Cheryl DaCosta
Manager of Workforce Development Programs

Cheryl has dedicated many years to public health services and workforce development causes. Serving as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at Butler Hospital, Director of Recreation for the town of Cumberland, Program Development Specialist at the Northern RI Private Industry Council and in various roles at the Workforce Partnership of Greater RI, Cheryl has a great list of experience and accomplishments behind her. Most recently, Cheryl was recognized with the Governors Citation Award for her commitment and the resulting success of the 4-year, 3-million dollar Biotechnology/Biomanufactureing Training Initiative Grant (2005-2008). Currently, Cheryl manages Tech Collective ISDI and Industry Partnership grants for the IT indsutry, and Industry Partnership grant for the Bioscience industry.

Colleen Burg
Industry Liaison

Colleen Burg has joined Tech Collective in the position of Information Technology Industry Liaison. Through the state ISDI grant funded by the Governors Workforce Board of RI, Colleen will lead an initiative to connect transitioning workers at netWORKri One-Stop centers with area IT companies. Colleen will also be instrumental in membership expansion for Tech Collective. Colleen has experience in technology and business fields; her last position was COO of the non-profit, Big Sisters Fund.

Giselle LaFrance
Manager of Media Relations

Graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a BA in English Studies and a minor in Film Studies, Giselle has always been intrigued by all aspects of language and communication. She has been with Tech Collective since August 2007, performing roles which include branding and marketing, speech, grant, report and recognition writing, press, industry and community relations and newsletter and presentation development. Giselle has been published in Providence Business News, Mass High Tech, CIO.com, BIO News and Employment Relations Today, among others.

As a writer personally, Giselle is proud to have had her works of poetry and literary theory recognized nationally and abroad. Her future plans focus on continuing to write and grow both personally and professionally, with aspirations of being published in the New Yorker and becoming an established speech writer.

Jo Ann Johnson
Manager of Youth and Education Programs

Jo Ann has spent her past 15 years in workforce development, with an empassioned emphasis on youth initiatives. In her numerous career roles, she has reached out to thousands of teens of all talents and backgrounds. Jo Ann has been instrumental in many of Tech Collective's youth partnerships, including those with Junior Acheivement of Rhode Island, US FIRST Robotics and our many GRRL Tech sponsors. Jo Ann is also the Internship Coordinator here at TC, welcoming 1-3 interns from NE Colleges and Universities each semester!

In her spare time, Jo Ann is an advocate for public education and gender equity reform. She enjoys performing community service, cooking, gardening, traveling and spending time with her family. Jo Ann is a member of the RI Center for Excellence in STEM Education at RIC, is on the steering committee for RI FIRST Robotics Initiative, is a member of the advisory board at the Woonsocket Career and Tech's Academy of Information Technology and is a member of the RI Department of Education/RI Department of Labor and Training's work readiness committee and DLT's Youth Task Force for Workforce Development.

Joanne Birkett
Manager of Fiscal Operations

Joanne's challenge at Tech Collective is keeping our books balanced! Her tireless list of duties include monthly reconciliation of all bank accounts, grants, payrolls, general journal entries, accounts payable and accounts receivable. Joanne began as a bookkeeper when she was just 17. Soon after, she developed many of her skills during her 20 year career at The Bren Corporation. While at Bren, Joanne performed the various dynamic roles such as Office Manager, Social Worker and Mediator. In her spare time, Joanne travels between residences in Boston, MA and Hope Valley, RI. She also creates personalized stationary.

Kathie Shields
Executive Director

Kathie is a people-person! With more than 20 years of business experience, Kathie has performed roles in client services, leadership and facilitation, business development and operational management and also as her own business owner/entrepreneur. An essential element of Tech Collective, Kathie brings her experience and proven relationship, management, communication and business development skills, to oversee all operations and initiatives. She also drives membership and industry, government and community involvement. Personally, Kathie is dedicated to her family. She has a teenage daughter and a teen age son. She also has a thirst for knowledge and innovation, and loves to learn about the new and exciting things RI companies are doing. Kathie is dedicated to continued learning and to success not only for herself, but her family, Tech Collective, its employees and members and the Rhode Island community as well.

Leanne Diggett
Manager of Community Development

Leanne Diggett has joined Tech Collective as Manager of Community Development. Focusing on the Information Technology and Bioscience industries, Leanne will develop the technology community and workforce through membership services, event management and networking opportunities. Leanne is a graduate of the University of Tampa, working for The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am PGA Champions Tour event and the New England Patriots prior to joining Tech Collective. 

Melissa Punchak
Manager of Training and Development

Melissa has always been involved in education and training programs. Earning a Masters Degree in Counseling and Education Psychology, Melissa began working at the Community College of Rhode Island as Program Coordinator of the Tech Prep Program. From there she became the Training Manager at Train RI overseeing Technical and Professional Development Training Programs and then as Manager of IT- H1b Training Initiatives. Melissa's current role at Tech Collective is Manager of Training and Development, where she is driving incumbent worker training through the GWBRI Industry Skills Development Initiative (ISDI) grant.

Melissa and her husband reside in North Smithfield with their two beautiful boys. Her business dream is to open a Doggie Day Care as well as a retreat for abused and abandoned animals.