Willie Ross School for the Deaf Welcomes Alyssa Kristek

LONGMEADOW — Willie Ross School for the Deaf (WRSD) announced a new director of Operations and chief financial officer (CFO), Alyssa Kristek. She most recently served as director of Administration and Finance at Hillel House at UMass Amherst, with extensive experience throughout her career in finance and business management.

Kristek has worked at UMass Amherst since 2004 in various roles. In her most recent position at Hillel House, a nonprofit Jewish community center on the edge of the campus, she provided oversight and coordination of the organization’s biannual budget projections, financial calendar, and operating budget; provided oversight and coordination of all grant applications and contracts; oversaw and implemented all Human Resources administrative functions, including payroll and benefits; and provided general facilities management, among other responsibilities.

Prior to her position at Hillel House, Kristek was the Finance and Business manager for the Center for UMass Industry Research on Polymers from 2007 to 2022, and served as bookkeeper and finance administrator for the vice chancellor for Research and the Graduate School from 2004 to 2007. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA from UMass Amherst.

Kristek joins Willie Ross after the school’s longtime CFO, Bonnie Katusich, retired in June after more than 20 years at WRSD.

In her new role at Willie Ross, Kristek will manage the day-to-day finances and payroll; revenue billings for tuition, outreach programs, and the school’s audiology clinic; maintainence and updating of personnel files; procurement, inventory, and maintenance of organizational technology; and work in conjunction with the president and CEO and the audit & finance committee of the board of trustees.

“We are excited that someone of Alyssa’s background and ability is joining our team to serve in such an important position,” said Bert Carter, president and CEO of WRSD. “Her past experience in education will be valuable, and we welcome her to the Willie Ross community.”