Board of Directors

Mike originally served the Board of Directors from 2004-2012, and then rejoined in 2016. During the shelter's capital campaign, Mike served on the Building Construction Committee. Mike currently serves on the Building Committee. Mike received a Master of Architecture Degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Williams College.

Chris Bellmare is the Vice President of Americas North for Arista Networks. His love for technology drew him into the networking business in the early 1990s. Chris has led teams and conducted business on 6 continents. He is also a founding member of BLITS Brothers, a start-up incubator and investment group. Prior to finding technology, Chris was a Theatre and Dance graduate from the University of New Hampshire and performed in many productions as an actor, dancer and producer throughout the eastern United States. He is also a dad of two amazing young ladies!
Chris first became involved in the issues surrounding homelessness when he spend 3 weeks building homes in Costa Rica with Habitat for Humanity. This experience led to three decades of social involvement and a passion for our community and Cross Roads House.

Tim Allison is the Chief Advancement Officer for the Community College System of NH. He is responsible for setting the strategic direction of development efforts at all of NH's seven community colleges. Prior to his current role, he held management roles raising major and planned gifts for the University of New Hampshire (UNH), with a specific focus on the College of Liberal Arts. Prior to UNH, he held several leadership positions with United Way in both Portsmouth and in Portland, Maine. Early in his non-profit career, he volunteered for Cross Roads House and it was this experience that inspired him to support the critical role that CRH plays in the Seacoast community. Tim received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from UNH and lives in Portsmouth.

Suzanne is an accomplished senior executive with expertise in providing her vision and leadership insights to strategically plan, direct, and control company operations and capitalize on emerging business opportunities. Over the years she has successfully rebuilt businesses by refocusing sales and marketing strategies. Suzanne brings strong interpersonal communication, problem solving, and decision making skills to all her endeavors. Suzanne is deeply committed to her community and serves on the boards of Cross Roads House and The New Museum of Portsmouth, and serves on numerous State committees.

Bob served over 32 years in the printing and packaging equipment marketplace. During that time he held various technical and customer facing roles, ultimately serving as President and CEO for a global leader of high-value engineered products with international operations. He has a proven track record of leadership in complex and challenging business situations, delivering results with focused and measurable action plans. More recently, Bob has invested and become actively involved in a number of local business enterprises.

Bob graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1978 with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering. He completed the Harris Corporation Graduate Program in Business, University of Florida, and obtained an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University.

Bob brings an overall business background to Cross Roads House, and specific experience in finance, governance and business operations.

"I have always believed it is important to help where you can and actively serve on a number of non-profit organizations. Cross Roads' mission can have tremendous impact on an individual life, but also collectively on our overall community, and therefore I am proud to help in the organization’s mission in some small way."

Since 2003, Eric has been serving monthly as a volunteer cook at Cross Roads House. Eric joined the Board of Directors in 2015. Eric serves on the Program Committee. Eric received his Bachelor Degree from Clarkson University.

Denis joined the Board of Directors in 2012. Denis serves on the Programming and Building Committees.

Ken is a General Adult Psychiatrist in private practice in Portsmouth, NH. He received his MD from Weill Cornell Medical School and completed a medical internship in Los Angeles, followed by a residency in psychiatry in Boston. Through the years, Ken has had the privilege of serving as the Medical Director for Behavioral Health for the Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic, Southern Division, Matthew Thornton Health Plan, and various Anthem-affiliated behavioral health care plans. in addition to private practice, he has served as psychiatric consultant to the Counseling Center at the University of New Hampshire.

Ken's training and experience have afforded him knowledge of mental illness and substance abuse that has added a meaningful contribution to the programmatic needs of Cross Roads House residents.

"Witnessing the heartbreak of mental illness and substance abuse on families and communities, I hope to help in the rehabilitation of those who are at the most desperate and hopeless corner of our community. We at Cross Roads House not only help to lift these neighbors out of crisis, but also empower them, their children and families to a brighter future."

