meet
the staff
leadership
Bridget Chiaruttini, LICSW - Executive Director
(617) 964-6273 ext. 110, bridgetc@mareinc.org
Bridget assumed the Executive Director role in 2022, bringing 20 years of experience in human services and child welfare, including ten years of leadership at MARE. Bridget was first hired at MARE to manage all of MARE's child recruitment and family support programs and in 2016 assumed the Associate Director position. She has created new standards of excellence in the programs she has overseen, with a strategic and data-driven approach.
Before joining the MARE staff, Bridget was the Program Director at The Home for Little Wanderers for their foster care and adoption programs. With a BA in Psychology from Boston College, and both an MSW and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from Boston University, Bridget brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and leadership excellence to the role.
Adriana Raines - Associate Director
(617) 964-6273 ext. 113, adrianar@mareinc.org
Adriana is a visionary, influential and experienced Child and Family Welfare expert and adoptive mother of three. She brings 27 years of nonprofit experience with a focus on addressing the most pressing issues in communities historically marginalized and underserved. Born to an immigrant single mother who led by example in providing a safe space and advocacy for families faced with the daunting challenges of navigating complex systems to have their needs met. She continues to be inspired and focused on designing programs and interventions to create spaces for all voices to be heard and included in the decision-making processes of initiatives, policies and practices which directly impact their ability to thrive. Prior to joining MARE, Adriana served as the Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships at Boston CASA.
Adriana holds a Master's in Education and a Certificate of Nonprofit Leadership from the YW Lead Boston Leadership Institute. She is a Philanthropic Consultant for the Social Innovation Forum, an active advisory member for Boston Healthy Families, Family Aware, Vital Village Network, and the YW Advocacy Committee.
child
services

Maurine Albano
Child Services Coordinator – Western Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 129, malbano@mareinc.org

Deborah Noah, LICSW
Child Services Coordinator – Northern Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 121, deborahn@mareinc.org

Chelsea Hartman
Child Services Coordinator – Southern Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 122, chelseah@mareinc.org
Emily Goldberger, LCSW – Director of Child Services
(617) 964-6273 ext. 123, emilyg@mareinc.org
Emily has over 15 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of social service settings in the Boston-area, most recently with Community Work Services and Jumpstart for Young Children. She joined the MARE staff in 2017 as the Child Services Coordinator for the Central and Boston regions, and in 2020 became the Director of Child Services. In her current role Emily provides oversight to MARE’s child specific recruitment programs and supervises the Child Services Coordinators. Emily grew up in Massachusetts, and received her BA from Smith College and her MSW from Boston College.
Maurine Albano – Child Services Coordinator – Western Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 129, malbano@mareinc.org
140 High Street, 2nd Floor, Springfield, MA 01105
Prior to joining MARE in 2001, Maurine worked in various facets of social services and held several human resource management positions at the Milton Bradley Company. Maurine is an adoptive parent of two children. As the Western Region’s Child Services Coordinator, Maurine works collaboratively with DCF and contracted agency 18 Degrees, (formerly known as Berkshire Children and Families) to provide comprehensive recruitment services to the waiting children in her region.
Deborah Noah, LICSW – Child Services Coordinator – Northern Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 121, deborahn@mareinc.org
Deborah has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of social work specifically in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities and geriatrics. Deborah received her B.A. from Brandeis University and her M.S.W. from Tulane School of Social Work. Deborah also has a background in Jewish education. Deborah is the proud mom of an adoptive daughter. They have been involved in the MARE/Jordan’s Adoption Walks for the past several years. Deborah is thrilled to be serving as the Child Services Coordinator for the Northern Region.
Chelsea Hartman – Child Services Coordinator – Southern Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 122, chelseah@mareinc.org
Prior to beginning at MARE in 2020, Chelsea worked as both an Ongoing and Adolescent Social Worker for the Department of Children and Families. She has also worked as a Family Support Specialist, working with families and children placed in foster care or group homes and providing support to reunify these families.

