CHNA 20 leadership looks a little different than years past, with changes in staff roles and a new governance structure. Let’s meet the team!
CHNA 20 Staff & Consultants
Ashley Stockwell, Program Director
Ashley joined the CHNA in 2017 and has served in various roles within the organization. Previously, she worked at the Worcester Department of Public Health managing the Academic Health Collaborative, an entity which helps implement various public health programs while developing a pipeline of public health professionals from local universities. She also worked as a Community Outreach Specialist for Bay State Community Services’ prevention department, leading tobacco cessation and smoke-free housing efforts under the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund.
Ashley holds a graduate degree in Public Health, undergraduate degrees in Community Health and Anthropology, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.
Fun Fact: Despite coming from a family of basketball coaches and players (her grandfather was part of the Harlem Globetrotters back in the late ‘40s), Ashley’s heart belongs to the rink as an ice hockey player.
Ivy Watts-Calixte, Community Engagement Specialist
Ivy has her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and her Master's Degree in Public Health. Ivy has worked in Quality Management at both Riverside Community Care and Partners HealthCare, but more recently has developed her own business, Beautifully Simply You, where she shares her story of her own struggle with her mental health with students, coaches and parents across the country. Ivy hopes that her own story will help break the stigma around mental health, and empower others to know there is no shame in seeking help.
Fun Fact: Ivy ran track for 15 years and was named a top 30 finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
Kym Williams, Senior Strategist
Kym joined CHNA 20 in 2013 and has served in various roles within the organization. Before joining the CHNA, Kym was principal investigator on projects addressing access to care for clients of Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program and Healthcare Without Walls. Kym is also an adjunct professor at Regis College, teaching courses in the health sciences department. Kym holds an undergraduate degree from UCLA, graduate degrees in public health and management from Boston University and is a certified community health worker.
Fun Fact: When Kym isn’t busy engaging in public health she is enjoying time outside tending to her garden, hens and goats.
Brianne DeRosa, Communications Consultant
Brianne has been working with CHNA 20 as a consultant to various projects and initiatives since 2014. Brianne started her career as a writer, educator and community outreach specialist in the performing arts, which provided a gateway to almost two decades of experience working with nonprofit organizations. She has been providing consulting services in the areas of communications, strategy and organizational capacity for seven years. Brianne’s writing is regularly featured on sites such as Motherwell Magazine, and she has contributed to or co-authored three cookbooks. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts and Religious Studies from Drew University and an MFA in Theatre from Sarah Lawrence College.
Fun Fact: On the side, Brianne serves as the Soprano Section Leader for the Providence Singers, regularly performing with the Rhode Island Philharmonic. Her involvement with the Singers has provided her with the opportunity to sing with Dave Brubeck twice, as well as participate in several recording projects and other fun musical outlets!
CHNA 20 Steering Committee
Karen Peterson, Co-Chair
Community Benefits Coordinator, South Shore Health
Over the last decade, Karen’s career has transformed from individual fitness and wellness management to community health. Her work at the South Shore YMCA provided her with the opportunity to use grant funds from the Y of the USA and the State of MA to incorporate medical wellness programming into the Y’s existing services, which empowered participants to lead healthier lifestyles using evidence-based interventions. The Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund (PWTF) was the most influential grant, as it enabled the Y to create a cross-sector collaborative consisting of community, municipal, and clinical partners that went on to implement a linked referral system for addressing chronic disease management. The PWTF funded the Quincy/Weymouth Wellness Initiative, and Karen served as the representative from the SSYMCA on its Executive Committee. She was so inspired by the impact they were making on the health and wellbeing of our community that it motivated her to obtain a Master’s degree in Health Informatics and Analytics. Now in her current role in Community Benefits for South Shore Health, she is able to continue this meaningful work with the many like-minded professionals and organizations that have continued to collaborate for the benefit of our community.
Fun Fact: In her spare time, Karen represents the Keiser Corporation as a National Trainer for their cardio program. In this role, she conducts trainings and certifies instructors to teach indoor cycling, which is a passion of hers.
Paul Williams, Co-Chair
Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator, Weymouth Health Department
Paul Williams is the Substance Use Coordinator for the Town of Weymouth. He previously was the Manager of Strategic Outreach at the Lown Institute. Prior to that he worked on health care policy focused on payment and delivery reform, behavioral health, and military and veterans health.
Fun Fact: Paul is prone to make obscure historical or pop culture references to explain his thoughts and opinions
Katelyn Szafir
Associate Executive Director - Emilson & Quincy Branches, Medical Wellness Director, South Shore YMCA
Katelyn has a broad background in Exercise Science, Nutrition, Evidence Based Health Intervention and Medical Wellness program design, execution and evaluation. She oversees a suite of referral-based programs under the “Prescribe the Y” banner for the South Shore YMCA, including Cancer Support, Cardiac Maintenance, Fall Prevention and Senior Wellness, Weight Management, Diabetes Prevention and Management, Health Education, Structured Exercise, Tobacco Cessation and the Partnership Program for people with physical disabilities. She created, implemented and oversees the Staystrong Program, a collaborative community program providing essential daily living support to cancer patients, cancer survivors, their caregivers and household family members.
Katelyn has a Masters Degree in Education from Bridgewater State University and Bachelor’s Degree in Movement Science from Westfield State University.
Fun Facts:
Katelyn was born 3 months premature, weighing 1 pound 9 ounces!
She is a Massachusetts State Champion Gymnast!
Vinny Harte
President and CEO, Wellspring Multi-Service Center
Vinny has been the Executive Director (Now President & CEO) at Wellspring since 2003. The organization has grown from a single storefront into a full service facility in Hull including a fleet of four vehicles that provide transportation of clients and food. Recently, Wellspring opened a new site in Weymouth that includes a thrift shop and the services offered by Wellspring such as counseling, legal advocacy and community outreach. Future programs include a mobile kitchen (Food Truck) and a coordinated response to the growing housing crisis in the communities served.
Fun Facts: Vinny and his wife, Marianne, have been married for 34 years, and have raised two great men: Mackenzie who lives full time in NYC and Riley who represents the Down Syndrome community with pride. When not at Wellspring, Vinny has taken up golf with very limited success and he can regularly be seen coaching various Special Olympic teams including Softball and Track & Field.