Staff Profiles
National Office Staff
Executive Director
Dr. McManmon grew up the youngest son in a family of nine children. He is the father of six children and nine grandchildren. He received his B.A. in English from Mt. St. Mary's College in Maryland and went on for his Masters in Counseling from Shippensburg University.
He attended the University of Kansas for his Masters in Human Development through a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. He obtained his Doctorate in Special Education from the University of Nevada. Subsequently, he was licensed as a Psychologist by the State of Massachusetts. He worked for state, private and non-profit organizations in several states prior to founding The Berkshire Center in 1984.
During his 35 years of experience with students with Learning Differences and Asperger's Syndrome, Dr. McManmon has worked on Curriculum Development, Staff Training, Program Evaluation, and Administering Community Based Programming. He is a member of the International Learning Disabilities Association and the Independent Educational Consultants Association. Dr. McManmon speaks and presents at Professional Conferences nationally and internationally. He has an inside perspective as he himself was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and grew up in a large family with several individuals on the spectrum.
Dr. McManmon has been certified as a family teacher through the Boys Town Center in Nebraska. He has served as a PTA President, School Board Member and Parish Council Member. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Lee Chamber of Commerce, coached in the Community Soccer League and basketball league, and is an avid gardener.
Dr. McManmon's program philosophy is to provide a loving and trusting environment in which personal growth can occur. The process includes honoring each individual's talents and assisting them in using their personal power to develop skills, meet their needs and thus live independently. This process is accomplished by hiring exemplary individuals, giving them the tools to operate and working as a team.
See Dr. McManmon's Presentation Calendar
Executive Director's Assistant
Karri Ann Woodard was born and raised in Dalton, Massachusetts. She now lives in Peru, MA with her husband Charlie. She has a sixteen year old son, Zacheri and she spends much of her time watching him play football, basketball and his favorite sport baseball.
Karri attended Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA where she received her A.A. in Business Administration. Some of her hobbies include breeding and raising bulldogs. She also enjoys biking, reading and writing.
Caroline Wheeler, B.A.
National Admissions Director
Caroline Wheeler received her BA from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is a certified high school and middle school teacher.
Caroline has been working with individuals with learning differences for many years, both as a special education teacher and as a case manager supervisor.
She is a Certified Educational Advocate and a Certified MCAS Tutor. Caroline also has taken graduate courses at Assumption College and Fitchburg State College. Caroline began her work at the Berkshire Center as an Advisor and as the Vocational Coordinator.
She then became interested in the admissions process and was Assistant to the Admissions Director for one year, after which she was thrilled to take the position of Director.
Caroline lives in Lee, Massachusetts where she enjoys gardening, hiking, photography, reading, biking, art, music, and traveling. Caroline also loves to spend time with her daughter Jennifer, who lives in central Massachusetts.
National Admissions Assistant
Maggi Sanderson holds a B.A. in English from Smith College and has been involved with admissions and marketing for special needs/therapeutic programs for nearly 15 years.
She assisted Eric M. Plakun, M.D., at the Austen Riggs Center in admissions and in his research and subsequent contributions to the DSM-III in defining diagnostic criteria for narcissistic, borderline, and schizotypal personality disorders, and schizophrenia.
For eight years she served as Director of Admissions at The DeSisto School in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where she also supervised family casework, coordinated interdepartmental IEP development and implementation, and pursued funding options for students.
Maggi has traveled extensively as Director of Outreach for The King George School in Sutton, Vermont, and as regional representative for referral development for Brown Schools, Inc.
A staunch proponent of the arts and historic preservation, Maggi has also served as dramaturg and assistant to both Managing and Artistic Directors at the Berkshire Theatre Festival and as Director of Marketing and Visitor Services at Hancock Shaker Village.
Her greatest loves are her daughter, Greer, age 24, a freelance writer; her cat; and reading, writing and cooking.
Heather Greene, M.B.A.
National Business Manager
Heather joined the College Internship Program in July 2005. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and her M.B.A. from Sage Graduate School.
For the past five years, she was living and working in the United Kingdom as an accounting contractor in telecommunication and banking industries.
She relocated back to the States in February 2005. Prior to that, Heather worked for ten years as a Financial Controller for NorthEast Health in Cohoes, N.Y. She currently enjoys life in the Berkshires with her son, Jordan and is kept very busy attending his sporting events. Heather also enjoys skiing, horseback riding, running, reading, and traveling.
