Board

Tammy Blais – Tammy joined Bearingstar Insurance as a Personal Insurance Consultant over 10 years ago. During this time she has won Bearingstar's "Top Producer" three years in a row and has earned her ACSR accreditation. Tammy has been in the insurance industry for 21 years. Her many years of experience have helped her build long lasting relationships with her clients. Tammy is committed to ensuring that her clients are protected with customized home and auto protection plans that fit their individual lifestyles. Tammy is an active member of the Greater Norwich Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys networking and meeting new people. Bethsaida: Tammy joined Bethsaida in 2010 and serves on the Fundraising Committee. Resident: Tammy grew up in Baltic, CT where she currently resides with her husband. Interest & Hobbies: In her free time, Tammy enjoys reading, traveling and spending quality time with her two sons and grandchildren.

Patricia Dixe – Pat is the Program Coordinator for the City of Norwich, Youth & Family Services, she has been employed with the city for 14 years. Pat works with high school juniors and seniors in a school to career employment program. She pulls together internships and job shadows for her students so that they may have an opportunity to experience jobs in areas of their career interest. This allows the students to make better choices about their future when deciding to go on to higher education, training or full time work. She also provides her students with work skills training, assistance with college application process and summer employment. Pat serves on several committees including the Eastern CT Transportation Collaboration, Eastern CT Employment Network, Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, employment and income committee. Bethsaida: Pat joined the Bethsaida Board of Directors in 2009 and serves on the Fundraising Committee. Education: State University Of New York, College of Technology, Bachelors: Business Management. Resident: Town of Preston for 10 years. Interest & Hobbies: Cooking, Antiquing.

Cindy Field - Cindy has over 26 years of management experience and currently works for Eastern Federal Bank in Plainfield, CT. In 2008 she received the banks Community Champion award for community service. Cindy’s passion for fundraising began when her grandson needed an organ transplant and she saw great support from the community. Cindy served on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of SECT for 2 years, has volunteered for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life for the past nine years. She completed the Leadership Program for the Eastern CT Chamber of Commerce in 2008. She has volunteered to help the Eastern CT Chambers Holiday Gala for years. In the late 1990’s, with her husband, they formed a 501c3 organization to benefit the Shriners of Rhode Island in memory of a friend who was a Shrine clown. They ran 5 very successful annual golf tournaments and were able to provide three medically challenged children with the help that they needed through the Shriners organization. Bethsaida: Cindy joined the Bethsaida Board of Directors in 2010 and serves on the Fundraising Committee. Resident of: Town of Preston. Cindy is married and has 5 step-children, 14 step-grandchildren and 3 dogs. Interests and Hobbies include; horseback riding, reading, and working on her Koi pond.

Norman Gauthier – Norman retired from Electric Boat Corporation in 2009 where he worked as a Systems Engineer with a specialty in system safety. He has had several articles published in the Journal of System Safety and has been a guest speaker on system safety at MIT and at several international safety conferences. Norm has served as a member of the Preston Parks and Recreation Committee, the Preston Ethics Commission, and as a Volunteer Tutor for Literacy Volunteers of Southeastern CT. He currently serves as a member of the Preston Board of Finance. Bethsaida: Norm joined the Bethsaida Board of Directors in 2010 and serves on the Fundraising Committee. Education: University of New Haven, BS Computer Science. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering. Resident of: Town of Preston. Norm is married with 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren. Interests and Hobbies include; traveling, biking and hiking.

Angela George – Angela retired in 2005 as a marketing manager of a multi-national manufacturing company (work included travel throughout US and abroad). She has served as a board member for the Colchester Historical Society since 2004, Secretary for the East Haddam Community Lions, Co-Chair for the outreach ministries for Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry, and a member of the Colchester Land Trust. Education: BS in Marketing from Fordham Univ., MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Bethsaida: Angela joined Bethsaida as a board member in 2006 and served as the Interim Director in 2007. She is the Vice President of the Bethsaida Board of Directors and currently chairs the Governance Committee. Resident of: Angela has been a Colchester resident since 1978. Interest and Hobbies include: arts, history, and oil painting.

