Jeff Thomas joined the EBMS board in 2017. An East Boston resident and dedicated public servant, Jeff works for the Boston Planning and Development Agency in the Planning Division. He previously worked in Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s office as an assistant for the Mayor where his work primarily focused on communications, event planning, and special projects

Joe Ruggiero. Graduate of Savio Prep and Mount Ida college. Licensed funeral director and owner of Ruggiero Family Memorial Home. Member of the boston zoning board of appeals. Member of the NOAH board and Paris St Community Coucil Board. Lives in East Boston with his Wife Katie.

is a Manager with Marcum LLP’s Assurance Services Group where she focuses on banks & financial institutions & more specifically Sarbanes Oxley & FDICIA reporting.

Michelle holds a Bachelor’s & Master’s degree in accounting from Siena College. Michelle is a licensed CPA in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Michelle has been an East Boston resident since 2020. She joined the board in early 2022 eager to improve the community she quickly grew to love! She currently serves as Treasurer of EBMS.

In her free time you will find her runnning the East Boston Stadium or eating tacos at La Hacienda.

is the owner of Candreva Law Office. This Boston based law practice focuses on Domestic Relations and Criminal Defense. She is also a Guardian Ad Litem for Family Courts. She works on various aspects of Family Law, but has a particular passion representing victims of Domestic Violence. Being trilingual, Ida uses her language skills to communicate and represent clients of various cultures, in particular the Latino community. Prior to practicing law, Ida worked as a Police Officer, and was later promoted to Detective for the MBTA/Transit Police, and as Sergeant with the Emerson College Police Department

Ida received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from Drexel University and a Juris Doctor from Massachusetts School of Law. Since 2015, she has been volunteering as a Board member for East Boston Main Streets.

Cross joined the board of East Boston Main Streets in 2022. Justin works for TD Bank, in which his new location recently opened in Maverick Square in March of 2022. Since joining the community, Justin has been heavily involved in community engagement with specific focus around neighborhood revitalization, youth financial education, and small business development.

Justin has worked in retail banking for the past 11 years, and has been a Boston transplant since 2018 from his previous hometown in western, MA.

Ana María Gómez is a dedicated professional committed to fostering positive change within communities. Currently serving as the VP, Community Development Officer at Rockland Trust, Ana María collaborates with local organizations to help empower individuals and create avenues for upward mobility by utilizing her regulatory experience. Her passion lies in establishing impactful partnerships that contribute to the betterment of underserved communities.

Ana María brings over 14 years of experience within the financial sector. She started her career with the Retail team at Citizens Bank and later had an eight-year tenure at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where she most recently served as a Consumer Compliance Examiner and created the first Federal Reserve System-wide Latino Employee Resource Group (ERG); she continued this legacy by creating Unidos, the first Latino ERG for Rockland Trust. 

Ana María aspires to broaden her impact seeking not only to represent the Latino community on influential boards but also to engage in a continuous learning process by collaborating with diverse perspectives. Being an immigrant has shaped her perspective and she hopes to create meaningful and sustainable opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Her motivation to effect positive change and her drive to learn from others serve as guiding principles in her professional and personal journeys.

David A. Lank.

David is Founder and Principal of Sharpe Venture Group, an East Boston based real estate company that owns, operates and develops multifamily, retail and mixed-use properties across Massachusetts.

David is an active community member, currently or previously serving on the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway Council, NOAH Inc. CDC Board of Directors, Seawalls Boston Mural Sponsor, Boch Center Metropolitans Steering Committee, United Way Project Connect Steering Committee and the Friends of the Charles River Esplanade.

While David has worked from East Boston for the past decade, he, his wife, Laura, and dog, Grover, are finally moving to East Boston this year.

David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Outside of work, family, friends and community, if you don’t see David at Toasted Flats or Cunard Tavern, he’s probably out playing guitar and singing with his band, Lanky and the Fens.

Patricia is an Experienced Manager at CrossCountry Consulting where she offers accounting advisory services to biotechnology companies. Patricia holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and is a licensed CPA in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. When she's not crunching numbers, Patricia is behind the lens, capturing the vibrant eats, drinks, and experiences around Boston. A proud East Boston resident since 2019, she recently joined the EBMS board to amplify community appreciation and visibility. As a member of the Digital and Social Committee on the board, Patricia is passionate about connecting and celebrating her neighborhood.

Ankit joined the EBMS board in 2023 and has been an East Boston resident since 2017. Working at Google for almost 10 years, Ankit brings a valuable industry perspective from the tech sector. He now works as a Enterprise Sales Executive at Salesforce. Prior to working in tech, Ankit was an educator, teaching at Revere High School for 3 years. Ankit has a passion for non-profit work and is dedicated to supporting the Eastie community.

Dave is an engaged East Boston resident and has served on the Board since 2024. He works as an independent Workday System Architect, following several years with IBM’s Consulting Services practice. With a passion for problem-solving, Dave enjoys helping businesses of all sizes address critical challenges, and he values opportunities to give back to the East Boston community and foster meaningful connections.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Providence College and an MBA from Babson College, where he concentrated in Business Analytics and international consulting.

Outside of work, Dave enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors—especially fishing, hiking, and camping. What he values most about living in East Boston is its vibrant culture and close connection to the water.description