Sara Siu, B.S.
National HR/Finance Assistant
Sara grew up in Honk Kong and came to America 17 years ago. She lived, worked, and studied in New Hampshire for past 7 years. She has been relocated back to upstate New York to be close with her parents. She was graduated from Granite State College and received B.S. in Human Resources Management.
Sara was an assistant manager for her family's business for many years. Then she has opportunity to be a part-time finance assistant, administrative assistant, and HR assistant while she was completing her college degree. When she was an administrative assistant, she worked in the department of Special Education Teacher Training (SETT) Program. She has developed precious friendships with her colleagues and it was a corner stone for her professional career. Sara feels that it is something special for her to work for CIP now.
Sara loves her church and desire to be a positive influence to her community. She likes Bible study, reading, watch TV and wide range of sports such as hiking, walking, indoor rock claiming, tennis, table tennis, swimming etc.
Dan McManmon, B.A.
National Marketing Coordinator
Dan McManmon was born and raised in western Massachusetts by his parents Michael and Linda. Growing up he enjoyed playing sports and working on various art projects.
Dan attended Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont where he received his B.A. in Multimedia and Graphic Design.
Some of his hobbies include producing music, maintaining his music production website, freelance graphic design, and going out with his friends. He enjoys the outdoors, hiking, biking, and playing with his dogs.
Berkshire Center Staff
Gary Shaw, M.Ed.
Program Director
Gary joined the staff at the College Internship Program in the fall 1998 as the Admissions Director/Assistant Director. He has over 35 years of experience working with adolescents and adults, both in admissions and administration, in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Gary earned a BA in Elementary Education from Queens College in New York City and has a Master's degree in Administration/Management from Cambridge College.
He has spoken at local, state and national conferences and has had an article published in The American School Board Journal, a publication for school board members across the country. Gary lives in Monterey, Massachusetts with his wife, Laurie, and his children, Andrew and Emily.Believing strongly that community service is an important responsibility, he was elected to the Board of Assessors for his town in 1994, and was reelected in 1997 and 2000.
Since then he has served as a member of the Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees for his church. Gary has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the fields of disabilities, admissions and administration.
Charles D. Houff, LMHC
Clinical Director
Charles came to the College Internship Program in 1997. He has over 25 years of experience as a therapist and Clinical Director in residential programs, providing individual and group therapy for adolescents and young adults with learning disabilities and emotional difficulties. His private practice has included family therapy, and clinical supervision of other therapists. Charles received his BA in Psychology from the University of South Florida, and completed a Master of Science in Psychology at the University of Georgia. He went on to earn a Specialist Degree in Counseling Education at UGA.
Charles is the oldest of ten children. He and his wife live in Lee, MA, where they are gradually renovating their 225 year-old home. Their daughter and two grandchildren live too far away in Jacksonville, FL. Charles has a wide range of interests and hobbies, and is very actively involved in his church and community.
Charles has a personal and professional belief in the vitality of the human spirit. Counseling provides support and direction for that spirit to recover from the problems of the past, to learn how to master the challenges of the present, and to chart the path toward a productive and fulfilling life in the future.
Elisabeth Wheeler, LMHC
Therapist
Lis joined the CIP staff in the fall of 2002 as the new female therapist working with women both individually and in groups. She received her BA in Liberal Arts in 1980 from Simon's Rock Early College and her MA in Clinical Psychology from American International College in Springfield, MA in 1997. Lis developed her love of working with adolescents and young adults while interning for the Berkshire Hills Regional School system, where she was trained to work with young people with many different types of challenges including emotional issues, social skills deficits, learning disabilities, eating disorders, mental health issues and substance use and abuse.
She then began her career with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of the Berkshires where she continued working with this population both in area schools as a substance abuse counselor, as well as in clinical practice at Main Street Human Resources. Community service has always been very important to Lis. Presently she serves on the Parents PA Committee at Berkshire Country Day School, is on the Board of the Berkshire Lyric Theatre, and has previously served in many others capacities in Berkshire County.
She has had additional training treating anxiety disorders, ADHD, PTSD, eating disorders, anger management, psychopharmacology, child of domestic violence and many areas of substance abuses treatment. Lis lives in Stockbridge with her husband, Jeff, and their two children, Ali and Ben.
