Leadership
Kera Miller, MA, LPC-S | Executive Director
Kera Miller has worked in the field of mental health since 1998 and has been a clinician since 2005. She has worked with adolescents and young adults in every level of care including residential, inpatient, day treatment, and outpatient/community-based settings.
Previous to her current role, Kera built and served as the Executive Director of a highly esteemed residential treatment center for teens in Colorado designed to help teens heal from trauma.
In addition, Kera grew her skills over 14 years working with a nationally recognized Family Support Program as a direct care mentor, then became the Regional Director of the program, and then inevitably, the National Clinical Director of that program. Kera has helped thousands of families.
Kera’s passion for helping others led her to work as a counselor for several years with a hospice and a case manager for the Colorado Chapter of the National MS Society.
Kera’s natural leadership and drive for teamwork has been demonstrated through all of these positions, but also on the court as an Assistant Coach for women’s basketball at a Division II University.
Kera’s philosophy in working with young people is based in recognition of the basic goodness within every individual; believing that individuals do the best they can with what they know, what they have available to them, and what their circumstances are. Effective therapy includes building a relationship, involving the family unit, and seeking to understand the motivation for growth and change, as well as the thoughts and feelings that may impede that growth.
Kera is originally from Iowa and is a vociferous Iowa Hawkeyes fan.
Kera Miller, MA, LPC-S
Kendall Edkins | Program Director
Kendall has 20+ years experience working with at-risk teenage boys, with a variety of emotional, behavioral, neurological and learning needs at a therapeutic day school in southern Vermont.
He values the learning that happens across the entire Shortridge program, whether in the classroom, the wilderness, therapeutic groups or on the sports field. He does his best to provide a variety of experiences throughout the day and take advantage of the teachable moments that arise. The relationship-building that happen on the basketball court, the ski mountain or sitting around the kitchen table playing board games, helps Kendall and his students work together when more challenging behavioral or emotional issues arise.
Kendall recently returned home to New Hampshire with his wife and twin daughters, from a previous home in Vermont where he lived for 20 years. He holds a deep love of early American history, especially that of New Hampshire and Vermont, and is an avid metal detectorist. You can find Kendall in his free time, searching for relics and artifacts from the colonial past.
Kendall Edkins
Megan Gerbino, M.S.N., APRN, FNP-C | Medical Director
Megan is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, specializing in treating patients across the lifespan. She has been with Shortridge Academy since 2021. Her previous work includes 6 years working as a Registered Nurse at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in the Emergency Department.
Between 2012 and 2014, Megan held various roles at Shortridge Academy , starting as a student mentor before advancing to the position of Residential Manager. In this role, she managed the residential environment and organized student trips. The experience she gained at Shortridge Academy was so influential that she eagerly embraced the chance to collaborate with the students and staff once more.
Prior to Shortridge Academy and her medical training, Megan was employed at a community mental health agency as a Case Manager where she worked closely with people diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. Megan would ensure these patients had their daily and case-specific needs met, as well as assisted in community integration.
In her free time, Megan enjoys hiking, kayaking, playing drums, and spending time with her family.
Megan Gerbino, M.S.N., APRN, FNP-C
Dr. Huda Motiwala, MD | Psychiatrist
Dr. Motiwala is double board certified in Adult and Pediatric Psychiatry. She completed her residency at Griffin Memorial Hospital in OK where she cared for the underserved community members. Her fellowship at the University of Oklahoma allowed her to gain expertise in treating children and adolescents of all types.
Since graduation she has focused on treating children and adolescents in all manners of inpatient and residential settings throughout the country.
In her free time Dr. Motiwala enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and trying new foods and restaurants.
