Phone: 802.433.6183 Fax: 802.433.1309
Our Staff
Jim MacDonald, MBA
Director
The Director is responsible for the overall clinical and administrative operations at Second Spring in accordance with state and federal regulations. The Director guides a philosophy of recovery for all residents and staff, providing programmatic direction and leadership for all those administering direct care to residents.
With 30 years experience in the mental health field providing direct care, program development and management Jim has administrative experience as the Director of two residential facilities for adults with persistent and prolonged mental health illnesses. He was the former Director of Child, Youth and Family Services programs offering outpatient, community and school-based services.
Jim’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Social Work from Rhode Island College School of Social Work in Providence, Rhode Island and a Masters of Business Administration from Nichols College School of Business in Dudley, Massachusetts.
Nina Gaby, APRN-PMH
Clinical Director
The Clinical Director provides psychiatric care to residents at Second Spring as well as providing clinical consultation and education to staff, teams, departments and administration. As an Advanced Practice Nurse, the Clinical Director also provides individual psychotherapy, wellness consultation, medication evaluation, pharmacotherapy, and medication teaching to the residents, works with families and outside agencies, and is available for on-call consultation at all times.
Nina attended Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem, Israel, received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the School for the American Crafts at Rochester Institute of Technology, and her Master’s Degree in Psych-Mental Health Nursing from the University of Rochester in New York. Additionally Nina is a visual artist and writer whose essays and short stories have been published in anthologies and magazines, most recently in several Seal Press anthologies, Lilith Magazine, Dodge Magazine, and she coauthored a piece with the Second Spring residents, an excerpt can be found here on the website.
Lori Oszterling
Operations Officer
The Operations Officer is responsible for the day to day administrative operations at Second Spring in accordance with state and federal regulations. This position oversees on site Human Resources services for current and prospective employees. The Operations Officer works with the Director on all budget aspects of the facility including future planning and implementation.
Lori has a diverse background in the business and administrative field as the office manager for a local tire company and animal hospital as well as fourteen years at New England Culinary Institute in Admissions and as an Events Manager for one of their restaurants. The past nine years Lori has worked on the Inpatient Psychiatry unit at Central Vermont Medical Center providing administrative support in addition to her role at Second Spring. Lori is a copyrighted songwriter.
Lori attended Champlain College in Burlington Vermont where her educational focus was on business and design.
Chris Pollard
Training & Facilities Coordinator
The Training and Facilities Coordinator provides day-to-day training and operational support to the staff. Oversees scheduling and provides logistical support to Team Leaders for transportation of residents and/or floor coverage for meetings & events. The Training & Facilities Coordinator works with the Nurse Manager, the Operations Officer and the Director to insure compliance with State of Vermont Licensing and Protection Regulations.
Chris previously worked for four years as Senior Supervisor of Security at Champlain College and owned and managed Capital Property Management which managed 212 apartments in the Barre/Montpelier area. At Central Vermont Medical Center he spent a year as a Phlebotomist / Autopsy Technician / ER Technician. Chris has 13 years of service in US Army / VT Army Guard where he was a Combat Medical Specialist /Paramedic.
Chris attended Norwich University where his educational focus was in Biology/Pre-med. He also volunteers for several notable organizations: Founder & President, The Montagnard Health Care Assistance Project; Webmaster / Internet Sales Director, Save The Montagnard People, INC; Honorary Member and Webmaster of The Special Forces Association, Chapter 57; Vermont Stop Coordinator for the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour.
Jim Gears, MSW
Vocational Specialist
As Vocational Specialist Jim assists residents in educational and work related pursuits that enable residents to re-integrate into local communities. In addition to assessing each resident’s jobs skills and interests, He also assists them in organizing the necessary documents for employment. Jim is also responsible for the development and coordination of in-house employment opportunities and volunteer opportunities. The Vocational Specialist collaborates with other vocational agencies to find meaningful employment for residents in their home communities.
