Jacquelynne J. Bowman became GBLS' Executive Director in 2011 and is responsible for the overall management and operations of the organization. She initially started work at GBLS as a senior attorney and then Managing Attorney of the Family Law Unit. She left GBLS in 1991 to work at MLRI as the state support attorney for family and juvenile law matters. Jacqui returned to GBLS in 1998, first as an Associate Director and then later became the Deputy Director. She is a nationally recognized expert in family and juvenile law as well as in law practice management. She serves on the Access to Justice Commission of the SJC as well as several boards of non-profit organizations.
Zoe Cronin joined GBLS in 2008 and is responsible for supporting the Executive Director, collaborating with and supporting legal unit managers, assisting in developing agency policies, coordinating with regional partners, supporting human resources and orientation efforts, evaluating advocacy and technology activities as part of the GBLS team to further the provision of civil legal aid.
Zoe began her legal career in New York City at a community organizing nonprofit and then worked for a civil legal aid organization in Brockton, MA. Zoe has a background in both law and fundraising. She has practiced housing, family, and disability law, and served seven years as the Managing Attorney of GBLS' Housing Unit as well as seven years as part of the Development team. Zoe has a bachelor's degree in Humanities from New College and a juris doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Ana Cruz joined GBLS in 2016 and is responsible for the oversight and direction of the organization’s fundraising and communications efforts. In her role as Chief Development Officer and Director of Communications, she supervises a talented and knowledgeable staff of seven, and works closely with the Development Committee of GBLS' Board of Directors and related sub-committees. Ana began her career in legal services in 2005 with Bay Area Legal Aid in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has experience with all aspects of resource development, donor relations, grants management, and nonprofit communications. Ana earned a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA with emphases in Nonprofit Management and Marketing from Boston University.
Ilana Gelfman supports and leads the litigation and other advocacy work at GBLS. She first joined GBLS in 2009 as a staff attorney. She subsequently worked as the Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr. Appellate Advocacy Fellow at the Public Justice Center; as a clerk at all three levels of the federal judiciary; as an associate and then partner in private practice; and as a Senior Attorney at GBLS. As Director of Advocacy, Ilana focuses on assisting the work of GBLS advocates throughout the organization.
Quang Nguyen joined GBLS as the Director of Human Resources in August 2021. As a member of the Senior Management Team, he is responsible for all aspects of the management and operations of GBLS' Human Resources in close collaboration with department managers and union representatives. With more than three decades of executive experience in the nonprofit sector, Quang has deep experience in Human Resources systems development, compensation analysis and benefits management, staff recruitment and professional enrichment, employee and union labor relations, and personnel legal compliance issues. He also has years of seasoned experience in workforce development, case management, employment and training services for refugees and immigrants in the Greater Boston and New England area. Quang received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and completed his graduate studies in Human Resources Management and Social Work.
Joanne Sanders, CFO, joined GBLS in 2014. As part of the senior management team, Joanne, working with her accounting team, is responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of Greater Boston Legal Services. Her responsibilities include strategic financial planning, maintaining external financial relationships, preparation of financial statements and managing the annual financial audit. Joanne previously served as GBLS' Comptroller between 1986 and 1997.
Joanne's 20-plus year career in finance has included roles at nonprofits such as Common Impact where she most recently served in two capacities: as Director of Finance and as Finance Consultant. In her role as Director of Finance, Joanne managed the daily financial activity of the organization. In her capacity as Finance Consultant, Joanne managed teams of volunteers from global companies who helped to implement capacity-building projects for high potential nonprofit clients.
Joanne also was a founding Team Manager and Finance Director for the South Shore Charter School, one of the first independent public charter schools in Massachusetts. Joanne earned her B.S. in Business Management at the University of Massachusetts.
