Our CCRC Board of Trustees helps shape RiverWoods Exeter into the type of independent living retirement community our residents and their families can be proud of. Our board members, many of whom you may know, serve as an experienced, voluntary group made up of lawyers, doctors, local politicians, business owners, and current residents.
Board Chair
Dr. Cathy A. Trower is President of Trower & Trower, Inc., a board governance consulting firm, through which she has provided consulting and coaching services to more than 125 nonprofits. Cathy is the author of The Practitioner’s Guide to Governance as Leadership: Building High Performing Nonprofit Boards (Jossey Bass 2013) and the second edition of Govern More, Manage Less (BoardSource 2010). She is co-author with R. Barbara Gitenstein of What Board Members Need to Know about Faculty (Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities, 2013), and she has written several articles for the AGB’s Trusteeship magazine—most recently “Flipping the Boardroom for Trustee Engagement: Why and How” (March/April 2015). Formerly Research Director at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Trower studied academic leadership, shared governance, faculty work-life, employment issues, policies, and practices including the experiences of faculty through a generational lens, women in STEM disciplines, and underrepresented minorities for sixteen years. Prior to Harvard, Cathy served as a senior-level administrator of business degree programs at Johns Hopkins University; she has also been a faculty member and department chair at a liberal arts college. Trower has published an edited volume on faculty policies, dozens of book chapters, articles, and case studies. Cathy’s latest book about faculty work life and policies is called Success on the Tenure-Track: Five Keys to Faculty Satisfaction (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012). Cathy serves on two additional nonprofit boards: Wheaton College, MA in 2012, and BoardSource, Washington, DC. She has a BBA (1981) and an MBA (1985) from the University of Iowa and a PhD (1996) in higher education administration and leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Board Vice-Chair, Governance Committee Chair
Dave retired in 2003 from Tyco International (US), Inc. as Senior Vice President – Corporate Marketing and Community Affairs. His responsibilities included corporate marketing strategy and maintaining community relationships in the New Hampshire, New York City, and Boca Raton, FL communities. Dave had been with Tyco since 1984 and held numerous management positions in their divisions, as well as headquarters. Prior to Tyco, he had been with the General Electric Co. for 19 years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Unitil Corporation (NYSE-UTL), Hampton, NH, serving on their compensation committee and chairing the nominating/governance committee. Dave received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY in 1965. Dave regularly volunteers his time to various non-profit organizations in New Hampshire. Currently, he is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Stratham Community Church, is a member of the UNH Foundation Emeriti Board where he is co-chairing the Emeriti Council – Student International Service Initiative. Previously, Dave has been:
Dave also served on the board of the Daniel Webster Council nominating committee and the boards of NH BIA and NH Junior Achievement.
Board Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair
As Chief Operating Officer, Denise is responsible for all operational oversight of Bigelow LLC. Denise understands a business from start-up through the complexities of managing and growing multiple companies. In addition to her financial knowledge base, she brings expertise in business planning strategy and oversight. Prior to joining Bigelow, Denise spent over fifteen years at the Liberty Lane suite of companies which included Liberty Lane Partners, Perspecta Trust, Liberty Lane Service Company, and their related entities. She held numerous professional roles in these companies including Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Compliance Officer, and Controller. Denise began her career at KPMG in Boston after graduating from the College of the Holy Cross, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Society of CPAs and the Massachusetts Society of CPAs. Originally from Connecticut, Burke resides in North Hampton, New Hampshire with her husband Michael and their two girls, Kristin and Kelly. Burke is an avid reader and enjoys spending time at Lake Winnipesaukee, cross-country skiing and walking the beach.
Board Clerk
Patty McCartan Prue founded McCartan Consulting and is certified as an Executive Coach. Patty’s overall global business expertise includes executive coaching, Human Resource strategic leadership and oversight and mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to establishing her coaching business, Patty was employed as The Vice President of Human Resources for Tyco International, which grew to become a $36B global company with over 240,000 employees. As a graduate of Stonehill College, Ms. Prue now welcomes the opportunity to serve as a Trustee. Patty has also enjoyed serving locally in NH as Vice-Chair, Governance Chair, Riverwoods of Exeter, and previously at Exeter Health Resources. Patty is a member of Stonehill College’s Visiting Business Committee and has volunteered with Global Volunteers in Ghana and Por Cristo in Ecuador as well as other non-profit boards.