Janet Labadie-Kelley
Child Services Coordinator – Boston Region & Contracted Agencies
(617) 964-6273 ext. 126, janetlk@mareinc.org

Lindsey Brynjolfsson, MSW
Director of Specialized Programs
(617) 964-6273 ext. 125, lindseyb@mareinc.org
Janet Labadie-Kelley – Child Services Coordinator – Boston Region & Contracted Agencies
(617) 964-6273 ext. 126, janetlk@mareinc.org
Janet has had a long-standing history of youth advocacy starting as Program Coordinator of The Legal Resource Center in English High School and as Teen Advocate/Outreach Director of the Boys and Girls Club. Prior to working for MARE, she worked as a Paralegal for local private attorneys and law firms specializing in various aspects of the law. Janet and her husband are the proud parents to two young girls both recently adopted.
Kristina Russell – Child Services Coordinator
(617) 964-6273 ext. 120, kristinar@mareinc.org
Kristina has been working in the field of education since 2007; she is licensed in the state of Massachusetts in elementary education, moderate special education, and severe special education. Working in residential, 766 schools, public schools, and collaboratives has prepared her to work with children, families, and the community. Kristina has an adult foster child that has been in her life for over 13 years; a great deal of her time is spent with him, as their bond is the most important aspect of her life. She is joining MARE as the Child Services Coordinator for the Central Region and is looking forward to working with everybody involved in this area.
Lindsey Brynjolfsson, MSW – Director of Specialized Programs
(617) 964-6273 ext. 125, lindseyb@mareinc.org
Lindsey has 15 years of experience in the field of social work. While always working with children, the focus of Lindsey’s work has included: mental health, school-based services, family support, child protective services, and adoption. Lindsey held the positions of WWK Recruiter for the Western Region and CSC for the Boston Region and contracted agencies throughout the state with MARE prior to filling the role of Weekend Family Connections Coordinator. As Director of Specialized Programs, Lindsey now oversees both the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program and the Weekend Family Connections Program at MARE.
Ashley Falandys – Specialized Recruitment Coordinator
(617) 964-6273 ext. 127, ashleyf@mareinc.org
Ashley is an adoptive mom and has spent the last ten years working as an Early Intervention Developmental Specialist and Team Leader. In her role at MARE, Ashley will work on behalf of a small number of children to create a personalized recruitment plan for each child, including exploration of the child’s existing and prior social networks, mobilization of community resources and creative public recruitment strategies. Ashley will work in partnership with each child’s team of social workers with the common goal of finding permanency for some of our most vulnerable youth.
family support
services

Ricardo L. Franco, LSW
Director of Family Support Services
(617) 964-6273 ext. 111, ricardof@mareinc.org

Mary Liz Nogueras
Outreach & Support Coordinator for Black & Latino Families
(617) 964-6273 ext. 130, marylizn@mareinc.org
Ricardo L. Franco, LSW – Director of Family Support Services
(617) 964-6273 ext. 111, ricardof@mareinc.org
Ricardo is a licensed, bi-lingual social worker (LSW) and has been an invaluable contributor to MARE for the past nine years. He has served in roles as Family Support Services Coordinator, Latinx Services Coordinator and liaison of Faith-Based Initiatives. In addition to his work with MARE, Ricardo is an ordained minister with a doctoral degree in religion and brings a wealth of knowledge about multicultural community engagement and the intersectionality of faith and social issues. Ricardo directs all family support services and programs of the agency.
Liz Joyal – Family Support Services Coordinator
(617) 964-6273 ext. 124, lizj@mareinc.org
Liz is a licensed social worker (LCSW) with personal foster care and adoption experience. Liz’s family served as a foster family for over 100 children and teens throughout her childhood, and Liz and her husband are adoptive parents to an older child who was adopted from foster care in 2017. To her role at MARE of supporting families through the adoption from foster care process, Liz brings 20 years of experience in a multicultural campus ministry setting, working with students, partnering with churches, and supervising and directing programs and staff across New England. Liz has a Masters of Social Work from Boston University, a Masters of Religion from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and is trained as a TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) Practitioner.
Mary Liz Nogueras – Outreach & Support Coordinator for Black & Latino Families
(617) 964-6273 ext. 130, marylizn@mareinc.org
Wendy's Wonderful Kids
program
Wendy's Wonderful Kids (WWK) is a signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a non-profit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America's foster care systems. These workers maintain a small caseload of the youth who wait the longest for adoption and employ a child-focused recruitment strategy in order to identify permanent families for these youth.

