ESC Staff

• Bethany Kendall, President & CEO

  Connect with Bethany on LinkedIn

  Ms. Kendall is President and Chief Executive Officer of ESC of New England. She previously held the position of President of The Ad Club, the largest advertising and marketing communications trade organization in the country. In this capacity, she oversaw all strategic planning and alliances, educational and professional development programs, advocacy, and a $2 million budget, as well as presided over a $1.5 million endowment to promote workplace diversity. Prior to her tenure at The Ad Club, Ms. Kendall was the first chief executive hired by the Downtown Crossing Association where as President she served as spokesperson for several hundred businesses and successfully advocated for a multi-million dollar improvement in infrastructure and municipal services. Just prior to her current position, she was Executive Director of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, where she managed all international and U.S. activities for this prestigious organization devoted to developing “leaders in service”, graduate students addressing heath related needs in underserved communities. She began her career with Beth Israel Hospital as Director of Volunteer Services, managing 250 volunteers in direct patient care, administration and research. Ms. Kendall holds a master’s degree from Boston University’s College of Communications and is a graduate of Simmons College. She has been involved on the boards and committees of a number of civic initiatives and human service agencies.

   

• Laura Kaplan, Vice President

  Connect with Laura on LinkedIn

  As the Vice President of ESC of New England, Ms. Kaplan is responsible for managing the provision of consulting services to nearly 100 clients per year.  She also oversees volunteer recruitment and training for over 100 consultants.  Before joining ESC, she was an attorney at Goulston & Storrs, P.C.  She previously worked for Goodcity NFP, an organization which provides capacity-building services to nonprofit startups in Chicago.  At Goodcity, Laura provided management assistance resources to local leaders undertaking new community initiatives and also coordinated a financial literacy program.  Laura holds an A.B. degree in Sociology from Princeton University and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.  She served as President of the Princeton Student Volunteers Council and as Intake Director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.  

   

• Maureen Tracey, Assistant to the President

  Ms. Tracey joins ESC with experience in public policy, grant implementation, and fundraising.  She recently staffed a candidate for U.S. Senate and has a background in office management.  Maureen developed an interest in the nonprofit sector through collaboration with international organizations while researching gender politics and human trafficking in Turkey and through domestic work in the human services field.  She has won awards for her debate skills and has a passion for new media communications. Maureen received her degree in Political Science from Northeastern University.

   

• Halley Lisuk, Consulting Services Coordinator

  Ms. Lisuk comes to ESC with a background in volunteer training, database management and events and logistical organization. Through volunteer work at WorldBoston and living in Boston she has developed an interest in the nonprofit sector. She recently worked on a seminar series at the Center for European Studies at Harvard and in 2008 was operations manager for a successful political campaign in Michigan. At ESC she is responsible for the coordination of professional development courses for consultants as well as for volunteer outreach and communications. Halley has a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University in International Relations.

   

• Joseph Butler, Bookkeeper/Office Manager

  Mr. Butler comes to ESC with an experienced background in Accounting and Finance. He currently serves as the Staff Accountant/Human Resources Coordinator of the non-profit organization  Bikes Not Bombs where he developed an interest in the non-profit sector. Prior to his work with Bikes Not Bombs, he was the Senior Accountant of The Phoenix Media Communications Group and was responsible for assisting with the oversight of the accounting operations of 5 different business units.  He has an associate’s degree from Burdett Business School and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts – Boston.

   

• Janelle Smart Fisher, Program Manager

  Ms. Fisher has a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector as an administrator, coordinator, and program manager. She holds a B.A. in Economic Geography and has completed graduate work in Nonprofit Management and Program Evaluation. The recipient of a fellowship to study informal markets in East Africa, Janelle has kept her ties to Tanzania by supporting a Mwanzan legal aid agency as a grants researcher. She also volunteers with Boston area service agencies and is continuing her education in nonprofit leadership. At ESC Janelle is project manager for building new and expanding current practice areas.