Chukwuemeka (BJ) Osuagwu

Executive Director
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Chukwuemeka (BJ) Osuagwu joined Healthy Waltham as its Executive Director in 2024. Prior to joining the organization, BJ held roles at the Boston City Council as Director of Civic Engagement & Chief of Staff, serving both Districts 4 and 6. His responsibilities included community relations, civic organizing and education, public policy and office and staff management. He has also held positions at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute and Gordon College as a Presidential Fellow in the Office of Development.

To the role of Executive Director, BJ brings a passion for community engagement and youth development, which was cultivated at a young age by his parents. He has served in a variety of communities throughout Massachusetts and looks forward to this next journey in Waltham!

BJ holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Sociology from Gordon College where he attended as a Clarendon Scholar.

Favorite Fruit: Pears

Maria DiMaggio

Operations Director
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Maria DiMaggio joined Healthy Waltham in 2008 and has played many different roles over the years. To name a few: handing out healthy food samples at schools and farmers’ markets, drafting newsletters, grant proposals, and fundraising campaigns, helping to launch the Waltham Connections for Healthy Aging coalition, and most recently, running Healthy Waltham’s food pantry program. An enthusiastic cook, gardener, and community volunteer, she is passionate about advocating for those in need. Previously, she worked as a Corporate Communications Specialist and Marketing Manager in the financial services industry. Maria earned a B.A. from Wesleyan University (CT) and received a Fulbright award for a year of study in Germany. Maria serves on the boards of the Friends of the Waltham Public Library and Africano Waltham. She resides in Waltham with her husband and two kids.

Favorite Vegetable: Broccoli

Theresa Pendant

Administrative & Development Coordinator
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Theresa Pendant has lived in the Boston area for many years but is new to living in and enjoying Waltham. Prior to working at Healthy Waltham she has worked in volunteer management and as a parent education home visitor. For fun she enjoys exploring New England through city walks, trail hiking, and finding new restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops. Theresa earned a B.A. in Sociology and Communication Arts from Gordon College. She lives in Waltham with her husband and two kids.

Favorite Fruit: Fruit Salad
Favorite Vegetable: Bok Choy

Nadene B. Stein
President

Administrator of Pupil Personnel Services, Waltham Public Schools. She has been with Healthy Waltham since 2005, first as a steering committee member then as founding board president.

Amy Esposito
Treasurer

Tax Professional, Massachusetts Medical Society. Joined the board in 2022.

Naveen Pawar
Board Member

Business Owner/Co-Founder, Mighty Squirrel. Joined the board in 2021.

Paul Nederhoed
Clerk

Waltham resident since 2016, joining Healthy Waltham in 2022. Currently, Director of Operations at Tome Biosciences with over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech sector, and professional photographer since 2011.