Jen Faigel is a co-founder of the former CropCircle Kitchen, now CommonWealth Kitchen, and stepped in as Executive Director in 2014. Jen is responsible for setting organizational strategy, raising funds, wrangling staff and businesses, developing and managing strategic partnerships, and generally managing the chaos. Jen's background is in real estate and community economic development. She was the lead real estate consultant for the $15 million Pearl project, which is now home to CWK's flagship kitchen operation. In her career, Jen has developed more than 400 affordable homes and over 225,000 SF of commercial real estate - worth over $200m - as a means to create jobs and economic opportunity. Her motto in life is- "If you can't ride two horse at the same time, then you shouldn't be in the circus!" Jen's all-time favorite food is white clam pizza from Pepe's in New Haven. 

jen@commonwealthkitchen.org

Daniel is a servant leader to the Indigenous Community and business development professional with an entrepreneurial spirit and 15+ years of experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit environments from startup modes to operationalizing. He leverages being an effective servant leader, through leading by example while pursuing the vision and goals of the organization, with a proven entrepreneurial lens with business development focus, he provides strengths in creative solutions and mastering doing more with less. 

Kingdell is the newest member of the CommonWealth Kitchen team and brings an impressive background in data management and analysis. Kingdell graduated from Bates College in 2019 with a degree in Physics and Astronomy. He worked in a galaxies research lab for two years, spent time working in various dining services, and served as a youth counselor in his hometown of Lawrence, MA. His experience working in various dining services puts him in a familiar environment at Commonwealth Kitchen. His favorite food is homemade brown rice with roman beans, lean ground beef, fried plantains, and a side of mixed salad. 

king@commonwealthkitchen.org

Melissa joined CommonWealth Kitchen as a consultant, spearheading their first members-only trade show. In August 2019 she joined CWK full time as Business Development Manager, putting her background in marketing and project management to work supporting access to retail and other opportunities for member businesses. In February 2019 she became the Director of Business Development where she oversees access to market strategy for our food truck, caterers, and packaged goods companies.

Bonnie has worked at the intersection of media and social change for over two decades. She has been a fan of CWK since its inception and is thrilled to join the team as CWK's first Director of Communications. Prior to joining CWK, Bonnie launched the communications department at The Melville Charitable Trust, the largest foundation in the U.S. exclusively devoted to ending homelessness, and at Keshet, where she helped a small local organization grow into a national changemaker in the Jewish community.

In addition to her work in the nonprofit world, Bonnie has served as the editorial coordinator for outreach campaigns for several PBS series and as a freelancer worked as a researcher, associate producer, and sound recorder for documentary films. She's convinced that a well-told story has the power to change hearts and minds. 

Bonnie graduated from Tufts University with a degree in International Relations and Women’s Studies, received a certificate in non-fiction writing from the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, and a master's degree in Media and Philanthropy from Suffolk University where she received the Waterston Fellowship, sponsored by actor Sam Waterston. She lives in Jamaica Plain with her partner, daughter, and an old black lab and runs the Anson Street Community Garden. She is happiest eating ramen in the winter, raspberries in the summer, and cheese all year round. 

bonnie@commonwealthkitchen.org

Colin Roy was hired in May 2014 to assist with the opening and operation of the Pearl facility in Dorchester. Colin manages all daily operations of all of CWK’s kitchen facilities. He also manages business scheduling to ensure efficient use of kitchens, provides regular one-on-one support, and coordinates all of the food truck operations.

Prior to joining the CWK team, Colin spent three years working for a food truck that operated out of CWK’s Jamaica Plain facility. He brings tremendous experience and first-hand knowledge of working in a shared kitchen. Previously, Colin had experience in a wide range of food businesses, from country club to restaurant and has a degree in culinary arts. 

colin@commonwealthkitchen.org

Dinora came to the US from Fogo, Cape Verde in 2012. She warms the kitchen every morning as she preps for SmartLunches with CWK. When Dinora gets home from work, she makes incredible Cape Verdean food, including the best dessert: pudim, made from milk and caramelized sugar.

Roz is the first person you’ll see when you contact CWK as an entrepreneur. She helps entrepreneurs get their businesses up and running with CWK, organizes our events and educational programs, and develops and manages our partnerships with job training programs and business planning organizations. She loves saying yes, which sometimes gets her into trouble, but also means she does all the random things you wouldn’t think of, from coordinating labels for our farmer value-added program, to hand-painting signs for our events. Roz has a background in sustainable agriculture and ecology research.

roz@commonwealthkitchen.org