boardofdirectors@ncmaboston.org 800-2345-6789

NCMA Boston Chapter Board of Directors

NCMA Boston is governed by a Board of Directors. Individually, the Board consists of dedicated professionals that were recommended by nominating committee and elected by majority vote. Collectively, the Board is entrusted with ensuring the Chapter acts as an effective and responsible organization. The Board has played a key role in the success of NCMA Boston and we are pleased to recognize each member. The board of directors can be reached collectively at boardofdirectors@ncmaboston.org

Marsha Cervantez – Chair – chair@ncmaboston.org

Marsha Cervantez is a federal acquisition professional with 18 years’ experience with the Government and Defense Industry. Currently, Ms. Cervantez is a Contracts Manager for General Dynamics C4 Systems in Needham, MA, responsible for the management of US Government contracts and subcontracts. Previously, Ms. Cervantez served 11 years as a Contracting Officer for the US Air Force. Ms. Cervantez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Arizona.

Ms. Cervantez has been an active NCMA member of both the Saguaro and Boston Chapters throughout her career. She has held the positions of Saguaro Chapter VP of Education, Boston Chapter VP of Programs and VP of Administration, was named the Boston Chapter’s 2006 Outstanding Young Professional, and most recently, was named the Boston Chapter’s “Member of the Quarter” in 2013. Marsha is honored to serve as President for the 2014-2015 Program Year, and hopes to reach out to members and prospective members to sustain the Boston Chapter’s rich heritage of Education and Integrity in the Contract Management arena.

Paul Leuchte – President – president@ncmaboston.org

Paul has over 25 years of wide-ranging contract management experience in the military and commercial environments, both domestic and international. Currently, Paul is the Director-Government Contracts at Mercury Systems, Inc. Previously, he served as both Senior Contracts Manager and FSO supporting iRobot Corporation’s Defense Unit. Prior experience includes being the Contracts lead at an international business and litigation consulting firm, and the Contracts/Business lead for a contractor at the DOT/Volpe Center supporting the Acquisition Division. Paul proudly served for 23 years with the MA Air National Guard retiring as the First Sergeant of the 567th AF Band where he also performed on Trumpet, French Horn, and led the marching and ceremonial units as Drum Major.

Paul holds a MBA/Acquisitions & Contracts from Western New England University and a BA/Political Science from Bridgewater State University. He recently earned the CPCM certification. He is also certified by the NCMS (NISPOM Professional Association) as an Industrial Security Professional (ISP).

Russ Blaine 

Russ Blaine, CPCM, Fellow, is Chief Operating Officer with Beyond Mission Capable Solutions, a woman-owned small business specializing in cyber security engineering.  Mr. Blaine has over 30 years of defense-related experience, and has held executive positions in contract management, business development, operations and proposal development.  Prior to his current position, he served as Vice President for Program Development with Wyle Aerospace after retiring from the U.S. Air Force as Director of Contracting and Chief of Staff at Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts.  Russ served as NCMA’s National President for the 2013-14 program year.

Cynthia G. Burrows

Ms. Cynthia G. Burrows (Cindy), former President of the Boston Chapter from July 2011 – June 2013, currently serves on the Chapter’s Board of Directors. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Education and Co-Chairperson of the Workshop Committee. She earned a CPCM, CPFM and received the distinguished Outstanding Professional Development Award from the national NCMA organization.

She worked at Hanscom Air Force Base in various contracting positions over a 31-year career. Before she retired in April 2012, her position was Chief of Contracting for the Battle Management Directorate.

Tim Certeras

Tim served over 25 years in the US Air Force and has more than 18 years of experience in contracting and acquisition. He’s held a variety of command and leadership positions culminating in his position as the Commander of the 66th Air Base Wing at Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts. He served in three operational contracting assignments including Chief of Contracts at Plattsburgh AFB, NY and Commander of the 99th Contracting Squadron at Nellis AFB, NV. He was a Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) in several systems program offices to include the F‑22 program where he was the Deputy Director of Contracting. He also served as a staff officer on a Major Command staff.

Tim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of Akron, a Master of Science degree in Contracting Management from the US Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from the Air War College at the Air University. As a PCO, he received his certification as a Certified Professional Contracts Manager through the National Contract Management Association.

In 2006, Tim retired from the U.S. Air Force and is currently the Major Account Manager for the US Northeast Region for Rockwell Collins Government Systems.

Ryan Connell

Ryan Connell is the Commercial Item Group (CIG) pricing supervisor for Boston and Philadelphia (Northeast). Ryan started his career as a support contractor working as a cost estimator supporting the battle management division at Hanscom AFB, MA. Ryan left MCR Federal in 2010 and joined civil service as a United States Air Force price/cost analyst. Ryan quickly became involved with incentive contracting and championed many excel models and incentive contracting classes. In 2013, Ryan left the Air Force to join DCMA, as the first Raytheon IDS pricing lead in the newly formed ICAT structure. Ryan led many cost savings initiatives, and was recognized at the pentagon by Mr. Kendall (AT&L) for The Workforce Individual Achievement Award in Contracting for 2015.  In 2016, Ryan decided to help with the Commercial Item Group initiative within the agency. Ryan holds his Masters of Business Administration from Webster University. He is currently DAWIA Level III certified in contracting, Level I certified in Program Management and is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corp, NCMA & NDIA. Ryan Lives in Boston with his wife Jennifer.

She worked at Hanscom Air Force Base in various contracting positions over a 31-year career. Before she retired in April 2012, her position was Chief of Contracting for the Battle Management Directorate.

