Meet The Team
Dear YMCA Members and Participants,
Please meet our team at The Granite YMCA. Together, we are a dedicated group of individuals connected by a shared passion and commitment to serving our members and strengthening the foundations of our community through youth development, healthy living, social responsibility, and family strengthening. Our talented staff are well vetted through a thorough interview and reference checking process. All must pass a criminal investigative check and go through both formal and on the job training programs. Our association is very proud of all our team members, and invite you to ask any of them for assistance to better improve your Y experience.
Enjoy your YMCA.
Association Team
Michele Sheppard
President/CEO
Michele holds a BS in kinesiology from the University of Maryland. She began her career in 1986 as physical director at the Chambersburg Pennsylvania YMCA where she oversaw fitness, sports, gymnastics and aquatics. Michele then moved on to the Watertown NY Family YMCA as health and PE director in charge of all health, wellness, and sports programs. For a brief time, she worked in the private fitness sector as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. She later returned to the Chambersburg YMCA as the program services director and was promoted two years later to associate executive director. While there, she earned her program and senior program director certifications from Y-USA, attended the Indiana University School of Fund Raising, and was certified in personal training, spinning, and yoga. Michele's unwavering commitment to health and wellness is so strong, that when she left the Chambersburg YMCA in 2009 they named their youth fitness facility in her honor. In 2009, Michele joined the Granite YMCA as the Allard Center branch director where she is delighted to be helping the Allard Center team provide a variety of high quality health and wellness options to the greater Goffstown community.
Josh Askew
Association Director of Membership
Josh grew up in a small town in the NH Lakes Region area called Melvin Village. He has had multiple stops with the YMCA. Josh was a summer camp participant at the YMCA Camp Belknap in Tuftonboro, NH. He did a two-year internship in college at the Marietta YMCA in Marietta, OH. Josh also worked for the YMCA’s in Chicago for 3 years and the DC Y for 2 years. Additionally, Josh had the opportunity to work for the YMCA National Headquarters in Chicago (YUSA). Josh has been with The Granite Y since May of 2020.
The Y played a big role for Josh as a child, being able to go to camp on financial assistance. The impact the Y creates on so many families is inspiring and the opportunity to do more is why he loves working at the Y.
In Josh’s free time, he loves to spend time with his family and friends. He also enjoys hiking on the weekends and watching sports.
Lisa Bernard
District VP of Operations
With over 13 years of experience as a leader at The Granite YMCA, Lisa has a strong and successful impact on leading branch operations, board and community development, as well as fundraising success. She has a BA in therapeutic recreations from Lyndon State College and more than 15 years of managerial, camping, and program development experience. Earlier in her career, Lisa focused on providing integrated camping opportunities for children with disabilities, through collaborative programs in NH, VT and NY. For several years she served as the Executive Director at the YMCA of Greater Londonderry. Most recently in 2021, Lisa was promoted to District Vice President overseeing operations at the Londonderry, Portsmouth and Rochester branches.
Jamie Demetry
VP of Marketing and Communications
Matt Hanson
District VP & Interim Executive Director at YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown
Matt has worked for The Granite YMCA since 1998. Prior to working, Matt attended Mi-Te-Na as a camper before getting his first job as Lifeguard at the Downtown YMCA. Over the years he has held several leadership roles across our association. These roles include, Camp Director, Allard Center Aquatics Director, Teen Services Director for the Downtown branch and Association Training Coordinator. Matt is a certified trainer through the American Safety and Health Institute and YMCA of the USA. Through which he teaches various enrichment and safety courses for the northeast. Additionally, Matt is active with the American Camp Association where he serves as a standards visitor. Matt holds a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management from Springfield College.
While not at the Y, Matt enjoys traveling, golfing and spending time with his family. He met his wife Megan when she worked at YMCA Camp Foss and they currently reside in Concord NH with their son Teddy.
Kim Harty
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Kim Harty has over 20 years of experience working in the Y movement. She joined The Granite YMCA in July of 2019 and serves the association managing the strategic plan and building strong partnerships locally and state-wide. She is passionate about the Y's role in the community and helping youth grow to be healthy, well-rounded adults.
Prior to The Granite YMCA Kim ran the Mount Desert Island YMCA. She got her start at the Greater Hartford YMCA as a program director moving to executive director, then leadership at the association office. She also ran the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, FL. She has a B.S. in Business Administration from Wayne State University and a Master’s in Human Services Administration from Springfield College. In addition, she is an Organizational Leader with the YMCA of the USA, certified as a holistic coach and an Inside-First facilitator.
Kim loves hiking with her dog and friends, engaging in art, being a grandma, and is always learning and connecting with people.
