Staff Profiles
Every program claims to have professional staff, with good educational backgrounds and experience. When we refer to professional staff we are speaking about not only those qualities, but also staff who are secure and available to the students.
Berkshire Center Staff
Lucy Gosselin
Program Director
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.
In her career she has 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 joining 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 enthusiasm 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.
Karen Noel, MSW
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.
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 and has two children, Ali and Ben.
Jeff Wheeler, M.Ed.
Academic Coordinator
Jeff received a Masters of Education Degree in Special Education from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts where he also earned a BA in Political Science with a minor in psychology.
Jeff served as an adjunct professor of political science at AIC and as a teaching assistant for their psychology department. He has taught extensively in both public and private schools in and around the Berkshires.
He serves on various boards and committees for non-profit organizations. His interests include music, international affairs, animals and reading poetry and fiction. He is the father of two teenagers and lives in Stockbridge, MA.
Photo credit:
Charlie Jacobs
Holly Brouker
C-STEP Career Coordinator
Holly is a Berkshire Native, growing up in Lee, MA. attending Lee Schools, Berkshire Community College and University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Having worked and lived from the southern border to the northern border of Berkshire County, Holly loves the quality of life the Berkshires offer and delights in recreating and attending all the local cultural venues.
Holly is a seasoned educator. Her teaching experience includes Private Schools: community service and internship supervision andresidentially for students with emotional and behavior disabilities. Public Schools: elementary, middle and high school physical education and health teacher, tennis and skiing coach and intramural coordinator and part time faculty at a local state college. She also gained a Master of Education while working and bringing up her lovely and talented daughter, now grown and established as a graphic designer in Boston.
Holly most recently worked for the MASS State Parks system and doing Public Relations and dining room management for a private group on top of the highest peak in Massachusetts. She has been a Professional Ski Instructor, tennis and rowing coach. In addition, Holly is a hiking, biking, and snowshoe guide throughout Berkshire County and teaches cross country skiing by appointment.
Holly enjoys just about every outdoor activity especially biking, kayaking, rowing, rollerblading, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and just being one with nature and appreciating its benefits where ever she is. Holly is happy alone or with others and delights in meeting new people. She believes we all have so much to offer if given the right opportunity to succeed.
Holly walks every day with her beloved Jack Russell Terrier, named Zany and presently reside in Pittsfield, Ma. Her dream is to live in a cabin in the woods with mountain or lake views and watch the sun rise and set from her front porch.
Travis McArthur
Residential Coordinator
Travis is originally from the Syracuse, New York area. He graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from the State University of New York at Geneseo with a focus in developmental psychology.
Travis was the Residential Coordinator at the Brevard Center in Melbourne, Florida from 2007 to 2010. He started at Brevard as a Social Mentor and Job coach and soon found his skills were most valuable as Residential Coordinator. In 2010 Travis moved up north to take the position of Residential Coordinator at the Berkshire Center. He enjoys spending time with CIP students during the various activities, and not only teaching them life skills but learning a great deal from them as well.
During his free time Travis enjoys swimming, reading, fishing, playing golf and tennis, watching movies and spending time with his fiancé. He hopes to share his enthusiasm for life with the students here at CIP and encourages them to try new things.
Margaret Markham, M.S.
Academic Tutor
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.
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.
Marc Larrivee, MST
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 nationally, 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.
Sheri Morrison
Student Advisor
Sheri Morrison joined CIP in 2008. She grew up in the Berkshires and received her B.A. in Sociology with focus in Social Work and Woman’s Studies at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She is currently taking time off from her graduate studies in Social Work.
For the past five years Sheri worked in a residential setting with adolescent girls with severe psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Prior to this she spent several years working with adults with development disabilities and traumatic brain injuries.
In her spare time she enjoys camping, photography, reading, & music.
Jeffrey H. Rabidoux, M.Ed.
Social Thinking Instructor
Jeffrey earned his M.Ed., B.S. in Education, and B.A. in English/Communications from North Adams State College. He has more than twenty years in public education and has tutored for Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County.
Girl Scout leader, baseball and softball coach, member of the city-wide Parent Advisory Council for Pittsfield Public Schools, and a reader for Berkshire Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic are some of his past community service.
His interests include reading, the arts, films, the ocean, and travel. Jeffrey and his wife live in Pittsfield and have four grown children and seven grandchildren.
He believes that each person, regardless of learning differences, is a mine rich in hidden gems whose treasures are revealed through education.
National Office Staff
Michael McManmon, Ed.D
CIP Founder & International Speaker
Heather Greene, M.B.A.
Executive Director
Gary Shaw, M.Ed.
National Admissions Director
Maggi Sanderson, B.A.
National Admissions Coordinator
Abby Tierney, B.A.
National Admissions Assistant
Dan McManmon, B.A.
National Marketing Coordinator
Karri Ann Woodard, A.A.
National AR Specialist
Melanie Moran
National Human Resources Specialist
Andrea Wadsworth
National Business Manager