Meet The A.B.L.E. Staff

Tom McFarland, Communications Director,  is responsible for developing Operation A.B.L.E.’s public relations and communications strategy and the tactical outreach activities to support it. With a B.S. in Speech from West Virginia University, a M.S. in Journalism from Boston University, and more than 20 years providing public relations and marketing communications services for high tech companies, Tom joined Operation A.B.L.E. in 2004 to create the agency's first formal public relations and communications program. He helps maintain a steady flow of participants into the organization’s various employment and training programs and utilizes his media relations and strategic planning skills to increase Operation A.B.L.E.’s visibility among funding sources, service providers, employers, and the general public. He developed and manages Operation A.B.L.E.’s interactive web site, co-manages the organization's Mature Worker Career Fairs, and provides public relations support for the Annual Starfish Thrower Award Gala, the Celebrating Experience Breakfast, and other fundraising initiatives.

Mannatt Sukumar (Suku) Menon, Employment Specialist for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), began his career working in the Federal Government of India. After passing the Indian Audit and Accounts Department’s SAS Examination, which is similar to the Certified Public Accountant designation in the U.S., Suku became an Auditor and was involved in critical reviews of contracts of the Public Works Department and the Pension Funds of the State Governments with reference to various rules and regulations. Suku voluntarily resigned his job in 1975 to start his own business of giftware and presentation articles, which he continued develop and diversify for three decades. As a self-employed business owner, he oversaw a variety of management functions, including developing job descriptions, creating advertising campaigns, and interviewing and recruiting candidates to staff different departments of his company. After emigrating to the United States, Suku joined Operation A.B.L.E. in July of 2009 and immediately began to excel owing to his past experience assessing candidates, training, and counseling. He enjoys his work thoroughly.

Bill Nadler is the Office Technology Administrator and Senior Training Specialist for our 19-week Operation EmployABLE computer and office skills training program.  He is a “natural” when it comes to teaching people how to use various computer software applications. Bill holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University. His background in the Electro-Mechanical packaging group at MIT Draper Laboratory has served him well. His many achievements during nine years at Draper Laboratory include participation in the design verification testing of the Apollo Space Program Guidance & Navigation System and U.S. Navy Poseidon Submarine Missile Guidance System. Bill also has nine years retail store experience, has been a sole proprietor in an electronics catalogue mail order business in addition to his non-profit and community service with elders. We feel very fortunate to have him as part of the team. Bill makes everyone feel like a winner in his class. He has infinite patience and can explain things in a number of ways to ensure everyone “gets it.”

Colleen O’Malley isProgram Manager and Microsoft Office Training Specialist of the Quincy, MA,  satellite of Operation A.B.L.E.  She has worked in a non-profit setting in several capacities; including as an English Foreign Language Instructor, Student Center Coordinator and Event Programmer for UMass Boston, and as a Microsoft Office and Job Readiness Training Instructor for Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. Colleen graduated magna cum laude with a BA from the University of Massachusetts at Boston in 2004, where she was the recipient of the UMass Boston Student Leadership Award and the David E. Walker Prize for academic and community service. During her travels she has studied three languages, including Basic Mandarin Chinese. Having lived and taught in China for over eight months, Colleen has a great appreciation for Chinese culture. This makes her an excellent candidate for the Quincy satellite of Operation ABLE due to its growing Asian population. Colleen continues her dedication to community service in her career in workforce development, firmly believing that workforce development is the most effective way to bring positive long term changes to people’s lives.

Tee (Leontine) Provost is Program Manager for the Operation Service! and Operation Success training programs.  After a successful career as a Design Drafter in Structural Engineering, Tee reinvented herself over 17 years ago as a Career Counselor/Coach and has worked at Employment Resources, Inc., Career Source and Boston University. She is a member of the Career Development and Marketing Association, the Career Counselors’ Consortium, the American Society for Training and Development and the Association of Women in Computing. A firm believer in lifelong learning, Tee has almost completed a Master of Management degree at Cambridge College. Her entrepreneurial spirit has enabled Tee to successfully launch our Operation Service! and Operation Success  job training and professional deved

Judith Serode joined Operation A.B.L.E. in 2008 as Chief Financial Officer.  She has over 12 years experience in the nonprofit sector and has had management responsibilities for the 9 years prior to joining the organization. Judith has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and Master of Business Administration degree from Simmons College Graduate School of Management. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.