on academic and social enrichment programs for children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19. She is the founding director of C.A.T.C.H. and Smart-Kids after-school programs in Boston and has served in leadership positions for Boston-based community organizations and METCO programs.
Monique has many years of experience in DEI and culturally responsive work, including focus groups, program assessments, and strategic planning. Monique currently serves on the BalletRox community boards. Monique continues to lead youth and family-centered programming that provides academic enrichment, social-emotional development, recreation, after-school care, and education.
Julie Hall, Honorary Board Member
Director of Community Investment, Comcast
Julie is responsible for the Comcast’s Northeast Division’s community initiatives for over 21,000 employees. She oversees the annual distribution of over $44 million in cash and in-kind donations. Prior to joining Comcast nine years ago, Julie spent thirteen years at Bank of America and its Boston predecessors. She managed over $10 million in donations to organizations throughout Massachusetts. Julie has worked tirelessly to ensure that the corporate community investment efforts are strategic – benefiting the business, as well as the communities where employees and customers work and live.
Julie has been a proud Silver Lining Mentoring volunteer mentor to the same young woman for 10 years. For the last 14 years, Julie has also volunteered at Boston Children’s Hospital.