After serving a 10-year apprenticeship in bookselling and publishing in both St. Paul, MN and Boston and Cambridge, MA, Dan Chartrand came up to Exeter, NH in the spring of 1991 to open Water Street Bookstore, Inc. The mission of Water Street Bookstore remains “to build a vibrant and diverse community around the written word.” Together with his bookselling staff, Dan accomplishes this mission by expertly weaving together the bookstore’s patrons with the work of authors that are renowned locally, nationally, and internationally. Dan has passionately and joyously served the beautiful town of Exeter as a volunteer on non-profits and in town government. Board memberships include service with the Squamscott Community Commons and the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Exeter. Dan just finished a six-year stint as an elected town official on Exeter’s Select Board in March of 2018.
Major General (Ret.) Susan Y. Desjardins served in the United States Air Force for more than three decades. She held leadership positions at every level during a highly-decorated career that included tours of duty at Major Command Headquarters, Headquarters Air Force, the Joint Staff, and US Strategic Command Headquarters. A command pilot, she accumulated more than 3,800 flying hours in transport and tanker aircraft. She also served as Commandant of Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Major Desjardins retired from the Air Force in 2012 as the Director of Plans and Policy, United States Strategic Command, where she was responsible for the development of the nation’s strategic war plan and for contingency planning for global strike missions. Since retiring, she has been a consultant for Project Air Force with the RAND Corporation and is a Governing Trustee and Nominating Committee member of the Falcon Foundation, which supports military prep school scholarships for young men and women desiring to attend the Air Force Academy. Susan served her community as past President of the Board of Governors of the American Independence Museum in Exeter, NH, and is currently serving as the National Defense Committee Chair of the Exeter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of Exeter Health Resources whose affiliates include Exeter Hospital, Core Physicians, and Rockingham County VNA and Hospice. She is also a Director of the Board of Service Credit Union.
Resident Trustee, RiverWoods Exeter
Sarah majored in history at Wellesley College and obtained a master’s in mathematics from Bowling Green State University (Ohio). She was a teacher first of chemistry and physics, then of mathematics at both the high school and college level for 20 years. Following her teaching career, for the next 20 years, she served as the Executive Director of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.
As a volunteer, Mrs. Donnelly was instrumental in founding an Adult Day Care Center and served on the Board of Ginger Cove in Annapolis, MD, for 6 years. She also served as Clerk of Session of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Maryland and was Moderator of the Baltimore Presbytery. She served on The Country School Board and the Laurel School Board for six years, each. At RiverWoods Mrs. Donnelly has served as chair of the Employee Appreciation Fund and two goal groups, and as a member of the Resident Council for three years. In the Exeter community, Susan volunteers for End 68 Hours of Hunger. Sarah and her husband Jim have been residents of RiverWoods since 2013.
Mike received his Pharmacy Degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and his Masters in Healthcare Administration from Bellevue University. Mike has served in various leadership roles in pharmacy, hospital administration, and local non-profits for over 36 years. Mike is currently serving as the Chief Pharmacy Officer for Winchester Hospital in Winchester, MA. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Clinical Services at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NH. Mike also served as the Executive Director for the NH State Board of Pharmacy and the VP of Clinical and Support Services at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, NY. Mike began his career working in various senior leadership roles at both Catholic Medical and the Elliot Health System. Mike has served on numerous nonprofit boards including:
Mike grew up in Goffstown, NH, and graduated from UNH in 1973. From 1986-2010, Mike held a range of assignments with New England Telephone, NYNEX, Bell Atlantic, and Verizon in New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, DC. From 1997-2004 he served as President, Verizon-New Hampshire; during which time he chaired the Governor’s Task Force on the Operating Efficiency of State Government; the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce BOD; and the Greater Manchester United Way BOD and Campaign. From 2004-2010, Mike served as Vice President-Verizon, National Security Policy in Washington, DC; during which time he chaired the US Chamber of Commerce Homeland Security Task Force and the US Communications Sector Coordinating Council. Prior to his career at Verizon (1973-1986) Mike was a land use planner/economic development director in New Hampshire’s North Country, executive director of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce, and director of the State of NH Division of Economic Development. Following his career with Verizon (2014-2016), Mike served as interim dean, UNH-Manchester, where he led the creation of the college’s new campus and implemented a blueprint to reinvigorate the college During his career, Mike was recognized for his civic contributions, including NH Business Magazine’s “Business Leader of the Year” Award, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” Award, and New Hampshire Business Review Magazine’s “Lifetime Achievement” Award. Mike and his wife Marilyn are active UNH alumni. Mike served on the UNH Alumni Association Board of Directors for 10 years, including two as president. He serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics and the UNH Athletics Advisory Council. Mike is a founding board member of Primary Bank and president of the Moody Point Waterfront Condominium Association where he and his wife Marilyn reside.
