Trustees Biographies

Roger Jarrett is a Principal Software Engineer at MathWorks. He has over 30 years of software development experience focused on software tools, managing third party software, and the delivery of complex software upgrades. One of his roles at MathWorks is a STEM Ambassador speaking at events encouraging STEM education. Prior to MathWorks he was a Senior Software Engineer and Manager at IBM developing software configuration management tools. Roger served on the AMSA Board of Trustees from 2008 – 2015 as Parent Representative, Governance Chair, Development Chair, and Secretary.

Roger interests include public speaking, reading, and strategy board games. He is the Train Gamers Association National Champion for 2015.

Roger has a BS in Applied Computer Science from University of Wisconsin-Parkside and is an Eagle Scout. He currently lives in Natick with his wife and has two children attending AMSA and one graduate of AMSA.

Raul Porras currently works as an Enterprise Architect at SAP, a global software firm where he helps customers align strategic business objectives with long-term Information Technology roadmaps.

He is also a co-founder of the Latino STEM Alliance, a Boston-based non-profit that inspires and empowers underserved youth to achieve educational and career success in STEM fields. Mr. Porras also serves in other STEM-related organizations across the commonwealth, including the Central MA STEM Network and has served in advisory roles for the Art of Science Learning initiative in Worcester and Sneakers to Beakers among others. In May 2017 he also joined the board of directors of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center.

He is a fellow of the UMass Boston Emerging Leaders Program, holds a dual MBA/MSIT degree from Bentley University and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Simon Bolivar University. Raul is originally from Venezuela.

Kristin Carney recently joined Velcro Companies as the Vice President of Global Operations Finance. In this newly created role, she works closely with the senior leaders of the organization to drive financial performance improvements through data management, process enhancement and efficiency gains to support the organization’s growth. Kristin oversees margin and operations finance for more than 10 manufacturing and distribution facilities around the world.

Kristin has 30 years of corporate finance and accounting experience having served in senior leadership roles with technology, B2B and retail companies during periods of high growth as well as helping some through turnaround and investment phases of their business cycles. She is fortunate to have amassed expertise in all areas financial management at companies including Alex and Ani, Building Engines, Motorola, Turtle Beach, The Princeton Review, One Communications, Applix, (an IBM company) Neiman Marcus and Harcourt General. She has facilitated multiple financing transactions and corporate divestitures throughout her career.

Kristin holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bentley University and an MBA from Clark University. She lives in Northborough with her husband and three children.

Jill Schafer is an attorney at Prince Lobel Tye, LLP in Boston, focusing her practice on cannabis law and commercial real estate matters. Jill also has experience in the areas of municipal law, school law, zoning and land use and regulation. Prior to joining Prince Lobel, Jill was at Pojani Hurley & Ritter, specializing in civil litigation, business and commercial law and real estate law. Jill was also previously Assistant Town Counsel for the Town of Needham, as well as Special Counsel to various other towns/cities. Jill is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts (State and Federal Court), the First Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Jill earned her BA from the University of New Hampshire, JD from Suffolk University Law School and MBA from Suffolk University, Sawyer School of Management.

Ben Hammel currently works at Microsoft Corporation as the Director of Strategy and Business Development for the Transportation and Modern Government markets. He works with State and Local governments in the United States to help improve the Citizen experience with their governing bodies through the use of technology.

As part of the Board of Trustees, Ben will be joining the Development Committee to support AMSA’s efforts in strengthening our position in the community and helping us to achieve our growth goals. Ben brings a new set of ideas, strategies, and approach that will connect modern technology with our School’s Mission and Core Values. A critical piece of the puzzle is to build a network of relationships to help accomplish our goals. We encourage the AMSA community to reach out and connect with Ben to help be part of our School’s success!

Sheila Creaton Kelly, Esq., has spent two decades working in the criminal justice system throughout the Commonwealth. In 2001, Ms. Kelly began working at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted crimes including domestic violence, assault, sexual assault, and motor vehicle homicide, advancing to become the Deputy Director of District Courts and the Chief of the Juvenile Justice Division. In 2007 Ms. Kelly joined the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and prosecuted cases of discrimination and civil rights violations. Ms. Kelly served as Director of Investigations at the Department of Youth Services overseeing intergovernmental investigations into allegations of abuse and misconduct. In 2011 Ms. Kelly joined the Department of Correction and has served as a Director of Classification, Director of the Victim Services Unit, and is currently the Deputy Superintendent of MCI Shirley, overseeing classification, treatment, and reentry services for over 1,400 inmates. Ms. Kelly is a graduate of Boston University and Suffolk University Law School. She has taught legal writing at Northeastern Law School, is a lecturer in law at Brandeis University, and has presented widely on crime victim rights, dating violence, and criminal justice.

Nick Poirier is currently a Principal at Walker Development & Construction Management, where he is responsible for all facets of construction including estimating, planning, directing and overseeing the administration of projects, contracts, and related management activities. Nick commissions work on all projects, providing technical and quality control of the construction process and personnel. He has spent the past 12 years heading up project management for clients including Jumbo Capital Management, CBRE, Colliers, Hilco, Bentley University, Hunneman, Parsons Commercial, Nordblom, National Development, and many more. Nick is a graduate of Bentley University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree. He currently lives in Clinton with his wife.

Liz Saul is a former HR professional and Software Consultant with over 20 years of professional services experience.  She was responsible for leading large teams of HR professionals in the Consulting space in addition she worked as an SAP consultant with Deloitte and Siemens Business Systems.  She served clients such as Bayer, U.S. Navy, HP, U.S. Gen and numerous internal clients as well as spent more than 12 years with Deloitte's HR Organization. Liz holds a BS in Education from Framingham State University and has completed work towards her MBA from Bentley University.  She and husband have been Marlborough residents for many years.

Jessica Bowen has been a teacher at AMSA since the 2008-2009 school year. She is a member of the history department where she teaches AP Government, AP Macroeconomics, and Basic Economics. She also teaches Chorus. She earned her Bachelor's degree in history from Regis College and did her graduate work in education at the University of Vermont. This is Mrs. Bowen's second stint as the Faculty Rep to the Board, also having also served from 2014-2016. She has lived in Marlborough for over 20 years and her two college-aged children are proud AMSA alumni!

Maura Webster is the Founder, CEO, & Chief Strategist at LillaBlu Strategies, a boutique marketing company focused on real meaningful marketing. Her background includes account management for a private PR firm, non-profit communications, government, and managing the marketing team of a growing software company through rebranding and new product launches to acquisition. This path led Maura to launch LillaBlu in an effort to bring authenticity back to marketing, and empower entrepreneurs and small business owners to engage with their audiences by being “real."

Because of these experiences and more, Maura brings an authentic, creative, strategic, and people-centered approach to marketing for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and growing companies who want to make a difference. Her approach is one that combines consulting and implementation with coaching and mentorship so that all entrepreneurs have the knowledge, skills, and ability to grow their business and manage the marketing team and assets that will enable them to succeed.

When not engaging in fun brainstorming sessions with her clients or being all "social", Maura can be found teaching Public Relations with a marketing spin at Framingham State University, marketing courses at Clark University, traveling (not often enough), running, cooking, or sitting by the ocean. That is when she's not keeping up with her two daughters, and Larry the black lab!