Meet Our Team Leaders
Peter Hurst
GNEMSDC President
Email: phurst@gnemsdc.org
Trained as a lawyer, accountant, and investment banker, Peter expanded his expertise into the financial sector, where he founded multiple successful financial entities. When working with MBEs, his experience applying the analytical lens of an investor, lender, or entrepreneur delivers an in-depth perspective that sets the groundwork for the business’s market readiness preparations.
As the President of GNEMSDC, he brings professional expertise, the GNEMSDC and National MSDC network to the Center’s clients, and an unwavering commitment to impact MBEs and their communities.
Kidane Frezgi
Project Director, MA MBDA Business Center
Email: kfrezgi@mbdabusinesscenter-ma.com
Kidane Frezgi is an entrepreneur with a background in relationship management and technology. At the MBDA, he facilitates connections for MBEs at any stage in their development to grow top-line revenue, create opportunities and jobs, and support their business operations.
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For the past 12 years, Kidane has helped hundreds of organizations by leveraging technology to foster collaboration, reduce costs, increase efficiency, and protect their valuable IP. Most recently, he ran his own small business focused on the tech services industry.
Kidane Frezgi is an Army veteran who served in the US Army Reserves for 10+ years, including an overseas deployment from 2001-2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a passionate advocate for fellow Veterans. Kidane graduated from the University of Dayton with a dual degree in Psychology and Sociology.
Harold Blackwell
Director of MBE Capital Access & Inorganic Growth, MA MBDA Business Center
Email: hblackwell@mbdabusinesscenter-ma.com
Harold L. Blackwell is an M&A business growth consultant, national senior fellow, award-winning entrepreneur. A full-service consulting and contracting firm helping private and public companies with business planning, investor relations, e-commerce and social media, and intellectual property. Harold specializes in working closely with clients to add value to their company projects and shareholders.
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Working for General Electric, UBS, and other major corporations, Harold advanced his career from an operational service representative to a client relationship manager. His corporate career culminated in seven years with the Royal Bank of Scotland in Stamford, Connecticut, where he managed the accounts of 20 multibillion-dollar institutions.
In 2016, Harold founded Chestnut Street Consulting. The company provides M&A advisory services and access to capital for businesses and business owners. It also provides strategic business consulting services.
Christine Reed
Program Manager, MA MBDA Business Center
Email: creed@mbdabusinesscenter-ma.com
Christine Reed is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania. She has a Masters of Art in Advertising and Public Relations from Richmond, the American International University in London. Christine moved to the Boston area in Spring 2019 and has over ten years in customer support working with companies like Starbucks, Clover Food Lab, and Dunkin Donuts.