Dr. Huda Motiwala, MD
Dr. Omar Shah | Psychiatrist
Dr. Omar Shah is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist. He currently serves as full time faculty at the Harvard Medical School and as a psychiatrist at Boston Children’s Hospital. He is a Ruth Fox Scholar of ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) and a recipient of the AAAP (American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry) John Renner Award. He served as the Vice Chair of the APA (American Psychiatric Association) Leadership Fellowship and was recently awarded the APA Resident Recognition Award. He completed his adult psychiatry training at the Delaware Psychiatry Residency Program, his child and adolescent psychiatry training at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, and a fellowship in Addiction Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Shah is interested in working with patients with complex psychosocial burdens, and families with substance use.
Dr. Omar Shah
Jade Kenyon, BSN | Nursing Services Manager
Jade obtained her BSN degree at Old Dominion University in Norfolk VA. Her previous nursing experience has been primarily focused in neurosciences (neurology and neurosurgery) and trauma. She prefers to practice in a holistic manner, integrating mind, body, and spirit, combined with conventional medicine. In her experience, “a person’s mentality and mindset, mixed with a little sense of humor, can have a very powerful effect on their overall health.”
Jade was born and raised in Michigan, where her family still resides and she loves to visit. Currently, she lives in New Durham with her significant other and their baby boy. A few of her favorite things are traveling, food, coffee, reading and maintaining a healthy balance between adventure and relaxation. Her happy place is either a bonfire on a summer night or sitting on her porch on a crisp fall evening.
Jade Kenyon, BSN
Stephanie Conni | Senior Behavioral Health Advisor
Stephanie is a dedicated business development professional who specializes in the mental health industry. Her passion lies deeply in adolescent mental health and substance use disorder services. With over a decade of experience, she has excelled in forging strategic partnerships that have broadened access to mental health services for adolescents. Stephanie’s expertise lies in understanding the unique needs and challenges faced by adolescents, and in crafting innovative business strategies to effectively meet these needs. She is deeply committed to improving mental health outcomes for adolescents and is devoted to the development of programs and services tailored to their specific challenges. As a dedicated mom and bonus mom to three wonderful children, Stephanie is actively involved in running a nonprofit organization that advocates for youth and provides support. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring new cuisines through cooking and is an avid traveler, always seeking new experiences and perspectives to enrich both her work and personal life.
Stephanie Conni
Elisha Griffin, B.S. | Intake/Discharge Coordinator
Elisha got her B.S. in Psychology from Mount Washington College. She went on to become a case manager and community support for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Elisha started working at Pittsfield Middle High School as a paraprofessional in the high school’s alternative learning and drop out prevention program called Flex for grades 9-12. In 2019 Elisha became a Special Education Teacher and took over the program as the lead teacher until 2022. She then worked for SAU 53 as one of two Special Education Teacher’s running a self-contained, alternative education program for students in grades 5-8 called Bridge. She is excited to use this experience here at Shortridge Academy. Elisha lives in Pittsfield, NH along with her husband and three children, two rescue dogs, 3 goats, and countless chickens. She enjoys attending concerts, going to the ocean, running a high school drama club with her husband, and traveling.
Elisha Griffin, B.S.
Lex Remillard, MSW, LCSW | VP Program Development
Lex Remillard earned his Master of Social Work from University of California and soon afterward moved to the Philadelphia area and began his career as an individual and Intensive Outpatient Adolescent Therapist working with substance-use/mental health disorders as well as family systems treatment. During this time, Lex expanded his skill set by developing and successfully launching a mental health Intensive Outpatient Program, became the director of a satellite office and expanded offices into neighboring counties. In his 20-year professional career Lex has taught graduate course work at the University of West Chester and the University of Southern California, given numerous lectures/radio and video interviews, supervised/ mentored junior therapists, ran a successful private practice, and provided professional consultation with local burgeoning residential centers. Lex is driven to continue to utilize his clinical and empathetic approach to assist both clients and employees in this specialized field of practice. Lex is excited to join the Altior Healthcare Team to continue to promote and grow thriving mental health programs. Lex looks forward to cooking with his family, hiking with his dogs and fishing.
Lex Remillard, MSW, LCSW
Rudolph Novak, JD CIP | VP of Business Development, East
Rudolph (Rudy) Novak earned his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law and his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Montclair State University. During his junior years he clerked for a Superior Court Judge in New Jersey and continued in the private practice of law afterwards.
