Board of Directors for 2024

A life-long Quincy resident, Anita Christie is a retired nurse with a background in community health, public health and healthcare administration. During her career, she has worked in a variety of positions both clinical and non-clinical to improve care within health centers and through public health initiatives. She served as the co-chair of the MA State Cancer Advisory Committee and currently sits on the Leadership Team of the Massachusetts State Cancer Coalition. In her most recent position with the MA Department of Public Health, Anita was Director of the Division of Clinical Preventive Services and had responsibility for implementing CDC funded grants focused on improving care in Cancer, Stroke and Hypertension.

“My focus has always been to assure that care is equitable, barriers to care are eliminated, and the delivery of care is of the highest quality. I am excited to be serving on the Board to continue my work with community health centers and to be of service to the residents of Quincy. I hope to share my experiences in community program implementation and collaboration and to contribute to Manet’s continued success.”

Anita serves on the Strategic Planning and Finance Committees.

Robert J. Griffin joined Boston-based Krokidas & Bluestein LLP in 1985 and served as managing partner until his retirement in 2021. His legal practice concentrated on health care, non-profit, administrative and corporate law. His clients include teaching and community hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, community health centers, senior living communities, community-based human service organizations, physicians and allied health professionals. Earlier in his career, Bob held several positions in Massachusetts state government, including Chairman of the Massachusetts Rate Setting Commission. He has been recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for his work protecting residents of troubled nursing facilities and he was recognized in the 2014 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

“Health care law is ultimately about attorneys helping people,” says Bob, who joined the Manet Board in 2011. He serves on the boards of several non-profit and community institutions, including Marian Manor, St. Patrick’s Manor, and S Bank. A graduate of Trinity College. Bob earned a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts and his Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk Law School. In addition to serving on the Executive, Board Development and Compliance Committees, Bob is the Chair of the Finance Committee.

Grace Murphy-McAuliffe is a financial services executive who spent 25 plus years in the world of commercial banking, and she has strong connections to the City of Quincy. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Quincy Community Action Programs (QCAP), an organization helping people achieve financial stability through access to food, housing & heating assistance, early education & care, adult education, financial coaching, free tax preparation, and more. She is also the President of Quincy Parks Conservancy, a private not-for-profit organization that advocates for Quincy’s parks and open space. In addition to her background in finance, Grace has more than 15 years of experience in health care administration and governance, having served on the board of Quincy Medical Center for 10 years, with the last three years as its chairperson. Her past board experience also includes the Massachusetts Hospital Association and Bay State Community Services. Grace serves on the Manet Board’s QIPI, Philanthropy and Executive Committees.

Samantha holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Boston University and currently works as a business analyst consultant. Previously, she worked as a business analyst for healthcare systems at NTT DATA Services. She joined the Manet Board of Directors in 2019 and serves on the Board’s Quality Improvement/Process Improvement Committee and the Board Development Committee.

John Brothers believes in bringing people together to build a stronger community. “What I find most rewarding, what drives my passion, is connecting and engaging people,” he says. A member of the Manet Board of Directors since 2000, he has made a career of community development. John moved to Massachusetts in 1997 after earning a degree in International Relations and working with the YMCA in Washington, D.C. He is Senior Director of Workforce Development Strategy for the MA Biotechnology Education Foundation and has served as Executive Director of the Education and Training Branch at YMCA of Greater Boston, Executive Director of Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. (QARI), and Associate Executive Director of the South Shore YMCA in Quincy. John is the Chair of the Board Development Committee, helping to recruit new members who reflect the diverse South Shore community.

Roberto Nicolás Costa Carabajal joined the Manet Board in January 2023 as a way to give back to the community where he works and resides, Taunton, MA. Nico works as a Community Impact Counselor at New Hope – Attleboro. He is enrolled at Bristol Community College, in the Liberal Arts, Math & Science program. He is well on his way to a career in computer sciences. Nico also works as a Spanish/English tutor for the International Institute of New England – Lowell, an institution that helps refugees and asylees.

He volunteers his time as a Den Leader/Committee Member with the Boy Scouts of America in Dighton and with the Girl Scouts in Taunton. Fostering the growth and leadership attributes of future generations is a privilege, Nico says, and one that he takes seriously and is fully committed to.

Quincy resident Zachary Eaton uses the business and finance skills he honed at Bentley University in the automotive industry, currently serving as Pre-Owned Sales Manager at Herb Chambers Ford of Braintree. He also uses these considerable skills in volunteer pursuits. He tutors students at Quincy College in Micro/Macro Economics, Business Ethics, International Business and Intro to Business and at his alma mater Quincy High School, he started the “Academic Development Award” scholarship for students who struggled their first year or two in high school and then turned things around. Zach serves on the Board Finance Committee.

