CWE Management Team

Susan Rittscher, Chief Executive Officer
Susan has over 30 years of non-profit experience and 17 years of experience as a CEO. Most recently, Susan was director of Executive and Volunteer Development for the YMCA of the USA, with responsibility for educating and training the executive and volunteer leaders of the nation’s 2,600 YMCAs. Susan was formerly President and CEO of the Greater Providence YMCA, where she served for 12 years. While there, she led the first successful capital campaign in two decades and oversaw 200 percent growth as well as 88 percent growth in program and membership. Susan has held other key leadership roles, having served on the boards of the United Way, Leadership Rhode Island, Leadership Broward, the Junior League, University Club and in particular, the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, where Rittscher worked to make the mission of the organization, “to advance equity and social justice for women and girls,” a reality. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Service Leadership and Management from Springfield College, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare from California State University, Chico.

Kristin Viera Zecca, Director of Program & Service Delivery
Kristin Viera Zecca joined CWE in June 2009. Her role is to lead the Program Team and oversee the strategy and implementation for all of CWE’s Programs and Services in Boston, Worcester and Providence. She comes to CWE with more than 10 years of experience working in marketing, training and sales roles in the publishing industry. During her 8 year career at Course Technology, Kristin held the position of Associate Director of Market Development, where she designed and developed training programs focused on technology for professors across the United States. In 2007 Kristin left the corporate world and went back to school full time focusing her graduate work on management and leadership development. Kristin came to CWE to create programs that empower women to lead successful businesses. She holds a BA from Wellesley College and an MBA from the Simmons School of Management.