Advisory Board
Chairperson Bryony Bouyer
Bryony Bouyer is a seasoned business executive and marketing leader from Foxboro, Massachusetts, with deep experience in brand strategy, consumer insights, licensing, and diversity and inclusion leadership. She is known for senior leadership roles at Hasbro, where she helped grow global franchises and later led the company’s diversity and multicultural strategy efforts.
Bryony is a respected executive with a career spanning more than three decades in consumer products, marketing, brand development, and organizational leadership. Based in Foxboro, Massachusetts, she has held senior roles at Hasbro, including Senior Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion & Multicultural Strategies, where she focused on building inclusive business practices and connecting with diverse consumer markets.
Throughout her career, Bryony has led complex business units, developed global franchise and marketing strategies, and helped expand iconic brands across international markets. Her background also includes mentorship and community leadership, including work with SCORE and service on nonprofit and educational boards.
Matthew (Matt) Burke
Matthew S. Burke is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cape Cod 5 and Mutual Bancorp, based in Hyannis, Massachusetts. A Certified Public Accountant, he began his career in public accounting before moving into community banking, where he has held leadership roles in finance, operations, and executive management. Burke joined Cape Cod 5 in 2012 and has served as Director of Accounting and Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Co-President, and now CEO and Board Chair. He is a U.S. Army veteran and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UMass Dartmouth and a master’s degree in accounting from UMass Boston. He also completed the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking and Wharton Leadership Certificate. Burke is active in the community, serving on nonprofit and industry boards and supporting local youth sports and civic engagement.
Harry G Chapin
Harry Chapin is the CEO of FORGE Worldwide in Boston, Massachusetts, where he leads the agency’s capabilities and culture with a focus on delivering meaningful value to clients. With more than 30 years of experience in branding, advertising, and marketing, he has built deep expertise in business strategy, brand strategy, and account management. Prior to joining FORGE Worldwide, Harry held leadership roles at firms including Arnold Worldwide, Hill Holliday, Breakaway Solutions, and Pamet River Partners.
Christopher (Chris) Cooney
Christopher B. Cooney is the President and CEO of the Metro South Chamber of Commerce in Brockton, Massachusetts, where he has led the organization since 1998. He is an experienced chamber and economic development leader with more than 30 years of success in community development, entrepreneurship, public advocacy, and strategic planning.
Christopher is a respected business and community leader based in Brockton, Massachusetts. As President and CEO of the Metro South Chamber of Commerce, he has spent decades advancing economic development, supporting local businesses, and strengthening the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles with chambers of commerce across Massachusetts, including the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce. His background also includes board service with a wide range of civic, educational, and economic development organizations.
He is known for building collaborative teams, fostering stakeholder engagement, and helping organizations grow through mission-driven leadership. His professional experience reflects a longstanding commitment to regional prosperity and community impact.
Joe Cozzolino
Joe Cozzolino, of Southborough, Massachusetts, is an accomplished technology executive with more than 30 years of experience in the telecommunications and IT industries. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of CDS, where he leads a leading provider of multi-vendor support services for data centers worldwide. Throughout his career, Joe has held senior leadership roles at major technology companies, including Cisco, Motorola, and RiverDelta Networks, and has served as an executive partner and board member in the technology and investment sectors. A graduate of UMass Dartmouth, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering, Joe also holds an MBA from Anna Maria College. He is known for his strategic leadership, deep industry expertise, and commitment to innovation and operational excellence.
Carlos A DaCunha
Carlos A. DaCunha is Senior Vice President and Commercial Banking Manager at Coastal1 Credit Union in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He brings nearly 40 years of financial services experience and leads a team delivering corporate banking, commercial real estate, and cash management solutions that help members and their enterprises succeed. Carlos has held senior leadership roles at St. Anne’s Credit Union, Webster Bank, and Millennium bcp. He holds an MBA from Bryant University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from UMass Dartmouth.
Daniel (Dan) DeCosta
Daniel J. DeCosta is Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at BayCoast Bank in Swansea, Massachusetts. He leads the bank’s Information Technology, Information Systems, and E-commerce departments, and also serves as a Solutions Architect focused on building efficient business processes and supporting BayCoast’s mission of delivering exceptional service to the community.
DeCosta has built his career at BayCoast Bank, beginning as a summer intern in the IT department while earning his degree in Business Information Systems from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He joined the bank full time after graduation and advanced through roles of increasing responsibility, including Network Administrator, IT Officer, AVP/IT Manager, Director of Information Technology, and Chief Information Officer.
Gerald (Jerry) Hall
Gerald “Jerry” Hall is a Financial Advisor serving clients in Westport, Massachusetts through New York Life and Eagle Strategies. He works with individuals, families, and business owners to develop personalized financial strategies focused on protection, retirement, wealth accumulation, and legacy planning. With a client-centered approach, Jerry helps create solutions tailored to each client’s goals and long-term financial needs.
Richard Lafrance
Richard Lafrance is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lafrance Hospitality, a multi-generational, Westport-based family business with deep roots in hospitality, development, and community service. Under his leadership, the company has grown to include hotels, restaurants, catering services, and function facilities throughout New England and Florida. He is known for his long-standing commitment to business growth, leadership development, and strengthening the South Coast Massachusetts community.
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Richard has played an active role in regional business and civic organizations, including service with banks, hospitals, educational institutions, and nonprofit boards. He has also contributed to advisory efforts at local colleges and community groups. Over the course of his career, he has earned recognition for both his business accomplishments and his philanthropic involvement.
