Tina Smith

chairperson

​Tina Smith has been a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) for over 10 years. She has held several positions, including GFWC NH State President. She currently represents New England on the GFWC Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention International Committee. Tina also serves as Fundraising and Development Chairman of GFWC in NH. Over the years, Tina has become increasingly involved in advocacy work and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire. She is presently the Volunteer Director of the Coalition’s Survivors' Caucus.
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Hilary Holmes rheaume

VICE CHAIRPERSON & co-clerk

​Hilary Holmes Rheaume brings her own brand of thoughtfulness and determination to every variety of legal challenge. In her litigation practice, she has experience representing clients before both state and federal courts and state agencies, including the Department of Labor, the New Hampshire Human Rights Commission, and the New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Industry Board, to name a few. And, her tenacity and expertise have already brought her clients several victories on appeal, representing pro bono clients before the New Hampshire Supreme Court, as well as survivors of sexual violence before the First Circuit Court of Appeals.  As a labor and employment attorney, Hilary has honed her problem-solving skills to help find the best solution when faced with tough labor relations problems, and she frequently facilitates training on unlawful harassment in the workplace and serves as a neutral independent investigator. Whether inside or outside the courtroom, Hilary’s creative and collaborative spirit make her the steady advocate that clients need.  When Hilary isn’t working, she can usually be found outdoors, either hiking or paddle boarding, and spending time with her family and lovable dog. She is also committed to civic service and volunteers for her local crisis hotline.
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John Gasaway

Treasurer

John M. Gasaway, Jr., is an attorney with the New Hampshire Department of Safety. He prosecutes circuit court cases in Grafton County and Coos County (and elsewhere in the state, as needed). John is a former Assistant County Attorney and Assistant Attorney General. He joined the New Hampshire Bar and began prosecuting in 2004. John has focused on cases of domestic violence and stalking, child abuse/exploitation, and sexual assault. 
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John previously served on the advisory board for a local child advocacy center and the statewide board of the Granite State Children’s Alliance. He volunteers for the DOVE program and, in that role, represents survivors of domestic violence and stalking. He also previously taught criminal justice classes within the Community College System of New Hampshire.

Shauna Foster

Co-clerk

Shauna Foster is the Executive Director at New Beginnings - Without Violence and Abuse, where she has served in various advocacy roles since 2011. New Beginnings is the domestic and sexual violence crisis center based in Laconia and serves Belknap County. As the Executive Director, Shauna oversees the implementation of New Beginnings’ mission from a strategic and operational standpoint. Shauna was a 2020 New Hampshire 40 Under Forty recipient and a 2018 recipient of Granite State Children’s Alliance’s Everyday Hero Award for Belknap County. Shauna lives in the Lakes Region with her husband and two daughters, and their rescue Coonhound, Abi. She enjoys distance running, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Caitlin Garcia

Caitlin Garcia is a Certified Public Accountant with over 10 years of public accounting experience in various audit, review, compilation, and tax engagements. Caitlin earned a master’s degree in accounting from Southern New Hampshire University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Hampshire Society of Certified Public Accountants. Caitlin has spent most of her public accounting career working on nonprofit engagements and has extensive knowledge of nonprofit accounting and reporting. Caitlin also completed the Hoffman-Haas Fellowship through the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits in the Spring of 2022. 
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carlos Jauhola-Straight

Carlos Jauhola-Straight is grateful to join the Board of Directors and support the mission of the Coalition. Carlos is pastor at the First Congregational Church of Pelham, United Church of Christ where he encourages everyone to have authentic relationships and each to discover their unique voice.  At home, he is a spouse, father, hiker, photographer, coffee-lover, artist, and creator of unique liturgical art and stoles.  Carlos has supported the mission of the Coalition for several years and is looking forward to learning about more opportunities to support the Coalition. Carlos is always eager to share his passion for both coffee and works of equity and justice, and he welcomes meeting anyone for a cup of coffee and conversation.
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Deb Haynes-Kenney

Deb Haynes-Kenney, a lifelong resident of northern New Hampshire, has an appreciation and understanding of the Great Northwoods Region. She enjoys the beauty of rural communities but understands the complexities and challenges residents face there, as well. In 2011, she started as a volunteer intern with Response Domestic & Sexual Violence Support Center, which serves victims and survivors in northern New Hampshire. Soon after, she was hired as the victim service advocate and worked from the Colebrook office. In 2014, she became the Director of Response and, today, continues to hold this position, leading a team of advocates that support survivors and provide education to local communities. She believes that joining the Coalition's Board of Directors will enhance her ability to make change at the statewide level and end the cycles of violence. In her free time, Deb enjoys spending time with family, camping, doing crafts, going to the beach, and traveling.

Sarah gagnon

Sarah Gagnon is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and the Vice President of Clinical Operations at Riverbend Community Mental Health Center. She has worked in community mental health in various capacities for the past 17 years.
 
Sarah is passionate about social service, women’s rights, and advocacy for people who are disempowered. She hopes to serve the board of NHCADSV by bringing a trauma-focused lens when advocating and supporting this meaningful work. She looks forward to learning more about how she can blend her professional experience with the Coalition’s important statewide advocacy.

Theresa Brisson

​​Theresa M. Brisson is looking forward to bringing 16 years of healthcare experience to the Coalition. She is a Graduate of Simmons University and is board certified through the AANP as a Family Nurse Practitioner. In her current role, she brings experience from both the inpatient and outpatient setting to provide specialized care to patients in the section of Gastroenterology. She is also an Instructor of Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine where she assists in the training of medical residents. She believes in providing education to her patients and using a collaborative approach, so that they can become partners in their own healthcare.

​Theresa is passionate about taking the time to address healthcare from a multidisciplinary approach and advocating for her patients to receive the most appropriate treatments for their conditions. She believes in helping bring light to the experiences and challenges that her patients face and the ways it can impact access to healthcare. She looks forward to bringing this experience to the Coalition and working on advocating for victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

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Tina Smith

​Director of THE COALITION'S sURVIVORS' cAUCUS

contact Tina

Tina Smith is a board member, dedicated Coalition volunteer, and a tireless advocate for survivors of abuse. Tina is a pediatric nurse, a mom, an activist, and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Her advocacy has helped advance victims’ rights and has improved community efforts to prevent abuse. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, she uses her story and her voice to remind others that we need to stand together in solidarity to create change. Tina is a caring person who will share her experiences and insight with survivors interested in learning more about advocacy opportunities at the Coalition.
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You can learn more about Tina by watching her amazing speech at the 2020 NH Women’s Rally or in our Courage of Survivors video.

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Last updated: December 2023