Iris Carroll,OTR/L,MPH - Director. Iris is the Director and Founder of Programs For People, and is responsible for the clinical and administrative operation of the agency. She has a Masters in Public Health Degree from Harvard School of Public Health, is a licensed Occupational Therapist, and has had extensive experience in the field of psychiatry, both in the private and public sectors. Prior to founding Programs For People she worked in New York state hospitals, Langley Porter Institute in California, and McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. She developed an interest in community mental health while working as Coordinator of the partial hospitalization program at Tufts New England Medical Center. Iris has had a long-standing concern for the issues of stigma and consumer rights, and was a recipient of the "Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Human Rights of Individuals with Mental Disabilities." She initiated and implemented a community-wide public forum on "Dispelling the Myths of Mental Illness" for the Town of Framingham.
Jeffrey Goldbarg,M.D. - Consulting Psychiatrist. Dr. Goldbarg graduated from Harvard College and Boston University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in adult psychiatry at McLean Hospital. He is licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is certified in the specialty of Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has been practicing psychiatry for 31 years. In addition to his consulting responsibilities, he is involved in Program For People's Inservice Training for interns and staff members.
Laura Hughes,APRN,BC - Clinical Nurse Specialist. Laura is a graduate of the MGH Institute of Health Professions with a Master of Science in Nursing. Laura has extensive clinical experience in the field of mental health in inpatient, home health, and day treatment settings.
Ethan Harris,LICSW - Clinical Social Work Supervisor/Family Therapist. Ethan received his Masters Degree in Social Work from Simmons College in 1969 and joined Programs For People as a founding member in 1973. Mr. Harris completed the family training program at Cambridge Family Institute from 1977-78 and studied at the Centro Milanese Di Terapia Della Famiglia in Milan in 1984. He served as editor of Family Issues from 1987-1994 and the Newsletter of the American Family Therapy Academy from 1994-1998. His publications include, "Crying, Sleeping, and the Post Modern Marriage" in the Journal of Feminist Family Therapy (1999) and "My Brother's Keeper: Siblings of Chronic Patients as Allies in Treatment" in Siblings in Therapy. He has served as visiting professor at Boston University and Simmons College Schools of Social Work and has been a field instructor for Simmons School of Social Work for over 30 years.
Caren Ruggles, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist. Caren is a licensed occupational therapist and member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. She graduated from Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences at Boston University with a B.S. in Therapeutic Studies in 2005 and continued at Boston University to obtain a M.S. in Occupational Therapy in 2007. Caren's previous experience included providing community-based treatment in the areas of developmental disabilities, mental health, and substance abuse. She also worked with older adults with physical disabilities in an inpatient setting.
Marcey Chardo, M.Ed.,LMFT,LMHC - Mental Health Counselor, Intern Supervisor. Marcey received her Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology and Marriage & Family Therapy both from Cambridge College. Although she has had the opportunity to work with a variety of populations, she has worked extensively for the past 15 years with parents and children in the field of Human Services with experience focused on the development of the family through the life cycle. Her experience has largely involved working in outpatient mental health settings but she also served as Interim Director of a residential program and Clinical Supervisor for group home parents in a group home for teens. Marcey has volunteered as a facilitator and coordinator for Parents Anonymous and Together Inc., both are groups that help parents in crisis.
Robert Charpentier,M.Ed. - Employment Services Manager. Robert earned his Masters Degree in Human Service Administration from Antioch University, and has more than thirty years of experience in the mental health field. He is Programs For People's Employment Services Manager, and Chairman of the MetroWest Work Opportunities Coalition. His roles include counseling, training, lobbying, and consultation for employers and government agencies.
Kevin Fandel, B.A. - Employment Specialist. Kevin holds a B.A. in Education/Human Services from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He brings over 25 years of experience in Corporate Human Resources, including senior positions at GE/RCA, Digital, and Boston Scientific. Throughout his career, Kevin has balanced being both a "Business Partner" to management and an "Advocate" for employees. He utilizes these skills in Project Advance (Programs For People's employment placement program) where he helps clients and employers to develop successful job matches.
Maureen Urban, BA - Employment Counselor. Maureen received her BA in Psychology from Western New England College. She has had several years of experience in the human services field, including working in nursing homes and a day program, and has also done volunteer work with the Literacy Corps.
Edward Hebert - Food Service Manager, The Lunch Box. Ed Hebert has had over 30 years of experience in restaurant management, and he excels in building team work spirit. Just prior to coming to Programs For People he was employed by Panera Bread, Marlborough, as Restaurant Assistant Manager. Previous positions held include Restaurant General Manager at Burger King Corporation in Shrewsbury, and Restaurant General Manager at Mama Josie's Restaurant in Waltham. Over the years, Ed has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to community service by actively volunteering in civic and nonprofit groups (such as The Boy Scouts of America, Cerebral Palsy of MA, food donation programs, and telethons) which led to his interest in managing The Lunch Box at Programs For People.
Vanessa Whaley, BA - Corporate Representative. Vanessa has a BA in Psychology from Westfield State College. Vanessa was Senior Class President of the Class of 2004 at Westfield and her duties included fundraising, event planning, community relations. She is currently enrolled in the Masters Program at Salem State College.
Beverly Folkes,AS - Administrative Assistant. Beverly received her Associate in Science degree from Lasell College. She has worked as Administrative Assistant/Executive Secretary at Programs For People since 1990.
Stephanie Calcagni,BS - Financial Data Manager. Stephanie received her degree in Business Management from Providence College and is the agency's Financial Data Manager, responsible for the billing, accounts receivable, and coordination of payroll and benefits. She has had over 25 years experience in both private and public sectors. She has been employed by Programs For People since 1983.