Elaine Jones – Elaine has worked in the business world for the past eighteen (18) years, most recently as a Staff Accountant. She has also worked as an Administrative Manager for a Restaurant/Hotel Investment Group as well as The University of Connecticut Library. She has served as a Girl Scout Leader and Religious Education Teacher and served on the Carnival Committee at Our Lady of Lourdes Annual Carnival and United Action- Housing Committee. Education: BS in Financial Accounting from the University of New Haven. Bethsaida: Elaine joined Bethsaida in 2009, serves as Secretary, and is a member of the Fundraising Committee. Resident of: Elaine has been a resident of Ledyard for 24 years. She resides there with her husband Oliver. She has two adult daughters. Interest and Hobbies: Yoga, reading, gardening and cooking.

Jane Moriarty – Jane is Vice President of Business Lending for Charter Oak Credit Union. She has 39 years experience in commercial and retail lending, business development and bank branch operational management, with a strong commitment to customer service. Jane is a member of the Southeastern Connecticut Women’s Network and has been treasurer of that organization for ten years. Other affiliates include the Women’s and Girl’s Fund Steering & Grants Committee of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut, Eastern Connecticut Chamber, Women’s Network Committee member, Greater Norwich Chamber and Mystic Chamber of Commerce. She is a past secretary of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sister of Southeastern Connecticut. Jane has been a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sister of Southeastern Connecticut for the last seven years. Garde Arts volunteer and Mystic Chamber volunteer. Bethsaida: Jane joined the Bethsaida Board of Directors in 2009, serves as the Treasurer, and is the Chair of the Finance Committee. Resident of: Jane and her husband live in Groton. She is the mother of three grown children. Interests and Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking and traveling.

Jennifer Muggeo – Since 2005, Jen has worked at Ledge Light Health District in Groton and is responsible for Finance, Technology and Human Resources for that organization. Before this, Jen worked for a privately held staffing agency in Seattle, WA, overseeing the same departments. Education: BS in Business Administration from the State University of New York, Albany. Bethsaida: Jen has been a board member since February, 2007, is a member of the Governance Committee, and currently serves as the Board President. Resident of: Jen is a resident of Gales Ferry. Interests and Hobbies: Social and political action and family time.

Joan Nagle is Vice President of Retail Banking for Dime Bank. She has over 25 years experience in the areas of retail banking, business development, customer service and branch operations. Joan is an advisory board member for the National Bone Marrow Foundation and the Norwich area Salvation Army. She also serves as an instructor for the Salvation Army life skills program. Joan previously served the Town of Sprague in the capacity of Selectman for 5 terms, was a member of the Sayles Elementary School Building Committee and has served as instructor of various banking classes with the Center for Financial Training (formerly American Institute of Banking). Bethsaida: Joan joined the Bethsaida Board of Directors in 2010 and serves on the Governance Committee. Resident: Joan is a resident of the Town of Sprague. Interests and Hobbies: Spending time with family, especially her 2 daughters and nieces. She also enjoys cooking, the arts and yoga.

Peter Patsouris – Peter is an Associate Professor of History and International Studies at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich. He has served as a member of the Otis Library Board of Trustees as the representative of the President of Three Rivers. He is also a member of the local AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) chapter, as well as a board member of the local AHEPA Housing Corporation which provides affordable housing for senior citizens. Bethsaida: Peter joined the Bethsaida Board of Directors in 2010, and serves on the Fundraising committee. Education: B.A., History and International Relations, Boston University; M.A., History, Providence College. Resident: Town of Norwich. Peter is married with a stepdaughter and two dogs. Interest & Hobbies: Reading, Watching films, and traveling.

Colleen Phillips-White LCSW– Colleen is a therapist at a residential treatment facility working with delinquent and at risk youth. Education: B.A. in Human Services from the College of St. Joseph in Vermont, and a MSW from Springfield College. Bethsaida: Colleen joined Bethsaida as a board member in 2007, and is a member of the Fundraising Committee. Resident of: Colleen has been a Norwich resident since 1982. Interests and Hobbies: Music, basketball, and traveling.

Paige Smith – Paige is employed by Liberty Mutual since 1997 and was previously employed by Dime Bank for 12 years. Bethsaida: She joined the board in 2007, and is a member of the Fundraising Committee. Resident of: Paige has lived in Norwich all of her life. Interests and Hobbies include; traveling, camping, motorcycle and snowmobile riding, crafts and seeing plays.