Employer Advisory Board

Juanita Allen is the Recruitment and Outreach Manager for the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity in the Human Resources Division for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She has been with the Commonwealth for over 19 years, and has received many awards and accolades including the “Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service.” Juanita received a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Howard University.

“As a board member, it has given me an insight to the commitment and dedication of Career Services to provide a high-quality education to their students. We share our innovative ways of recruiting to increase the student’s possibility of securing an interview. Our value to the board is to share our experiences as Employers.”

Don Black is a Talent Acquisition Manager for Enterprise Holdings, where he has been for 18 years. He joined Enterprise Holdings as a Management Trainee in the Michigan group and transferred out to Boston in 2006 where he worked his way up through Assistant Manager, Branch Manager and as an Area Manager in Boston for the last 6 years. Don received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Michigan State University.

“I am so thankful to be involved with Suffolk University’s Employee Advisory Board. It gives me the ability to network with such a valuable program while also offering a great way to share my knowledge and insights.”

Mike Black is the Boston-area Regional Recruiter for the Peace Corps, a governmental organization which has sent nearly a quarter million Americans to serve communities in the developing world since its founding by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Mike served from 2017-2019 as a community economic development specialist in a rural town in Albania, strengthening public institutions and empowering underserved groups within the community. Prior to the Peace Corps, Mike worked for 7 years in sales and account management, primarily within the education sector. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Bentley University.

"More than ever, successful recruitment today is a collaborative process between hiring organizations and campus stakeholders. My participation on the Employer Advisory Board helps me stay on top of developments at Suffolk University and gives me a direct path to communicate my organization’s evolving hiring needs to career center staff."

Julie is currently the Senior Director of Human Resources at Heading Home Inc, a non-profit whose mission is to end homelessness in Greater Boston by providing a supported pathway to self-sufficiency that begins with a home, together with critical services such as life skills, financial literacy, and job training.

Founded in 1974, Heading Home is a leading provider of housing and support services for extremely low-income individuals and families currently or formerly experiencing homelessness in Greater Boston. For nearly 50 years, Heading Home has successfully helped thousands of people end their homelessness.

Julie has almost 20 years of Human Resources experience and has spent over 15 years of her career in the non-profit sector, previously working at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown and Vinfen in Cambridge. Prior to entering HR, Julie spent almost 15 years within financial services working in loan departments and then as an internal auditor.

Julie holds an MBA from Fitchburg State University and a JD from Suffolk Law School.

“As an employer board member with Suffolk University Career Center, I have experienced what makes Suffolk the best. I can collaborate with other board members on our successes and challenges and learn how Suffolk is working with students to meet some of the challenges.”

Caitlin Hietsch is a Talent Acquisition Manager for Mass General Brigham where she oversees the hiring team for the research community within Mass General Hospital. She has worked in healthcare recruitment for 20 years serving as a Talent Acquisition Partner and Senior Partner prior to working in management. She has recruitment experience in many specialty areas, including research, nursing, allied health, administration and professional-level roles. Caitlin is a Certified Behavioral Interviewer and received a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Providence College.

Bianca Lonergan (Geigel-Fernandez) brings over 12 years of experience to her role as the Controller and Director of Integration and Operations for Fairbanks Energy Services. A division of Mantis Innovation, Fairbanks Energy is a full-service design/build energy conservation firm that provides efficiency solutions for commercial and industrial clients throughout the country. Before joining Fairbanks Energy, Bianca held a variety of finance and accounting roles at Boston-based companies and start-ups, including EXOS and Zipcar. Prior to these roles, she started her career at Fidelity Investments on their Corporate Accounting team. Bianca graduated from Suffolk University with a BSBA in Accounting and holds an MBA in International Business, also from Suffolk University.

Eileen McBride is the Talent Acquisition Specialist for Edelstein & Company LLP, a CPA firm located in Boston and Burlington, MA that is committed to building lasting relationships with its clients and team members. Eileen has over 25 years of experience in the professional services industry as a hiring specialist. She holds a Bachelor’s in English from Providence College.

Nick Ruggiero is the Deputy Director of Communications with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD). Nick has worked within the Commonwealth his entire professional career, including internships with the Department of Revenue's Child Support Enforcement (CSE) and the Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General (Treasury). Nick was brought on full-time by the Treasury as Human Resources (HR) Communications Coordinator and connected employees with the Treasury's mission, vision, and culture through internal and social media communication channels. In his current role, Nick coordinates media outreach and executes all aspects of communication for the EOLWD and its department and quasi-agency. Nick graduated from Suffolk University with BSBA in Marketing and is pursuing his MBA at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, specializing in Digital Marketing.

“My experience serving on the Employer Advisory Board has been wonderful! As an alumni, I enjoy having the opportunity to stay connected with Suffolk University and work with the Career Development Center as they continue to invest in students’ professional development and opportunity.”

Heather Shea is Client & Culture Leader at Catalytic Agency, an independent communications agency and creative studio focused on the life sciences, healthcare, wellness and technology sectors. She has worked in public relations and integrated communications for more than 17 years, supporting programs for companies in the technology, consumer, science, healthcare and non-profit industries. Heather helps clients strategize and execute high-technology launches, medical device commercialization and approval, life sciences and drug discovery advancement, women’s health awareness, consumer electronics influencer promotion, higher education message development and corporate executive visibility. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Boston University.

Seasoned Financial Services Leader with over 25 years of experience in strategic business development and radical revenue growth in the financial service industry. Extensive experience in building and leading top-performing sales teams, mentoring wealth management advisors and executing dynamic business development strategies.