Members
Members of the Commission includes a broad spectrum of representation and perspectives on this critical topic.
| Name | Role | Organization / Affiliation | Title | About | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alderwoman Kelly Thomas | Alderwoman | Manchester Board of Mayor & Alderwoman | Alderwoman | Kelly is currently a therapist contracted with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and NH State Parole to provide substance use and mental health treatment to individuals re-entering the community. Previously, Kelly served as a Director at Educare Daycare for 10 years, overseeing all operations. | ||||||||||||||
| Anna Thomas | Director of Public Health | City of Manchester Health Department | Public Health Director | Anna has been with the City of Manchester Health Department for the past 32 years, completing her undergraduate degree at UNH and graduate education in public health at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and Dartmouth College. Anna served in the United States Army National Guard and Reserves for 16 years, achieving the rank of Major. She has received numerous local and national recognitions, including a "Key to the City of Manchester" in 2009 and "Citizen of the Year" by the Greater Manchester Chamber in 2020. | ||||||||||||||
| Courtney Tanner | Business Representative | Dartmouth Health | Senior Director of Government Relations | Courtney has worked to improve access to necessary healthcare and supportive services for various populations, joining Dartmouth Health's Office of Government Relations in 2018. Courtney advocates for Dartmouth Health's providers, patients, and communities in state and federal legislative and executive arenas, and is the founding Board Chair of Families Flourish Northeast. Courtney earned a dual degree in law and social work at UNH and lives in Bedford, NH — the daughter of a late early childcare provider whose mother operated two early learning centers in York County, Maine. | ||||||||||||||
| Heather McGrail | Chamber of Commerce Representative | Greater Manchester Chamber | President & CEO | Heather has been with the Greater Manchester Chamber for over eight years, the last three as President & CEO. Heather serves on multiple boards, including the Manchester Proud Council, the Manchester Development Corporation, the NextGen Manchester Resiliency Council, City Year of NH, Amoskeag Industries, and the ReGen Valley Tech Hub Consortium. She was honored with the 2023 Granite State Outstanding Women's Leadership Award and named to "New Hampshire 200" in 2024. | ||||||||||||||
| Jennifer MacDonald, M.D. | ReGen Valley Consortium Representative | ReGen Valley Consortium/ ARMI | Chief Operating Officer | Jennifer currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, a member-based public-private partnership focused on growing the nation's bioeconomy and realizing the transformational power of regenerative medicine and manufacturing. Prior to this role, Dr. MacDonald served at senior levels of the federal government, leading multiple growth and transformation efforts for two Cabinet Secretaries, including work on non-traditional aviation technology, health care equity in immigration detention, and a joint task force on domestic extremism. | ||||||||||||||
| Jodie Nazaka | Economic Development Director | City of Manchester | Director of Economic Development | Jodie is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Manchester, bringing over a decade of experience in municipal community development. Since 2022, Jodie has worked to rejuvenate the Manchester Economic Development Office, crafting strategies to foster community economic growth, ushering in new businesses, and readying the local workforce for emerging opportunities. Through incentives, tax breaks, and grants, Jodie has effectively attracted new development opportunities to Manchester while ensuring the success and continuity of existing businesses. | ||||||||||||||
| Julie Turner | School Board Member | Manchester School District | School Board Member | Julie is a former middle school science teacher with a master's in education who resigned to stay home and raise her three children. Julie currently serves as the Ward 1 school board member, a role she has held since March 2021. | ||||||||||||||
| Kitty Larochelle | Center Provider | The Growing Years (West Side) | Director | Kitty is a dedicated Early Childhood Educator with over 30 years of experience nurturing young minds and supporting families. A proud mother of six, Kitty brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her role as Director of a large childcare center in Manchester, New Hampshire. Throughout her career, Kitty has been a passionate advocate for young children, their families, and the educators who serve them. | ||||||||||||||