Lucy Allarie Gosselin, MSM/HR, B.S., A.S.
C-STEP Vocational Coordinator
Lucy is the newly appointed Vocational Director at the College Internship Program. Lucy is originally from Maine. She presently lives in Pittsfield, Massachusetts with her husband Paul and son Christian. A veteran educator, Lucy has worked in the public and private sector of education for many years. Lucy has been a vocational educator as well as a business, computer, English and marketing instructor.
She has in her career attended many local, state and federal conferences to assist her in keeping abreast in her field. Among her associations, she is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Human Resource Association of Berkshire County and Business and Professional Women. She holds an MSM/HR, a BS in education and an AS in business.
Before coming to the College Internship Program, Lucy was a Vice President of a private Occupational School and a school evaluator for career colleges. Lucy's past professional experiences in varied areas of education has prepared her for her present position at CIP. Lucy has enthusiam and dedication for helping students prepare for success and a thorough understanding of individual needs that will help to motivate the students to achieve the goals needed for them.
Lucy's philosophy is that every student is different, so why should his or her learning style be like everyone else? She believes that everyone can succeed and works towards that goal.
Margaret Markham, M.S.
Academic Coordinator / Student Advisor
Margaret joined the staff at The College Internship Program as an Academic Teacher in August of 1992. Margaret received her Associate in Applied Science degree from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York in Early Childhood Education in 1975. In 1977, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from The College of St. Rose in Albany.
She returned to graduate school at The College of St. Rose, and received her Master of Science degree in 1982 in Special Education, with a concentration in services to the emotionally handicapped. Margaret is certified in Massachusetts in special education.
Margaret has taught at the College Internship Program in Lee for 13 years. Prior to, she taught elementary school for four years in the Albany Catholic Diocese and then took time off from her career to raise a family. Margaret is the mother of three grown children. She was a Girl Scout leader for 11 years in Lee and is very active in her church and in the community. In her spare time she enjoys swimming, camping, outdoor activities, and arts and crafts.
At the College Internship Program, Margaret is the Coordinator of Academic Services. She oversees the educational planning process for the students. Margaret tutors the college-bound students and assists all others with a variety of work-related and study skills such as math, reading and language arts. She is certified in Wilson reading instruction, an Orton-Gillingham method, and keeps current in her field by attending professional workshops regularly and by keeping up on the current research in the field of Learning Disabilities.
Brenda Daehling, B.S.
Administrative Assistant
Brenda joined the staff at The College Internship Program in October 2006. She grew up in northern Idaho. She moved to the Berkshires from Dillon, Montana, in October 2003.
Brenda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Office Administration in 1982 at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. Before working at CIP, she has been busy raising three children being a typical “always-on-the-move Mom” attending sports events, dance recitals, music concerts, etc.
Brenda lives in Dalton, MA, with her husband, Kirk, a son (Adam) and daughter (Kayla). Her oldest son (Mitchell) is a freshman at Daniel Webster College pursuing a career as a commercial pilot. Brenda is an avid tennis player, enjoys crafts, exercising, and down time with her kids and her dog, Dixie.
Karen Noel, M.A.
Admissions Coordinator
Karen Noel received her Master of Social Work from Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts and her Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Post College, Waterbury, Connecticut.
Karen has been working with a variety of individuals in different residential schools for many years, as a residential staff, teacher's assistant, and finally as a clinician. Her passion is working with those who have been misunderstood and therefore tend to have lesser perceptions of themselves.
She is very interested in the admissions process, supporting students and families searching for a placement that magnifies strengths. This coincides with her social work schooling and training.
Karen lives in Great Barrington, Massachusetts where she enjoys dancing, reading, traveling, going to the lake, kayaking and walking her chow, Uli.
Jeff Wheeler, M.Ed.
Academic Tutor / Student Advisor
Jeff received a Masters of Education Degree in Special Education from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. Prior to that, he received his BA from AIC with a major in Political Science, and a minor in Psychology.
Jeff comes to us with much experience in the teaching field. He was an adjunct professor at AIC as well as a Teaching Assistant of Psychology.
