CBA Staff

Emily Weitzman Rosenbaum - Home Preservation Center Director

Emily Weitzman Rosenbaum, CBA’s Executive Director, has more than 25 years of experience in affordable housing and community development, community organizing, and management of non-profit organizations. As Program Director of the Jewish Organizing Initiative (JOI), Emily trained, led, and mentored groups of young adults who wanted a chance to learn how to be effective working for social justice and creating a meaningful community to support and sustain them in work. Prior to this, Emily served as Executive Director of the Twin Cities Community Development Corporation in Fitchburg and Leominster, MA, finding new ways to build and harness the energy and voice of the local community through resident-led neighborhood initiatives. In the earlier part of her career, Emily developed affordable low-income housing tax credit projects in southeastern Massachusetts, worked on housing policy for the Mayor and Commissioner of Housing in New York City, and with homeless families in NYC welfare hotels, and wrote grants and fundraised for homeless shelters in Boston. Emily holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University and a BA from Vassar College.

Emily lives on Samoset Lake in Leominster, MA, with her husband, Marty, and three of her five children. When she’s not working or talking about her kids, Emily enjoys knitting and planning her next knitting projects, skiing, hiking, gardening, swimming in the lake, and taking overnight trips to the beach or the mountains.

E-mail Emily at: emily.rosenbaum@cbacre.org

Suzanne Frechette - Deputy Director

Suzanne recently joined CBA as our new Deputy Director. Before joining CBA, Suzanne worked for several non-profit organizations in Lowell, including the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, and Rebuilding Together Lowell, where she served as Board President. She spent more than 20 years working in state government in the areas of administration and finance. She received her undergraduate degree from University of Massachusetts Boston and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School. Suzanne came to CBA because she grew up in the Acre in North Common Village and has a great affinity for the Acre and its residents. She sees this as an opportunity to give back to people who helped shape her. As an alumnus, she is especially excited about the renovations of the St. Joseph Elementary school and High School, viewing these projects as a wonderful reuse that would make her French Canadian ancestors proud.

Suzanne’s family includes daughter Megan, grandson John, and Archie the German Shepherd. She spends her free time with her family and friends, and enjoys traveling whenever and wherever she can, making sure to bring along her latest knitting project and book.

E-mail Suzanne at: suzanne.frechette@cbacre.org

Madeline Nash - Director of Real Estate

Madeline Nash has been employed in the field of housing and community development for more than 20 years. Before joining CBA, she served as the Director of Real Estate Development with the Salem Harbor CDC, where she worked on a number of initiatives including the development of an innovative Lease-to-Purchase Program, the CDC’s first new construction project for affordable homeownership at 50 Palmer Street, and the redevelopment of a historic property into affordable rental housing for seniors. Madeline has a master’s degree in Regional Planning and was previously employed by the Windham Regional Planning Commission in Brattleboro, VT, and the Planning Department in Fitchburg, MA.

Madeline has two daughters, Claire and Nora, and lives in Newburyport, where she has served on the Planning Board and the Community Preservation Committee for many years.

E-mail Madeline at: madeline.nash@cbacre.org

Michele Witts - Director of Finance

Michele Witts is CBA’s Director of Finance. Michele has lived in the Lowell area her entire life, growing up in the Back Central Street neighborhood. She attended St. Peter’s School, Lowell High School, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and Bentley College. After a long career in corporate finance, Michele came to CBA because she felt it was time for her to give something back to her community. She likes knowing that her work gives people a chance at a better life.

Michele is married and has two children. In her spare time she loves to spend time with her family and travel. Michele also makes one of the best (if not the best) rum cake that CBA’s staff has ever eaten!

E-mail Michelle at: michele.witts@cbacre.org

Debbie Mullins - Home Preservation Center Director

Debbie's bio and photo to come!                                                                                                                                                           

E-mail Debbie at: debbie.mullins@cbacre.org

Robyn Long-Navas - Community Organizer

Robyn Long-Navas, CBA’s Community Organizer, is passionate about community building and believes that real change begins by strengthening and empowering neighborhood communities. She has more than 10 years of experience in community organizing, outreach, and education. Robyn spent three years in Guatemala as a Peace Corps Volunteer developing environmental education programs, and worked for two years in Lowell with Community Teamwork, Inc (CTI) and ONE Lowell before coming to CBA. The focus of much of her work has been developing community projects that link the resources of schools, non-profits and local residents, as well as canvassing around civic engagement and environmental issues.

Robyn is originally from Westford, MA, but moved away from the area when she attended the University of Rhode Island to complete a B.S. in Environmental Management. She is fluent in Spanish, loves the outdoors, and has returned to Westford with her husband Otwald and children Diego, Eva and Maya.

E-mail Robyn at: robyn.long.navas@cbacre.org

Bunrith Sath - Community Organizer

Bunrith's bio and photo to come!                                                                                                                                                            

E-mail Bunrith at: bunrith.sath@cbacre.org

Pam Miller - Office Manager

As CBA’s Office Manager, Pam Miller is truly the glue that holds the office together. Pam has lived in Lowell her entire life and has raised four children here. She is also the proud grandmother to four grandchildren. Pam believes that in the world, people are “part of the solution or part of the problem”. She enjoys working at CBA because she feels good giving back to her community and knowing that she is part of the solution. Pam likes spending time with her family and playing with her grandchildren.

E-mail Pam at: pamela.miller@cbacre.org

Mary Jo (MJ) Zarella - Administrative Assistant

MJ was born on the tiny island of Graciosa, in the Azores Islands. When she was four, her parents, with the help of her uncle, made arrangements for a trip to Ellis Island and then onto Lowell. She has never left. MJ has more than 16 years of experience as an administrative assistant. Her position at the Home Preservation Center is very gratifying, just being able to listen to and reassure homeowners who feel they have nowhere else to turn. MJ and her husband Norm enjoy playing golf and attending the Lowell Summer Music Series. They also like to watch U Mass Lowell hockey and the Lowell Spinners baseball games. MJ and Norm have two sons, Sean, who lives with them, and Stephen, who lives in Austin, TX.

E-mail Mary Jo at: maryjo.zarella@cbacre.org