Staff Profiles
Every program claims to have professional staff, with good educational backgrounds and experience. When we refer to professional staff we are speaking about not only those qualities, but also staff who are secure and available to the students.
National Office Staff
Michael McManmon, Ed.D
Founder
Dr. McManmon grew up the youngest son in a family of nine children. He is the father of six children and nine grandchildren. He received his B.A. in English from Mt. St. Mary's College in Maryland and went on for his Masters in Counseling from Shippensburg University.
He attended the University of Kansas for his Masters in Human Development through a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. He obtained his Doctorate in Special Education from the University of Nevada. Subsequently, he was licensed as a Psychologist by the State of Massachusetts. He worked for state, private and non-profit organizations in several states prior to founding The Berkshire Center in 1984.
During his 35 years of experience with students with Learning Differences and Asperger's Syndrome, Dr. McManmon has worked on Curriculum Development, Staff Training, Program Evaluation, and Administering Community Based Programming. He is a member of the International Learning Disabilities Association and the Independent Educational Consultants Association. Dr. McManmon speaks and presents at Professional Conferences nationally and internationally. He has an inside perspective as he himself was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and grew up in a large family with several individuals on the spectrum.
Dr. McManmon has been certified as a family teacher through the Boys Town Center in Nebraska. He has served as a PTA President, School Board Member and Parish Council Member. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Lee Chamber of Commerce, coached in the Community Soccer League and basketball league, and is an avid gardener.
Dr. McManmon's program philosophy is to provide a loving and trusting environment in which personal growth can occur. The process includes honoring each individual's talents and assisting them in using their personal power to develop skills, meet their needs and thus live independently. This process is accomplished by hiring exemplary individuals, giving them the tools to operate and working as a team.
Heather Greene, M.B.A.
Executive Director
Heather joined the College Internship Program in July 2005. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and her M.B.A. from Sage Graduate School.
For the past five years, she was living and working in the United Kingdom as an accounting contractor in telecommunication and banking industries.
She relocated back to the States in February 2005. Prior to that, Heather worked for ten years as a Financial Controller for NorthEast Health in Cohoes, N.Y. She currently enjoys life in the Berkshires with her son, Jordan and is kept very busy attending his sporting events. Heather also enjoys skiing, horseback riding, running, reading, and traveling.
Caroline Wheeler, B.A.
National Admissions Director
Caroline Wheeler received her BA from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is a certified high school and middle school teacher.
Caroline has been working with individuals with learning differences for many years, both as a special education teacher and as a case manager supervisor.
She is a Certified Educational Advocate and a Certified MCAS Tutor. Caroline also has taken graduate courses at Assumption College and Fitchburg State College. Caroline began her work at the Berkshire Center as an Advisor and as the Vocational Coordinator.
She then became interested in the admissions process and was Assistant to the Admissions Director for one year, after which she was thrilled to take the position of Director.
Caroline lives in Lee, Massachusetts where she enjoys gardening, hiking, photography, reading, biking, art, music, and traveling. Caroline also loves to spend time with her daughter Jennifer, who lives in central Massachusetts.
National Admissions Coordinator
Maggi Sanderson holds a B.A. in English from Smith College and has been involved with admissions and marketing for special needs/therapeutic programs for nearly 15 years.
She assisted Eric M. Plakun, M.D., at the Austen Riggs Center in admissions and in his research and subsequent contributions to the DSM-III in defining diagnostic criteria for narcissistic, borderline, and schizotypal personality disorders, and schizophrenia.
For eight years she served as Director of Admissions at The DeSisto School in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where she also supervised family casework, coordinated interdepartmental IEP development and implementation, and pursued funding options for students.
Maggi has traveled extensively as Director of Outreach for The King George School in Sutton, Vermont, and as regional representative for referral development for Brown Schools, Inc.
A staunch proponent of the arts and historic preservation, Maggi has also served as dramaturg and assistant to both Managing and Artistic Directors at the Berkshire Theatre Festival and as Director of Marketing and Visitor Services at Hancock Shaker Village.
Her greatest loves are her daughter, Greer, age 24, a freelance writer; her cat; and reading, writing and cooking.
National Administrative Assistant
Karri Ann Woodard was born and raised in Dalton, Massachusetts. She now lives in Peru, MA with her husband Charlie. She has a sixteen year old son, Zacheri and she spends much of her time watching him play football, basketball and his favorite sport baseball.
Karri attended Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA where she received her A.A. in Business Administration. Some of her hobbies include breeding and raising bulldogs. She also enjoys biking, reading and writing.
Melanie Moran
National Human Resources Specialist
Melanie Moran joined the College Internship Program in 2009. She has spent her career working in various human resource positions. Her previous position was at the Valleyhead School, a residential facility for adolescents with learning disabilities and mental health issues.
Melanie currently lives in Adams with her husband, Kevin. Her hobbies include reading, snow shoeing and furniture refinishing.
Dan McManmon, B.A.
National Marketing Coordinator
Dan McManmon was born and raised in western Massachusetts by his parents Michael and Linda. Growing up he enjoyed playing sports and working on various art projects. Being the brother of four sisters he now has a large extended family and three brothers-in-law which he greatly appreciates.