Neal Couture

Neal J. Couture is Associate Dean for Finance and Administration at Boston College, where he serves as the chief financial and operations officer for the Woods College of Advancing Studies. He teaches graduate courses in business ethics, pricing and distribution, organizational behavior, and research methodology. Previously, he was Director of Government Procurement Law and Business Programs at the George Washington University Law School, where he co-founded the interdisciplinary Master of Science in Government Contracts program. Prior to joining GW, Neal was Executive Director of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), the preeminent profession association for Federal government contracting. He holds an M.A. in Education and Human Development from the George Washington University and is a doctoral candidate in Human and Organizational Learning. His research interests include the culture of professions and institutional logics. He is a Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) and a Certified Association Executive (CAE).

Laurie Emken

Laurie Emken, former Vice President of Education of the Boston Chapter.  Laurie currently works at LinQuest Corporation in Lexington, MA managing the contracts for the Information Systems & Solutions (ISS) Group in a senior contracts role.  Laurie has been a member of NCMA since 1996.

Rich Guzzardi

Rich is currently the Director, Contracts for the Global Integrated Sensors (GIS) Business Area of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. In his role, Rich leads a team of over 25 contracts professionals and is responsible for all proposals, negotiations and contract management in the $1.5B business area. Rich is a graduate of the Raytheon Contracts Leadership Development Program (1993) and has held several contracts leadership positions within and outside of Raytheon. Rich was a Contracts Director at Nortel Networks from 1997 – 2003 with responsibility for commercial contracts for the supply of telecom and enterprise network capabilities before to returning to Raytheon in 2003.

Rich has developed a broad business background and contracting capability through his various assignments in multiple industries and businesses. His experiences include working on programs and contracts with the DoD and other agency Federal agencies, states and municipalities, commercial and international customers, turnkey engineering and construction, technology licensing and medical sales. Rich has participated in contract risk assessment of acquisition targets and has led contract and legal integration post acquisition.

Rich holds a Masters in Business Administration from Bentley University in Waltham, MA and a Bachelors of Arts from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH. Rich is currently a Board Member for the Boston Chapter of NCMA and is the President of Acton Boxborough Student Activities Fund, Inc. Rich lives with his wife Karen and two children in Boxborough, MA.

Dan Kelly

Dan chairs the Government Contracts group at the law firm of McCarter & English, LLP in Boston. His practice combines both counseling and acting as an advocate on behalf of clients doing business in the commercial and government marketplaces. Dan has extensive experience in the fields of business and intellectual property litigation, commercial contracting, licensing, and federal and state procurement law. He counsels businesses when disputes arise and defends them in court and arbitration proceedings.

He has knowledge of the government contracting process both on a federal and state level, and the specific laws, regulations, contract clauses and dispute resolution mechanisms in this specialized area. He is Chair of the Boston Lawyers Division of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies and is an adjunct professor at Suffolk University Law School where he teaches Government Contracts. Dan received his J.D. from George Washington School, The National Law Center, and is admitted into practice in Massachusetts, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and the Court of Federal Claims.

Ellen Kelley | CPCM 

Ellen is currently the Contracts Training Manager at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and specializes in Research and Development contracts, major acquisitions, and high stakes negotiations.  She previously held the positions of Manager of Security and Transportation Systems at Raytheon Company, and International Contracts and Procurement Manager at Metcalf & Eddy.  Ellen graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Delaware and an MBA (Acquisition and Contracts) from Western New England University.  She has earned a CPCM certification from NCMA.  She has been an active member of the Boston Chapter throughout her career, serving as Vice President of Programs and Chair of the Advancing Professionals Committee. Contract Management Magazine published her article “Getting Out Alive: How Hostage Negotiation Tactics in Contract Negotiations Can Help Your Deal ‘Survive’ ” in the February 2016 issue, as well as her interview in the “President’s Corner” in the September 2017 issue. Ellen was honored to serve as President of the Boston Chapter for the 2016-2018 Program Years.

Mark J. Tremblay

Mark J. Tremblay is the Contracts Director for International & Strategic Pursuits at Raytheon Company, Integrated Defense Systems. In this role, he is responsible for providing contracts leadership and support to capture international direct commercial sales opportunities for the business unit, working closely with Contracts and Business Directors in the International Air & Missile Defense sector. Prior to joining IDS, Tremblay was Vice President and Director of Contract Operations for Abt Associates Inc., a global leader in policy research and international development. His blend of defense, international development and commercial contracting background provides a unique 35 year track record of achievement in negotiating major missile and ship defense systems, complex international development programs, large engineering and construction projects, environmental consulting and remediation projects, startup and implementing new departments.  Mark holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and BA in journalism/ broadcasting from the University of Maine. He is CPCM and CFCM certified by the National Contract Management Association and expert certified by the International Association for Contract and Commercial Management. He is a member of numerous professional associations, having served as officer and board member the award winning NCMA Boston Chapter, a member of IACCM, and member and past board of directors member with the Professional Services Council.

Steven J. Tremblay

Steven Tremblay is an Executive Director in the Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services, Government Contract Services practice of Ernst & Young LLP (EY). He has more than 28 years of experience in government contracting, over 14 of which were spent at EY while the other14 were spent working directly for government contractors. Before joining EY, Steven was a Chief Contracts Administrator with Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc. (Hamilton Sundstrand). During his tenure with Hamilton Sundstrand, Steven gained extensive experience in dealing with complex government contract issues pertaining to both Commercial Customers and Government Agencies (e.g., NASA and DOD). His experience includes advising on how to implement effective and compliant internal control systems and operations, and on the forensic and remediation activities necessary to respond to government investigations and audits. Steven also has extensive experience in advising clients on matters involving accounting (e.g., FAR and CAS), DFARS business systems, transaction due diligence, contract administration and termination, procurement, and cost allocation.