Deidra Graham
Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter – Western Massachusetts
(617) 964-6273 ext. 128, deidrag@mareinc.org

Scott Barry
Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter – Boston Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 116, scottb@mareinc.org
Deidra Graham – Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter – Western Massachusetts
(617) 964-6273 ext. 128, deidrag@mareinc.org
140 High Street, 2nd Floor, Springfield, MA 01105
Before joining MARE in 2019, Deidra previously worked as an Outpatient Therapist and as a Case Manager with children placed in intensive foster care placement. She also had a 15 year career with the MA Department of Children and Families as a social worker technician.
Scott Barry – Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter – Boston Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 116, scottb@mareinc.org
For the past 5 years, Scott has worked at Plummer Youth Promise in both the group home and supported apartments. He began his career in 2014 as a direct care counselor in the group home until he was presented with an opportunity to step into the Assistant Program Directors role for both the group home and supported apartments. Since 2014 Scott has been in the role of Assistant Program Director for Plummer Youth Promise and in 2019 became the Program Manager of the group home.
Scott oversaw the day to day operations of the group home program with 12 boys age range 13 to 18. Scott has a BA from Lesley University and Associate Degrees from North Shore Community College In Business Administration and Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation.
communications

Thomas Houatchanthara
Development and Community Engagement Associate
(617) 964-6273 ext. 131, thomash@mareinc.org
Jeremy Smith – Director of Communications and Public Relations
(617) 964-6273 ext. 115, jeremys@mareinc.org
Jeremy has over ten years of communications experience working for non-profits and faith-based organizations. Jeremy is also an ordained minister and has worked in various social justice and advocacy roles. He brings his experiences as a graphic designer, freelance marketer, and social media management to his current role, and oversees MARE's branding, communications strategies, and community engagement
Disa Parker – Digital Communication Specialist
(617) 964-6273 ext. 118, disap@mareinc.org
Disa has over 5 years of experience as a graphic designer in print and digital media. Being adopted themself--along with having family members who are adopted, have been in the foster care system, or have adopted in the past--Disa has a strong connection to the mission MARE provides. Prior to working with MARE, they were a graphic designer for their university and numerous companies. Disa brings their expertise in print and digital design to help create the visual collateral MARE shares through their events or social media platforms.
Ana Eira – Community Engagement Lead
(617) 964-6273 ext. 119, anae@mareinc.org
Ana is a seasoned communications professional with a strong foundation in print journalism and global communications. With over seven years of experience, Ana has lent her expertise to a range of top-tier organizations, such as the United Nations and the Council of the European Union, helping them translate their impact into compelling and engaging communications. Her most recent roles include serving as deputy press secretary for senator Elizabeth Warren and leading communications for an international peacebuilding organization.
At MARE, Ana serves as the Community Engagement Lead, where she wears many hats to support the organization's mission. From copywriting and storytelling to social media management and volunteer engagement, Ana brings a diverse skill set to the table. With a focus on public relations, she is dedicated to amplifying the voices of MARE's community, ensuring that their stories are heard.
Thomas grew up with a strong sense of community being the youngest of 10 in an immigrant family. He learned the importance of giving back at an early age. Thomas spent his teen years volunteering at his local youth center. Later, he became the unit director of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club in Southbridge, MA, his hometown. When the club closed, he began a 16-year career with the Commonwealth for the Department of Youth Services. Feeling that he wanted to make more of a positive impact he found himself now at MARE, as the new Development and Community Engagement Associate.
