Leadership Team
The Healthy Monadnock Alliance (HMA) Leadership Team plays a vital role in fulfilling our mission by supporting the Advisory Council and aligning activities with the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). In collaboration with The Center for Population Health at Cheshire Medical Center, they ensure all grant deliverables are met and that any necessary revisions to the CHIP are approved. The Leadership Team develops meeting agendas, invites guest speakers, and defines intended outcomes to foster collaboration among members and stakeholders. They make informed decisions on funding opportunities that directly support the Healthy Monadnock Alliance Workgroups, promote understanding of HMA and the CHIP through the HMA Annual Report, and focus on the recruitment and retention of Alliance members.
Alicia Deaver
Alicia Deaver, Ph.D., CCLS, is the Executive Director of Rise for baby and family. Alicia has lived in Keene since 2018 and loves living in this region. Her passion is early childhood education, with a focus on social-emotional development and helping families to thrive. During her time in Alaska and Mississippi, she worked in various direct service and management positions focused on bolstering children’s mental health and well-being by improving the quality of early care and education programs, providing individualized developmental and behavioral support to children, and supporting families. She is a proponent of the Strengthening Families and Pyramid Model frameworks for building inclusive communities that support the unique needs of children and families. Alicia has a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies with an emphasis on Child Life. She became a certified Child Life Specialist in 2006. She has a master’s degree in Early Intervention, and a Ph.D.in Human Development and Family Studies. Outside of her work, she loves spending time with her family, cooking and baking, hiking, and simply enjoying nature.
Tammy Dwyer
Tammy Dwyer is the Director of Community Engagement at the Center for Population Health at Cheshire Medical Center. She has over 25 years of leadership experience in women’s health, animal welfare, and human services. Tammy developed a strong sense of community devotion through her many years of work in the nonprofit sector. She graduated from Vermont College with a Bachelor of Arts. She is an award-winning filmmaker and believes in the power of story and its potential to change lives. Tammy lives in Maine with her husband, Tad, rescue dogs Max and Scout, and their son, Nick.
Eileen Fernandes (Chair)
Eileen Fernandes had over 35 years of professional experience in the social service field before retiring in 2021. For the 26 years she has resided in the Monadnock Region, she has held a number of leadership positions at Cheshire Housing Trust, Southwestern Community Services, Cheshire Medical Center, and Monadnock Family Services. She received her baccalaureate degree from the University of Massachusetts-North Adams in 1982 and a master of Management Administration from Marlboro College in 2012. She received the Keene Health Alliance Leadership Award in 2009, in recognition of her exemplary leadership, and the Keene Extraordinary Woman Award in 2015. As a result of her efforts as project director for Operation Flood Recovery following the 2005 flooding, she received a citation from Governor John H. Lynch for her dedication and commitment to the citizens of New Hampshire.
Ed Walker
Ed Walker is the Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director for the Town of Peterborough (NH), a position he has held since May 2014. Before joining Peterborough, Ed served for six years as the Director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and 23 years with the Weston (MA) Fire Department, where he rose through the ranks to Fire Chief. Ed holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Maine, a BS in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology from the University of Cincinnati, and an MBA from Northeastern University. Ed participates in many community groups, including the Rotary Club of Peterborough, Monadnock at Home, and the ConVal Substance Abuse Task Force. In 2016, Ed was named the New Hampshire Emergency Manager of the Year.