Staff
Lindsay Gilbert, Executive Director
Lindsay Gilbert is a seasoned professional with 15 years of experience in non-profits, starting her journey after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with AmeriCorps and spending the last decade at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Lindsay enjoys spending time in nature with her husband and two dogs. Now, as the Executive Director of Connor’s Climb Foundation, she embraces a new opportunity to make a difference in mental health awareness and support.
Sarah H. Gould, M.Ed, Training & Program Manager
Sarah has over 15 years of experience working with and on behalf of children and families. Prior to joining Connor’s Climb Foundation, Sarah worked in both non-profit and public schools, spending ten years as a school counselor. She is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid and QPR instructor. She has facilitated training on a variety of topics, including family engagement, self-care, and all aspects of youth mental health. She has also been at the forefront of creating and revising suicide prevention policies for districts she has worked in. In her current role, she offers technical assistance to schools looking to develop, review, or modify their suicide prevention policies. She finds all aspects of suicide prevention rewarding, but facilitating training is her passion. She loves the “aha” moments when participants make connections through the information. She also enjoys making her own connections with participants and hearing their stories.
Denette Blackburn, Development Manager
Board of Directors
Tara Holmes Ball, Founder & President
Tara is the President and founder of Connor’s Climb Foundation. Having lost her oldest son Connor to suicide in 2011, she became a staunch advocate for suicide education and prevention at the local, state and national levels. Ms. Ball is a founding member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) New Hampshire Chapter, and she is an AFSP Field Advocate. She is a certified Signs of Suicide (SOS) trainer and a NAMI NH Survivor Voices trained speaker. She was recognized as a 2015 NH Red Cross Hero Award recipient, with the 2016 Erik Cogswell Memorial Award, 2017 SAU 16 Champion for Children Award, 2017 NH Champion for Children Award, and a Patriot’s Difference Maker for her work in suicide prevention.
Amy Beaton, Vice President
Colleen Andreasse, Treasurer
Colleen Andreasse is currently the Controller and Human Resources Director at Compass Retirement Consulting Group. She’s volunteered for many community organizations, schools and the Exeter Regional Cooperative School District over the past 15 years and looks forward to supporting Connor’s Climb’s mission of providing suicide prevention education in New Hampshire. Colleen lives in Newmarket, NH with her husband.
Tonya Ames
Tonya is a mom first and foremost, but she also works as the Director of Clinical services for a federally qualified healthcare center on the Seacoast. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and is a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of New Hampshire. Tonya is currently completing work towards her MSN- FNP. In addition to her educational credentials, Tonya is a BLS/CPR/AED certified instructor through the American Red Cross and is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. She has a true passion for adolescent health, especially mental health, after tragically losing her son to suicide in June, 2021.
Melissa Hanlon
Melissa Hanlon is an attorney at Sulloway & Hollis in Concord, NH. In that role, she has represented healthcare institutions and professionals for over twenty years. In addition, she assists NH families with guardianship and adoption related issues. Melissa received her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Colby College, and her law degree from Boston College Law School. She has significant volunteer and advocacy experience on issues related to adolescent mental health including access to community mental healthcare, integrated models of behavioral healthcare, and inpatient behavioral healthcare. Melissa lives in Brentwood, NH with her husband, Dan who is a 5th grade teacher at Lincoln Street Elementary School in Exeter, and their two daughters Amelia and Nora. In her spare time, Melissa practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, enjoys spending time outdoors or cheering from the sidelines at her daughters’ sporting events.
Donna Marsh
Donna Marsh is the director of Home for All/Granite United Way, a coalition to end homelessness in New Hampshire. She served for four years as the executive director and development director of New Generation, Inc., a family-oriented shelter for homeless pregnant women and women with small children. Before joining New Generation, Ms. Marsh worked for over 25 years in management, operations and communications roles at various-sized businesses and nonprofits in New England and nationally. She is currently a board member of the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and has served as a volunteer or board member with many non-profits in New Hampshire including CASA New Hampshire, New Hope for Adoption, On Belay and Journeyman Basketball. She lives in Stratham, New Hampshire with her husband Jamie and their three children.
Ashley Miller
Ashley Miller is the Program Director and Clinician for Seacoast Family Promise, a shelter for families with children experiencing homelessness. She is an active member of the NASW, New Hampshire Chapter and has worked supporting children and families in foster care. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of New Hampshire and continues to work closely with the University, providing supervision for Undergraduate Students. Ashley enjoys spending her spare time creating floral arrangements and designs for small weddings and events. She currently resides in Seacoast, New Hampshire with her husband Lucas and their rescue pup Fiona.
Greg Pollard
Greg is a Senior Executive and transformational philanthropic strategist with more than 25 years of for-profit and nonprofit experience working on behalf of some of the country’s leading educational institutions. He is deeply committed to building strong teams of fundraising and alumni/parent relations professionals to achieve ambitious goals and inspire innovative philanthropic cultures. Greg currently works at Babson College in Wellesley, MA, and lives with his family in Exeter, NH.
Susan Shanelaris
Susan works as a consultant with over 20 years of experience for privately-owned medical practices in the areas of financial analysis, valuations, strategic planning, and leadership training. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s in Communications. Susan has also been a long-time volunteer in Exeter-area schools and chaired numerous fundraising efforts to support public education. Over the years, Susan has focused her volunteer efforts on mental health awareness and initiatives that support our youth and adolescents. Originally from Texas, Susan is married to her husband Chris, a NH native; they live in Newfields with their two children. You’ll likely see Susan on the local trails walking her beloved dogs Ranger and Dixie, or cheering on her children and their friends at various events.
Kimberly Woods, Secretary
Kimberly is a New Hampshire-certified elementary school educator and has been teaching grades 4 and 5 for the past 20 years. She has volunteered in the local school system as her daughters have progressed in their education; now, with an empty nest, she is excited to join Connor’s Climb, as the mission of prevention and education remains very important to her. Kim lives in Brentwood with her husband and three pets.
Advisory Board
Andrew Share, Managing Partner Nixon Peabody
Lori McClure, Board Member Emeritus
Susan McColley, Board Member Emeritus
Susan Harms Stover, Board Member Emeritus
Katrina Allen, Board Member Emeritus
Dan McColley was a green building professional specializing in wellness and sustainability solutions within the built environment. A former resident of Brentwood, NH, Dan was one of the founding youth members of Connor’s Climb Foundation and one of Connor’s best friends. He was humbled to support the critical mission of providing suicide prevention education services to New Hampshire. Dan died unexpectedly on September 14, 2021.