| Lisa Doyon | Family Provider | Lisa's Daycare | Owner/Provider | Lisa has been an in-home, licensed child care provider for the last 30 years. She was awarded the first-ever TEACH child care scholarship and graduated with an associate's degree in ECE in 2018. Lisa was also awarded the Excellence in Child Care Award from Early Learning NH and is credentialed in the Granite Steps for Quality. | ||||||||||||||
| Mark Gomez | Mayor or Designee | City of Manchester | Chief of Parks, Recreation & Cemetery | Mark has 12 years of experience with the City of Manchester, the last six as Chief of Parks, Recreation & Cemetery. Youth programs under Mark's purview include the annual Fun In The Sun summer camp, athletic skills clinics, STEAM classes, school vacation camps, and collaborations with dozens of non-profit sports organizations. Mark is joined on the Commission by Nick Provencher, Recreation Coordinator, who directly oversees many of these efforts and collaborates regularly with community-based organizations serving Manchester youth. | ||||||||||||||
| Nichole Martin Reimer | United Way Representative | Granite United Way | President & CEO | Nichole has worked to build community collaborations and solutions to improve lives for the past thirty years, spanning several United Ways and leading efforts, including bringing the 211 information and referral system to NH. Since taking the helm at Granite United Way, Nichole has led efforts delivering more than $18 million in support, lifting more than 600 nonprofits, and helping more than 450,000 individuals annually. She is a member of Leadership New Hampshire's Class of 2025 and was appointed to New Hampshire's Opioid Abatement Committee in July 2025. | ||||||||||||||
| Nicole Doherty | Assistant Superintendent | Manchester School District | Assistant Superintendent | Nicole brings over 29 years of experience in education, serving as a teacher, curriculum director, elementary principal, and Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. Throughout her career, Nicole has focused on strengthening instruction and supporting educators, particularly in early literacy, while building strong foundational skills for students and fostering collaborative systems that empower teachers across the district. | ||||||||||||||
| Sarah Vanderhoof, MSM, RD, LD | Provider Network Representative | Community Action Partnership Hillsborough & Rockingham Counties | Chief Operating Officer | Sarah has worked for Community Action Partnership Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties since 2006, holding a BA from Wheaton College, a BS from Keene State College, and an MS in Management from Southern New Hampshire University. Sarah began at CAPHR as Nutrition Manager in 2006, progressing through several leadership roles before becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2026. Throughout her tenure, Sarah has been involved in various workgroups and initiatives across the state. | ||||||||||||||
| Shirley Tomlinson, MA | Parents & Families | NH DHHS – Office of Health Access | Community Engagement & Outreach Specialist | Shirley is a New Hampshire parent, community advocate, and public health professional who brings both lived experience and professional insight to conversations about childcare and family well-being. As the mother of an energetic three-year-old daughter and the child of Haitian and Jamaican immigrants, Shirley understands firsthand the realities families face when searching for affordable, high-quality childcare. Professionally, Shirley serves as the Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist for the NH Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Health Access, working to ensure community voices inform statewide initiatives. | ||||||||||||||
| Stacy Neville | Workforce Program Coordinator | The Granite YMCA | VP Of Operations | Stacy holds a B.S. in Education and began her career as a teacher before joining The Granite YMCA in 2011. As Vice President of Operations, Stacy oversees all childcare operations for The Granite YMCA, supporting more than 25 childcare locations. Stacy is deeply engaged in state-level advocacy, serving on her local PTA, the NH Afterschool Network, the Derry–Londonderry Chamber of Commerce board, and chairing the YMCA Public Policy Committee. |
Commission Member Roles and Responsibilities
Manchester Child Care Advisory Commission Members take on the following roles and responsibilities:
- Participate in regularly scheduled meetings (monthly)
- Review relevant research and materials
- Provide expertise and recommendations
- Collaborate with fellow members
- Support drafting of the final recommendations report
Term: Upon acceptance → December 31, 2026