Leadership Team

Robert Jokela, Executive Director

phone: 978-685-3000, x 1014 Email
Robert M. Jokela joined CREST Collaborative as Executive Director on August 1, 2023, after fifteen years of education leadership at Fitchburg Public Schools with the past five years as its superintendent.  Mr. Jokela also brings to CREST human services leadership experience and a background in small business and banking.  He holds both a Master’s in Public Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration. 

J. Eric Boes, Director of Finance and Operations

phone: 978-685-3000, x1013, Email

Eric Boes joined CREST in September 2016 after a twenty-five-year career in commercial real estate/property management and finance.  Many of those years were spent as a proprietary equity trader and as an auditor in the insurance industry.  Eric earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Villanova University.  As the Director of Finance and Operations, he, along with both the finance and facilities departments, oversees the daily operations at CREST from both facilities and budgetary standpoint.

 

Dr. Elizabeth Conway, Director of Human Resources

phone: 978-685-3000, x1012Email

Dr. Elizabeth Conway joined CREST in August 2014.  Elizabeth’s academic background includes a B.S. in Biology, an M.H.A., and a Ph.D. in Health Administration.  Elizabeth has close to twenty years of Human Resources experience with twelve years in public education.  She has served such districts as Winchester Public Schools as their Human Resources Specialist and Reading Public Schools as their Human Resources Administrator before coming to CREST as the Director of Human Resources.

 

Jill Graham, Director of Collaborative Services and Compliance

phone: 978-685-3000, x1015Email

Jill Graham joined CREST on August 2013.  Jill’s academic background includes a dual B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Psychology and an M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders.  Jill has significant experience within special education in both collaborative and public school settings; previously serving as a Department head, Program Coordinator, and Team Chair.

 

Bill Bryant, Director of Programming and Supports

phone: 978-685-3000, x 1016 Email

Bill Bryant joined CREST in July 2013 after 15 years in a collaborative setting. Bill’s academic background includes a B.S. in Bachelor of Arts and an M.Ed. in Special Education.  Bill has served as a Principal and Special Education Administrator for over 170 alternative high school and alternative vocational high school students. Bill has a strong vocational background, is certified as a McCarron-Dial Evaluator, and has created both community-based internships as well as in-school vocational shops to provide opportunities for gainful employment after graduation or program completion.