Denis is an attorney with McLane Middleton, where he solves problems related to taxes, wills, trusts, probate, and elder law. He and his wife, Beth, live in Rye. He has been a Cross Roads House board member since 2004. Denis and Beth support CRH because it provides individuals and families experiencing homelessness with safe emergency and transitional shelter and food, while encouraging and assisting those individuals and families to move with dignity and purpose to stable and decent housing.

Kathryn received a degree in Economics and Financial Management from Oral Roberts University. After a short career in ski resort marketing she returned to her passion of the capital markets and helping people build and protect net worth in 1993. She has been with Merrill Lynch since 1996. Kathryn has completed her Certified Financial Planner Designation and holds a designation in Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. As a strategic thinker and a “numbers” person, Kathryn has participated in Cross Roads House Board Leadership, Finance Committee, Governance Committee, and Executive Committee. Kathryn joined the Cross Roads House Board in 1999.

Rev. Martindale has experienced the threat and reality of homelessness up close and personal with friends and family. He knows that the solutions do not come quickly or simply, and that there is great need for stability and resources in order to end the cycle of homelessness.

He served over 43 years as pastor/campus-minister as an ordained American Baptist clergy in both denominational and ecumenical positions. He retired in 2013 from full-time paid ministry in order to serve in other capacities. Throughout his ministry Vivan has participated in several communities with other non-profit boards and organizations, including crisis intervention, substance abuse, hospice, medical chaplaincy, race relations, and medical ethics. He offers this organizational and personal knowledge in working with the complexity of our Cross Roads House programs and direct care services.

He began serving on the Cross Roads House board just prior to embarking on the project of building our current facility. When asked why he invests time with Cross Roads House, he answered, “My motivation for joining the work of Cross Roads House comes from my faith and personal experience, and a desire to help our community be the best it can be in meeting these challenges.”

Vanda grew up in Nassau County, Long Island, where she was fortunate to attend Friends Academy. In addition to rigorous academics and athletics, Friends Academy focused on community service. Vanda participated in many service days and trips, one of the most memorable of which was an overnight serving at The Bowery Mission in New York City. The early introduction to community service resonated and grew with Vanda as she made her way up to the Portsmouth area. Vanda knew she wanted to give back and help others; Cross Roads House was a natural fit. A member of the Cross Roads House Board since 2013, Vanda enjoys working with the amazing group of directors and Cross Roads House staff members.

Lex Scourby has been an active member of the Cross Roads House Board of Directors since 2003 and served as Board Chair from 2006-2011 during the shelter’s capital campaign to design and build a new facility. Lex received a BA in Mathematics from New England College and an MBA from Long Island University. Lex was the co-founder of Orion Seafood International, Inc., and is currently employed by Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods.

Chuck joined the Board of Directors in 2015 and serves on the Nominating & Governance Committee. Chuck received his JD from Cornell Law School, and a Bachelor Degree from Harvard.

Ben St. Jean has had a 40-year career in the medical device industry in Canada and the United States. During that time, he successfully founded and led two start-ups into thriving medical device concerns. This experience has allowed Ben to touch every aspect of business and enables him to bring a unique perspective to the various challenges and synergies at Cross Roads House. Ben strongly believes in community service at all levels and that a great starting point is to address needs that are closest to home.

As a Human Resources professional, Gillian brings a strong employee and customer focus to support organizational goals through developing our most valuable asset— people. Gillian’s has held a number of HR leadership positions. She is currently the EVP, HR for Uniguest and has previously lead HR for Sprague Energy, Newmarket International (acquired by Amadeus), Bottomline Technologies, and Tecnomatix Technologies.
Gillian spent her early career working in higher education in the career development field, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Hampshire, a Masters in Education from the University of Massachusetts.
Gillian lives in Kittery, Maine with her family and enjoys giving back to the community and she is honored to support Cross Roads which provides such critical human needs.

A Dover native, Mary Lee now lives in Durham. She is an historic interpreter at Strawbery Banke Museum and serves on the museum's National Council. She supports Cross Roads House as a vital resource for individuals and families in need of shelter and services.