The Granite YMCA has announced that Kelley O’Hara has assumed the role of executive director of the YMCA of Concord.

O’Hara is a nonprofit professional who has 12 years of experience in operational management, community engagement and program development. Most recently, she has led the Merrimack Valley YMCA Andover Branch as associate executive for more than eight years. Prior to that role, she served the YMCA in both East Bridgewater and Keene as the director of aquatics. Kelley has her master’s of science from Antioch University in Keene and obtained her bachelor’s of science from Widener University in Pennsylvania.

Keene Family YMCA welcomes new CEO

The Keene Family YMCA has named Christy Sterbenz Filby as its new chief executive officer, effective June 2. Selected by the Y’s board of directors, following a four-month search, Sterbenz Filby will succeed Dan Smith, who stepped down in November of 2024 to lead the Greater Burlington YMCA.

Sterbenz Filby comes to the Keene Family YMCA with 28 years of experience in the YMCA movement, currently serving as the director of public policy and statewide initiatives at Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs. Serving as a leader for the Alliance since 2017, Sterbenz Filby manages public policy initiatives and strategic collaborations across 114 YMCA locations, serving more than 1.1 million residents. Sterbenz Filby holds a master’s degree in public administration from Drake University and is a YMCA Organizational Leader.

Pease announces new assistant port director

The Pease Development Authority (PDA) has announced the hiring of Richard A. Hartley as the new assistant port director for the Division of Ports and Harbors. With an extensive background in maritime operations, federal service, and leadership, Hartley brings a wealth of experience to the role as PDA continues to enhance and expand its port operations.

Hartley, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, has dedicated more than two decades to maritime security, operations management, and strategic planning. His career includes leadership positions such as senior liaison to the U.S. Fleet Forces Navy Warfare Development Command, director of operations for the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami, and director of operational safety and security at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. His expertise in port security, infrastructure management, and inter-agency collaboration makes him uniquely suited to this new position.

Hartley succeeds Myles Greenway, who recently departed PDA to rejoin the U.S. Coast Guard as a port security specialist in Boston, Mass. Greenway played a crucial role in advancing port security initiatives, and Hartley is set to build upon this foundation. Hartley will begin his new role on April 14.

Friends Forever International announces new board members, leadership

Friends Forever International (FFI), a pioneer in global youth empowerment based in Durham, has announced three new members of its board of directors, who joined in 2024, alongside a new leadership team for 2025.

Jessica Maye, a registered nurse at Tayside Hospital in Scotland and an FFI alumna, brings a deep understanding of youth leadership and community service, having served as an FFI Alumni Counselor and mentor to participants.

Kate Friedrich, vice president of government affairs at Thomson Reuters, is a recognized leader in global and national initiatives.

Jeff Fahey, a renowned actor and dedicated humanitarian, has traveled, lived, and worked extensively throughout the developing world, focusing on humanitarian efforts in regions such as Afghanistan and Western Sahara.

In addition to welcoming these board members in 2024, FFI has announced its new leadership team for 2025. Tim Allison, executive director of the foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges, will serve as chair. Christine Dwyer, senior vice president at RMC Research, steps into the role of vice chair, with Darcy Peyser, attorney at Durbin Law Offices, as secretary, and Robert Gibson, enterprise sales director at Toast, as treasurer.

Hurd promoted to senior VP at NH Mutual Bancorp

New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp has announced the promotion of Lynn Hurd to senior vice president operations administration and payments officer. Hurd had oversight of various operational functions including CD/IRA services, fraud management and payment channels for NHMB and its affiliates, NHTrust, Savings Bank of Walpole, Merrimack County Savings Bank (the Merrimack), and MVSB (Meredith Village Savings Bank).

Hurd is a longtime employee, joining MVSB in 1981 as a student teller. She advanced to assistant head teller, then transitioned into the operations side of the bank as deposit ops manager and rose from there to vice president operations administration before achieving this promotion. She has successfully completed a variety of a banking related credentials and holds a number of diplomas from the American Institute of Banking.

