Meet the Team
Nikki A. Hahn
Chief Executive Officer
Nikki A. Hahn, WEDC's CEO, brings a wealth of development experience to the nonprofit sector. Ms. Hahn was previously with Volunteer New York! where she developed corporate social responsibility programming for local business leaders. In addition, she has served as the chair of the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee, President of the Junior League of Central Westchester and the Client and Partner Development Director of The Acceleration Project. Ms. Hahn is actively involved in many community initiatives and currently serves as Vice President of the Westchester Children's Chorus Board of Directors as well as on Cure JM Foundation's Board of Directors as the Development Director and Chair. She earned both a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University. She can be contacted at (914) 948-6098, ext. 12.
Veronica Bazan
Program Director Spanish
Veronica Bazan, WEDC’s Program Director for WEDC en Espanol, and Loan and M/WBE certification Counselor, joined WEDC in 2013. She has a background in small business, teaching, and micro lending. Prior to joining WEDC, Ms. Bazan worked as a bilingual analyst at Accion East and Online, a microfinance organization, where she helped small business owners prepare and procure loans. Ms. Bazan earned her BA in Business Administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University. She also has a degree in education from the Instituto Superior de Formacion Docente in her home country of Argentina. Ms. Bazan can be contacted at 914-948-6098, ext.14.
Noel D'Allacco-Ammirati
Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives
Noel D'Allacco-Ammirati, WEDC's Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives, holds over 18 years of non-profit experience, as Founder and President of the Operation Prom National Network, Inc. In 2017, Noel was named as one of the Business Council of Westchester's Rising Stars for her role as Professor and Chairperson for The School of Business at the College of Westchester.
Over the years she has assisted entrepreneurs and small business owners launch their businesses, grow, and scale. She was the host of the "I Mean Business" show on iHeartRadio, WFAS-AM and WVOX-AM radio stations.
Noel has been featured on local and national news networks including CNN, Good Day New York, NBC Nightly News, ABC's Dateline, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, Woman's Day, Westchester Magazine, and The Journal News. She is an active volunteer and current member of the Junior League of Central Westchester, and the Tuckahoe UFSD Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Committee.
Noel earned a BA in Behavioral Science from Concordia College and a MS in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College. She can be reached at (914) 948-6098, ext. 20.
Terri Cotton
Director of Finance and Compliance
Terri Cotton, WEDC’s Director of Finance and Compliance, has significant experience managing accounting and compliance of sponsored funds at an ivy league University as well as at other well-known NYC non-profit organizations. Over the past two decades, Terri’s responsibilities have included the oversight and administration of the full life cycle of grants management (both pre and post award activities); internal audits; fiscal oversight of subcontractors; external reporting; serving as the organizations’ subject matter expert on compliance and grant regulations; as well as providing direction and guidance to program staff on program build and overseeing execution. Terri possesses a B.B.A. in Accounting, an M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration and is a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP). She can be contacted at (914) 948-6098, ext. 17.
Kamille Duff
Program Manager
Kamille Duff is WEDC’s Program Manager for Westchester, joined WEDC in 2023. Prior to working with WEDC Kamille served as a College Academic Advisor both in private and public institutions. She has a passion to uplift, inspire, and assist others to achieve their goals. Kamille also has hand on experience as an “artrepreneur”. Ms. Duff received her B.A in Social Science Psychology from Dominican College and her Master of Organizational Leadership from Mercy College. She can be contacted at 914-948-6098, ext. 13.
Persephone Zill
Westchester Women's Business Center Director
Persephone Zill, WEDC’s Westchester Women’s Business Center Director, brings a wealth of experience with entrepreneurial education and non-profit management. She was the Associate Director at Fordham University’s social innovation lab and a Senior Vice President at Feeding Westchester, developing strategic partnerships around solving hunger in Westchester. Ms. Zill previously served as the Program Director for WEDC, training and counseling women entrepreneurs for over nine years. She received a BA in American Studies from Barnard College and an MBA in Management/Entrepreneurship from Baruch College and is a graduate of Leadership Westchester - Class of 2021. She can be contacted at (914) 948-6098, ext. 11.
