Our BOARD

Steve Mea joined BUILD in 2016 and currently serves as Operations Manager for the National Shared Services team. In this role, he supports our organization by keeping tabs on our technology, government filings, insurance coverage, external vendors and contractors, and student program operations. Before stepping in to this position, Steve was a member of the Boston Program team as a Youth Engagement Coordinator and Student Experience Program Manager, in which he supported students, teachers, mentors, and staff in all aspects of the BUILD program. Prior to his time with BUILD, Steve worked for the Germantown Historical Society in Philadelphia and led educational tours of historic homes for 4th and 5th graders. Steve attended Millersville University of Pennsylvania where he studied History and Governmental & Political Affairs, and currently resides in Philadelphia with his Fiancé, rabbit, and two cats. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the drum kit for his band at local Philly-area venues.

“I BUILD because of the incredible impact the program has on students, school communities, and families. I saw this first hand as a member of the Boston Program team, and am fortunate enough to continue this work remotely in Philadelphia. An education in business provides a young person with 21st century skills that their normal course load does not have the time to cover. It empowers them to realize their dreams, and graduate from high school with a vision for the future.” -Steve Mea

Pepper Hayes loves to crunch numbers and look for patterns in data. She uses these insights to coach BUILD’s development teams to raise the funds we need to support BUILD students. As Director of Development Operations and Communications she maintains our infrastructure for fundraising operations and oversees donor communication and stewardship. As an entrepreneur herself, Pepper knows first-hand how empowering the experience can be and was immediately drawn to BUILD’s mission, which inspired her to leave her career in law in 2014 to join the BUILD team. Pepper is an enthusiastic cat-lover and blogs about her knitting adventures in her spare time. She holds a BA in History, Philosophy, and Gender Studies from Westminster College and earned her JD at the Boston University School of Law.

Marisol Adriana Burgueño is the National Senior Manager of Digital Strategies and Innovation. Before BUILD, Marisol dedicated her career to public advocacy and the intersection of design and social impact. Marisol received her Master’s in Product Design & Development from ELISAVA Barcelona School of Engineering and holds a Bachelors in Industrial Design from California College of the Arts. Marisol started her career by working in various roles in product design and visual communications for social entrepreneurship companies. After leaving the for-profit sector, she put her knowledge of design and background in communications to use, working with nonprofit anti-violence organizations and educational programs for under-served youth in the Bay Area. Marisol’s goals are fueled by her passion to bring an end to the cycles of violence and poverty in her community. She is focused on strengthening community partnerships, increasing access to resources and public awareness.

Cindy Pineda is a mission-driven educator with over 10 years of experience who has dedicated her life to youth development, fighting social injustices and closing the achievement gap. She cares deeply about future generations and seeks to leave a legacy through everything she does. Hailing from the sunny city of Los Angeles, she attended the University of California Berkeley, where she received her Bachelors’ in Psychology with a minor in Public Policy. Upon graduation, Cindy interned in Washington DC, working on educational policy reform on Capitol Hill. While in Washington, she moved on to work as an Academic Advisor for a non-profit organization called Upward Bound, chaired the Policy Committee for the District of Colombia of Consolidated Services and worked for the US Census Bureau. Her interest in international education came after she worked on and led various Latin American education development projects in Colombia and El Salvador. Being a huge advocate for social change and multicultural exposure, Cindy was devoted to bring students of all backgrounds together to share their stories and experience the world from different perspectives. This interest led her to pursue a Master’s in International Education with a focus on development at New Yok University. While at NYU, she continued her career as the Assistant Director of the Field Projects office. There, she managed the daily operations of all civic engagement, college preparation and community outreach programs with NYC public schools, and designed first-year college programs. At BUILD, Cindy has spent the last 4 years instilling and developing entrepreneurial lessons to a budding group of students in NYC communities. Her innovative ideas and program design have been instrumental in improving the student experience. She serves as an imputation to the first graduating class to become the best they can be, add value to others lives and explore the world as evidence by lessons learned in her travel of over 30 countries. Cindy is obsessed with tacos and french-fries., and loves to try new foods wherever she goes. On her free time, Cindy likes to work out, do yoga, run, cook, show off her dancing skills or just sit at a park on a sunny day and read a good book.

Alicia Perry joins BUILD with many years of administrative experience in the nonprofit world in the areas of conservation, higher education and philanthropy. She was born and raised in Boston, MA, and holds a B.A. in Communications from Suffolk University. In her spare time, she enjoys documentaries, traveling, and writing.

Alicia is excited to be a part of the National Team supporting the Director of Impact and Organizational Learning and the Director of Philanthropy. She looks forward to mentoring and seeing the impact BUILD is making in the world first hand.

Julie brings her passion for visual storytelling, entrepreneurship and digital design to her position as the National Creative Director. She uses her positive energy and strategic digital tactics to bring the spark to BUILD’s national communications plan, digital campaigns and video production.

