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 Matthews-Cotton
Director of Finance and Compliance
Terri Matthews-Cotton, WEDC’s Director of Finance, has significant experience managing accounting and sponsored funds at an ivy league University as well as at other well-known NYC non-profit organizations. Mrs. Matthews-Cotton’s former responsibilities included oversight of the full life-cycle of grants management (both pre and post award activities), and financial accounting processes including budgeting, cash projections and internal audits of activity, fiscal oversight of subcontractors along with the submission of external reports to funders. Mrs. Matthews-Cotton possesses a BS in Accounting and she is a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP). She can be contacted at (914) 948-6098, ext. 17.
Persephone Zill
Women's Business Center Director
Persephone Zill, WEDC’s 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 VP at Feeding Westchester, developing strategic partnerships around solving hunger in Westchester County. Ms. Zill previously served as the Program Director for WEDC, training and counseling women entrepreneurs for nine years. She received a BA in American Studies from Barnard College and an MBA in Management/Entrepreneurship from Baruch College. Ms. Zill currently serves as a task force member for Westchester County’s Incubator Network. She can be contacted at (914) 948-6098, ext. 11.
Mairead Daly-Diep
Program Manager
Mairead Daly-Diep is WEDC’s Program Manager for Westchester. She has an extensive and varied background in program and event management, in both non-profit and corporate sectors, and has hands-on experience as an entrepreneur. Previous non-profit positions include Director of Literacy Programs at Westchester based non-profit, Family-to-Family and Program Coordinator at medical NGO Orbis International. Ms. Daly-Diep received a B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in International Studies from New York University and a Certificate in Management from the London Institute. She can be contacted at 914-948-6098, ext. 27.
Lizbeth Julca
Program Assistant
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.
Leslie M. M. Alvarez
Program and Office Coordinator
Leslie Mayte M. Alvarez is WEDC's Program and Office Coordinator. Ms. Alvarez is an experienced Program Coordinator and Consultant with a history of working in the financial and entrepreneurial services industry and is skilled in Spanish, French, Credit Risk, Strategic Marketing Consultancy, Business Development, Research, and Educational Workshops. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the American university in Lugano (CH), Franklin University Switzerland. She started her nonprofit career at the Women’s Enterprise Development Center as an intern and soon after as a Social Media Consultant. Leslie later worked in the financial nonprofit sector as a consultant helping New York small businesses acquire funding before returning to WEDC. In her current role, Leslie is responsible for researching and preparing company communications, managing the social media calendar, designing marketing materials, and supporting senior staff with programs. She can be reached at (914) 948-6098, ext. 10.
Chloe Rizzo
Database Manager
Chloe Rizzo is WEDC’s Database Manager and comes from a background working with a SaaS startup company in Manhattan. She has also worked in client operations in investment banking and has experience in retail banking with Wells Fargo and TD Ameritrade. She is keen to implement new technology in her work. She has an MBA in Analytics and Finance from Mercy College and in her spare time participates in developing strategies for creating new initiatives in Africa. She can be reached at (914) 948-6098.
Adie Shore
Impact Data Manager
Adie Shore, WEDC’s Impact Data Manager, is also a graduate of WEDC’s 60-hour Entrepreneurial Training Program. The training she received from WEDC helped her launch a consulting business that provided grant writing and grants management services to local non-profit organizations, including managing compliance with funder guidelines. Ms. Shore uses her expertise in tracking, evaluating and reporting grant-funded program outcomes, to monitor and report the economic impact of WEDC programs and services. Prior to joining WEDC, she served in various positions with major banks (Chase Manhattan Bank) and non-profit organizations (Hudson Valley Community Services). Ms. Shore earned a MBA in Finance from Columbia University School of Business, a MS in Operations Research from Polytechnic Institute of New York (New York University), and a BS in Mathematics and Spanish from C.W. Post College (Long Island University). She can be reached at (914) 948-6098, ext. 28.
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.
Paula Zorrilla
Program and Office Assistant
Paula Zorrilla, WEDC’s Office and Program Assistant, joined WEDC in 2019. Paula is bilingual and assists with the Westchester programs in English and Spanish. Prior to joining WEDC, Ms. Zorrilla worked in health care administration, marketing, customer service, and sales in Latin America and the USA. Ms. Zorrilla received her BA in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad del Valle in Colombia. She also earned certifications in Finance and Evaluation of Projects from the Javeriana University in her native Colombia, English-Spanish interpretation from Westchester Community College, and Digital Marketing: Customer Engagement, Social Media, Planning & Analytics from Emeritus and Columbia Business School. Ms. Zorrilla can be contacted at 914-948-6098, ext. 15.
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 Assistant Mid-Hudson
Brianna Castro is the Program Assistant of our Poughkeepsie location.
Brianna is bilingual and assists with coordinating and running the Spanish program recently launched in the Mid-Hudson. 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, has been empowering women entrepreneurs to build successful small businesses since 1997 in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley. This is accomplished by providing comprehensive, high quality business training programs, one-on-one business and loan counseling, networking opportunities, assistance with loan applications for microloans and crowd funding through Kiva Zip, and MWBE certification assistance in English and Spanish. WEDC’s overarching goal is to build a vibrant community of women business owners, comprised of start-up and established companies.
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.