Our Board & Staff

Andre Bennett Mentor Specialist

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate – our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.

Jacob Parsons Digital Media Associate

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

Quita Christison Outreach Coordinator

Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.

Nancy Hays Director of Development

Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it.

Kepler Jeudy Program Director

Small steps, big successes.

Kimberly Khare Director, Song Studio

I see every day as an opportunity to choose love over fear.

Bill Kubicek Founder/Executive Director

“What if?” and “Why not?” are powerful questions that continually offer new opportunities and challenges.

Jessica Slattery Martin Director of Operations

You never know when you’re having good luck.

Colin Mueller Communications Coordinator

Learn every day.

Olive and Loki Co-Directors, K9 Affairs

Above all else, BE CUTE.

Board of Directors

Reyn Parsons, Board Chair
Consultant

Eugene Crowley, Treasurer
Principal, JCH Development and Management, LLC

Rena Greifinger
Senior Lead, Population Services International

Mary Ann Guillette
Creative Director and Graphic Designer

Dr. Matt Heeney
Associate Chief for Hematology, Boston Children’s Hospital

Bill Kubicek
Founder/Executive Director, Next Step

Elizabeth Pasciucco
Interim President, Notre Dame Academy

Kingdar Prussien
Associate, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP

Dr. Mark Salvatore
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eric Stepanian
Director of Golf, The Fliers Club

Experience
Next Step

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Andre Bennett

Mentor Specialist

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate – our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.

Andre provides 1-on-1 mentoring support for HIV youth in Next Step’s Mass STYLE program. Mass STYLE features a critical partnership between Next Step, Mass CARE program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and three health centers located in Brockton, Lowell and Worcester. Under Mass STYLE, Andre spearheads Next Step’s mentoring efforts by working collaboratively with youth to help them achieve their personal and professional goals. In addition to this individual goal setting, Andre strengthens the Mass STYLE community by facilitating social outcomes and becoming it’s Campference Director.

Favorite thing about working at Next Step

My first day in the office, I realized that the culture at Next Step is one where creativity, authenticity and originality are nurtured. So far, that is my favorite thing about working at Next Step, coupled with the amazing familial atmosphere that is nurtured by the team.

Random personal factoid

I am very ticklish. This is particularly embarrassing because my little sister knows this, and once walked up to me in the middle of the church (I am a minister) and tickled my side, and I fell on the ground, in my robe and literally rolled away from her.

Jacob Parsons

Digital Media Associate

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

Jacob supports the online communication efforts for the program and development teams as the Digital Media Associate at Next Step. Jacob’s strong writing and researching skills are valuable assets for program recruitment, ticket sales for fundraising events and Next Step’s brand identity online. Jacob has five years of professional social media experience in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. He previously held the position of social media intern at Garrity Insurance, Restoration Project and Next Step. During his internships, Jacob expanded his knowledge of what kind of impact a strong social media presence can have for a non-profit or for-profit organization.

Jacob earned a BA in psychology from The University of Northern Colorado.

Favorite thing about working at Next Step

I love seeing the young adults come to Next Step and finding a community of peers who understand them, who’ve been in their shoes. The K9 affairs team always liven up the office too.

Random personal factoid

Chocolate is my kryptonite and yet I can’t get enough of it.

Quita Christison

Outreach Coordinator

Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.

Quita is Next Step’s resident people person, responsible for connecting young people and their providers to our programs and is herself a young adult with a rare genetic disorder. Quita merges her two passions of theatre and healthcare education by engaging youth in expressive arts to help them take ownership of their narratives. She is all about having young people get into the conversations that matter to them. You can often find Quita singing and dancing about the importance of “Hydrate! Urinate! Stretch, Stretch, Stretch!” Quita has a BA in Theater Studies and BS Anthropology from the University of Utah and a Masters in Public Health from Boston University.

Favorite thing about working with Next Step
Getting to learn and connect with young people, who have so much wisdom and light. It’s amazing to be able to help them figure out their narratives and decide which path they want to take.

Random personal factoid
Leftovers and “regular food” for breakfast is my favorite. I’ve been known to wake up and make a box of mac and cheese or pan fry some dumplings.

Nancy Hays

Director of Development

Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it.

Nancy heads up Next Step’s fundraising and communications efforts, overseeing donor outreach, grants and events. With over 18 years in nonprofit and foundation Development. Nancy works closely with Next Step’s Board of Directors to make sure our fundraising goals are met. She was class clown in her senior year of high school, served in the Peace Corps in Kenya and has a BA from Gettysburg College.

Favorite thing about working with Next Step

That humor is highly valued at Next Step and goes a long way in this fast-paced environment doing this work. Hearing the music created by our young people coming out of the recording studio is inspiring and a real gift.

Random personal factoid

I can only tie my shoes using the “two bunny ears” method I learned in kindergarten

Kepler Jeudy

Program Director

Small steps, big successes.