Julie comes to BUILD after working with the United Nations as a digital content analyst/video producer where she produced, edited and shot promotional videos in Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon and Hawaii to spotlight grassroots organizations and local sustainable development solutions to be showcased at the UN Climate Change Summit. Julie’s passion for entrepreneurship comes after co-founding the nonprofit organization, Design Xchange in 2019, a startup providing training to Ugandan social enterprises in digital communications. While working in Liberia as a Visual Storytelling Consultant at the nonprofit Accountability Lab, Julie developed her interest for nonprofit communications while producing digital marketing content promoting accountability and exposing corruption.

Julie first developed her passion for education as a teacher during her 2 year Peace Corps service in the small village of Zvan, Macedonia. Julie’s love for teaching only grew while teaching internationally in Morocco and Myanmar in the years following her Peace Corps Service. Julie completed her MPA in Development Practice at Columbia University with a specialization in Technology, Media and Communication. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Design with a minor in Film Production from the University of Virginia.

Tony Shavers III joins the BUILD National team as the Assistant Director of Donor Engagement. Before joining BUILD, Tony was the Development Officer at the University of Maryland and previously served as the Leadership Annual Giving Officer at San Jose State University. In these roles, he secured several impactful gifts supporting campus-wide initiatives. Prior to working in higher education, Tony was a Youth Advocate for Community Works West-Project WHAT! (a leadership development program for children of incarcerated parents.)

As an alumnus of BUILD (Class of 2010), Tony is excited to come full circle and credits the program for giving him the confidence to believe in his abilities. He recently authored his first book: Is Your Dream Really Worth It? Tony holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University, East Bay.

Brian Costanzo was most recently President and CEO of SOCAP International. He entered the association profession in 2005, joining the executive staff of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). He served first as EO’s Senior Vice President, Global Membership and later became the group’s Senior Vice President, Business Development in 2014. Brian’s previous 20 years were spent providing unparalleled client service in a variety of roles—as restaurant manager, sales manager, customer service manager and director of operations—for high-end properties, including Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Signature Hospitality Group. He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and became a Certified Association Executive (CAE) in January 2011. As a former entrepreneur himself, Brian founded his own company, Vision Hospitality, in 2004. Brian says, “Entrepreneurship has been a significant part of my life for many years and I can think of no better mission than to deliver a program to our youth that builds self confidence and self-esteem.”

Prior to joining BUILD, Kate Slater, Ph.D. was the Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Affairs at Brandeis University and the Associate Director and Manager of Programs at the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, a nonprofit that addresses the lack of educators of color in the American educational system. Kate is also a professor and teaches courses in the Department of Education at the University of New Hampshire, including “Issues in Education” and “Teaching Race”. Kate also facilitates trainings and conversations around social justice and anti-racism with K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and private organizations.

Kate Slater, Ph.D. received her doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership from the University of New Hampshire, where her dissertation research focused on the experiences of underrepresented students who participate in bridge / access programs as an entry point into predominantly white institutions (PWIs). She is thrilled to bring this expertise to her role as the National Director of College Success at BUILD. Kate lives in Massachusetts with her partner, her two daughters, and her absurd dog Carrot Cake. In her spare time, she’s an obsessive reader and a very slow runner.

Alyssa Hudak joins BUILD as a student at Robert Morris University, where she is studying business administration. She was first hired at BUILD as a Salesforce intern and is now being taken on as a part-time associate. She is excited to be a part of the BUILD culture and transition to this new role. In her spare time, she enjoys volleyball, reading, and baking.

Lisa Pham is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, who majored in Health and Society.  Because of her lifelong passion for digital art and an interest in social entrepreneurship, she began an internship at BUILD in January 2022, while she was in her final year at university. During her internship, Lisa achieved a sense of fulfillment and support that led to an offer of full-time employment. She is now the National Communications and Marketing Associate!

In her personal life, Lisa is into Dungeons and Dragons, reading novels, and developing enriching stories in various visual mediums.

Hadiya Culbreath recently graduated from the University of Southern California and is thrilled to be a part of the BUILD family. While studying Health and Human Sciences with a Psychology emphasis, Hadiya co-directed the USC Prison Education Project and worked as a Community Health Organizer at her alma mater. She also interned at the City of Hope medical center and gained valuable experience in Human Resources and employee development. Hadiya fed her passion for health and education as often as she could and is excited to contribute to the BUILD mission as a Talent Associate.

A former member of collegiate a cappella, Hadiya loves singing, listening to suspenseful podcasts, and gardening in her free time. She is originally from Atlanta, GA and now lives in Houston, TX, where she’s getting to know the city through local festivals and small businesses.

Kim brings 15 years of experience in teaching and program development to BUILD. She taught high school English and journalism for over a decade in the Bay Area, and she also served as a teacher educator and graduate school instructor through the Stanford Teacher Education Program. She has experience leading teacher innovation and collaboration through The Education Trust-West and The Teachers Guild at IDEO. Kim earned a B.A. in English and Urban Studies and a M.A. in Education at Stanford University and lives in San Francisco.

Katherine Tkaczyk joins the BUILD team to serve as Program Operations Manager for the National Shared Services team. Katherine is an experienced educator who has worked with adolescents in various settings―including as a high school English teacher in Dover, NH, and as a hospital teacher, supporting teens receiving mental health treatment in Southeastern PA. Most recently, Katherine served as project coordinator, maintaining training and development operations with the Penn Center for Community Health Workers in Philadelphia, PA. She is passionate about supporting the holistic needs of learners, discovering how to best utilize technology to improve learning, and centering equitable practices.