As an attorney he realized early on that his work often intersected with those who may be in a behavioral health crisis. His own personal journey of [family] recovery began in his adolescence and through this, he developed a passion for the behavioral health field. With a personal investment and a stark need in the community for access to care, Rudy dedicated his career path to filling this void.
Since his formative years as an attorney, Rudy has sought out opportunity to learn and grow in the recovery industry; he has worked as a certified interventionist, an attorney, an advocate, a case manager, and a clinical outreach director, amongst various volunteer positions. Through advising on intervention and treatment planning for thousands of clients and their families nationwide, Rudy has visited, evaluated, and assisted in developing of hundreds of treatment programs across countless miles and diagnoses.
Through his own efforts to increase accessibility to treatment and recovery, Rudy maintains relationships with organizations and practitioners globally. In his own investment in accessibility and community service he has co-founded a nonprofit foundation and private organization that are dedicated to serving marginalized populations and expanding access to therapeutic services.
In his free time, you will find Rudy spending time with his son, eating, traveling, hiking, and seeing live music.
Rudolph Novak, JD CIP
Shannon Donovan, B.S., MBA | Business Manager
Shannon received her Bachelor and Master degrees at Franklin Pierce University and has spent most of her career in Office Management and Accounting. She grew up in New Hampshire but has lived in the Mad River Valley of VT and on Cape Cod and is back in Central New Hampshire.
Shannon lives with her boyfriend and cats where she loves to spend time outdoors in her garden, running, hiking and enjoying the changing seasons.
Shannon Donovan, B.S., MBA
Joe Bouthillette | Food Services Manager
Joe attended Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI. He has worked in a variety of restaurants over the years, including; Rosa Restaurant and Martingale Wharf in Portsmouth, NH, Menton in Boston, Elda in Biddeford, ME, and Persimmon in Providence. Joe is a very adventurous cook and eater. He enjoys things that are different and will try just about any dish or cuisine. In the future he hopes to travel the world, seeing the sites and trying local foods. Joe is also a big fan of music. He loves going to concerts and has a small record collection that he inherited from his father and grandfather. He grew up in Southern Maine and currently lives there with his wife and young son.
JOE BOUTHILLETTE
Jesse Muldoon | Facilities Supervisor
Born and raised in Connecticut, Jesse spent decades with the Manchester, CT, Recreation Department, beginning as an apprentice and working his way up to program director of after-school programs grades K through 5. He also taught skateboard lessons and worked with special needs children. Jesse is a mechanic who began working on his own cars, and then continued professionally working on a wide range of vehicles from race cars to recreational vehicles. He has also painted professionally, anything from advertising signs to fine cabinet work. Jesse lives in Alton, enjoys spending time with his children, and being outdoors.
Jesse Muldoon
Shykita Hill | Therapist
Shykita Hill
Miranda LeBlanc | Lead Educational Coordinator
Miranda LeBlanc
Matt Hart | Family Support Specialist
Matt Hart
John Burton | Director of Operations
John Burton
Chrissy Webster | Clinical Supervisor
Chrissy Webster
Chrissy Patrick | Program Manager
Chrissy Patrick
Chad Dalessandri | Therapist
Chad Dalessandri
Bre Walker | Clinical Program Director
Bre Walker
Anna Fordyce | Therapist
Anna Fordyce
Andrew Ehinger | Therapist
Andrew Ehinger
Megan, now the Medical Director at Ridge RTC, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a rich history in medical and mental health services. Her journey includes six years as an Emergency Department Registered Nurse at Frisbie Memorial Hospital and a transformative tenure at Shortridge Academy. Starting as a student mentor at Shortridge in 2012, she climbed the ranks to become Residential Manager, a role that had her creating student trips and managing the residential environment. Before embarking on her medical career, Megan championed the cause of those with severe mental illness as a Case Manager at a community agency.
Ridge RTC is part of the Altior Healthcare family of mental health treatment providers.