Jim’s previous work experience is in the human services field which includes work in residential group homes and community mental health centers. In the business sector Jim has more than 25 years of sales experience.
Jim’s educational merits include a B.A. in History from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York and a MSW from the University of Connecticut, School of Social Work.
Karen Seigle, MSW,CMT
Clinical Case Manager
The Clinical Case Manager provides mental health and supportive counseling, as well as case management services for the residents. Additionally, the Clinical Case Manager is involved in running treatment and psychoeducational groups, and the development of wellness trainings for both staff and residents at Second Spring.
Before joining the Clinical Care Team at Second Spring Karen worked for more than 30 years in a variety of positions as Houseparent at Anderson School (Autistic Children), Assistant Manager for I.G.H.L. Group Home (Developmentally Disabled and Autistic Adults), as a Counselor for Options, Inc. Group Home (Chronically Mentally Ill Adults), as a Mental Health Clinician for Region Ten CMHC, as an Adoption Specialist/Case Manager for Easter Seals. Karen holds certification as a Massage Therapist and has worked at Topnotch Resort in Stowe Vermont. Currently Karen has a private massage therapy practice in Central Vermont.
Karen received her Bachelor Of Arts Degree from Stony Brook University and her Masters Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She holds National Certification for Massage Therapy as well as certification to teach infant massage.
Denise Stubbs
Residential Care Coordinator
The Residential Care Coordinator is responsible for providing recovery based case management and social services for residents at Second Spring, Also responsible for coordinating admission and discharge services in collaboration with the Vermont State Hospital, Community Mental Health Providers and family members. The Residential Care Coordinator also leads and co-facilitates residents groups at Second Spring.
Denise has more than 12 years experience in the mental health field. Prior to joining the staff at Second Spring Denise spent 9 years providing supportive counseling for psychiatric crisis interventions and direct care to adults struggling with co-occurring disorders at Home Intervention Crisis Bed at WCMHS.
Denise attended 3 and a half years at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where her focus was on Special Education and International Studies (Languages).
Mark Pehle, BA
Recovery Specialist
The Recovery Specialist is responsible for working with residents to provide counseling, rehabilitative and social work services to persons with serious and persistent mental illness in a recovery based and trauma sensitive environment. The Recovery Specialist is also responsible for coordinating these services with auxiliary programs, psychiatric providers, agencies, and the community.
Mark’s extensive Human Services background includes more than 20 years as Mental Health Crisis Worker/Screener; Lamoille Community Connections, Director and counselor; Redwood House (16 bed short-term residential crisis and hospital diversion program), Caminar/CLC; Assistant Director and counselor, Nierika House (14 bed short-term residential crisis and hospital diversion program), Phoenix Programs.
Mark received his BA in Psychology/Philosophy concentration from Fairhaven College at Western Washington University and is currently entering his third year at the Antioch University New England’s Licensed Mental Health Counselor’s program.
Nursing Services
The Nursing Staff at Second Spring provide direct nursing services to residents as needed. They ensure treatment plans are carried out by direct care staff as well as administer medications as prescribed to residents, and provide appropriate documentation on pertinent matters including the effectiveness of prescribed medications. Additionally Second Spring Nurses are responsible for the medical and psychiatric needs of residents by way of making physician appointments and ensuring follow-up, resident teaching regarding medications and illness, and crisis intervention. They regularly teach residents about health, dietary, and hygiene concerns.
April Kidder, LPN
Nurse
April has 10 years experience working with a variety of patients as a LPN at Berlin Health and Rehab working with a geriatric population and also at Central Vermont Medical Center on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit.
April received her LPN from Vermont Technical College in Randolph Vermont and is actively licensed in the state of Vermont as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Maryjane Corgnati, RN
Nurse
Maryjane began her career in the field of education, returned to school to pursue her degree in Nursing and has worked at The Elms Care and Rehabilitation Center and The Arbors, both in Bedford, New Hampshire. Her primary duties were to provide clinical assessment, medication management and make medical referrals for acutely ill adults and older adult patients. She volunteered at a medical clinic in Haiti through the Love for Haiti group. Maryjane takes a wellness approach to patient care and is a key member of Second Spring’s Wellness Initiative.