When Tom is not focused on MARE’s mission, he and his wife of 7 years love to travel near and far. He often finds himself in the kitchen or at his desk cooking, writing new and old family recipes with his twist. He also loves to be on the lake with a fishing pole in hand and some good tunes playing softly in the background.
He hopes to gain and spread knowledge through his new journey with MARE all while making that positive impact on a child’s life.
Development
Meghan Hamilton – Director of Development
(617) 964-6273 ext. 114, meghanh@mareinc.org
Meghan brings over 20 years of nonprofit work and leadership to her role as Director of Development. Prior to joining MARE, she worked in a number of roles during her 12-year tenure at the Attleboro Norton YMCA, including Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship. As an adoptive parent, she’s excited to bring her personal and professional experience to her new role and to support MARE’s mission.
administration
Donna Simon – Accounting Manager
(617) 964-6273 ext. 117, donnas@mareinc.org
Prior to joining MARE in January of 2018, Donna worked in various financial roles for high-tech start-ups and then as controller of a property management company focussed on affordable housing. As Accounting Manager at MARE, Donna is responsible for day-to-day Financial and Human Resource operations.
Board of directors
KEY
**Adoptive Parent, *Adoptee
Ana Eira – Community Engagement Lead
(617) 964-6273 ext. 119, anae@mareinc.org
Ana is an international communications professional with a background in print journalism and global communications. Over the last seven years, Ana has helped top-tier organizations, including the United Nations and the Council of the European Union, translate their impact into compelling and engaging communications. Most recently, she served as deputy secretary during Senator Warren’s reelection campaign and Comms Lead for an international peacebuilding organization.
As the Community Engagement Lead at MARE, Ana wears different hats, focusing on copywriting, storytelling, social media management, volunteer engagement, and public relations.
Dana Lehman **
President, Attuned Education Partners
Tracey Aronson **
Vice President, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr, LLP
Steve Briggs
Treasurer, KPMG
Keri Califano **
Porchlight Properties, Realtor
Bridget Chiaruttini
Executive Director, MARE
Harold (Hal) Grotevant
Rudd Family Foundation Chair in Psychology, University of MA, Amherst
Tony LaCasse **
Retired
Shawn McNinch *
Brown Brothers Harriman
Deborah Yamin **
Retired
Michele M. Benkis
Retired
Nisha Thakrar **
South Boston Community Health Center
Carly Burton **
Simmons School of Social Work
Jinnie Reed *
Mintz
Kelli Powell
Moderna
Gary Lyons
Baker Center for Children and Families
Abbie Goldberg
Clark University
Maurine Albano – Child Services Coordinator – Western Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 129, malbano@mareinc.org
140 High Street, 2nd Floor, Springfield, MA 01105
Prior to joining MARE in 2001, Maurine worked in various facets of social services and held several human resource management positions at the Milton Bradley Company. Maurine is an adoptive parent of two children. As the Western Region’s Child Services Coordinator, Maurine works collaboratively with DCF and contracted agency 18 Degrees, (formerly known as Berkshire Children and Families) to provide comprehensive recruitment services to the waiting children in her region.
Deborah Noah, LICSW – Child Services Coordinator – Northern Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 121, deborahn@mareinc.org
Deborah has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of social work specifically in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities and geriatrics. Deborah received her B.A. from Brandeis University and her M.S.W. from Tulane School of Social Work. Deborah also has a background in Jewish education. Deborah is the proud mom of an adoptive daughter. They have been involved in the MARE/Jordan’s Adoption Walks for the past several years. Deborah is thrilled to be serving as the Child Services Coordinator for the Northern Region.
Chelsea Hartman – Child Services Coordinator – Southern Region
(617) 964-6273 ext. 122, chelseah@mareinc.org
Prior to beginning at MARE in 2020, Chelsea worked as both an Ongoing and Adolescent Social Worker for the Department of Children and Families. She has also worked as a Family Support Specialist, working with families and children placed in foster care or group homes and providing support to reunify these families.