Our Team - Womens Money Matters

Meet the Women's Money Matters Team

Core Team

Gahna Adaval

Regional Relationship Manager, Worcester Area

Gahna Adaval

Gahna Adaval is the Regional Relationship Manager for Worcester at Women’s Money Matters. She brings a background in public health, behavioral healthcare and nonprofit leadership with extensive experience building community-centered initiatives that advance equity and access.

Gahna has led and collaborated on programs focused on health equity, inclusion and community engagement, and is passionate about empowering women through financial education and relationship building. She is committed to strengthening partnerships across Central Massachusetts to expand access to Women’s Money Matters mission and create meaningful, lasting impact.

Pat Barry

Communications Coordinator

Pat Barry

Pat Barry manages communications and creative services for Women’s Money Matters. Based in Medford, Pat brings over eight years of experience helping organizations communicate clearly and operate smoothly through strong systems, thoughtful messaging, and collaborative workflows.

Pat is passionate about equity, accessibility, and the belief that clear, compassionate communication can be a tool for empowerment. They enjoy creating structure so teams can focus on meaningful, community-centered work. Outside of work, Pat enjoys spending time on their two cats, creative projects, playing hockey, exercising, and building with LEGO.

Lourdes Balestier

Regional Relationship Manager, Springfield

Lourdes Balestier

Lourdes Balestier is passionate about helping women discover their strengths, build confidence, and reach their highest potential. With years of experience connecting individuals and families to education, resources, and opportunities, Lourdes is dedicated to empowering women to achieve financial stability, personal growth, and long-term success.

Ariana Contreras

Associate Director of Volunteer Partnerships

Ariana Contreras

Ariana blends her non-profit communication and programming with a background in education, bringing a vibrant energy to Women’s Money Matters. Growing up in a small, resource-limited town in rural Arizona, where opportunities for women, mothers, and people of color were scarce, she found her passion for empowering change through Women’s Money Matters. With an International Affairs degree from Northern Arizona University, Ariana is driven to create a more equitable future

Outside of work, you'll catch Ariana sweating it out in exercise classes, exploring new culinary delights, hanging out with her tuxedo cat, Cherie, and soaking up the great outdoors of New England.

Pilar DiTomaso

Director of Operations

Pilar DiTomaso

Experienced in the financial services industry, Pilar has held a variety of positions in administration and marketing. She holds both Business Administration and Marketing degrees that have been put to use in the corporate world as well as charitable works. A longtime advocate of volunteerism, Pilar is active in her community and church. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her husband and her children.

Ariel Garfinkel

Program Manager

Ariel Garfinkel

Ariel is a women’s rights advocate, educator, and author with 15 years of experience advancing gender equity through domestic and international nonprofit advocacy. With a background in human rights law, her work has spanned program development, project management, and education.

Ariel has traveled the globe including living and working in Vietnam, Uganda and Spain. Outside of work you can find her somewhere outdoors, hiking, gardening and working on her family’s farm in the White Mountains.

Marina Isaacson

Senior Program Operations & Data Coordinator

Marina Isaacson

Marina is a specialist in nonprofit program coordination, operations support, stakeholder engagement, and partnership management. She has over 10 years of experience at the intersection of purposeful global engagement, client relations, and social impact across cultures and geographies.

Marina graduated from the University of Rochester and received a bachelor’s degree in international relations. She spent the first decade of her career developing cross-sector global partnerships between the nonprofit and public spheres in Washington, DC. Outside of work, Marina enjoys reading, traveling, exploring nature, and spending quality time with her friends and family. Marina currently lives just outside of Boston, Massachusetts with her husband and dog.

Allegra Mendonsa

Communications & Marketing Manager

Allegra Mendonsa

Allegra is dedicated to leveraging marketing communications strategies to drive positive social impact. She earned her B.B.A. from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, with a minor in environmental sustainability. During her time there, she was selected as a fellow at the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, where she further fueled her passion for integrating social impact into marketing strategies. Allegra's commitment to social impact continued as she assumed the role of Vice President of Marketing for two organizations, including a fully student-run non-profit.

Currently, as the Communications Manager, she leverages her expertise to amplify the organization’s mission and empower women through effective communication strategies.

Hannah Mikol

Senior Volunteer Coordinator

Hannah Mikol

Hannah is a recent graduate of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, where she studied Business Analytics, Management, and Leadership with a focus on Social Impact. A passionate advocate for community-driven change, she has been a dedicated foundational board member of Fueled By Kids Inc., supporting food security initiatives since 2016. Her strong analytical skills and commitment to social good make her a perfect fit for advancing our mission and engaging volunteers to create lasting impact

Jenna Olson

Senior Development Manager

Jenna Olson

Jenna is a dynamic public health professional who works to drive impactful solutions. Originally from Reno, Nevada, she has lived in the greater Boston area since 2013 and holds a Master’s of Public Health from Boston University.

