​Margaret Nelson
Executive Director

​​​Margaret's experience in human resources, marketing, teaching and managing volunteers has made her more than capable of navigating The River Center and staff through all of its challenges and successes of the past 10+ years bringing enthusiasm and her knack for connecting with people. She has served on a number of nonprofit boards including time on the former Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, and as president of the board for Family Support NH.

Margaret put down roots in Dublin in 1992 where she and her husband, Dave, raised 3 daughters. She is "gramma" to 6 grandchildren spread out between New Hampshire and North Carolina. Outside of work, she loves to hike, kayak, and camp in as many National Parks as possible.

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​BONNIE HARRIS
Parent Educator/Founder

​Bonnie Harris, M.S.Ed has designed and taught parenting workshops and has counseled parents for over thirty years. She received her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College in New York City. Bonnie founded The Parent Guidance Center, the earliest iteration of the parenting arm of The River Center, in 1990 and she is also the Director of Connective Parenting. 

In her spare time, Bonnie loves to spend time with her family including her 3 grandchildren, get together with friends, practice yoga, and travel.
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KELLI TOURGEE
Early Home Support/Parent Educator

Kelli began working with FACT and The Family Center in 1998. Her years of experience working with children and families benefits the home visiting work and parent education she does with The River Center. Before coming on board, she worked at Peterborough Elementary School as a 1:1 aide and she was a home daycare provider. She works with all age groups – from infants in the home visiting program to parents and young children in Families, Forests, and Farms and families in the Jaffrey parenting group to tweens and teens in Safe Sitter. She loves working with people!

She loves her family, friends, and clamming in Rhode Island.

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MACKENZIE NICHOLS
Family Support Specialist

Mackenzie comes to The River Center with a passion for supporting people in their new roles as parents. With her experience as a lactation advisor, a postpartum doula, trained childbirth educator, and LNA, she is more than ready to be a support and strong advocate for new parents.

​She loves adventuring with her husband, 2 sons, and daughter. You wouldn't have guessed it, but she was a pastry chef in another life!

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MANDY CARTER
Kinship Navigator/Community Resource Specialist

Mandy has two very important roles at The River Center: as a Community Resource Specialist, Mandy partners with individuals and families to navigate the challenges they are facing by listening to their needs and referring them to available resources; as a Kinship Navigator, she supports grandparents and other relative caregivers who are raising non-biological children by supporting and referring them to resources specific to their needs.  Mandy is passionate about helping people, so this role is a great fit for her!

She lives in Peterborough with her husband and 2 children. She enjoys the beach, fishing,
​and crafts.

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NICOLE DANIELS
Children's Teacher

Nicole joins The River Center staff with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She loves working with children and seeing their creativity bloom, making her a perfect fit as the children’s teacher in programs like the Jaffrey Parent and Child group and Families, Forests, and Farms. 

She enjoys kayaking, bike riding, and playing outside with her 2 children and her husband. She and her family participated in the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge last year - and they did it!

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NISA SIMILA
Communications and Money Matters Coordinator

Nisa attributes her approach to her work as Communications and Money Matters Coordinator at The River Center to her background as a speech-language pathologist, striving to make information as easily understood as possible. She is always asking herself, "how can we tweak this so people will get it?" She hopes people do get it!

She enjoys spending time with family, cooking, and riding her Vespa all over New England in her spare time. Raised in Canada, she lives in Peterborough with her husband of 23 years, their 2 daughters, and their dog.

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SHANNON MCNAMARA
Family Support Program Director

Shannon works in program development and facilitation in the family support program area of The River Center. She loves community outreach and researching and implementing programs and activities that can positively impact families, community and culture. Shannon has a particular passion for meeting the needs of youth and adolescents and enjoys designing and facilitating programs for parents and teens on maintaining good communication and understanding with one another.

Shannon grew up in the Monadnock region and has deep roots in the area. She lives in Hancock with her husband, three children and very active dog. A perfect day would be morning coffee with her husband on the deck, lunch with friends at Fiddleheads, followed by kayaking, dinner and music at Orchard Hill Pizza night, or taking in a Drive-In movie.

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SUE WHITAKER
Data and Donor Coordinator

Sue handles all things related to donations and data. Sue tracks and reports on information about participants in each of our programs so that our donors and funders know how we are using their generous dollars. She also acknowledges donations and helps run our fundraising campaigns such as NH Gives.

Sue enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband and 4 children in Peterborough, where she has made her home for 17 years.

Our Board

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​Mandy Sliver

​Associate Director, Leadership NH

Steve Kim

​Brady Associates Asset Management, Managing Director

Patricia McCarthy

​Retired educator, Jaffrey Rindge School District

Susan Copley

​Retired educator, Conval School District

​Amy Theriault

​Community member

​Kristen Garland

​Educator, The Well School

Douglas Sutherland

​Executive Director, Camp Brantwood