Resident Trustee, RiverWoods Durham
Deborah Karmozyn welcomes the opportunity to serve as RiverWoods Durhahm’s Resident Trustee, bringing to the position over 45 years of experience in educational administration in non-profit and accredited international schools around the world, in New Hampshire public schools, and as an active participant on boards in non-profit organizations both in the United States and abroad. Deborah served as school principal of five prestigious K-12 international schools, all non-profit and accredited and offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program: American School of Milan, Italy; Copenhagen International School, Denmark; Shanghai American School, Pudong Campus, Shanghai, China; American School of Doha, Qatar; and the United Nations International School, New York City. She also served on the IB Primary Years Program Development Committee (Europe), on the EARCOS (East Asia Region Council of Overseas Schools) Conference Committee in Shanghai, and as co-chair of ECIS (European Council of International Schools) accreditation committees around the world. She also taught in and was a former principal in SAU 9 and SAU 13 (Mt. Washington Valley, NH). Deborah’s leadership included experience in strategic planning, educational program and curriculum development, budget development and management, accreditation standards and implementation, hiring and evaluation of staff, marketing, leadership and board training, school consultation, hiring and evaluation of staff, and school construction of and opening a new school campus in China. Deborah returned to the Mt. Washington Valley in 2010 to be a full-time caregiver for six years for her father who had Alzheimer’s Dementia. She continued to be active in the community, serving on boards including the Rotary Club of North Conway (secretary and BOD), Mt. Washington Valley Dollars for Scholars, OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) in Conway, and the Community Advisory Board for the Memorial Hospital. She is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of the USA and cherishes her past experiences as a scout and leader/trainer. Deborah and Michael moved to RWD in March 2020, where she serves on the UNH Committee and the Employee Appreciation Fund Committee. Deborah holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from UNH, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Plymouth State College (summa cum laude).
Resident Trustee, RiverWoods Manchester
Sue Lajoie was born and raised in Manchester, NH. She began her teaching career in 1969 in Merrimack, NH. She taught pre-first, first, second and fourth grades over her 36-year career. During those years, she served on multiple building and district committees. Sue was Director of the District Preschool Assessment Program, the school Technology Consultant, and served as Chairperson of the District Staff Development Committee. After her retirement, she became a CASA volunteer. A Court Appointed Special Advocate is a volunteer designated by a judge to work in the best interests of children who have been victimized by abuse or neglect. She has been a CASA for 16 years.
Stephen McPherson is President and CEO of Masonicare, Connecticut’s largest provider of healthcare services to seniors. Masonicare’s continuum of care includes skilled nursing, long-term and dementia care, assisted living, home health and hospice care, as well as physician practices and retirement communities. Steve joined Masonicare in 2000 as Chief Financial Officer, becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2003 and President and CEO in 2005. Prior to joining Masonicare, he was the Chief Financial Officer of a large integrated delivery system that included a 500-bed major teaching hospital. Among his professional affiliations, Steve is a board member and Treasurer of LeadingAge, a board member and past president of LeadingAge Connecticut, past president of the Masonic Communities and Services Association, a diplomat of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and an advanced member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association of which he is a past president of the Connecticut chapter. Steve has served on a number of statewide committees addressing healthcare issues, most recently participating in the State Rightsizing Strategic Plan for Long Term Care. Steve is also a former adjunct faculty member in the Masters of Public Health program at the University of New Haven. A life-long Connecticut resident, Steve resides in Rocky Hill with his wife, Nancy.
John Prochilo received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. He is the CEO/Administrator of Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network (NRH) whose main campus is in Salem, NH. NRH consists of three inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and a network of over 20 outpatient centers located in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He has served two terms on the Board of Directors of the New Hampshire Hospital Association and throughout the course of his career has worked with community groups who represent the disabled populations treated by Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital. John enjoys traveling and puttering around his yard and home.
