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.

Executive team

Danielle Nickerson

Licensed Nursing Home Administrator

The first time Danielle walked through the doors of Mayo Healthcare, she knew there was something special about the community. "The staff continues to amaze me with the person-centered care they provide," she noted. Danielle's path to administrator is reflective of Mayo’s culture of investing in people. She began her career at Mayo as a payroll clerk. The organization’s advancement program, along with steadfast support from her supervisors and peers, propelled Danielle on a path to become the administrator. "I feel like when I am at work, I am with my family. I love working for a small not-for-profit rather than a corporation. I love the relationships I have built with staff and families over the years, and I love spending time with our amazing residents who have so much to teach us and share with us. I am proud and honored to be part of our Mayo family." Danielle lives in Bethel and spends her spare time outside with her children and family.

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.

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

Residential Care Manager

Heidi oversees residents' daily living and manages other aspects of care such as nutritional and clinical needs. She 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.

Jennifer Powell, RN

Director of Nursing

Jennifer received her LPN from Fanny Allen Memorial School of Practical Nursing and went on to Castleton College to become an RN. One of the things she loves most about Mayo is the residents, "hearing where they've been and what they've accomplished, who they have become over the years; seeing the smiles come to their faces as they reminisce and share a part of themselves. I love helping them and being there for them" Jennifer also appreciates Mayo's team atmosphere, where "everyone is willing to pitch in and help support others in any way they can in order to ultimately assure that the residents have all the support, care and love that they can possibly have." Jennifer was born and raised in Vermont, and most of her family is in Vermont. She noted, "We enjoy traveling but always look forward to coming home to the Green Mountains."

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 boating on Lake Champlain.