MORNING MATTERS
KEYNOTE PANEL
Emily Carrara - Emily has worked in the field of recovery and substance use for the last 4 years. During that time, she earned her Certified Recovery Support Worker license and has remained dedicated to her work helping those experiencing homelessness, substance use, trauma, and other social barriers in the city of Manchester. She has been with Amoskeag Health since November 2022 where she serves as the Medication Assisted Treatment program supervisor, working with clients on motivation for change and sustained recovery. In 2023, she took on the position of overseeing this prevention project and has worked diligently with community partners to ensure efficient implementation and coordination of services to the youth in Manchester. Emily is 6 months away from graduating with a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and plans on pursuing licensure to become a master level alcohol and drug counselor!
Mary Forsythe-Taber, CPS - Mary serves as the Executive Director and Chief Visionary of Makin’ It Happen (MIH). In her leadership role, she oversees the organization’s operations, including the management of grants, contracts, projects, and staff. As Chief Visionary, Mary is constantly exploring new opportunities to help the MIH team grow, innovate, and bring the organization’s mission, vision, and values to life. At the state level, she has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as the 2021 Vice Chair of the Suicide Prevention Council. She is a board member of the New Hampshire Prevention Certification Board, a member of the NH Children’s Behavioral Health Policy Advisory Board and serves on several advisory groups including Life of an Athlete and the Governor’s Youth Advisory Council. She also leads regional strategies for substance misuse prevention, the continuum of care, and young adult support in Greater Manchester through the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services and the Regional Public Health Network. Outside of her professional work, Mary enjoys gardening, soaking up the sun, and finding peace by the ocean, where the sound of the waves and salty air help her recharge.
Scott Guyer - Scott began his career in education as a paraprofessional in the Claremont School District, supporting students with diverse learning needs. He later transitioned to the Concord School District, where his focus shifted to school-wide student support with an emphasis on behavior intervention strategies to promote positive classroom outcomes. His passion for youth development extends beyond the academic year; in recent years, he has served as the Summer Camp and Teen Director at the Granite YMCA in Concord, leading programs that foster growth, leadership, and community engagement in young people. Most recently, Scott joined the YSTAY team, where he brings together years of experience to support youth and teens through impactful social-emotional learning (SEL) programming, including the Botvin Life Skills curriculum.
Chris Stetson - Chris has worked with the YMCA for the past seven years and currently serves as the Regional Community Outreach Director. In this role, he oversees several outreach initiatives, including YSTAY (Youth Support, Tutor, and Adventure for Youth). Through YSTAY, a YMCA teacher is placed in Manchester schools to provide academic and social-emotional support to small groups of students. The program features a robust curriculum covering topics such as Effective Communication, Healthy Relationships, Emotional Regulation, and Social Media. Most recently, Chris helped establish a partnership with Amoskeag Health to introduce the Botvin Life Skills curriculum, which focuses on substance misuse education and the impact of personal choices.
Joanne & Richard Gustafson
GOOD CARES
Eastern Bank is committed to recognizing the good in our communities and celebrating the work of AMOSKEAG HEALTH
We proudly support the 18TH ANNUAL MORNING MATTERS BREAKFAST
Member FDIC
Bill Cahill’s Super Subs
8 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, NH
Tuesday-Friday 10:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday 10:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday & Monday Closed
KEYNOTE SPONSOR
PROGRAM SPONSORS
John Sigel and Sally Reid
ADVOCATE SPONSORS
CCA Global Partners
Dartmouth Health Children’s
Eastern Bank
Elliot Health System
Lavallee/Brensinger Architects
Rich and Sarah Sigel
WellSense Health Plan
TABLE SPONSORS
Associated Grocers of New England
Charla Stevens Consulting LLC
Joanne & Richard Gustafson
Harvey Construction Corporation
MCPHS University
FRIENDS CIRCLE
Many thanks to all of the individuals who made donations while registering for the event and during the event. Thank you for believing in our mission and supporting the children of Greater Manchester.