Jenna has over 10 years of experience working with multicultural teams, and brings a strong foundation in program management, business development, and strategic partnerships. She is passionate about pushing for meaningful change, and remains committed to tackling deep-rooted challenges through innovative, community-driven solutions. When not working, Jenna enjoys traveling, dancing, hiking or playing games on the beach.

Danielle Piskadlo

Executive Director

Danielle Piskadlo

Danielle has been the Executive Director of Women’s Money Matters (WMM) since 2019 and has been an enthusiastic volunteer and supporter of WMM in a variety of capacities since 2016. Prior to joining WMM, Danielle was part of the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion, where she was an advocate for women’s financial empowerment and inclusion internationally through microfinance, impact investing, and executive leadership. Danielle has spent time living in Perth, Beijing, Hyderabad, and San Diego and is a travel enthusiast who has visited over 35 countries. She moved to MA to study public administration at the Kennedy School at Harvard and international business at the Fletcher School at Tufts. Danielle worked at her family-owned auto shop in VT growing up while running, hiking, skiing, and playing ice hockey- all activities she continues to enjoy today. She lives in Acton with her partner, Dan, two sons, and fur baby, Wally. Danielle spends most of her free time with a good book.

Deloreen Pond

Operations & Process Manager

Deloreen Pond

Deloreen is a results-driven Operations professional with a background in Product Operations, Data Analysis, and Agile Development, and experience in SaaS, eCommerce, and Financial Services. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology Management from Western Governors University and multiple certifications in Project Management, Product Management, and Data.

Deloreen is passionate about personal finance and the financial empowerment of women and underrepresented communities. She draws inspiration from her upbringing in a first-generation, low-income immigrant household in Boston, where she learned the value of financial literacy and resourcefulness at an early age.

Deloreen began her journey with Women’s Money Matters as a volunteer financial coach, later joining the Program Support team as a Program Lead, and then transitioning into a part-time administrative role. Now, as Operations and Process Manager, she will help guide Women’s Money Matters' growth and operational excellence as the organization continues to expand.

Carla Poulos

Associate Director of Programs & Advocacy

Carla Poulos

Carla is a longtime advocate for marginalized populations, especially women. She believes strongly in empowering people to make the best decisions for themselves. That is the most effective way to create long-lasting and effective change.

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, she loves to travel and learn about other cultures. She holds a B.A in Spanish and a Masters in Social Work with a focus on Community Organizing. When not working, she loves to spend time with her family hiking, traveling, running or reading.

Jalyn Ramos

Senior Development Coordinator

Jalyn Ramos

Jalyn is a dedicated professional who graduated with a bachelor's degree in Information Technology and Communications. Growing up in a predominantly low-income Hispanic community in Florida, Jalyn developed a profound passion for women empowerment and financial literacy, recognizing the critical need for support and education within her community. She is extremely grateful to be part of a team committed to making a difference.

Outside of work, you’ll find her crocheting or hanging out with her friends and cats.

Diana Rincon

Program Manager

Diana Rincon

Diana brings extensive experience in project management, having led initiatives across healthcare, entertainment, and government. Her expertise will help us strengthen operations, expand programming, and create more opportunities for women and girls to build financial wellness.

Manuela Santos

Operations Coordinator

Manuela Santos

Manuela is an experienced professional with a strong background in the financial services industry and corporate legal departments. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies from Southern New Hampshire University, Manuela has built a career with an understanding of financial operations. Starting as a Tech Lead at Women's Money Matters, Manuela quickly became passionate about the program's mission to empower women financially, finding a meaningful way to blend professional expertise with community impact.

A Notary Public, Manuela is also active in her community and church, contributing her time and skills to various service initiatives. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and cherishing quality time with her family and friends

Bernadette Wheeler

Chief Program Officer

Bernadette Wheeler

Bernadette has been a long time advocate for social programs that improve communities and change lives, active member of the Board of Directors for Community Teamwork, Inc. and a volunteer of programming that promotes stability, self-sufficiency and opportunity.

A proud mother of five, and certified in Early Education and Care, she has been focused on promoting early childhood education and supporting the HeadStart program.