Kathy Kittle
Chief Financial Officer
Kathy Kittle, CPA, CGMA, has joined the leadership team of Granite YMCA as
Chief Financial Officer.
For the last nine years, Kathy has served as the Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer overseeing finance, human resources and IT at Concord Area
Trust for Community Housing (CATCH). CATCH is a multi-entity non-profit
organization that specializes in affordable housing and property management.
Prior to CATCH, Kathy served in a variety of financial leader positions with both
non-profit and for-profit organizations. Kathy received her certification in
public accounting from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where her focus was on
non-profit and start-up organizations.
Kathy received her Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Finance
in International Business from Southern New Hampshire University.
In 2014, Kathy was recognized by New Hampshire Business Review as the Small
Non-Profit Business Executive of the Year.
Kathy is the treasurer of the Easter Seals Massachusetts Board of Directors,
along with serving as chair of the Governance Committee and an active member
of the acquisitions and mergers team. She is also a member of the New
Hampshire Woman’s Foundation finance committee.
Cindy Lafond
Association Director of Health Interventions
Cindy Lafond has worked at the Granite YMCA since 1994 in many capacities. She started as a volunteer teaching group exercise moved on to become the Wellness Director, and slowly moved up the ladder from Association Health & Wellness Director, Senior Director, Branch Executive and finally to her dream job as the Association Director of Healthy Living. This job allows her to work with many people, ages and organizations to provide wellness throughout our community and state. After 32 years of wellness experience, Cindy holds numerous certifications in group exercise, LIVESTRONG at the Y, Cancer Exercise and Fitness Specialist, 500 hour Yoga instructor and this list will continue to grow as she pursues new and exciting ways to help individuals reach their wellness potential.
Laura Nese
Association Director of Data Management
Laura is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Recreation and Leisure Administration. She began her career with the YMCA shortly after graduation, moving her to the northeast. Laura began her career at the YMCA of Greater Westfield where she was the Director of Outdoor Education/Aquatics Director. She was with this YMCA for 3 years where she then was hired at the Frost Valley YMCA where she remained for 9 years as the Group and Retreats Director. She has held many roles within the YMCA and is excited to join her skills and experience with the amazing team at the YMCA of Downtown Manchester and the entire Granite YMCA association. She considers herself to be a student of life, and recently earned her 200 hour Yoga Instructor Certification and is continuing to work towards becoming a Yoga Therapist.
J.R. Ristaino
VP of Financial Development
J.R. Ristaino joined The Granite YMCA as Vice President of Financial Development in 2020 coming from The YMCA of Greater Boston where he worked as a Regional Development Manager.
Prior to joining the YMCA, J.R. was the Associate Director of The Clark Fund at Clark University and the Associate Director of Alumni/Parent Programs as well as adjunct faculty in the Business Studies Department at Salve Regina University. In addition to his passion for raising philanthropic funds for worthy causes, J.R. has a wealth of experience in organizational development which started when he was Chief of Staff for Commercial Loan Services at BankBoston. He also worked in development at the United Way of Rhode Island and has served on numerous theatrical and educational boards. Currently, J.R. is President of the SNHU Alumni Association.
J.R. earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern New Hampshire University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Salve Regina University. He has been, and remains a cheerleader for the organizations and causes he supports. J.R. is a native of Franklin, MA, brother to five siblings, uncle to twelve nieces and nephews, great uncle to thirteen and friend to many.
Katie Soule
Association Director of Child Care & Day Camp
Katie has been working in the field of childcare and education since 2007 and has been with the Granite Y since the summer of 2019. In her current role, she supports childcare and day camp programs across the association through consulting, coaching, program evaluation, training and association initiative rollout. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, with a concentration in Language Arts and minor in Special Education, from the University of Maine at Farmington, as well as a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Educational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. Additionally, Katie is a Certified Human Behavior Consultant in association with the Fitzgerald Institute of Lifelong Learning and an ACEs Master Trainer with ACE Interface. Before joining the Granite Y, she has worked in many capacities within the youth services field, including being a pre-k teacher, center owner/director, preschool gymnastics coach, professional development trainer, behavior consultant and as a Family Services Specialist for the NH DHHS Bureau of Family Assistance.
Katie’s passion for working with children and the adults who love and take care of them is fueled by a desire to empower people to become captains of their own ships. She is a steering committee member for the Dover Mental Health Alliance and advocate for destigmatizing and raising awareness around mental health for youth and adults. Outside of work, Katie enjoys spending time with her husband, dog, and two cats, getting outside as much as possible and can often be found with her nose in a book.
