Fresh Start Team
Joel Keyser
Program Education Manager,
Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI)
Joel is the lead program instructor for the Fresh Start program and a seasoned business leader, with over 40 years of experience as a CPA, CFO, CEO and HR Manager. During his extensive career, he helped many companies grow and achieve a high level of success.
As a formerly incarcerated individual, Joel understands the need for improving access to affordable financial services and educational resources to returning citizens. In addition to his critical peer mentoring and educational role with First Step Alliance, he is activiely involved with Hinda Institute, a Chicago-based non-profit organization providing access to education, counseling, housing and food, and spiritual guidance to current and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Spencer Watson, J.D.
Program Development Manager
Spencer is the Program Development Manger for the Fresh Start program. They are also the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research, a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower LGBTQIA+ households, organizations, and communities with fair and affirming access to financial education and financial services. Spencer has been a community rights advocate for over 20 years and has worked with many non-profits in various communications, campaign, and direct-services roles, including as a counselor offering financial and credit education to clients.
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Spencer holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
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Gloria Spence
Program Instructor, SCORE Learning Facilitator
Gloria is an accomplished finance professional, with more than 35 years at the Hearst Corporation.
She is committed to empowering people through education and now devotes her time to various non-profit initiatives. Since 2015, Gloria has worked with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, providing financial literacy and entrepreneurship training to incarcerated individuals, helping them prepare for reentry. She is also a Learning Facilitator with SCORE.
Previously, Gloria was a board member and treasurer with Partakers, a Massachusetts non-profit offering educational opportunities and mentorship to justice-involved individuals. She is currently on the board of Somali Parents Advocacy Center For Education.
Wayne Lane
Program Instructor, Owner, Switching Lanes with Wayne
Wayne is a fully accredited CDL Instructor and the founder of Switching Lanes with Wayne LLC. He specializes in pre-CDL training and in-class theory helping individuals build a strong foundation for careers in professional driving. He has also taught ESL students and helped them get their CDL. In collaboration with the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, Families for Justice As Healing, Justice 4 Housing, and The Louis Brown Peace Institute, Wayne has supported many individuals in obtaining their CDL license. He also teaches at Suffolk County House of Corrections, Plymouth HOC, Dedham HOC and DYS.
Wayne is dedicated to helping people creating pathways for personal and professional success, regardless of one’s circumstances.
Cameron Roche
Partnerships Associate
Cameron is a Senior Consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton where she works collaboratively on in-depth analyses of clients' organizational structures and processes to identify areas of business transformation. Prior to graduating from university, she spent several years as an intern with First Step Alliance, assisting the organization with marketing, fundraising, and grant research.
Cameron is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.
Emily Avlen
Partnerships Associate
Emily is Director of Employer Partnerships at Lassen Community College in California where she helps develop educational and industry connections. Prior to this, she spent several years as an English as a Second Language and College Success Studies instructor.
Emily holds a Masters degree from McGill University in English Language and Literature and a Bachelor of Arts from Cal State in English Language and Literature.