Kepler facilitates Next Step’s programs and develops program curricula. Whether brainstorming new educational games based upon his vast Minute to Win It knowledge, or working with our youth task force to hash out discussion topics for an upcoming summer Campference, he is our multi-talented hands-on program man. Kepler has over 12 years of experience designing and delivering youth development programming for youth living with special healthcare needs. He has a BA in English from Wheaton College MA in Human Development from University of Rhode Island.

Favorite thing about working with Next Step

Helping young people find their community

Random personal factoid

“Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid is the only song to which I know all the words.

Kimberly Khare

Director, Song Studio

I see every day as an opportunity to choose love over fear.

Kimberly has been a music therapist for 22 years and is herself a young adult cancer survivor. In addition to her work at Next Step, she has taught at the Berklee College of Music for 16 years. She has worked with the cancer and HIV communities since the 1990s and prefers working in community-based settings, because she believes that’s where finding the threads of connection leads to empowering interactions. Kimberly doesn’t know what she would do or who she would be without music, and she believes everyone has a song in them—a story that they need to sing or tell. With a focus on helping young people find their voice and purpose through music, art and story, time with Kimberly is about expressing yourself and being heard. Kimberly has BA in Music Theory & Composition & Musical Theater from SUNY New Paltz and a MA in Music Therapy from New York University along with an Advanced Clinical Supervision and Certification from the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy.

Favorite thing about working with Next Step

I get to be an active presence in the lives of our young people: listening to them, building trust with them and supporting them in finding their voice.

Random personal factoid

I’m fluent in meow.

Bill Kubicek

Founder/Executive Director

“What if?” and “Why not?” are powerful questions that continually offer new opportunities and challenges.

It was a conversation between Bill and the late actor, philanthropist, and race car driver Paul Newman that spurred the creation of Next Step. For nearly three decades, Bill has been an industry leader in program development and implementation for children, teens and young adults struggling with serious illness. Based on his experience working with thousands of young people, Bill has created a unique youth-led model at Next Step that has been delivered at sites across the U.S. and in Africa. He has served on advisory boards for the Young Adult Cancer Alliance, The National Center on Healthcare Transition and other notable organizations.

Favorite thing about working with Next Step

The laughter and energy created by the amazing people that Next Step attracts.

Random personal factoid

I truly love to make geometric patterns in the grass while mowing the lawn.

Jessica Slattery Martin

Director of Operations

You never know when you’re having good luck.

Jessica wears many hats behind the scenes at Next Step, ranging from bookkeeper, to office and database management, to coordinating programs and events. She uses her natural talent for systems management and her background as a professional organizer to keep us all in line so that Next Step hums along smoothly, day in and day out! Jessica spent 12 years working as a Production Accountant in the documentary film industry before joining Next Step in 2012. From screwdrivers to spreadsheets she can be found solving problems around the Next Step offices.

Favorite thing about working with Next Step

The amazing integrity, spirit and humor of the staff and the young people we get to work with

Random personal factoid

When I was in high school I tried my hand at writing raps.

Colin Mueller

Communications Coordinator

Learn every day.

Colin manages the marketing and online communications efforts for the program and development teams, including social media and other digital initiatives. He also assists with grant writing, event coordination, and print literature. Colin also supports the development team in developing new relationships with potential sponsors and cause marketing partners. Colin has over 15 years of professional marketing experience along with 11 years experience as a Chocolate Lab owner. Colin was also born with a rare genetic disorder, Spina Bifida and has a first hand understanding of the need for Next Step programming. He has a BA in Communications from Boston College and a MA in Health Communication from Emerson College in collaboration with Tufts University School of Medicine.

Favorite thing about working at Next Step

Watching a young person learn and understand who they are outside of their medical condition.

Random personal factoid

I am a Bolognese connoisseur.

Olive and Loki

Co-Directors, K9 Affairs

Above all else, BE CUTE.

Olive (a golden retriever) is the latest in the long line of amazing staff in the Department of K9 Affairs. She has mentored Loki (a chocolate lab) since he was hired in July 2018. They have perfected the art of wrestling, and of finding the squeaky part of any stuffed toy and removing it. They are also in charge of monitoring the overall happiness of the office—accomplished by sniffing—and they continue to improve their napping skills.

Favorite thing about working with Next Step

The humans that come here really like to pay attention to us and sometimes food falls on the floor.

Our Board & Staff

Board of Directors

Experience
Next Step

Next Step Summer Campferences are coming soon!

Upcoming Events

03 October

STRIVE (2020 Fall Semester)

Stay in touch! Sign up for news and updates.

Our Board & Staff

Board of Directors

ExperienceNext Step

Next Step Summer Campferences are coming soon!

Upcoming Events

03 October

STRIVE (2020 Fall Semester)

Stay in touch! Sign up for news and updates.

Experience
Next Step