Mayo Leadership & Staff

Mayo’s staff brings a professionalism, consistency and commitment that truly stand out in the field of elder care. Many have been with us for over 20 years, and the Vermont Healthcare Association has honored 56 of our employees for exceptional service.

Board of Trustees

Our Board of Trustees has deep roots in Northfield and Central Vermont, with leadership experience in business, health care, education and law. We benefit greatly from their commitment to making sure that Mayo stays strong, stable and forward-looking as we provide top-quality elder care based in Vermont community values.

Peter J. Monte

Chair

Born and raised in Montpelier, Vt., Peter J. Monte was a practicing attorney for 35 years, in Boston from 1969-1973 and then in Northfield from 1973-2004. From 2000 until his retirement in 2008, he was a faculty member at the University of Vermont’s School of Business Administration. Peter has served as a Little League coach, as Chair of the Vermont State Employees’ Labor Relations Board, as a member of Warren, Vt.’s Development Review Board, and as a member of the Washington County and Vermont Bar Associations. He has been a Mayo Board member since 1978, and he has two children and four grandchildren.

Michael R. Donahue

Vice Chair

Michael R. Donahue is the owner of Kingston Funeral Home, Green Mountain Crematory and Mill Hill Pet Crematory, all of Northfield. A graduate of New Hampshire Technical College and New Hampshire College, both of Manchester, N.H., and of the New England Institute of Newton, Mass. Michael has three children, and he has served on the Mayo Healthcare Board of Trustees for over 20 years.

Andrea Hough

Compliance Officer

Andrea Hough grew up in Waterbury, Vt., and has lived in Northfield for about 40 years. She recently retired after more than 33 years working with the National Life Group of Montpelier. Active for many years with the Fresh Air Fund, she has served on Mayo’s Board of Trustees since the early 1990s. She and her husband, Ed, have two children, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Joseph P. O’Brien

The oldest of four siblings who were all born at the former Mayo Memorial Hospital, Joseph P. O’Brien is the great-grandson of Cornelia Delary, namesake of Mayo Delary House, Northfield’s first elder care facility. He holds a B.A. degree in education from Johnson State College, and an M.Ed. in curriculum and supervision from the University of Vermont. During his 42-year career in education, he served as both a middle school and a high school principal before retiring in 2010. He was also a longtime sports official. Joseph and his wife, Louise Picard, have three adult children and three grandchildren. He has been a member of the Mayo Board since 2011.

Megan Cicio

Megan Cicio has been employed with Northfield Savings Bank for 29 years. In her current role as a Vice President of Enterprise Banking, Megan focuses on commercial lending, business development and relationship building. Megan started her career at NSB as a part-time Community Banker and went on to manage both the Northfield and Montpelier offices before moving to Commercial Banking in 2006. Megan has been widely involved in community service, including: Presiding over Northfield Rotary; volunteer for high school athletics and tournaments; volunteer for Meals on Wheels; Vermont Community Loan Fund – Loan Review Committee; former board chair of Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice; former VBA Commercial Lending Committee chair; former wish granter with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont; and former mentor with Everybody Wins! Vermont. Megan earned a degree in business from Champlain College. She has accumulated additional professional credentials from AIB, Northern New England School of Banking, ABA National Commercial Banking School, ABA Graduate Commercial Banking School, and New England School of Banking.

Christine Scott

Christine has worked in nursing and nursing services for more than three decades. A graduate of Vermont State University – Castleton, Christine worked for Mayo Healthcare as a director and administrator for fifteen years. She was recognized with the Vermont Health Care Association Director of Nursing Award in 2006, and the Nursing Home Administrator of the Year in 2011. As a result of running a high-performing facility, Christine was honored with the American College of Health Care Administrators Eli Pick Leadership Award in 2015, 2016, and 2018. She is a current member of the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation Nursing Home Administrator Advisory Board, and the Vermont Agency of Human Services, Division of Aging and Independent Living board of directors. A Williston resident, Christine joined the Mayo Healthcare board of directors in 2023.

Ellen Weigel

Ellen joined the Mayo board of directors in 2023, but her first experience with Mayo was with her mother as a client. Ellen has been with Northfield Savings Bank for 19 years and is now the community banking officer at one the bank's largest branches. She graduated from Champlain College and Lyndon Institute, and holds a certificate from the Northern New England School of Banking. She is passionate about her community, volunteering for Everybody Wins!, Washington County Diversion Program, and the Food Bank. She is an active member of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Ellen has lived in Montpelier for 30 years, and has two daughters, and three grandchildren.

Executive team

Shellie Stevens, MSN-RN, LNHA

Administrator

After living throughout the United States as a military child/spouse, Shellie and her family chose Vermont as a wonderful place to live and raise their six children. Shellie comes to Mayo as a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and Registered Nurse. She has a master’s degree in nursing leadership and management, is a certified director of nursing services, and is certified in wound care. Shellie loves Mayo for its commitment to residents, their families and the amazing staff who care for them. Shellie’s significant other and her children have always participated by volunteering and look forward to being a part of Mayo’s family as well!

Larry Benoit

Maintenance Manager

Larry lives in Orange, Vermont and has worked at Mayo for the past twelve years. Larry's specialty is in the electrical field as he spent four years at Barre's Vocational Center in the electrical class, then eighteen years actively doing electrical work. Larry enjoys working with the residents at Mayo, "as they have a lot of knowledge to share." In Larry's free time he enjoys hunting and fishing with his family.

