Jo Frances Meyer

Jo Frances Meyer

Director of Special Projects

Jo Frances Meyer joined the Camp Harbor View team in 2020 during the early days of the pandemic, and since then she has assisted her colleagues with health equity and guaranteed income initiatives, as well as contractual matters.  In her current role, she works closely with members of the CHV team who are directly engaged with climate resilience measures to address the most pressing environmental challenges facing CHV’s island home.  She also will seek to develop and advance collaborative efforts with local, state, and regional environmental organizations in order to find workable solutions that will protect the camp and keep staff and campers safe in the years to come.

Prior to her work for Camp Harbor View, Jo Frances served as Executive Director of Boston Landmarks Orchestra, and in senior roles for other performing arts organizations and nonprofits, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and Rockport Music.  Before her career in the nonprofit sector, Jo Frances practiced health care law and commercial litigation in Boston. She swears she’s not a jack-of-all trades, but her door is always open for whatever unique CHV special projects might land on her desk that could benefit from her experience and expertise.

Jo Frances earned her Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Boston University, her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School, and a Master in Public Administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Longy School of Music at Bard College, as a member of the Board of Directors for the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, and as a member of the Boards of Advisors of the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, and Lyric Stage Company of Boston.

Jo Frances Meyer headshot 2022

Kara Bassett, SHRM-CP

Kara Bassett, SHRM-CP

Human Resources Manager

Kara Bassett serves as Camp Harbor View’s Human Resources and Operations Coordinator. Kara joined CHV in the Spring of 2022 as the Human Resources and Operations intern, where she supported the onboarding process of seasonal staff, and assisted camp administration. After receiving a Master’s in Human Resources Management, with a concentration in leadership from Northeastern University, she joined the team full time in her current role. Kara also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in education from Saint Michael’s College in Burlington, Vermont. 

Combining her passion for working with young adults and children, with her mission to create equitable work opportunities, she’s excited to further her work within the Camp Harbor View community.

Kara Bassett headshot 2022

Danielle Kellermann

Danielle Kellermann

Vice President of Philanthropy

Danielle Kellermann is thrilled to serve as the Vice President of Philanthropy for Camp Harbor View. Prior to this role, she served as the Vice President of Development for Emmanuel College, a boutique liberal arts college in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston. She led a $50M campaign to diversify the talent pipeline across industries and build resources for the College. Before Emmanuel, she worked closely with Jack Connors, Jr. as his senior executive assistant and project manager on an array of philanthropic initiatives.

Originally from South Africa, Danielle brings great compassion and a global perspective to social and community issues. She also volunteers for a diagnostic manufacturing company, LifeSADX, in South Africa on a preeclampsia and POC Initiative to provide testing for the early detection of preeclampsia in the poorest areas.

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston University, Master of Art in drama from University College Cork. She is the recipient of the Aspen Writer’s Foundation Bedell Scholarship in African Literature. Her international network spans across industries and her passion for community building, communication, and partnerships.

Lisa Gomes

Lisa Gomes

Community Resource Coordinator

Lisa Gomes serves as the Community Resource Coordinator on the Family Services team at Camp Harbor View. Lisa joined CHV in Summer 2022 as a member of the camper support team on island and brings 20+ years of experience working with children to her role.

Central to her work is a strong belief that it takes a village – not only raise a child but also to help support the parents that are the core of raising the child. And she is deeply honored when families allow her to be part of their village.

In her role on the Family Services team, she seeks to take financial, emotional, mental, and other stressors off families so they’re able to focus on building solid family units. With a firm belief that children’s happiness or struggles start at home, she sees holistic family support as essential to the success of any young person.

Lisa’s background is in teaching. She is a certified infant through pre-K teacher and, over the last four years, worked with cognitively challenged and special needs children at Easton Middle School. She spent two decades at home raising her three boys and she passionately believes every child needs and deserves to feel they truly matter. She finds great joy and fulfillment in being a safe landing spot for any child.

Born and raised in Boston before moving to Cape Cod as a teen, Lisa finds peace sitting at the ocean’s edge reading a book. She studied at UMass Dartmouth and is most proud of her three children.

Abbey Holland

Abbey Holland

Guaranteed Income Program Coordinator

Abbey Holland serves as the Program Coordinator for Camp Harbor View’s Guaranteed Income Program. In this role, Abbey is a resource for participating families, coordinating services and facilitating workshops.

Abbey first became involved with CHV in 2018 as a volunteer tutor in the Leadership Academy when she was a student Northeastern. While continuing her studies, she’s had an impact across all three CHV program areas in a variety of roles – including as both a group leader and team leader at summer camp, an intern supporting the Leader in Training program, and working part-time to support the Guaranteed Income program launch. 

Abbey is a graduate of Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs and Human Services. Her studies and experiences focused on youth development, the non-profit sector, and public policy.

