Meet our staff

ESC staff come from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and share a passion for building a more just and civil society.


Willia Cooper

Willia Cooper is the Director of ESC’s Virtual Learning. In this role, Willa leads the virtual technology team, establishes virtual technology and facilitation standards, and leads the design, development and facilitation of virtual trainings and events, especially for ESC’s volunteers. Willia has worked as a training and development project manager, instructional designer and facilitator for over 25 years. She has worked in a variety of industries (banking, high tech, healthcare, utilities) in jobs ranging from directing the worldwide implementation of total quality management, directing training and continuous improvement, consulting to healthcare organizations and coaching potential leaders at a public health commission. Prior to her current role at ESC, Willia was an ESC Fellow, serving as the Transition Navigator Coordinator for the Discovery Centers at ESC. In this role, she was responsible for working in partnership with five Councils on Aging, providing on-site and remote support to executive directors and their staff in the recruitment, selection, training and maintenance of Transition Navigators (TN). Willia holds an M.Ed in E-Learning from Jones International University.


Julie Crockford

Julie Crockford joined ESC as the Executive Director in 2016 now serves as the organization’s President, with oversight of all aspects of the organization from strategic direction to fundraising to program creation. In November 2021, The Boston Club named Ms. Crockford as the recipient of its inaugural Women in Business Racial Equity Ally Award in recognition of her leadership on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. Julie has also created programs to support nonprofit leaders like the ESC Nonprofit Executive RoundTable which is enrolling it’s 10th cohort in fall 2022. Prior to joining ESC, she was President of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for eight years, where she grew the annual budget from $200k to $1m, completed restoration of the historic H.H. Richardson Gatehouse in the Fens to become the Shattuck Visitor Center, and launched the organization’s first youth programs. Julie first worked with ESC while at the Conservancy, and saw first-hand how their consulting services transformed nonprofit organizations, and provided the framework for growth. Her former positions include Director of External Affairs at the Museum of African American History, Deputy Director of the Boston History Collaborative, Executive Director of the Boston Institute for Arts Therapy, and Station Services Associate at National Public Radio. Julie is currently on the advisory council of the National Association of Olmsted Parks, and has served on the boards of organizations including Project Concern International which merged to become Global Communities, Emerge Massachusetts, Piers Park Sailing Center, and UNICEF. She has a BA in psychology from George Washington University, and shares her home in Boston with a wonderful wife (and a dog and a cat), near her two adult children and two grandchildren.


Katherine Cruise

Katherine Cruise is Director of Communications, responsible for developing, directing and implementing marketing and communications strategies to raise awareness of Empower Success Corps. In this role, she assists with business development and consultant recruitment and manages the website, social media and public relations campaigns. As results driven professional, Katherine has more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications initiatives for both local and national nonprofits. She held senior level positions at organizations that focused on mental health, early childhood literacy, and public health. Katherine holds a BA in Television, Radio, Film Production and Public Policy from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.


Henry Mehmet Gulergun

Henry Mehmet Gulergun supports the staff, volunteer consultants, fellows, and technology as Program Manager at ESC. Henry is excited to be back working in the nonprofit sector after two years away. He has previous experience working with and supporting nonprofits in the Greater Boston and New England area at Boston Cares and is thrilled to be able to do so again at ESC. Henry also has experience in Early Childhood Music Education and has a passion for local government in his hometown of Salem, MA. Henry holds a BA in History from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

Outside of work, Henry enjoys going on nature walks, golfing, skiing, traveling, and spending time with his wife, and his two amazing pets, Zuko and Oliver.


Donna A. Morelle

Donna Morelle is the Director of ESC Fellowships, which provides transitional management support from experienced professionals to nonprofits. She brings over 25 years’ experience in leading school, community, and government stakeholders in strategic planning to develop missions, visions, and goals. In her primary career, she worked in PK-12 education as a classroom teacher, school principal, curriculum leader, and Superintendent of Schools and was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching. During her tenure as the first female school superintendent in Cumberland, RI, she developed a student-centered decision-making framework.  Donna holds a M.Ed. from Rhode Island College and a Ed.D. from Boston College.


Lynn Post

Lynn Post serves as ESC’s Director of Consulting. She is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with clients, consultants, and partners. Lynn worked to ensure a smooth transition as ESC NNE united with Empower Success Corps. As an ESC consultant since 2009 and board member since 2015, Lynn provided strategic planning and communications strategies for NH clients such as the Seacoast Science Center, McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT and NH, Monadnock Conservancy, and Ausbon Sargent Land Conservation Trust.

As President of The Post Group, Inc. since 2009, Lynn provided marketing and operational consulting to nonprofits and small businesses. Previously, she held leadership product marketing positions in technology companies such as EMC, HP, and Apollo Computer. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with additional graduate courses in Management at Harvard University, Lynn enjoys traveling, gardening, and walking in her free time and resides in Hollis, NH.


Andrew Spooner

Andrew Spooner brings nearly 30 years of experience to his role as Associate Director, Consulting and Catalyst. After starting out in street-level youth work and after school programs in Roxbury and Dorchester, Andrew trained as a macro practice social worker focused on program and organizational development and management, doing this work in small agencies, public schools, consulting, and municipal government. Prior to ESC, Andrew was at the BU School of Social Work, supporting scores of graduate students in their agency-based field work. Outside of work, Andrew has enjoyed raising two college-aged kids with his wife, Bliss, a renowned nonprofit development professional. Andrew enjoys supporting nonprofits through his board service and he spends lots of time cooking and baking with his family.


Christine Warren

Christine Warren, the ESC Office Manager and Accounting Manager, is often the first point of contact for a caller or visitor to ESC.  She not only extends a warm welcome but is responsible for executive and fundraising support, office administration, bookkeeping, and event coordination. As a volunteer, Chris has served as a member of the Friends of the Landlocked Forest Steering Committee and Treasurer since 2008, and was a former board member of the Friends of Mary Cummings Park. She recently became an advisory board member for HELPIS (Help Me Help Someone), a grassroots nonprofit that provides goods and services to people who are struggling throughout eastern Massachusetts, whether they have homes, are homeless or in foster care.  Prior to joining ESC, Chris was a website editor and freelance reporter for Burlington Union and Wicked Local Burlington, GateHouse Media for seven years, and previously had a career in corporate accounting at Harvard Management Company. Chris has a BS in Business, Concentration in Accounting, from Skidmore College.