Nikol Collett, RN

Director of Nursing

Nikol feels welcomed at Mayo, noting that “the kindness and compassion that is shown not only to the residents, but to the employees as well, is unique to Mayo.” She began her healthcare career in 1991 as a long-term care certified nurse assistant. Nikol has worked in many nursing roles, becoming an LPN in 1996 but the year 2016 was memorable, as Nikol became RN when her daughter graduated from high school. Since then, she has held positions as Clinical Reimbursement Director, Clinical Educator, Health Service Director, and Director of Nursing in the setting of Assisted and Skilled Nursing Facilities. Nikol is a CDC-certified infection preventionist, RAC Certified, and a certified Dementia Practitioner.

Christina Farnham, BS

Social Worker

A resident of Northfield, Christina holds a bachelor’s degree in human services and holds certificates in trauma informed care, conflict resolution, advocacy, care plan development, and teamwork. She is a member of the Honor Society of Springfield College. She notes that Mayo, her “home away from home,” has given her the opportunity to prosper in her career. She loves the welcoming environment, the kind and caring staff, and the way the activities department goes above and beyond to provide residents with fun experiences and memorable activities. Most of all, Christina loves getting to know Mayo’s residents, learning new things every day, and providing the best care and advocacy. Christina was born and raised in Vermont. She loves the four seasons, and asks, “how could I ever leave?”

Jennifer Garton

Dietary Manager

Jennifer says that when she visited Vermont with her family, she found the people to be kind and lovely, and the state to be beautiful. She fell in love with Vermont, and knew she had to live here. With a background as a med tech and in dining services, it did not take her long to find the perfect fit at Mayo. Jennifer says that "every staff member has welcomed her with open arms and with the utmost respect," and her "orientation at Mayo has been the most pleasant onboarding" she has ever experienced. She notes that "Mayo's overwhelming sense of community and pride, along with the desire to provide the best care possible for the residents across all departments, has been truly amazing to witness and participate in." Jennifer loves that the residents are so happy, full of life experiences and stories in which she is honored to share. She looks forward to continuing to learn from residents' experiences.

Raequel Gordon, LPN

Residential Care Manager

As the Residential Care Manager, LPN, and certified dementia care specialist, Raequel specializes in working with diverse patient conditions and setting standards for patient comfort and well-being. She loves Mayo’s level of excellence in its approach to care: “Mayo is a non-profit, and staff are taken care of, residents are taken care of, and everyone pitches in so residents thrive and live their best life.” In addition, she appreciates that Mayo has helped her advance her career. “Mayo helped me move from being an LNA to a nurse, then a supervisor, and now, a nurse manager.” Raequel has lived in Vermont most of her life, and after a short stint away settled in Woodbury in order to be near her family.

Amy Melna, APRN, FNP-BC

Director of Clinical Services

A resident of Randolph, Vermont, Amy holds an MSN from Chamberlain University. A Registered Nurse since 2004, she joined Mayo in 2009 as the RN Unit Manager and won the Unit Manager of the Year award from the Vermont Health Care Association (VHCA) in 2013. She became Director of Nursing Services for Mayo Rehabilitation and Continuing Care in 2017. In 2020, Amy received her APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) and became certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through ANCC. Amy is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is currently pursuing her Master of Jurisprudence in Healthcare Policy and Law through Texas A&M. Mrs. Melna is a member of AADNS, AANAC, AANP, APIC, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses and ACHE.

Heidi Passalacqua, RN

Admissions Coordinator

Heidi lives in Northfield and worked at Mayo for five years, then returned to Mayo in 2019 with a background in home health. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is certified as a Resident Assessment Coordinator, and is a Certified Dementia Care Specialist. Heidi notes that each of Mayo's residents have chosen Mayo as their home, and her job is to "provide for others by helping put all the pieces together with the health care team and families." She appreciates the opportunity to get to know Mayo's residents and help them live their lives. Heidi believes that through her work at Mayo, she is "fulfilling her higher calling to serve others in their journey of life." In her spare time, Heidi is interested in cultivating grapes for winemaking. She organizes fundraising efforts for youth, is a certified Reiki practitioner, is a member of the Norwich University Blue Line hockey fan club Board of Directors and sits on the Board of Fellows for Norwich University's Nursing program.

Tracy Safford

Housekeeping/Laundry Manager

As head of the Housekeeping and Laundry Mayo feels like extended family to Tracy, who loves to learn from residents, talk with them about their lives, and see their smiles. Her passion for keeping the environment clean and bright fits perfectly with her job as head of housekeeping, and she feels that she is as dedicated to Mayo, as Mayo is to her. Tracy, who lives in Graniteville, enjoys camping with her family and loves all the seasons of Vermont, volunteers with her local ATV club to help maintain the trails.

Vicki Slocum

Activity Director

Vermont native and Northfield resident Vicki Slocum is one of Mayo's longest serving employees. She started with Mayo in 1995 with an LNA from Fanny Allen Nursing School, and is also a NAAP/NCCAP Activity Professional, Dementia Practitioner, and Bone Builders Certified Trainer. The 2007 VHCA Activity Manager of the year, Vicki says she has "met amazing people, from staff to our residents to their family members." She loves the teamwork of their community, "everyone becomes connected as a big family, offering mutual support and care." Mayo has supported Vicki in her career by providing continuing education about our ever-changing healthcare system. Vicki notes that "caring for life is the most rewarding job" she could ever have, and that "Mayo residents teach us that at every stage of life you can always learn, love and find happiness." Outside of Mayo, Vicki enjoys camping and boating on Lake Champlain with her family.