He has taught and tutored extensively in public and private schools in the Berkshires. Jeff serves on the Board of Trustees at Berkshire Country Day School, where he chairs the Buildings and Grounds Committee and serves on the Education Committee. His personal interests include music, international affairs, animals and reading fiction. He lives with his wife and two children in Stockbridge, MA.
Marc Larrivee, M.S.T.
Student Advisor / Academic Tutor / Network Administrator
Marc Larrivee grew up in Lenox, enjoying and exploring the Berkshire Hills. He graduated with a B.S. in Geology and Geophysics from Boston College. While teaching Physics at a local high school, he completed his Master's in Teaching Science with a specialty in Earth Science.
He continued his studies with a Masters in Theology and served in the Catholic Diocese of West Virginia for eleven years as an educational consultant and resource specialist for teen and adult parochial programs. He then completed a B.S. in Computer Science, returned to the Berkshires, and worked for a computer firm for two years. He also teaches Computer Science as an adjunct professor at Berkshire Community College.
At the College Internship Program, Marc serves as an advisor assisting students with their overall program and their money-management skills. He tutors students in computers, math, and science. He teaches a Computer Skills course for students to develop and refine their computing abilities. Finally, he administers the computer network at the Center, and oversees its growth.
Mary Ann Brown, B.A.
Student Advisor
Mary Ann works as Student Advisor at the College Internship Program at the Berkshire Center. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from California State Polytechnic College in Pomona CA and traveled to New York City immediately after graduation to work as an IBM Educational Representative for the five city boroughs.
Mary Ann has lived in the Berkshires since 1970 and has spent most of that time tutoring, raising her two daughters, becoming involved in community volunteer projects and engaging in all that area has to offer in the way of natural and cultural activities.
She presently belongs to a book club, film group, and Tyringham Hop Brook Community Club which supports scholarships for college bound students.
Geraldine Gennari, M.A.
Student Advisor
Geraldine Gennari joined the College Internship Program as a Student Advisor in the winter of 2004. She grew up in Ireland and came to the United States to study psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Geraldine received a MA in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland; and, after graduating, worked in hospital management for the Scottish Health Service.
Upon returning to the United States, she lived in the Boston area and was Program Director for Massachusetts Association for the Blind. Most recently, Geraldine directed a management-training program for a national real estate company.
Geraldine resides in Lenox with her husband and two sons. She is very active in her community, serving on the Morris School Council, the P.T.O. and the Lenox School Health Advisory Board. She also teaches C.C.D. to elementary students for her local church.
Geraldine enjoys hiking, skiing, yoga, reading, theater and traveling extensively whenever possible. She is currently kept very busy attending both her sons' sporting events.
Lisa Puleri, B.S.
Student Advisor
Lisa is a graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in social work. She is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Special Education from Cambridge College in Springfield, MA. Lisa also just purchased her first home which has been keeping her busy. She is looking forward to be able to work in her yard and start her own flower garden.
Lisa enjoy's spending time with family, especially her two nieces. After college she relocated to Melbourne, Florida where she lived for two years. She moved back to the Berkshires in 2005 to be closer to family.
Douglas Gould, B.A.
Residential Coordinator / Instructor
Doug has worked his career in residential programs and schools. Doug started as a Houseparent at Hampshire Country School in Rindge, New Hampshire where he learned Milieu Therapy from one of the pioneers in the field, Henry Patey.
He moved on to be a Dorm Parent and recreation leader at Windsor Mountain School in Lenox, MA. Following the closing of that school, Doug worked as the Assistant Director at the Avalon School at High Point in Lenox. This innovative program applied the principles of Milieu Therapy in the treatment of autistic adolescents.
When the Avalon Schools closed, Doug went to Vermont and served as the Residence Director at Green Meadows School in Wilmington, Vermont; also a school for autistic adolescents. Prior to working at the College Internship Program, Doug was the Program Director of a community-based residential program in Pittsfield, MA that served people with a wide range of mental disabilities.
Doug lives in Lenox. His daughter Hannah is married, and lives in Colorado where she works as an emergency room nurse and ski patroller. His son Evan works a carpenter in and around Berkshire County. Doug enjoys skiing, snowboarding, hiking and other outdoor activities. He is a member of the National Ski Patrol, an instructor in First Aid and CPR for the Red Cross, and a Camp Leader for the Appalachian Mountain Club camp at Echo Lake, Maine.