Program Support Team

Suzanne Brodeur

Program Lead

Suzanne Brodeur

Suzanne is a member of the Senior Program Support Team and Women’s Money Matters Advisory Group from Massachusetts. She is passionate about expanding financial access and believes everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve financial stability for themselves and their families. Suzanne spent more than 25 years as a technology executive in the financial services industry, building products that helped millions improve their financial wellness, while also serving as a coach and advocate for women’s career advancement. She later became a small business owner and ESL professional in Colombia, where she further developed her passion for education and empowerment. Since retiring from her corporate career, Suzanne has focused on helping close the financial literacy gap through education, personal coaching, and nonprofit work. She holds FINRA SIE and S99 certifications, as well as Agile CSM and CSPO credentials. In her free time, Suzanne enjoys traveling, learning about different cultures, art, cooking, and biking.

Nadine Burgos

Program & Tech Lead

Nadine Burgos

Nadine is a member of the Senior Program Support Team from Middlesex, NJ. A financial professional and entrepreneur, she is passionate about helping women and underserved communities build confidence and navigate financial planning. She holds a B.A. in Economics with a minor in Statistics and a Master’s in Accounting from Rutgers University and brings experience in banking, public accounting, and higher education. Reflecting her commitment to continuous learning and professional development, Nadine is currently pursuing her CPA, AFC, and CFP certifications and is an active member of FPA NexGen, NJCPA, ALPFA, and AFCPE. Outside of work, she enjoys writing, reading, walking, and spending time with her six dogs.

Juliana Patino Rojo

Program Lead

Juliana Patino Rojo

Juliana is from Boston, MA and is passionate about helping others build a healthy relationship with money. She loves sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for numbers while encouraging participants to grow their financial confidence. Juliana believes that learning is a lifelong journey and enjoys discovering something new every day. Her favorite phrase is, “Nobody knows more than all together."

Carmen Merejo

Program Lead

Carmen Merejo

Carmen is from Dorchester, MA and is a proud Women’s Money Matters program graduate. She brings more than eight years of experience working with students in public schools. Carmen is passionate about supporting participants as they build confidence and work toward their personal and financial goals.

Emma Monkiewicz

Program Lead

Emma Monkiewicz

Emma is from Georgetown, MA and has been passionate about finance and financial wellness from a young age. Encouraged by her dad to read, learn, and explore the world of financial well-being, she went on to earn a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Management from Merrimack College. Through Women’s Money Matters programs, she enjoys sharing that knowledge and passion with others. In her free time, Emma enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, and training for her next marathon.

Tierney Trant

Program Lead

Tierney Trant

Tierney is from Tewksbury, MA, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in International Relations, specifically focusing on women’s rights. She enjoys contributing to both in-person and virtual programs. A fun fact about her is that she loves being outdoors and is working toward hiking the tallest mountains in New England.

Supporting Specialists

Meghan Blute-Nelson

Accounting Consultant

Meghan Blute-Nelson

Meghan has dedicated her career to working in the nonprofit sector in the areas of finance and operations, and currently owns her own consulting and bookkeeping practice, MBN Business Solutions. Meghan has a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit and Public Management from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. She serves as Treasurer of her daughters’ school PTF, and enjoys knitting and hikes in the woods with her dog. Meghan was introduced to Women's Money Matters as a volunteer coach in our program with YWCA in Lowell in 2016-17.

Join Our Team

At Women’s Money Matters, we believe that financial wellness is a fundamental human right. Our mission is to build the financial wellness, confidence, and security of women and girls living on low incomes through a proven model that combines instructional workshops with personal, one-to-one coaching. By investing in women and girls, we aim to break cycles of poverty and empower our participants to take control of their financial futures.

Join Our Team

Board of Directors

Business, nonprofit and innovation leaders and thinkers — all with a heart for helping women become financially empowered.

Meet Our Board

Empower women & girls to improve their financial health to create a more secure future for their families & communities.

Meet the Women's Money Matters Team

Core Team

Gahna Adaval

Pat Barry

Lourdes Balestier

Ariana Contreras

Pilar DiTomaso

Ariel Garfinkel

Marina Isaacson

Allegra Mendonsa

Hannah Mikol

Jenna Olson

Danielle Piskadlo

Deloreen Pond

Carla Poulos

Jalyn Ramos

Diana Rincon

Manuela Santos

Bernadette Wheeler

Program Support Team

Suzanne Brodeur

Nadine Burgos

Juliana Patino Rojo

Carmen Merejo

Emma Monkiewicz

Tierney Trant

Supporting Specialists

Meghan Blute-Nelson

Join Our Team

Board of Directors

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