Timothy Riley is a Senior Member of Harbor Group, Inc. and is the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Director of Financial Planning and the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. A specialist in the areas of retirement and estate planning, Mr. Riley holds the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Chartered Financial Consultant. He earned a Master of Science degree in Financial Planning with concentrations in retirement planning and portfolio management specialties.
His recognition for expertise in financial planning includes:
Named a Five Star wealth manager in the October edition of NH Magazine in 2011 through 2016
Rebecca A. (Becky) Smith retired in February 2018 after 34 years of leadership and management of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). Becky provided leadership in strategic planning, resident relations and satisfaction, marketing, human resource management, staff training, budget development/fiscal management, board development and relations, facilitation of board and staff retreats, community operational assessments, and opening of new communities. In Becky’s numerous years of experience she served as CEO of Kendal at Hanover, Vice President of Management Services/Principal of New Life Management and Development, Inc., Executive Director of RiverMead and Senior Vice President of Havenwood-Heritage Heights (HHH). Becky is a former Music Educator and has led various church choirs and community choruses. Becky holds an Advanced Certificate in Health Administration from the New Hampshire College Graduate School of Business and a Master of Business Administration, New Hampshire College Graduate School of Business; Bachelor of Music Education, University of New Hampshire.
Resident Trustee, RiverWoods Exeter
William L. Stafford is an angel investor and consultant to early stage and midmarket companies. Most recently he has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of CRS Medical Diagnostics, Inc., an early stage medical device company and of Neurognostics, Inc., a manufacturer of fMRI systems. He has also served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Prior to that, he was with Merge Technologies Inc., where he began as Director of Sales, Marketing and Service and left as Senior Vice President, OEM and International Operations. At Merge Technologies, Stafford was responsible for global OEM sales and drove revenue growth averaging 30 percent annually. Prior to his positions at Merge, he served in various sales, marketing, and administrative positions at Marquette Electronics and GE Medical Systems. Although much of his career required extensive international travel, Stafford found time to serve on the lay board of the Presbyterian church he attended as well as on committees of the Presbytery within which that church was located. This included co-moderation of a commission of that Presbytery. Subsequently he was elected to represent the Presbytery at Synod and served as Vice-Moderator and then Moderator of Synod. Stafford received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Yale University. After spending several years in the United States Navy, Stafford left, with the rank of Lieutenant, returned to school and obtained a Master of Business Administration Degree from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
Howie and his wife Susie moved to RiverWoods Exeter in 2011. He has been a member of the Charitable Funds Committee, the Resident Finance Committee, and the Innovation Committee. After twelve years in corporate finance including two stints as a CFO, he spent twenty-four years as owner-operator of a series of retail businesses. He then spent fifteen years working with several non-profits. Howie has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from the University of Virginia, and a Master’s in Business Economics from Claremont Graduate School. Howie and Susie have four children and six grandchildren.
Chief Executive Officer
Graduate of Rutgers University School of Business with a B.S. in Accounting. Justine began work at RiverWoods as part of the pre-opening team in June 1994. Her tenure at RiverWoods began as the Director of Accounting, with growth into the role of CFO in 1997, COO in 2005, and President/CEO in 2007. Ms. Vogel’s prior experience includes several years in auditing and financial analysis with Arthur Andersen & Co., Ernst & Young, and Chubb Life Insurance Company. Ms. Vogel is a certified public accountant in the state of New Jersey and serves as a Trustee and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Leading Age of Maine and New Hampshire. Ms. Vogel has lectured at the University of New Hampshire and is a frequent speaker at local, regional, and national industry conferences on topics including strategic management, growth planning, culture development, and financial oversight.
Susan holds an MBA from The Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College and a BA from Colby College and brings over thirty years of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital experience to the RiverWoods Group Board of Trustees. Her industry experience was acquired in companies spanning insurance, reinsurance, healthcare, direct marketing, and technology. She is currently Principal of Chartworth, LLC strategy consulting and investment banking for business owners in northern New England. Susan serves on the Board of Directors of the Delta Dental Plan of New Hampshire, Associated Grocers of New England, and the New Hampshire High Technology Council.