New business development officer at St. Mary’s Bank

St. Mary’s Bank welcomes Keith Rose as its new business development officer.Rose will focus on expanding business relationships, enhancing community engagement, and driving growth for St. Mary’s Bank in the Concord market.

Rose brings more than 15 years of experience in commercial lending, relationship management, and business development. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed multi-million-dollar portfolios, cultivated strong community partnerships, and fostered business growth through strategic financial solutions. Most recently, he served as senior vice president, market manager in commercial lending at Northway Bank.

New Generation names new executive director

New Generation, a program of Catholic Charities NH, has named Brandy Rickaby as its new executive director.

Rickaby will oversee operations, programming, and staff for New Generation, which provides a pathway out of homelessness for mothers and children in New Hampshire.

Rickaby was most recently the Family Services manager for New Generation, overseeing the program’s case management services for residents. Her journey with New Generation is uniquely inspiring – having once been a resident, she joined the staff in 2019 and has since been a pivotal figure in transforming lives.

Rickaby steps into the role previously held by Elsy Cipriani, who was recently named the new executive director for the New Hampshire Food Bank.

Schleich joins Bar Harbor Bank & Trust as VP

Anna Schleich has joined Bar Harbor Bank & Trust as vice president, branch relationship manager for the bank’s location in Bedford. She leads a team of banking professionals to provide solutions and guidance to help individuals, families, and businesses in Bedford and surrounding towns meet their financial goals.

Schleich has almost 20 years of experience in banking. She began her career in banking in 2006 as assistant vice president, branch manager at Citizens Bank. She then worked as vice president, senior branch manager at TD Bank. Before joining Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, she served as assistant vice president, relationship manager business banker at M&T Bank.

Scholarship Foundation elects two new board members

Thomas Caldwell and Lesley McGowan have been elected to the board of directors of the Blakeley-Mills Newfound Regional Scholarship Foundation, which offers scholarships to Newfound Regional High School graduating students and alumni in need of financial assistance, in order to pursue educational advancement through a technical school, an apprenticeship, and/or college.

Caldwell, a member of Newfound Memorial High School’s Class of 1971, is a writer, editor, photographer, and videographer with an extensive background in all facets of journalism, including web design and content creation. A graduate of Dartmouth College where he majored in literature and creative writing, he has been employed at weekly and daily newspapers (including as owner/publisher of The Telegram of Franklin) and served on the board of the NH Press Association. He also served as part-time executive director of the Newfound Region Chamber of Commerce, on the Bristol Budget Committee, and on the study committee for the construction of Newfound Regional High School.

McGowan graduated from Newfound Regional High School in 1997. She attended the University of Maine at Farmington. Later McGowan transferred to UNH to complete an undergraduate degree in family studies with a concentration in family counseling and child development in 2001. After graduating, she was hired as the administrative and research Assistant for the Greenbook Project. McGowan later volunteered at the Bristol Nursery School, serving as treasurer, later at Bristol Elementary School, served as chair of the PTO. After eight years at Bristol Elementary School as a paraprofessional, McGowan joined the Advancement Office at Plymouth State University, supporting their alumni relations and development teams.

Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire selects interim president and CEO

Dartmouth Health’s Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire (VNH) has appointed Tammy L. Tarsa, MBA, BSN, RN, as interim president and chief executive officer. Tarsa is an experienced clinician and health care leader with 20 years of knowledge of home health and hospice. She succeeds Johanna Beliveau, DNP, who will be pursuing a new professional opportunity.

Tarsa has served as chief clinical officer at VNH since joining them in 2022 and will continue in this dual role. Tarsa previously was the executive director of home health, hospice and palliative care at Jefferson Healthcare in Washington. She holds a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing from Ball State University, a master’s of business administration degree from Spring Arbor College, and is completing her doctorate in health administration from Central Michigan University.