Gary Kaplan
Executive Director
Gary Kaplan has been executive director of JFYNetWorks since 1985. During his tenure, JFYNetWorks has addressed the issues of literacy and job skills among youth and adults with a series of innovative programs. These include competency-based GED curricula, entrepreneurship training, the alternative high school diploma, industry-based skill training in biotechnology, health care, financial services, environmental technology and green jobs, and the JFYNet e-learning program which creates and supports technology-based academic instruction programs in schools throughout Massachusetts.
Mr. Kaplan’s career in education and training began in the 1960s with the Upward Bound program, where he counseled and taught urban youth. He served on Governor Patrick’s Workforce Development transition team and on the Workforce Accountability Task Force. He is a current member of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on STEM and the UMass Lowell Clean Energy Career Workgroup. He is also a member of the National Commission on Energy Policy’s Task Force on America’s Future Energy Jobs. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and master’s degree from the University of Chicago.
Paula Paris
Deputy Director
Paula Paris joined JFY in 1995 as the director of development, where she has contributed to the growth and diversification of the funding portfolio. She was named Deputy Director in 2003 and has since led the organization through outcomes measurement, social enterprise development and other strategic initiatives. Paula has prior experience as a commercial banking officer, fundraising in education and the arts, and has done public policy research in workforce development. She is an adjunct faculty member of Southern New Hampshire University’s School of Community Economic Development. Ms. Paris earned a Master of Management degree from the Heller School of Management and Social Policy at Brandeis University, where she is a member of the Board of Overseers, and a Bachelor of Music with distinction from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School.
Patricia Parisella
Fiscal Director
Patricia Parisella is responsible for all financial management, forecasting and reporting, as well as for personnel and benefits administration. She has been with JFY since 1994, and the organization has enjoyed an unblemished record of unqualified auditor opinions under her expert guidance. Ms. Parisella holds a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College and a Master’s in Public Administration from Suffolk University.
Derek Kalchbrenner
Program Manager
Derek Kalchbrenner has served JFY in several capacities since 1991, when he first came as a student intern. Mr. Kalchbrenner coordinates all instruction, counseling, testing, and post-graduate follow-up services for the GED and Adult Literacy programs. Most recently, he has designed a pilot Accuplacer preparation program. Mr. Kalchbrenner participates in local regional and statewide ABE policy, serving on the Massachusetts Department of Education’s Adult Basic Education Task Force on Standards and Qualifications, the ABE Directors’ Council, and the Downtown Initiative for Adult Literacy. He holds a BA from Northeastern University and an MA from Boston College.
Larry Elgart
Program Manager
Larry Elgart, joined JFY in 1998, bringing ten years of experience in recruiting, sales and marketing. He manages the environmental and energy services job training programs where he is responsible for both the outreach and job placement functions, and teaches job readiness, professional development and interviewing skills using a nationally recognized curriculum that he designed.. He has also been a site coordinator for JFYNet. He represents JFY on the Job Training Alliance and Boston Workforce Development Coalition. Larry has held several positions in proprietary vocational schools and in the corporate salesforce. He holds a B.A. in History and a M.Ed. in Instructional Design, both from University of Massachusetts.
Joan Reissman
Instructional Technology Integration Specialist
Joan Reissman joined JFY in 2000. Ms. Reissman is a skilled math teacher with 20+ years experience in adult basic education, and has expertise in computer-based learning. She is a JFYNet site coordinator for the schools in Boston, Malden, Medford and Lynn schools and is also the coordinator of volunteers for the agency. She has contributed to the development of the science curriculum content. Ms. Reissman earned a B.A., with distinction, from University of Wisconsin and a MA from University of Texas at Austin.
Ryan Camire
Instructional Technology Integration Specialist
Ryan Camire joined JFY in 2005. He is a certified math teacher experienced with special needs students. Ryan is the coordinator for schools in western Massachusetts. He has been a principal developer of JFYNet’s open source delivery strategies. He earned his Bachelors degree from Northeastern University, and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Technology from the University of Phoenix.
David Stanley
Instructional Technology Integration Specialist
David Stanley joined JFYNet is 2008 bringing several years of experience as a math consultant, instructor at UMass Lowell, and developer of MCAS preparation guides for grades 6-10. An electrical engineer by trade, Mr. Stanley is experienced in testing of computer hardware and software, as well as statistical data analysis. David holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from SUNY-Buffalo, a M.S. in Mathematics from University of Massachusetts Lowell, and is licensed in Massachusetts to teach math.
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