Dan attended Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont where he received his B.A. in Multimedia and Graphic Design. He began working at the Berkshire Center in Lee, Massachusetts and more recently moved to Berkeley, California with the opening of the Berkeley Center.
Some of his hobbies include producing music, freelance graphic design and spending time with friends. He enjoys the outdoors, hiking, biking, and playing with his dogs. Email Dan here.
Andrea Wadsworth
National Finance, Payroll Specialist
Andrea Wadsworth was born and raised in the Berkshires. She lives in Lee, MA with her husband, Kevin, son, Airen, and daughter, Tori. she has always had a passion and affinity for numbers and accounting. Upon graduating from Berkshire Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration; she began working for Mead Specialty Paper as a Financial Analyst.
Once her son Airen was born, Andrea decided to focus all her energy on raising her son, and later her daughter, Tori. Andrea first priority is to her family and children. She has enjoyed the many years she was able to stay home and raise her children. During that time, Andrea became a licensed Day Care Provider, a Nationally Licensed Group Aerobic Instructor, Junior and Varsity Cheerleading Coach, and an Award Winning Master Pastry Chef.
Andrea owns and operates A.W. Confections, a private, pastry business specializing in custom made Wedding cakes and pastries. A.W. Confections has created thousands of cakes and services many celebrity clients.
Once her children got older, Andrea decided it was time to get back to Accounting. The College Internship Program has been a perfect fit for her. She enjoys her co-workers and the challenge of everyday ‘business’.
Andrea’s hobbies include, spending time with family and friends, baking, watching her husband and son race motocross, cheering for her son as he plays basketball, traveling to horse shows with her daughter and their horse Coupe’s Cruiser, and taking care of her five Shih Tzus, Cookie, Ginger, Oreo, Lance and Buddy.
Brevard Center Staff
Joan Williamson
Program Director
Joan Williamson comes to the College Internship Program with more than twenty years experience in fiscal and human resource management. Her experience includes ten years in the finance department with a large non-profit agency, servicing individuals with disabilities. She has also been the financial manager for the last fifteen years for Berkshire Omega, a corporation that provides residential and rehabilitative services to the disabled.
She attended Berkshire Community and North Adams State Colleges. Joan was born and raised in Berkshire County, MA. Joan has two children, an adult son, Matthew and a high school daughter, Lauren. Joan resides in Melbourne, FL with her daughter. She devotes most of her spare time volunteering in school activities and in the YMCA Youth Soccer Program. She also is an active member of her church.
Debra J. Sloane, PsyD, BCBA
Psychologist
Dr. Jacoby received her Bachelor's of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Florida in 1985. She received her Master's of Science and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1987 and 1989 respectively.
Dr. Jacoby completed her Clinical Internship training at the University of South Florida's Counseling Center for Human Development in 1989. She is a Licensed Psychologist and has had advanced training in Behavior Analysis.
She worked at Sea Pines Rehabilitation Hospital, Melbourne, Florida, from 1989 to 1998. There she held various positions including Psychology Resident, Director of Pain Management, and Director of Behavioral Medicine. Her primary duties at Sea Pines included providing consultation and education to hospital staff and patients on topics of coping with traumatic injuries, psychological issues and spinal cord injury, sexuality and disability and managing chronic illnesses and disabilities. She also provided psychological services including initial clinical interviews, individual, group, couples and family therapy.
She currently works with college aged young adults with Asperger's Disorder or NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disability) at the College Internship Program, Brevard Center. At CIP, Dr. Jacoby counsels young adults (individual and group therapy), teaches classes on relationships/sexuality and supervises a peer mentoring and social thinking program. She also does staff training and presentations locally and nationally on topics of Characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome as well as Social Thinking and Social Mentoring Training Programs with Young Adults who have Asperger's and/or NLD.
Dr. Jacoby holds a position on the advisory board of the STAR Center, a local private school for children with developmental disabilities. Additionally, she holds a position as a member of the Community Advisory Board of Florida Institute of Technology's Autism Treatment and Research Center.
Dr. Jacoby has two sons; her younger son has Autism as well as mild Cerebral Palsy. She has been very active in all aspects of his rehabilitation including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, ABA (Verbal Behavior Training), RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) and Bio-Medical interventions. She enjoys music, theatre, traveling and power-walking in her free time.
Jennifer Kolarik, B.S.
Career Coordinator
Jennifer graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Central Florida in 1993 with her B.S. in Psychology and a minor in mathematics. She pursued graduate work in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Michigan State University with a focus on "disabilities in the workplace." She strongly believes in the importance of providing reasonable accommodations within the workplace and educational systems so that all individuals can realize their greatest potential. She has several conference presentations and journal publications including a research article in the Journal of Applied Psychology.
