Meet The Board

The Laconia Youth Alliance Leadership Team is made up of community partners. Through their hard work and dedication, they have been able to foster a community focused on support and outreach.

Dr. Daisy Pierce

Sector Rep- Substance Abuse Organizations

Dr. Daisy Pierce has her PhD in Educational Psychology & Learning Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder. She is a founding member of Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region who began as a community volunteer before being officially hired as Executive Director. Dr. Pierce’s educational and professional background provide the framework for her passion as a dedicated teacher, researcher, and community member interested in bridging cultural, social, and emotional gaps that hinder acceptance among diverse groups of people. She identifies as a family member in recovery and ally who brings compassion and dedication to addressing the substance use public health crisis. Dr. Pierce is an active member of many local and statewide task forces and steering committees, including the State Health Assessment & State Health Improvement Plan Advisory Council. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, swimming, cooking, reading, and taking care of animals on her 94 acre homestead.

Carissa Elphick

Parent Sector Rep

Carissa Elphick serves as Director of Healthy Aging Initiatives. In addition, she has served as the Director of ServiceLink programs in Belknap and Carrol counties since 2017.

At the Partnership, she is responsible for leading all aspects of the agency’s efforts around healthy aging and wellness.

Carissa joined ServiceLink in 2014 working as an Options Counselor for the Belknap County office. Prior to joining the organization, she was a Program Assistant/Forensic Interviewer with the Merrimack County Advocacy Center in Concord. Other positions have included serving as a Court Assistant for the State of New Hampshire Judicial Branch in Franklin and as a Residential Youth Counselor at Mount Prospect Academy in Plymouth.

She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Justice Studies from the University of New Hampshire in Durham and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology (Summa Cum Laude) from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish, ME.

Carissa holds a broad range of professional certifications and is a graduate of Leadership Lakes Region (class of 2017). She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Gilford Neighbors, a community group supporting aging in place, social engagement, and volunteerism among older adults.

Julie Hart

Sector Rep- Media

Julie Hirshan Hart is the digital editor for The Laconia Daily Sun, where she creates opportunities for engagement with readers and the community. A graduate of Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, Julie previously worked in the nonprofit sector for 10 years, with organizations from Girl Scouts of the USA to Meals on Wheels. Julie serves as a captain for The Rising Suns team in the Community Challenge to benefit the Children's Auction. When she’s not reading and editing, she enjoys traveling and volunteering.

Detective Eric Adams

Sector Rep - Law Enforcement

Detective Adams is a 20 year veteran of Law Enforcement.  He has been with the Laconia Police Department since 2012 and is currently assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations as the Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment Coordinator. 

In his current role as the Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment Coordinator, Detective Adams works directly with individuals and their families who are struggling with substance use/mental health disorders, as a support network helping to navigate barriers.

Detective Adams is a founding member of and chairs the Board of Directors for Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region, a local Recovery Center.  Detective Adams is a member of the Board of Directors for New Futures, the largest advocacy organization in the State of New Hampshire focusing on Health and Wellness policy for all Granite Staters as well as Early Childhood policy at the State level.  Detective Adams co-chairs the SUD/AOD committee for New Futures.  Detective Adams is a member of the Board of Directors for Lakes Region Community Services, an organization supporting individuals and families

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Amanda Lewis

Sector Rep - Youth Serving Org.

I’m a working mom of 3, married 16 years, lived in NH my whole life, enjoy reading, cooking/baking, watching movies, spending time with family and friends, love the ocean, and my favorite animal is a dolphin. Been with LRCS for 4 years, before that with the Salvation Army of Laconia for 9, graduated from PSU with a BA in Communications and Business Management.


John Beland

Sector Rep - Civic/Volunteer Organizations

John Beland serves as The Partnership’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager, a role he has held since 2017.

At the agency, John is responsible for all areas of emergency preparedness and training and works closely with area town officials, health officers, emergency management directors, fire/rescue workers, police, schools and others to: limit illness and death, preserve continuity of government/business, minimize social disruption and minimize economic loss.

Prior to joining the Partnership, he served as Deputy Coordinator, Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid (LRMFA), which provides emergency communications and other value-added services to 35 communities across central NH. Prior to his work at LRMFA he served 30 years with the Gilford Fire-Rescue Department retiring as Chief of the Department in 2011. He also currently serves as Senior Staff Instructor at the NH Fire Academy.

