Meet Our Staff:

 

Damien Licata, Executive Director

Damien came to the Monarchs as executive director in August of 2007. He is a 15 year resident of Keene, NH and a class of 2000 graduate of Keene State College with a BA in Psychology and has done some post graduate work at Antioch New England Graduate School. Damien is also trained in Intentional Peer Support. He co-facilitated a men’s support group in Keene for 6 years and has completed the NAMI Connection recovery support group facilitator training. He is the current Chairperson of the New Hampshire Mental Health Consumer Council and co-hosts the stigma busting TV program, “The Padded Room”, seen on Cheshire TV.

 

 

 

 

Christine Polito, Program Coordinator

Christine has 12 years of experience working with non-profits.  Most recently, she has worked with A.C.C.E.S.S. in Keene, NH, contracted by The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, as a job developer supporting people with various disabilities to obtain meaningful employment.  Concurrently, Christine worked with The Grapevine Family & Community Resource Center in Antrim, NH in the capacity of Volunteer Coordinator for a time bank called The People’s Service Exchange.  Prior to moving to NH, 5 years ago, Christine was the Corporate Representative for Programs For People, a day treatment hospital in Framingham, MA, educating employers in order to dissolve the stigma associated with mental illness in the workplace.  Christine facilitates the Morning Meditation, Ladies' Tea, Music Appreciation, Depression/Bi-Polar, Vocational and Educational, and Computer Support Groups.

 

 

 

Evelyn Stewart, Administrative Assistant

In 1988, Evelyn graduated from the Meeting School in Rindge, NH. She later moved to Maine where she became certified as a Word Processor at the Penobscot Job Corps. From there, she transferred to St. Paul, MN where she completed and was certified in the Transportation and Communication Union’s advanced clerical program. After graduation, Evelyn continued to live in St. Paul for the next 8 years until illness brought her back to New Hampshire where she later became a member at Granite State Monarchs. Evelyn joined our staff in 2006.

 

 

  

  

 Marla Stefflre: Warmline Operator/Group Facilitator

Marla was born in California and grew up in California and New York City. She is a 1982 graduate of the Meeting School in Rindge, NH, The National Shakespeare Conservatory in NYC in 1987, and earned her BA in Psychology from Keene State College, Keene NH in 2009. She is the mother of a 20-year-old daughter. In addition to working as a warmline operator, Marla currently facilitates five of our groups, Creative Writing, Hearing Voices, Psych Survivors, Parent to Parent, NAMI Connection, Empowerment, and Peer Support and Healing.   

 

 

      
Erin Rushalko, Peer Support Staff
 Erin is a college student at River Valley Community College, and has worked as an LNA for 6 years. She is the mother of 6 year old girl.  Erin is very excited to be a part of the Granite State Monarch family.  She loves to read, write (mostly poetry), and listen to music, Dave Matthews Band being her favorite.  Erin says that working with people brings her peace and a sense of worthiness.  She appreciates everyone being friendly and welcoming.  She is looking forward to many goodtimes.                                

 

 

    

                                                                                                                                                                            

Nancy Coutts, Warmline Back-up

 Nancy Coutts of Marlboro, NH started working at Granite State Monarchs in the fall of 2004, shortly after retiring from Keene State College. Nan taught theater and speech communication for over 30 years.  At GSM she began working on the warm line and currently facilitates 3 groups – Empowerment, Peer Support/Healing and Psychiatric Survivors. Empower yourself and “come on down.”

 

 

                                                                                                   

    Sarah Johnston, Warmline Back-up

 

 

 

  

                           

Jodie Cota,  Van Driver
Jodie has been associated with Granite State Monarchs since we first began, both as a member and in various capacities on our staff over the past 13 years - currently as a safe and courteous van driver providing transportation for our members and participants. She lives in Keene, New Hampshire.

 

 

 

 

  Robert Wait, Van Driver