Tonya Arango began working with us in 2004 as a shift worker and used her experience here to gain a full-time residential counselor position in a therapeutic program for teenage girls. Since 2004 she was on-call and in 2008 came back as a part-time staff worker. Her CPR, First Aide, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, and DCF Medication Training makes her a well rounded and welcome team member.

Cheryl Goodison is a life long resident of Vernon, where the shelter is located. She has an extensive background in hospitality and retail industries. This customer service background gives her a depth of transferable skills that are useful in her direct care role with us.

Lisa Gray Prior to coming to us, Lisa worked as a Certified Nurses Aide for 15 years and spent 10 years in the retail industry, the last three years as an Assistant Manager. She offers a unique blend of caring and customer service skills that are transferable and valued. She is loyal, dependable, easily trainable, and a team player.

Chris Malis is a graduate of U-CONN and has been interested in the issues of poverty and homelessness for decades. He began the Cornerstone Shelter which operates next door to us next and served as its first Director for over 3 years. Other passions are collecting a wide range of music and hiking the trails of Connecticut.

Pieter Nijssen has been the Executive Director since 2004. After spending several years in the private sector, where he sharpened his business skills, he entered the public sector. From 1986 - 1996 he and his wife served as missionaries. After returning Stateside, Pieter worked as a Case Manager and Skills Instructor among TANF recipients (1997 - 2003), after which he reentered shelter work. He is a member of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work, Associate Member of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, and has completed over 150 C.E.U.’s in addiction studies at various N.E. Colleges and Universities.

Lisa Perry is our part-time bookkeeper and she also serves as the secretary at one of our local churches. This congregation operates Bev’s Corner, a drop in center where many of our clients receive additional support services.

LaTunya Pritchett has an earned B.S. in Social Work from Alabama State University with a 3.6 G.P.A. She has also completed Aggression Replacement, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Part I and II, and DCF Medication Administration training. This, along with her residential counselor and supervisor experience and warm disposition, makes her a valuable asset to our team.

Rey Ruiz has a degree in Criminal Justice and has been in the helping profession since 1998. He previously worked in a facility for adjudicated juveniles, after which he worked as a Case Manager / Counselor for ADRC, Inc. This, along with his experience working at another shelter as Assistant Director, and being a Research Assistant at U-CONN Health Center, brings a level of knowledge and experience that makes us well-rounded.

Julie Rybacki is our Service Co-Ordinator. Her previous work in another homeless shelter, Milestone (a detox program), and Pierce Memorial Home gives her a depth of knowledge and experience that enables her to effectively connect and work with our clients as their primary case manager. She has the challenging task of giving compassionate care and coordinating the support services clients need in order to move towards greater self-sufficiency and productivity. She has completed over 120 C.E.U.’s in addiction studies from various New England Colleges and Universities.

Evelyn Thorpe has been with us since 1995 in various capacities and is one our most cross-trained staff. She holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice with a major in forensics and has over two decades of human service experience between the Legal Aide Society and Alternative Incarceration Program. She spent a number of years in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands where she taught the 12-Step and related recovery modalities. She has earned C.E.U.’s from Case Western School of Social Work, OH, St. Joseph's College, Hartford and U-CONN's School of Social Work.

Charlene Williams has been with us since 1997 and is a part-time staff worker with a B.A. in Psychology. Previously she worked at the S.T.R.I.V.E. Program in New Britain serving teenagers. Since 1984 she has been working at Hartford Hospital. Charlene is non-judgmental and able to make others feel "at home."

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