John holds an A.S. in Fire Protection from New Hampshire Technical College in Laconia, is a Certified Public Manager and holds a number of professional certifications including from the Center for Domestic Preparedness, National Fire Academy and state and regional programs.

He serves on several community boards including Leadership Lakes Region, the Gilford Rotary Club (current president) and the St Baldrick’s Foundation Childhood Cancer Fundraiser as event organizer.

Reverend Paula Gile

Sector Rep- Religious/Fraternal Organizations

Rev. Paula Gile is currently serving as the Intentional Interim Pastor at the Sanbornton Congregational Church United Church of Christ in Sanbornton, NH. Pastor Paula served for almost 10 years as the Associate Pastor of the Congregational Church of Laconia UCC. She graduated from Andover Newton Theological School with a Master of Divinity and has a Master of Education with a concentration in counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Previous to ordained ministry, Paula worked as a foster care case manager, guidance counselor, and substance abuse prevention specialist in the state of Vermont.

Ashley Douthart

Sector Rep- Healthcare Professionals

Ashley Douthart is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor as well as the Behavioral Health Manager at HealthFirst. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Colby-Sawyer College. She then went on to receive her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University, while working full-time as a Socialization Coordinator for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Ashley joined the Behavioral Health staff at HealthFirst as an intern in 2013 and then became a full-time employee after completing her Master’s Program in 2014. While she is credentialed and licensed to work with clients of all ages, she enjoys supporting children and adolescents, and helping those clients with substance abuse disorders find treatment and enter into recovery. Ashley is an active member of her community, serving on the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Disaster Behavioral Response Team (DBHRT), and the Systems of Care and Project Aware Community Management Teams. She is also a Period of Purple Crying educator for the NH Children’s Trust. Ashley developed and launched a successful school-based counseling program in both the Winnisquam and Franklin School Districts over the past 5 years and is passionate about helping those in the most need. Ashley is a mom of four young children, and enjoys spending time with family, Disney movies, Harry Potter, and Autumn

Jason Bean

Board Member

Jason Bean is the Deputy Fire Chief and the Health Officer for the City of Laconia. I’ve worked in emergency services for twenty seven years, the last twenty here in Laconia. Over the course of my career I’ve worn many hats – paramedic, instructor, union vice president, etc. I’m a Notary Public and Justice of the Peace. In my spare time I’m a bass tournament angler – I fish out of a Ranger bass boat at the state and regional level. I’m the President and Tournament Director for a bass club called the Lakes Region Bass Chasers, and I’m proud to say that in 2018 our club was awarded the BASS nation President’s Award for Excellence. I live in the City and have been involved with a number of projects and committees over the years – and, my step-children attend Laconia schools, so I do have an investment and an interest in the health and well-being of our community.

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Pat Kiefer

Board Member

Pat Kiefer has been a resident of Laconia for 36 years, moving from Indiana. He retired from Freudenberg-NOK in 2019 after 40 years, mainly as a plant controller at various locations. Pat has been married to his wife, Marianne, for 48 years. They have three grown children, who are graduates of Laconia High School, and four grandchildren, one a LHS graduate, one a senior, and two attending Gilford schools.

 Pat was active with Stand Up Laconia for seven years, five of those as treasurer. He is a member of St. André Bessette Parish, active on numerous committees and ministries within the parish. He was chairman of the Parish Culture of Life Committee for 25 years.

Pat enjoys spending time with his family as well as assisting others any way possible. He has a real concern for the upcoming generations and for the Laconia community.

 LYA Staff

Kaitlyn Acciardo

Program Coordinator

 Meet Our School Advisors

Our school advisors lead the Stand Up Sachems Youth Groups in evidence-based prevention activities throughout the academic school year based on the Strategic Plan stipulated by the Drug-Free Communities Grant. The advisors enlist the middle and high school youth to be involved with implementing campaigns, programs and/ or prevention strategies promoted by Laconia Youth Alliance.

  • Carolyn Muniz

    Health Teacher at Laconia Middle School. .

  • Jess Gluyas

    6th Grade Special Education teacher at Laconia Middle School.

  • Jessica Conrad

    Student Assistance Program Coordinator at Laconia High/Middle School.

  • Kathryn O’Connor

    Social Worker at Laconia High School. .