Our Organizational Leadership
Meet Our Staff
Karen Boyce, Managing Director
Educated at Montpelier High School and VTC, Karen was a woodworker with Wall Goldfinger for 20 years. She joined the Veterans’ Place staff when it opened its doors in 2009, serving as an administrative manager and dinner cook. In 2020 she was promoted from finance and administrative manager to managing director. As the mother of two sons, both of whom served in the Global War on Terrorism, Karen is passionate about serving the veteran community.
BONNIE J. POLLARD-ALLEN
CASE MANAGER
A (now retired) military wife, Bonnie joined TVPI staff in June of 2023 as the Case Manager. She holds a Nursing degree and Cords of Compassion from Norwich University. She is a lifelong resident of Central Vermont, where she resides with her husband and two of her seven children, as well as three dogs. Daisy, the Alapaha Blue Blood bulldog, also works at TVPI as a service dog “in training.” Bonnie is passionate about patient advocacy and helping Veterans, and is very excited to be part of the staff at TVPI.
PETE CLARK, DINNER CHEF and FACILITIES
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Pete was educated at Seekonk High School and Wentworth Institute in Boston. He joined the Veterans' Place staff as a dinner chef in 2018, bringing a wealth of experience to the job. In 2021, Pete took on additional responsibilities assisting Matt with projects related to maintaining and improving the physical plant. Having embraced these new tasks with skill and gusto, Pete continues to be a tremendous asset to the Veterans' Place.
BECCA DEZAN, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Educated at Randolph Union High School, Becca started working at The Veterans' Place in 2021 as a part-time case manager. Since mid-2023, she has taken over administrative duties. Becca says, "I believe that people with mental health problems, especially veterans, are completely misunderstood. I am passionate about helping Veterans and that’s why the Veterans' Place means so much to me. A resident of Brookfield, Becca is married to Army combat veteran Matt Dezan, our facility manager.
SKYLER KOCH, VETERAN PEER SUPPORT and
FACILITIES
From central New York, Skyler joined the Army at age 18, serving in Irag as an Infantry squad leader with the 1st Cavalry Division. He was diagnosed with both PTSD and substance abuse disorder, which, left untreated, led to homelessness. Now 6 years sober, he is passionate about helping other veterans with similar struggles. Skyler loves being a father and riding motorcycles. Serving as the Executive Officer on the Board of Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 26-1 allows him to combine his passion for riding motorcycles with helping his fellow veterans.
Meet Our Board of Directors
The Veterans’ Place is governed by a volunteer board of directors that meets regularly throughout the year. In addition to serving in an advisory capacity to TVPI's managing director, the board is responsible for long-range planning, financial oversight, human resources, communications, public relations, and fundraising.
Lucas Herring,
Acting President
A lifelong Vermonter, Lucas has worked for the State of Vermont for the past 23 years. He also spent more than a decade on Barre City school boards and on the Barre City Council. Committed to growing and sustaining local nonprofits, he has volunteered with the American Red Cross, Barre Partnership, Barre Youth Sports, Everybody Wins Reading Program, Penguin Plunge, and many other organizations. He currently serves with the Barre Lions Club, Corrections Technology Association Board, Green Mountain Council, GreenUp Vermont, and Northfield's VOREC Committee. For the past 10 years, he has served in various roles for the Sons of the American Legion, including organizing the Granite City 5K Run/Walk for Veterans. As acting President, Lucas hopes to update strategic planning initiatives to improve the outcomes for the residents being served.
Rick Theken, Treasurer
A 37-year Human Resource Professional and business owner, Rick retired in 2006 as a vice president at CVMC. Since then he has served on several non-profit boards, and is currently the secretary of the Barre Lions Club. A part-time high school football coach and referee, Rick is also the former owner and coach of the semi-pro Vermont Ravens football team. From 1966-72, Rick was a Marine Corps reservist, and says he joined the Veterans Place Board to “help continue their efforts towards maintaining the dignity and pride of our Veterans.”
Candi Smith, Secretary
Candi is a native Vermonter from a long line of military family—purple hearts, KIA, served and came home—since WWII. She has a passion and goal to help create an environment where our veterans, our heroes, have continued awareness and support from our surrounding communities to ensure they have a bright and sustainable future. Having seen the dilemmas, the stalling, and the hardships put upon our veterans, she feels strongly that we as a community, as a country, can do more. She’s committed to using her marketing, PR, training and outreach background to play an active role in achieving a “better place” for our veterans.
Directors
Matt Allen
My name is Matthew (Matt) Allen. I am a Navy Veteran with 12 years of service. I believe that most Veterans who served in any theater are under served once they have completed their duty to self and country. I would like to be able to be a voice for these veteran. I come from a long line of veterans and have experience dealing with the complex issues that veterans encounter during their active duty, reserve, or guard service. I am passionate about working with those who are underserved, unhoused, and deserving of a hand up in life.
Keith Baranow
As a recently retired servicemember and new resident of Vermont, I am excited by the potential opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors for the Veterans Place. Since moving to Vermont, I have observed the challenges Veterans face in obtaining necessary services. I am enthusiastic about supporting the Veterans Place to help those less fortunate and create awareness in the larger community. Since my retirement, I have been fortunate enough to be placed in positions where I can help create awareness and support for Vermont’s Veterans and Servicemembers and look forward to extending my support to the Veterans Place.
Stevie Balch
From Supervisor of the Northfield Ambulance Service to Nursing Lead at Mayo Healthcare and The Center for Breastfeeding at Central Vermont Medical Center, advocacy has been at the heart of Stevie’s 40 years in healthcare. “In retirement, I look very much forward to continuing advocacy, education, and program development work, and welcome the opportunity to join with the Board in service to the TVPI residents.” Stevie serves on the Development Committee, helping to plan and execute events and fundraisers throughout the year.
Morgana Isenberg
An Army combat veteran, Morgana knows all too well what it is like to be one of the 40,000 veterans who are homeless and battle readjustment issues—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Since 2018, she has served as Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Mobile Vet Center (in which covers all of New England), Female Veteran Coordinator, as well as the Veterans Homeless Coordinator at the White River Junction Vet Center. "I have dedicated my life to continue to serve my brothers and sisters in arms even though no longer wear the uniform.”
Jack Patterson
An associate professor of construction management at Norwich University, Jack earned his doctorate from The School of the Built Environment at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is the former owner of a South Carolina construction company, building commercial and custom residential structures. Jack’s students have used the Veterans’ Place as a practicum, teaming up with Norwich architecture, engineering, and business majors to create plans for a series of much-needed upgrades and renovations to the 1850s structure.
Allison Ross
Allison joined the board in 2021 and leads the Energy Committee. She is an Army veteran, having graduated from West Point in 2001. A well-traveled Air Force brat, her family settled in Vermont following her dad's retirement. Currently, she is an energy consultant and works as an engineering manager at VEIC. A resident of Richmond, Vt., Allison says she "is honored to continue to support veterans and the sacrifices they have made for our great country."
We're looking for volunteers!
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of Central Vermont’s unhoused veterans, please consider joining our team. In addition to board membership, there are many ways to volunteer. For more information, check out our "Volunteer with Us" page or contact Managing Director Karen Boyce at kmhboyce@gmail.com. Our residents thank you!