Katherine attended the University of New Hampshire, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Teaching Secondary English Education. She now lives in Philadelphia, PA with her partner, Nick, and her sweet ol’ cat, Kitty. In her free time, she enjoys taking long bike rides, exploring new food and places, and spending time in nature.

Rashaida is a lifelong educator who enjoys providing life-changing opportunities to students and coaching and supporting teachers. She joined BUILD as its first Satellite Program Director, supporting partner schools and organizations across the country to implement the BUILD experience with their students. Her support ranged from curriculum development to student event support.  She now serves as Program Director, National Partnerships. Rashaida’s goal is to support teachers and students as BUILD expands across the country.

Rashaida is excited to join the BUILD team so that she can combine her love for coaching teachers with entrepreneurship. As an entrepreneur herself, Rashaida has learned how to run and manage her own businesses through trial and error. She recognizes the value that BUILD provides as we teach students the skills early on that allow them to thrive as young entrepreneurs, ready to be successful young adults in the 21st Century. Rashaida finds value in knowing that her work with BUILD provides new opportunities for students that look like her, opportunities that students of color deserve to receive, but often are denied simply due to the color of their skin or where they live.

Rashaida comes to BUILD after serving as a school leader, leading a team of instructional coaches, and teaching in the classroom. Every day Rashaida strives to provide positive opportunities for students so that they may dream big, aim high, and shatter glass ceilings.

Liz has been with BUILD since the spring of 2018 and is currently the National Talent Acquisition and Benefits Manager. Previously employed by Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts and Arlington Free Clinic, Liz has always had a passion for helping others and working for organizations which put people at the center. She was initially drawn to BUILD because of its mission – helping underserved youth recognize and harness their potential for greatness – and continues to be blown away by the affect BUILD’s programming has on students’ personal growth. In her spare time, Liz refinishes old furniture, volunteers at the local dog shelter, and cheers on her Boston sports teams. Liz graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Studio Art and Family Life Cycle Studies.

Having been in the for-profit sector for over ten years, Beverly joined BUILD after witnessing BUILD’s impressive student entrepreneurs at the 2013 Gala.  Beverly currently leads the National Talent Team and brings her passion for equity into her daily work and connections with BUILDers across all of our regions. Beverly lives in the San Francisco, Bay Area with her husband, three children and cat.  When not supporting our team with the important work, she enjoys watching competitive sports, learning about different cultures, trying new recipes and spending time outdoors.

Rashi Singhal joins BUILD as a Staff Accountant. She has a master’s degree in Accounting and Economics from India. In her prior experience, she helped scale the AR team at a medical devices manufacturing company, all the way to help build the new ERP (AR side) and the processes for better customer experiences. She has experience in AR/AP and is skilled in various accounting software and problem-solving.

She is very excited to join a non-profit organization that is in the educational field which she has always been passionate about. Previously, she has helped with after-school hands-on science programs. She is looking forward to the exclusive experiences and making a positive impact.

Rashi lives in Palo Alto, California with her husband and 2 kids. In her personal life, she loves to travel, cook Indian food, work in the garden, and volunteer for her kid’s science and robotics programs.

Norbert joins BUILD after several years of experience in analytical roles within the real estate industry. In his last role, Norbert guided his team through monthly forecasts and the yearly budget process. He was also vital in implementing a new FP&A software for 130+ users within the company. Norbert is a numbers-oriented individual who likes to use data to tell a story and drive business decisions.

He is ecstatic to join the BUILD team and looks forward to being part of the “spark” that positively impacts future generations. Norbert loves to learn new things and try new activities. He is currently learning about blogging and how to make latte art, and his favorite things to do in his free time include pickleball, bouldering, and skiing. Norbert holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Finance from Cornell College.

Virginia Duke is proud to be in her eighth year, as part of the BUILD family. She currently serves as BUILD’s Project Manager, a role that draws heavily from her previous positions as both a grant writer and program manager, teaching BUILD juniors in Oakland how to run their own businesses and prepare for the college application process.

Before joining BUILD, Virginia taught English in Nepal on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant fellowship and taught eighth-grade math in rural Alabama through Teach for America. Born and raised in Montana, she is a 2011 University of Oklahoma graduate (Boomer Sooner!). Virginia lives in Billings, Montana is an avid reader, and is writing her third novel.

Michelle Hill comes to BUILD with over 10 years of experience in Senior Executive support functions, including 7 years of CEO support. Michelle dedicated the early chapters of her career to various roles within the financial sector but found her true calling in the education, association, and nonprofit spaces. Michelle has extensive experience with Board of Directors support and thoroughly enjoys cultivating and nurturing relationships. Michelle’s personal mission statement is to ignite a passion in others to realize their ability to leave this world a better place and is looking forward to activating this awareness with the students that BUILD serves.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Wilmington University and currently resides in Wilmington, Delaware with her family.