Some of Boston’s best leaders in inclusion and equity and advocates of LGBTQ+ professionals make up the Pride in Our Workplace leadership team.
John Basile
Diversity Inclusion Leader and Executive Coach
PIOW President
John Basile (he/him) brings over thirty years of human resources management expertise including his most recent role as Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Fidelity Investments. Throughout his career, John has led teams focused on talent acquisition, business unit HR support, talent management, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement.
Matthew McTygue
Managing Partner, Boston Office of Locke Lord LLP
PIOW Assistant Secretary
PIOW Treasurer
Matt McTygue (he/him) is the managing partner of Locke Lord’s Boston office and has practiced corporate law at the firm for more than 20 years. Matt also serves on the Executive Committee and as Secretary of the Boston Bar Association, where he previously served as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Section co-Chair. Matt is also a member of the board of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
Wendell K. Chestnut
Market Manager, Senior Vice President at Bank of America
PIOW Board Member
Wendell K. Chestnut (he/him) served as the first President of Pride In Our Workplace and currently serves as a Board Member. He is an avid champion for LGBTQ+ rights and works professionally and personally to ensure equality for all marginalized communities. He works with the PIOW Board to ensure a network is being created to support LGBTQ+ employees throughout the Commonwealth within their working environments as well as championing the PIOW mission!
Karen Young
Leadership, Business Strategy and Inclusion Consultant and Executive Coach
PIOW Board Member
Karen Young (she/her) leads a firm specializing in building inclusion capability as an innovative and strategic lever for business and professional results. Throughout her career, she has focused on understanding and improving the capability of individuals and organizations to understand themselves through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, focus on progress, utilize their strengths and achieve results.
Ashley Hackett
Pro Bono Project Manager at NetSuite
PIOW Board Member
Ashley Hackett (she/her) began her career in nonprofit work as an AmeriCorps member with City Year, where she led corporate volunteers in transformative service. Before joining the Oracle NetSuite Social Impact team where she manages a Pro Bono programming for North America, Ashley spent six years at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Foundation supporting their philanthropic efforts through community event planning and grant-making throughout New England.
Tori Kaufmann-Paulman
Director, Global IT Client Services at Pega Systems
PIOW Board Member
Tori Kaufmann-Paulman (they/them) is the Director, of IT Client Services at Pega Systems. In this role, Tori is responsible for ensuring that end users are provided the most current, enhanced, enjoyable, and stable environment in which to perform their work. Tori has directed end user technologies in entertainment, non-profit, education, financial services, and software development.
Colleen T. Simonelli
Chief People Officer at Wolf & Company, P.C.
PIOW Board Member
Colleen T. Simonelli (she/her) serves as Chief People Officer for Wolf and Company, one of the top regional certified public accounting firms in the Northeast, New York and New Jersey. She is responsible for the Firm’s people strategy and talent programs. Her duties aim to attract and inspire a diverse and inclusive culture where employees can share their passion and thrive in their careers.
Dimitri Makris
Branch Lead and Systems Engineer at Odyssey Systems
PIOW Board Member
Dimitri Makris (he/him) is the Branch Lead and Systems Engineer for Odyssey Systems supporting the Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) System at Hanscom AFB, MA. In this role, he leads a team supporting the government Program Office to support and sustain five radar systems across North American and Europe, providing early-warning detection and tracking of ballistic missiles and interceptors, as well as classification of space objects.