Peter Karlson
Peter is the founder of NeuEon Inc., a technology management consultancy. He specializes in guiding organizations through people, process, and technology transformations to achieve their business goals. Over the past three decades, Peter has held diverse roles in the business world. He has been a founder, re-founder, co-founder, investor, and advisor to dozens of companies, underscoring his versatility and depth of experience.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Northeastern University and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Charlton College of Business and as an advisory board member. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the Leo J. Meehan School of Business at Stonehill College. Most recently, he was a founding board member of the Massachusetts Housing and Climate Innovation Center on Cape Cod.
David McCready
David McCready is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Southcoast Health, where he leads one of southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island’s largest not-for-profit health systems. He joined Southcoast Health in 2023 after serving as president of Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and holding senior leadership roles at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Highmark Health, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
With extensive experience in hospital operations, strategy, finance, and clinical service leadership, McCready has built a career focused on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care and strengthening health systems across the region. He earned his BS, MBA, and MHA from the University of Pittsburgh and has also served as an instructor in Harvard Medical School’s Master of Clinical Service Operations program.
Debra J. Parent
Debra J. Parent, PHR, SHRM-CP, CHHR, is the President and Founder of Right Fit Recruiting, a private recruiting firm serving small businesses throughout New England. With more than 35 years of experience in human resources and talent acquisition, Debra specializes in helping companies find the right fit for leadership, administrative, accounting, legal, dental, healthcare, manufacturing, and other professional roles.
Debra launched Right Fit Recruiting after a successful career as a Vice President of Human Resources and senior HR leader in manufacturing and healthcare. She is known for her thoughtful, relationship-driven approach, balancing the needs of both employers and candidates while helping businesses strengthen hiring and retention strategies. Her work is guided by the values of respect, integrity, creativity, and passion.
A graduate of UMass Dartmouth with a degree in Human Resources Management and an MBA from Husson University, Debra holds multiple professional credentials, including PHR, SHRM-CP, and CHHR. She is dedicated to helping small businesses overcome recruiting challenges with personalized, responsive service and a commitment to finding the right long-term match.
Clifford Robbins
Cliff Robbins is the Regional Director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center’s Southeast Region, where he helps small business owners and entrepreneurs explore opportunities, strengthen operations, and grow revenue. He is a seasoned management professional and educator with expertise in marketing, sales, strategic planning, and e-commerce.
Before joining the MSBDC, Cliff served as a professional lecturer and industry liaison at UMass Dartmouth, where he taught courses in marketing, marketing research, sales management, strategic management, entrepreneurship, and organizational behavior. He also served on the Management Department’s advisory board. Earlier in his career, Cliff was the managing partner of a marketing research and consulting firm and held senior leadership roles including executive vice president of The Foxon Company and president and CEO of City Hall Electrical Distributors, where he helped drive significant sales growth.
Cliff has also founded companies serving small businesses in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and he holds degrees and advanced study in engineering, business, and management. He has written extensively on strategy and organizational issues and remains committed to supporting business growth, innovation, and economic development throughout the region.
Michael J Rodrigues
State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues has represented Massachusetts' First Bristol and Plymouth District since 2011, serving Westport, Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, Rochester, Somerset, and Swansea. A Democrat born on May 30, 1959, in Fall River, Rodrigues earned a B.S. in Accounting from UMass Dartmouth (Southeastern Massachusetts University) and leads his family's small business, ABC Floor Covering in Westport, as President and Treasurer. He served 14 years in the Massachusetts House (1996-2010) for the 8th Bristol District, chairing committees on revenue, labor, workforce development, and consumer protection, before winning his Senate seat in 2010. As Senate Chair of Ways and Means, he shapes the state's budget and priorities; past roles include Majority Whip, Ethics Chair, and Vice Chair of Steering, Policy, and Redistricting.
Earlier, he was active in Westport as a Democratic Town Committee member and Finance Committee Chair (1987-1994).
His honors include Portugal's Medal of Prince Henry the Navigator in 2010; he remains a devoted family man.
Joshua Varone
Josh Varone is the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Centreville Bank, headquartered in West Warwick, Rhode Island where has been since 2022. Josh has nearly 25 years’ experience in human resources. Previously he was the Chief Human Resources Officer at Rhode Island Medical Imaging. He also was the Director of Human Resources at AAA Northeast and worked in human resources in various roles at Swarovski. At Centreville Bank Josh has led employer of choice initiatives that earned national recognition for employee wellness, culture and workplace environment.
In addition to his current role, Josh also serves as a Board Member for Special Olympics Rhode Island, the Northeast HR Association (NEHRA) and the UMass Dartmouth Charlton College of Business.
Josh earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UMass Dartmouth and a Master of Arts from Providence College. He is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and a member of Northeast HR Association (NEHRA). Josh is designated as a Certified Professional (CP) from SHRM and earned a Professional in Human Resources Certificate (PHR) from the Human Resources Certification Institute as well as a Professional Recruiter Certificate (PRC) from AIRS.
Josh was a recipient of the prestigious Bob Gatti Mentor of the Year award in 2022 from NEHRA and a 2025 C-Suite award winner from Providence Business News.
Ryan Wallace
Ryan Wallace is a Boston‑based financial executive and the Chief Financial Officer of Vineyard Offshore, a leading developer of large‑scale offshore wind projects serving the Northeast United States. Ryan has built a career in finance and accounting across energy, infrastructure, and financial services, previously holding senior roles at Great River Hydro, TransCanada, and State Street Bank in Boston. He currently leads financial strategy, capital structuring, and investor relations for Vineyard Offshore, supporting the development and operation of America’s first large‑scale offshore wind farm south of Martha’s Vineyard.
A Worcester, Massachusetts native, Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a Master of Accountancy from Bentley University. He brings a strong commitment to the SouthCoast region and to advancing renewable energy as a long‑term solution for climate‑driven decarbonization.