Sharon McNally

Sharon McNally

Chief Executive Officer, Camp Harbor View

Sharon McNally is the Chief Executive Officer of Camp Harbor View. She is also the Chief of Staff in the Connors Family Office, where she supports the philanthropic, political, and business activities of Jack Connors, Jr., founder and former CEO of Hill Holliday.

An active community volunteer leader, Sharon is the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare where she remains a member.

In addition, she is a member of the Board of Directors of Camp Harbor View; a member of the Board of Directors of Community Servings, a member of the Board of Directors of Health Equity International, and Co-Chair of Health Leads MA Advisory Council. She also chairs the Development Committee at St. Cecilia’s Parish in Boston’s Back Bay.

Sharon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government at Colby College. A lifelong Boston-area resident, she and her husband live in Boston and have three grown children and nine grandchildren.

Sharon McNally headshot 2022

Josh Waxman

Josh Waxman

Chief Operating Officer

Josh Waxman is the Chief Operating Officer at Camp Harbor View. In this role, Josh is responsible for ensuring that Camp Harbor View’s systems and structures enable the organization to carry out its mission of supporting 1,000 youth and families annually. Josh oversees two program departments, human resources, finance, facilities, and technology. Since joining Camp Harbor View in 2018, Josh has worked closely with the senior leadership team to scale the organization, nearly doubling its size in five years while deepening its impact with families in Boston.  

Josh brings 15 years of leadership experience that spans the non-profit and public sectors to his role at CHV. Previously, Josh has held leadership roles at the Martin Richard Foundation, United Way, and City Year. Josh is very active as a volunteer in the community. He serves as a big brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, and as mentor for aspiring Non-Profit leaders through the Institute for Non-Profit Practice at Tufts University. Josh recently stepped down after serving as the board chair for five years at the Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot school.

Josh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and leadership and management certificates from the Sloan School of Management at MIT and Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life. Josh is a proud resident of the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. 

Sandy Ruecha

Sandy Ruecha

Database Manager

Sandy Ruecha serves as the Database Manager at Camp Harbor View. In this role, she is responsible for the organization’s database infrastructure, implementing and managing system features that enable and improve CHV programs and operations. She is also responsible for system maintenance and procedures to ensure data integrity and quality.

Sandy joined Camp Harbor View in 2019 as the 9th Grade RISE Program Coordinator. From enrollment to mentorship, Sandy played a key role in creating and facilitating enriching curriculum and workshops for more than one hundred teens during their first year of the CHV Leadership Academy, cultivating rising leaders to be successful in the Leader in Training program.

Prior to CHV, she was the Assistant Director of Out of School Time at the Roxbury YMCA. During her tenure at the Roxbury YMCA, she helped the program site achieve enrollment goals, advocated for more resources to enrich the environment for children ages 5-13 years old, and maintained EEC licensure. Earlier in her career, she was a preschool teacher at the Abbott Children’s Learning Center in Wellesley, teaching children critical language, social, and motor skills.

Sandy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Boston College. She lives in Boston and continues to be actively involved in the community.

Sandy Ruecha headshot 2022

Bob O’Connell

Bob O’Connell

Director of Facilities

Bob O’Connell is the Director of Facilities at Camp Harbor View. In this role he oversees all aspects of CHV’s island campus on Long Island in Boston Harbor along with our two year-round office locations in Boston. Joining the team in 2009, Bob was instrumental in supporting both facility growth and summer programs in the camp’s early years. Before assuming his year-round role, Bob served Camp Harbor View as the Director of Maintenance for ten summer seasons. Bob excels in the logistical challenges of running a camp on an island while efficiently managing staff and contractors and lending support to the camp’s program partners.

With 25 years of experience working in teen counseling and mentoring combined with nearly 20 years in the construction and property management field, Bob brings a unique set of skills to his role. His passion and commitment to teens is evidenced by the time he devotes to the camp’s youth emphasizing hard work, education, and responsibility. Bob is excited about his future within this community.

Bob OConnell headshot 2022

Jaclyn McGrory

Jaclyn McGrory

Director of Events & Partnerships

Jaclyn McGrory is Camp Harbor View’s Director of Events and Partnerships. In this role, she is focused on fundraising, development, and bringing memorable experiences to donors and community members through mission focused events and gatherings.

Jaclyn has experience in many areas of the events industry including weddings, private events, corporate events, and fundraising galas. Most recently, she worked with the American Cancer Society for over five years, overseeing distinguished events for the Boston market. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality and tourism administration with a concentration in events management from Endicott College.

In addition to leading on CHV events, she keeps her logistic and design skills current working with local event designer J Barry Designs. Jaclyn currently resides in Waltham, spending free time with friends, family, and her two rescue dogs, Remy and Penny.