Lawrence “Larry” Flanagan, now retired, was a senior information technology professional with experience including managing information system teams supporting business operations for BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, Stop & Shop, Hills Department Stores, the CCS companies, through Alliance Consulting – Gateway and PC Connection. He is a graduate of Quincy College with a degree in Computer Science. Larry serves as the Chair for the Board’s QI/PI Committee and also sits on the Human Resources, Compliance and Executive Committees.

A member of the Manet of Directors since 2019, Dr. Hovaizi is the owner and a practicing dentist at Lumiere Dental Spa in Quincy. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Virginia and her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. Dr. Hovaizi is a member of the American Dental Association and the Massachusetts Dental Society. She serves on the QI/PI committee of the Board.

Dr. Paul Jeffrey is an independent consultant specializing in Medicaid pharmacy, formulary development and delivery, value-based care and value-based therapeutics. He joined the Manet Board of Directors in 2025.

“Over my career, first working in safety net health systems, then for MassHealth, I’ve come to appreciate the critical role of community health centers as a cornerstone of public health services in our country,” he says. “I’m honored and humbled to serve on Manet’s Board of Directors. Manet is my point of reference for the ideal community health center!”

Dr. Jeffrey recently retired as Senior Director of Pharmacy in the Office of Clinical Affairs at the UMass Chan Medical School (UMMS)/Commonwealth Medicine (now ForHealth Consulting). In this capacity, he was Senior Director of Pharmacy for MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) and was responsible for the state’s pharmacy benefit for approximately 1.2million of MassHealth’s 2 million members and a budget of $2.3 billion; and negotiated supplemental rebate agreements of $300+ million. He also coordinated clinical and business pharmacy relations with the state’s partner Medicaid managed care plans. Jeffrey is a retired Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at UMMS, and an invited lecturer at Harvard University School of Public Health. He is a Past President of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP).

Dr. Jeffrey has over 20 years of management experience in pharmacy managed care. Prior to joining MassHealth in 2001, he accumulated over 20 years of health system management experience in academic medical centers, including Director of Pharmacy at Boston Medical Center, and has worked as a staff pharmacist in community pharmacy and in hospital pharmacy.

Dr. Jeffrey received his undergraduate pharmacy degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Duquesne University. He completed a residency in Clinical/Hospital Pharmacy at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Linda Kelly brings multiple perspectives to her work on the Manet Board of Directors—as a mother of three children, a patient coping with multiple sclerosis (MS), and a disability advocate. Linda has been a member of the Board since 2006 and chairs the Human Resources committee. Linda’s civic involvement is longstanding. She is Vice President and a past president of the City of Quincy Disability Commission. In addition, she served as city-wide President of the Quincy Public Schools Parent Teacher Association and on the board of Quincy Community Action Programs. Linda also volunteers as a peer advocate and speaker for the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter. In June 2019, Linda was named the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers’ 2019 Outstanding Board Member. In addition to chairing the Huamn Resources Committee Linda also sits on the Bylaws Committee.

An experienced nursing professional with deep roots in the Quincy community, Jane served as the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund Coordinator for the Quincy Health Department, working closely with Manet and other community partners to implement prevention and wellness programs in Quincy as part of the Quincy Weymouth Wellness Initiative. Previously, and of significance, Jane worked for Quincy Public Schools for 26 years, serving first as a school nurse and, most recently as Coordinator of Health Services. She earned her Master of Science in Community Health Nursing at Boston University and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boston College. Jane serves on the Board QI/PI Committee.

Tara Major joined the Manet Board of Directors in October of 2023, energized by her belief in the mission and work of Manet and the opportunity to foster partnerships with colleagues and subject matter experts with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to drive positive change. She is an entrepreneur who has started both a multi-state real estate conveyance escrow firm, and a fine-art photography business, which she ran while raising her young daughters to school age. She is currently the Director of Legislation for 2nd Bristol District’s State Representative. Prior board experience includes NBCAC (Northern Bristol County Assistance Collaborative), a non-profit dedicated to ending chronic homelessness.

