our staff
L. Renée Couture, MSW, Executive Director
(Lisa) Renée joined Krempels Center in May of 2009. As executive director, she is responsible to the board of directors for leadership and management of the organization and its programs and managing financial and human resources. Renée's prior managerial positions include executive director of Fair Tide, outreach program director for Rockingham Community Action, and program coordinator of The Birchtree Center. She earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of New England in 2000 and her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1994.
Heather Gilbert, MS, OTR/L, Program Strategist
Heather joined Krempels Center in May of 2021. She is an occupational therapist who formerly interned at Krempels Center in 2014. She started her career in mental health, working with adults in both inpatient and community-based settings before returning to her roots to oversee a number of community-based brain injury services. Heather is passionate about applying her occupational therapy lens to infuse meaning and function into all aspects of the services and programs she touches. She currently serves as adjunct faculty at Tufts University and the University of New Hampshire where she teaches the psychosocial occupational therapy practice courses. Heather is also pursuing her post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree at Tufts, where her research focuses on identifying pathways, barriers, and supports to OT leadership in community-based settings. Heather enjoys guest lecturing and is an active presenter at occupational therapy conferences.
Becky Kates, Development Director
Becky joined Krempels Center in February 2018. Becky has held several roles in various nonprofits, including most recently as the Development Director of Prescott Park Arts Festival in Portsmouth, NH, and the Grants, Events and Marketing Manager at New Hampshire Public Radio. With a strong belief in building stronger communities through the work of nonprofits, Becky is thrilled be a part of an organization with such a profound impact. Working with her team, she is responsible for fundraising, events and communications that reflect the mission of Krempels Center. Becky is an alum of UNH, SNHU and Leadership Seacoast as well as currently active with the Portsmouth Chamber Collaborative, Leadership Seacoast, and the Association for Fundraising Professionals of New England.
Terry Hyland, Director of Outreach and Communications
Terry joined Krempels Center in October of 2022. A seacoast New Hampshire native, he received his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from SNHU in 2013. Terry has held multiple positions within post-acute care organizations and brings nearly a decade of experience in communications and marketing. In his role as Director of Communications and Outreach, he works to cultivate and strengthen relationships with healthcare providers and the public to increase referrals to and awareness of Krempels Center. Acknowledging that “gaps” in the healthcare system can exist and are sometimes substantial, Terry was thrilled to join the accessible and supportive community that is Krempels Center, to begin spreading the word of the multitude of services they offer specifically tailored to those living with the long-term effects of acquired brain injury.
Troy Hartmann, Program Administrative Assistant
Troy joined Krempels Center in August of 2022. He is a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire in the Public Administration program and has a bachelor's degree in Economics. Troy's role as Program Administrative Assistant involves supporting the operations of the center-based and online programs in various ways including sending communications out on behalf of the program team. He is excited to be joining a nonprofit with such a strong focus on members as Krempels Center and is looking forward to becoming a part of this amazing community.
Nicholas Ho, CTRS, Member Services Coordinator
Nick joined Krempels Center in July of 2022. He is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist who formerly interned at Krempels Center in 2009. After earning his bachelor's degree in Recreation Management and Policy from the University of New Hampshire, he spent several years supporting the recreation and leisure needs of different communities throughout the country. His role as Member Services Coordinator involves guiding new members through the intake and orientation process, developing the Ambassador program, and supporting outreach efforts. He is excited to be returning to Krempels Center to bring his perspective as a certified therapeutic recreation specialist to the staff and community.
Lisa Kopecki Thompson, Executive and Operations Associate
Lisa joined Krempels Center in June 2021. She studied Organizational Leadership at Southern New Hampshire University and recently retired from Liberty Mutual where she worked for 25 years in various customer service and IT roles. Lisa also brings with her knowledge and empathy from a caregiver's perspective as her husband has been living with TBI since his near fatal accident in October of 2014. Lisa is excited to join the Krempels Center team because of the strong vision and meaningful mission of the organization geared towards those living with acquired brain injury.
Jay Lancaster, MS CCC-SLP, Program Director
Jay Lancaster is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist who joined Krempels Center in September 2021. He earned his Master's degree in Communication Disorders from Emerson College in 2018. Prior to starting at Krempels Center, he provided family-centered speech and language services in early intervention and pediatric private practice settings. Jay is thrilled to take on the role of Program Director after holding other positions at Krempels Center including Member Services Coordinator and Program Coordinator. He is committed to developing a strong community-based program for acquired brain injury survivors that centers on improving quality of life through high-quality, evidence-based programming.
Betsy Oski, Development Associate
Betsy joined Krempels Center in April of 2015. Betsy brings ten years’ experience as a Human Resources professional, including recruitment, talent management, and systems administration. Betsy earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology from William Smith College, Geneva NY. Betsy is looking forward to working with Krempels Center staff, board of directors, donors and members.
Anne Lynch, Events Coordinator
Anne joined Krempels Center in February 2023. Originally from MA, Anne moved to the seacoast to work at the United Way of the Greater Seacoast 14 years ago. Through her time at UWGS, she made valuable connections with non-profits and companies in the area. An active runner and cyclist, having participated in the Boston Marathon and the Pan-Mass Challenge, Anne is excited to take on the role of Event Coordinator for Krempels Center. As Event Coordinator, she will be organizing the Cisco Brewers Portsmouth 5K and the King Challenge, combining her love of sport with fundraising.
Ashlie Peters, MS, Program Coordinator
Ashlie joined Krempels Center in June 2022 after previously volunteering with the program for multiple years. She first learned of Krempels Center while working as a Speech Language Pathologist on the seacoast of New Hampshire. And even while taking a break from her career to focus on life at home with three children and a crazy dog, she enjoyed staying connected with survivors of brain injury through volunteer work. Ashlie has always thoroughly enjoyed finding creative ways to encourage involvement in the community for people after brain injury and is excited to continue this work at Krempels Center as one of our Program Coordinators.
Kelly Redwine-DePierre, MS, OTR/L, Senior Program Coordinator
Kelly joined Krempels Center in October 2012. She has a Master’s of Science in occupational therapy and worked in the field of mental health for more than seven years. Kelly interned at Krempels Center and now enjoys her role as educator and mentor to the many students who complete their internships at the center.
