Board of Directors

Maryann Morris
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Before choosing to move to VT in 2001, Maryann lived in places including New Jersey, Washington and Maryland. Her long history of working at resident camps brought her from Camp Counselor to Boating Director and eventually Executive Director of a Resident Girl Scout Camp in PA for many years. Maryann took her passion for working with young people to The Collaborative in 2003, first as EDP Coordinator and then, Programs Coordinator. In 2010 she became Executive Director and worked to make the Collaborative a regional asset for substance misuse prevention. Maryann serves on several statewide prevention planning teams including the VT Substance Misuse Prevention Council and volunteers locally on town and organizational boards and committees. She studied Recreational Therapy at Slippery Rock University and holds a Certificate of Non Profit Management from Marlboro College. Maryann spends her time outside of work traveling, reading, biking, swimming, boating, hanging with her husband and tossing a ball for her dog.

Jackie Borella
​FINANCE DIRECTOR

Jackie was one of the “founding mothers” of the Collaborative back when her now adult children were students at Flood Brook School. After 6 years as the organization's Treasurer, she became  the Business Manager in 2005. As a transplant from Long Island she has lived in Vermont since 1982.  She loves skiing, hiking and traveling to warmer climates.  She lives with her husband Bob in Londonderry where they raised Brittany (now a Mechanical Engineer in Indiana) and Faryn (currently a graduate student in Philadelphia).

Natalie Philpot
​PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

Natalie has been working as the Programs Coordinator at The Collaborative since 2019. Natalie earned her BA in Political Science with a minor in Music and Women’s and Gender Studies from Kenyon College in 2003. She then went on to earn her Masters in Music and Music Education from Teachers College at Columbia University in 2010. A passionate educator, Natalie has lived and taught in Ohio, England, California, Belize, New York City and Vermont. Natalie loves to sing, act, and dance and is an active member of the Dorset Players. She loves to be a part of this amazing community and serves on the board of the Community Food Cupboard and is also a coach with Equinox Lacrosse. Her favorite thing to do, however, is spend time with her two daughters, Bryce and BK, who remind her that there is so much magic in the world. ​

Samantha Pearce
​PL4 PROJECT MANAGER

Samantha Pearce joined The Collaborative in 2020 as a community epidemiologist. Samantha supports the Collaborative's efforts to ensure programs collect meaningful data that guides community change. She is certified in Results-Based Accountability and is adept at helping teams and community partners understand the importance of sustainable data collection and intentional reflection to highlight their impact. Her work includes developing a community asset map, implementing a community syringe disposal program, and creating a Clear Impact data dashboard to better inform prevention efforts. When she's not working, Samantha enjoys horseback riding, herding her goats, and spending time outdoors with her dogs.

Amanda Fouda
​​SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Amanda started at The Collaborative in 2022, starting part-time in the EDP program. In our afterschool program, Amanda ensures the students she works with always feel seen and heard. Trust-building and healthy communication are at the forefront of every interaction. Amanda is a valued member in both the office and the school environment and continues to support our team’s work and mission.

Thomas West
​​​​PROJECT MANAGER

Thomas is passionate about helping communities address challenges like substance misuse, affordable housing, and making Vermont a place where everyone can belong and thrive. A retired Army veteran, he brings a strong sense of service, collaboration, and follow-through to his work. At The Collaborative, Thomas helps manage Vermont State Prevention Lead Region 4, supporting prevention initiatives and community and school partners across southern VT. Thomas also serves on the Manchester Planning Commission, as a Justice of the Peace, and on the Southwest Vermont Regional Technical School District Board. He is the co-author of A Kids Book About Gay Parents. At home, Thomas and his husband are raising four children and share a deep commitment to family, community, and public service.

Jacob Dombroski
​​​​​PROGRAMS ASSISTANT

Born and raised in New Hampshire’s Lake Sunapee region, Jacob has always felt a passion for finding joy in unexpected places. He studied Chemistry and Theatre at Middlebury College; there he also met the woman who would become his wife, a lifelong Manchester, VT native. Jacob hopes that his platform at The Collaborative will allow the youth of this community to flourish in their own self-expression, finding purpose, joy, and fulfillment in the everyday regardless of their circumstances. Alongside his wife Brittany and their children Wilder and Charlotte, Jacob enjoys reading, spending time in nature, studying languages, and playing board games and video games with family and friends.

Victoria Silsby
​​​​​​PREVENTION SPECIALIST

Victoria started at The Collaborative in 2009 when her kids were in high school and middle school. Prevention just makes sense… an individual and community effort to build upon and support the strengths kids have to help them achieve their hopes and dreams and become contributing members of the community. As a long time resident of Manchester, Victoria is passionate and dedicated to making the area a healthier place to live, work, go to school in and to visit and believes all community members play a part in helping kids make healthy choices. Much of Victoria’s outreach involves working with businesses and towns and policy adoption. Hiking with Ni Ni the family dog, tending to numerous perennial gardens and hanging out with family are some of Victoria’s personal enjoyments. Victoria feels being an active community member and volunteering is important and volunteers on Burr and Burton Academy’s Gala Committee, previously served on Manchester’s Housing Committee, and is a past board member of The Wilson House.

Viola Smith
​​​​​​​EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM STAFF / ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Viola Smith joins our Extended Day (EDP) program staff in the afternoons and serves as the office Administrative Assistant in the mornings. Her background in the hospitality industry and training as a youth behavior technician makes her perfectly suited for this dual role. Viola moved from Long Island to Manchester, Vermont, in April of 2025 and joined us in May. In her personal life, Viola enjoys hiking, crocheting, painting, spending time with her dog Matcha, and her cat Mio.

Lauren Ingersoll
​​​​​​​PROJECTS ASSISTANT / BRACC DIRECTOR

​Lauren grew up in CT and has been a resident of Vermont for 11 years. She brings to The Collaborative her project management skills, her digital marketing expertise, and her passion for community development. Lauren graduated from UVM in 2015 with a degree in Community Entrepreneurship and has since been living in Andover, VT. She’s worked throughout the Southern Vermont region developing websites for small businesses, building relationships with towns, planning local events, and implementing community projects. Following her position as a Panel Coordinator for the Springfield Restorative Justice Center, Lauren joins The Collaborative’s team in 2022, providing support on a multitude of projects. That same year, Lauren takes on leadership of the Black River Area Community Coalition (BRACC), one of The Collaborative's fiscal partner organizations. While she continues to work directly with The Collaborative, she's also growing the BRACC organization and spearheading a Teen Center program in Chester, VT.

Board of Directors
Core staff team 
Link to fiscal partner page
​​Slideshow of group photos
​Contact information