Tara has a broad educational background, which includes an undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology and English, and a postgraduate degree in Law and Public Policy. Beyond her professional pursuits, Tara finds fulfillment in her personal life. She and her spouse have resided in the City of Attleboro since 2005. Together, they nurture and support their two daughters thriving in the Attleboro Public School District. Tara travels as much as possible and regards every experience and interaction as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Cochise Pearson joined the Manet Board in January of 2023. He resides in Foxboro, MA and is president and CEO of Ivy Scholar Success, a strategic education firm that provides college coaching and tutoring services. Cochise holds a Bachelor of Science in English from Northeastern University and a Master of Education degree with concentration in special education from University of Massachusetts/Boston. His past board experience includes serving as a member of the Health Board at The Dimock Center in Boston for 12 years, as a board member with The Fight Against Discrimination of Fall River, the Martha Elliot Health Center, and Dorchester Collegiate Academy.

Joseph (Joe) Reardon has been a member of the Manet Board of Directors since 2007. He served as Board President from 2010-2013 and 2015-2016, during which time he helped oversee implementation of Manet’s Strategic Plan and Manet’s growing public engagement. He serves on Manet’s Human Resources Committees. Joe believes in giving back and in everyone contributing to make a stronger community. “I think we are all called to participate,” he says. “We are absolutely a greater force working together.” He is Director of Advance Planning at Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel. His civic involvement includes membership on the Norfolk County Advisory Board. He is former president of the Quincy Lions Club, a former board member of Quincy Asian Resources Inc., and active in his church.

Karen Ward currently serves as the Regulatory Document Compliance Manager for the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute. Previously, she was a Nonclinical Scientific Writer/Editor at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. However, she spent most of her career as an early discovery neuroscientist at Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development in Groton, CT and Cambridge, MA.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology (Neuroscience) at Trinity College, and graduate certificates in Nonprofit Management and Biopharmaceutical Domestic Regulatory Affairs from Northeastern University. She also served on the board of Sound Community Services in New London, CT. Karen’s interests include fine dining, wine, and international travel (which she hopes to resume soon.) She lives in Quincy with her husband Mark and her two rescue cats, Ginger and Toni. Karen serves on the Board’s Philanthropy Committee.

Ivan Wong first got to know Manet Community Health Center through his Cantonese-speaking grandparents, accompanying them to appointments and serving as translator. As a result, Wong became a Manet patient himself at the North Quincy practice site. “I was impressed with the high level of services my grandparents received. The Manet staff was always so kind and amazing.“
Wong earned his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Syracuse University in New York and his law degree at the New England Law Boston, Class of 2016. Wong served as an Administrative Aide to MA State Senator Michael W. Morrissey and moved with him when he became Norfolk County District Attorney, serving as a Victim Witness/Advocate. He now is a criminal defense attorney. His interest in community development extends to the Manet Board of Directors, which he joined in 2009. Wong is the Chair of the Bylaws Committee and sits on the Executive, Compliance and Board Development Committees.

Nancy Wyrebek is a retired nursing executive with more than 40 years of critical care management experience. During her career, she served as Manager of the Peri-Anesthesia Care Unit at UMass Medical Center in Worcester, Manager of the OR,PACU, surgical Pre-Testing and Endoscopy Units at Health Alliance/Leominster Hospital and Nurse Manager of the ICU/PACU at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg, MA. A graduate of the Faulkner Hospital School of Nursing, Nancy earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Lesley college. Nancy sits on Philanthropy Committee.

Cynthia Sierra brings a wealth of experience in health care, mental health, neuropsychology and social services administration to her role as Chief Executive Officer at Manet Community Health Center. She assumed this position in January of 2016 after serving as Acting CEO since July 2015.

Cynthia has been an integral member of Manet’s senior leadership team since 2008, serving in a number of key roles, including Senior Director of Public Policy, Public Affairs and Program Development and as Interim Chief Executive Officer in 2014. Throughout her tenure at Manet, she has contributed to Manet’s strategic growth in facilities, service area, coalitions, affiliations and service lines – all with the goal of ensuring unfettered access to quality health care to patients of all ages.

Cynthia serves as a member of the Boston Medical Center Board (BMC) of Trustees; the BMC Health System/BACO Joint Operating Committee; and the board of directors for Boston HealthNet and Boston Accountable Care Organization (BACO). She is a member of the Assembly of Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers; the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families, Area Advisory Board; and the Health Advisory Board for the Old Colony YMCA. She also serves on numerous other local and regional boards, roundtables and service organizations. In 2021, Cynthia was named among the Commonwealth Heroine Class of 2021 by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.

Prior to joining Manet, Cynthia served as the Executive Director at the Dianne DeVanna Center in Braintree. Cynthia attended the University of Massachusetts and graduated with dual majors and distinction in English and Psychology and then went on to receive her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Lesley University in Cambridge. Cynthia is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Community Health Leadership and an active volunteer in her community.