Lizbeth Julca
Program Manager
Lizbeth Julca, WEDC's Program Assistant, joined WEDC in 2021. Lizbeth is bilingual and assists the WEDC Spanish team and their programs at the Westchester office. Prior to joining WEDC, Ms.Julca was previously a Daycare Administrative Assistant to her family business where she developed multitasking, planning, interpersonal, and time management skills. She received an A.A. in Business Administration from Westchester Community College and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Operations Management from Baruch College. She can be contacted at 914-948-6098.
Zacha Tuttle
MWBE Specialist
Zacha Tuttle, WEDC's MWBE Specialist, brings over seven years of nonprofit experience including, government contract counseling for a federal program, marketing for the Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership and program coordinating for an immigration resource center. She received her B.A in Anthropology from SUNY Purchase and has completed graduate certificates in Data-Driven Marketing from Cornell Graduate School of Management and Spanish-English Translation from Boston University. She also holds a certification from the National Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers as a Procurement Professional. Ms. Tuttle can be contacted at 914-948-6098, ext. 23.
Mid-Hudson Office
Cynthia Marsh-Croll
Mid-Hudson Women’s Business Center Director
Cynthia Marsh-Croll is WEDC’s Mid-Hudson Women’s Business Center Director of our Poughkeepsie location. Ms. Marsh-Croll has numerous programs that provide services to businesses in Orange, Sullivan, Dutchess, Ulster and Putnam counties. Ms. Marsh-Croll is the founder of Croll Productive Synergy which has provided operation business consulting and training for over a decade as well as Program Manager for a previous Entrepreneurial Assistance Program center. She has experience in a variety of industries and working with businesses of all sizes. As a result, Cynthia has significant experience training and counseling small business owners and entrepreneurs. Ms. Marsh-Croll has a BS in Management Science as well as a Lean Office Certification through the University of Michigan. Please call 845-363-6432 for more information regarding our MHV programs.
Maureen Brivett
Business Counselor Mid-Hudson
Maureen Brivett, Business Counselor Mid-Hudson has a background in Teaching and Financial Services - Banking and Insurance. Prior to joining WEDC, Ms. Brivett worked as Branch Manager at Republic National Bank/HSBC Bank USA where she worked with Small Business Owners in the neighborhoods where the branches are located. Ms. Brivett earned a BA in Economics at York College CUNY and a Teaching Degree from Mico Teachers' College/University Jamaica W.I.
Ms. Brivett can be contacted at 845-363-6432, ext. 3.
Brianna Castro
Program Manager Mid-Hudson
Brianna Castro is the Program Manager of our Poughkeepsie location. Brianna is bilingual and assists with coordinating and running the Spanish program in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Prior to joining WEDC, Brianna worked as a Collections Specialist at Sun Community Federal Credit Union in Southern California working with credit reporting, levies, third party collection agencies, and insurance claims. Besides having experience with finance and insurance, she also utilizes aspects of her degree when working with our Spanish speaking clients. Brianna has an A.A in Behavioral Science through Imperial Valley College. Mrs. Castro can be contacted at 845-363-6432, ext. 2.
The Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC), a 501(c)(3) corporation empowers entrepreneurs to build successful businesses by providing high-quality training programs, advisory services, and access to capital to generate economic growth in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley.
Together, we are creating a vibrant future of entrepreneurs of all genders launching new businesses and growing established companies.
Our support and services significantly increase your chance of success through our collaborative learning, powerful network, and diverse community.
The Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC), a 501(c)(3) corporation, has been empowering women entrepreneurs to build successful small businesses since 1997 in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley. Our overarching goal is to build a vibrant community of women business owners, comprised of start-up and established companies.