Maryjane received her BA in Education from Trinity College in Burlington Vermont and her BSN from MCPHS in Manchester, New Hampshire and is actively licensed in the State of Vermont as a Registered Nurse.
Christopher Arsenault, RN
Nurse
Chris’ career in Nursing spans ten years. He has worked for a variety of hospitals in Hawaii including Ka Punawai Ola in Kapolei, Hawaii as Charge Nurse on a 60-bed unit at a restorative care facility and most recently at Vermont State Hospital, Waterbury, Vermont as Psychiatric/Behavioral Health Nurse working with some of the State of Vermont's most seriously mentally ill adults.
Chris received his Associates Degree in Nursing from Central Maine Medical Center School of Nursing in Lewiston, Maine and is actively licensed in the State of Vermont as a Registered Nurse. Chris also holds a license for Adult Residential Care Home from Kapiolani Community College and has specialized education in Crisis Prevention Intervention
Team Leaders
Team Leaders at Second Spring provide direct care to residents, supervise teams of Residential Recovery Staff and collaborate with other Second Spring personnel in all essential functions in the community recovery setting. Duties include, but are not limited to, coaching and assisting staff in providing supportive counseling, observing and recording consumer behaviors, taking vital signs and assisting residents in meeting basic daily needs. Facilitate communication between residents and staff.
Rick Young, MBA
Team Leader
Rick's work experience includes positions as a volunteer fundraiser for a State YMCA Camp, Winthrop, ME; Technology Safety Coordinator, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, Montpelier, VT ; Project Manager, Vermont Information Processing, Colchester, VT; Outreach Coordinator, Assistant Director, Driftwood Education Environment, Saint Simons Island, GA.
Rick’s education includes a BA in Education from Goddard College in Plainfield Vermont and a MBA from Aspen University in Aspen, Colorado with a concentration in nonprofit management/fund-raising.
Betsy Hutchinson, BS
Team Leader
Betsy has over 5 years of experience working in the Human Services field as a Para-Educator with the White River School District, as a Family Support Coordinator at Rise, Inc. and as a Residential Home Manager with REM.
Betsy holds a BS in Psychology with a minor in Family Studies from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.
Adelit Rukomangana, BA
Team Leader & Complaint & Grievance Coordinator
In addition to responsibilities as a Team Leader, Adelit is also the Complaint & Grievance Coordinator who assists Second Spring residents by following the Residents’ Rights as well as State standards in solving Residents’ complaints or grievances.
Adelit’s more than 15 years work experience has included positions as Transitional Residence Counselor for Washington County Youth Service Bureau, Inc. and Washington County Mental Health Services, Inc. in Montpelier, VT, as Associate Director with the Centers for Social Responsibility, Inc. Montpelier, VT, and as an Intern doing Pastoral Fieldwork for Jesuit Refugee Services, Kigali - Rwanda,
Adelit has studied and earned educational degrees as follows: Certificate Paralegal from Boston University Center for Professional Education, Boston, Massachusetts; Sacred Licentiate Theology in Social Ethics from Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Hekima College Jesuit School of Theology, Nairobi, Kenya; Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Saint Pierre Canisius Faculty of Philosophy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
JoAnne Connolly
Team Leader
JoAnne has 14 years experience in positions such as a Team Leader for Brookhaven Treatment and Learning Center, support staff with Upper Valley Services and as residential support and crisis team work for Washington County Mental Health. In addition to her duties JoAnne is an EMT with White River Valley Ambulance Services.
JoAnne’s education includes certification by the American Red Cross as a CPR and First Aid Instructor. She has also received Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and NAPPI training as well as EMT training.