Her passion is working with high school and college students and has over 10 years experience working in such capacities as an undergraduate psychology instructor, researcher, tutor, mentor, resident assistant, and hospice teen volunteer coordinator. Jennifer was raised in Indian Harbor Beach, FL and has found it especially rewarding to return to the Melbourne area with her husband Paul to raise their two young children, Tony and Haley. She enjoys dancing, participating in local Mom’s groups, being an active member of the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic community, and volunteering for the Arthritis Foundation.
Stephen E. Nassar, Psy.D., LCSW
Clinical Director
Dr. Nassar received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Western New England College in Springfield, MA in 1989. He then received his Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC in 1991. In 1995, Dr. Nassar received his Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and in 1998 his Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL.
Dr. Nassar is currently licensed in the state of Florida as a Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Social Worker. In addition to his position at the College Internship Program, the Brevard Center, he also works at HealthSouth Sea Pines Rehabilitation Center and has a small private practice. Dr. Nassar is married and has two daughters. In his free time, Dr. Nassar likes to spend time with his family and enjoys watching the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox.
Karen Rathgeber, M.S., OTR
Ocupational Therapist
Karen received her B.S. in occupational therapy at Florida International University in 1985, and her M.S. in Health Sciences with a focus in Education in 1992. Her experience includes working in the public school system with disabled children, teaching at Barry University's occupational therapy program, and working at Sea Pines Rehabilitation Hospital as a clinician, the Director of Occupational Therapy and later promoted to the Director of Clinical Services.
Karen was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts and moved to St. Augustine with her parents at the age of 12. She settled in Melbourne in 1987 and lives with her four daughters. She enjoys volunteering in her children's classes, gardening, reading, and is an active member of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic community.
Jodi Pierce, B.A.
Student Advisor
Jodi is originally from Hollywood, Florida and now lives on Merritt Island in Central Brevard County. She received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Florida State University in 1992. She attended graduate school at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and Utah State University, where she studied behavior analysis and exceptional education.
Jodi worked as a certified behavior analyst for twelve years, primarily with families of children with autism. She joined the team at the Brevard Center in 2007, after spending three years as a full-time homemaker and community volunteer.
Outside of the College Internship Program, Jodi enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband, Don, have a daughter, Hannah, and two adult sons, Donny and Jason. She is the President of the Gardendale Elementary Magnet School PTO and has served on the School Advisory Committee for three years. Jodi has been a Girl Scout Troop Leader for an amazing group of young ladies since 2003. Jodi also enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and enjoying the many recreational opportunities on the beautiful Space Coast.
Sharona Sommer
Student Advisor
Sharona was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. She graduated with a college certification in Special Care Counseling. She has over 10 years experience working with children and young adults with special needs.
Her experience includes teaching functional living skills, vocational training and implementing various academic programs. Sharona relocated to Melbourne in 2001 with her husband and 2 children. She decided to make a career change and followed her passion for cooking.
Sharona started her own personal chef business " Savor the Moment" in 2004 and has successfully catered to the culinary needs of the community. Sharona's interests include cooking, travel, kayaking and going to the movies. Sharona is very excited to be part of the College Internship Program.
Academic Coordinator
Ryan is a third generation Floridian who has lived in central Florida most of her life, with the exception of two years in Indiana, PA and two years in Coldwater, MI. She received a bachelor of science in psychology with a minor in cultural anthropology and a master of arts in social science education from the University of Central Florida.
She is married to an amazing, caring, considerate and loving man. She and her husband D.J. have a beautiful infant son Darren. Her hobbies include watching movies, volunteering in the community, spending time with her family, camping, traveling (Mexico, Ireland, Canada, southern and eastern U.S. Central America, Bahamas, and Caymans), singing, exercising, hiking, canoeing, spending time at the beach and riding on her husband’s motorcycle.
Ryan is super excited to join CIP because she can apply the skills and knowledge she has acquired in a novel fashion while constantly learning something new.
Admissions Coordinator
Rose was born and raised in Brevard County, Florida. She received a Bachelors of Science Business Administration Degree in Economics from Rollins College, Melbourne Campus. She attended graduate school at Webster University, Space Coast Campus in pursuit of an MBA degree.
Rose’s professional resume includes over 20 years experience in various levels of Human Resources and Administration in both the government and private sectors. Most notably experience in training and education development.
Rose’s position at The College Internship Program is her return to the workplace after staying at home for the past six years raising her son Kenny to school age. She resides in Rockledge, Florida. She spends her spare time with her family: husband Michael, son Kenny and stepdaughter Hope. Weekends are spent at the ballpark for Kenny’s ‘sport du jour’ and the high school auditorium watching Hope in one spectacular production after another.
Residential Coordinator
Travis is originally from the Syracuse, New York area and has been living in Melbourne, Florida for the last two years. He graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from the State University of New York at Geneseo with a focus in developmental psychology.
Travis started at the Brevard Center as a Social Mentor and Job coach and soon found his skills were most valuable as Residential Coordinator. He enjoys spending time with the students in the various activities, and not only teaching them life skills but learning a great deal from them as well.
During his free time Travis enjoys swimming, reading, fishing, playing golf and tennis, watching movies and spending time with his fiancé. He hopes to share his enthusiasm for life with the students here at CIP and encourages them to try new things.