Get to know the dedicated individuals behind The KEY Collective — from our passionate staff to our engaged board of directors and trusted advisory committee. Each person plays a unique role in our collective.
MEET THE TEAM
Meet Our Founder & Executive Director
Kristyn LaFleur is a Seacoast New Hampshire native and is passionate about helping the youth in her community and beyond. After a successful 15-year career in sales & operations in the financial industry, Kristyn chose to stay at home to raise her sons, Brady and Shea, with husband Rick in East Kingston, NH.
As Kristyn's boys got older, she decided to go back to work part-time. Always feeling a sense to do something that would make a meaningful and long-lasting impact in her community, she founded The KEY Collective in 2017. What started as a grassroots effort has now turned into a thriving organization that is growing exponentially year after year.
When not running with all things KEY Collective, Kristyn enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, cooking and traveling.
Meet Our Seacoast Community Manager
Alli Harding has always felt passionate about helping kids. With a background in elementary education, she worked in several schools on the Seacoast before making the decision to step away to spend more time with her own young children. After some time at home Alli learned about The KEY Collective and immediately felt connected to their mission.
She loves being able to help kids from her own community and truly believes in the lifelong benefits out of school programs and activities provide.
Alli moved to the Seacoast in 2016 and lives in Portsmouth with her husband, son, daughter and goldendoodle. She loves spending time with her family, going to the beach and running outside.
Meet our Marketing & PR Specialist
Kim Irwin is passionate about providing all kids access to the sports and activities that shaped her childhood on the NH Seacoast. Prior to joining KEY Collective, Kim worked for nonprofit and mission-driven businesses in program management, marketing and fundraising. She was drawn to KEY Collective’s mission and impact on the Seacoast community she calls home.
After volunteering for KEY Collective for nine months, a position on the team opened up, and she jumped at the chance to get involved more deeply in the organization.
Kim resides in Brentwood, NH with her husband and son. Her family loves all things outdoors- including running, hiking and skiing- and enjoys spending family time in the White Mountains.
The Board of Directors for The KEY Collective is tasked with elevating the organization, driving donations, increasing partnerships, and supporting the Executive Director. Together, they plan strategically for the future of The KEY Collective. If you’re interested in getting involved through the Board of Directors, please contact us to start a conversation.
Mark H. Whitney | Board President
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Mark Whitney is the founder and principal of Plan B Strategic Solutions, LLC. Mark has 40 years of leadership, executive, and board experience working with organizations dedicated to making a difference in their community. Most recently, Mark served 17 years as the Vice President of Strategy, Community Relations, and Advancement at Exeter Health Resources in NH.
At Plan B Strategic Solutions Mark focuses his unique experience to guide and transform not-for-profit and for-profit organizations by maximizing the intersection between their strategy, community engagement, relationship building, and advocacy while positively impacting the communities and people they serve. Plan B specializes in cultivating and leveraging strategic relationships.
Kristen Russell | Board Vice President
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Kristen is the Broker for her family’s’ real estate business, Russell Associates, Inc. She has been active in the Seacoast Realtor community since 1992. She is a graduate of Governors Academy and the University of Rhode Island. She is a member of the local, state and national REALTOR associations as well as the NH Commercial Investment Board of REALTORS.
She is passionate about the vision of The KEY Collective and is excited share her experience and sales/marketing expertise on the fundraising and events committees.
Kristen is very involved in the community and enjoys her participation in local organizations and non-profits. She serves as President of the Board for The Friends of the Hampton Mounted Patrol and is a past board member for Experience Hampton.
Kristen lives in Hampton with her family. She loves to garden, is an avid skier and an active horsewoman.
Steve Singlar | Board Treasurer
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Steve has built an excellent reputation in business and his local community by consistently solving challenges through technology, process and building successful relationships. Steve enjoys spending time with his wife and three children and has been involved in a variety of local projects including The Dean’s Development Board in the College of Liberal Arts, Exeter Hospital’s Center for Cancer Care, The Moore Center, and Friends of Exeter Parks and Rec. An avid runner, Steve is also a Boston sports enthusiast and enjoys playing the harmonica and guitar.
Jaime Sawler | Board Secretary
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Jaime lives in Stratham with his wife Melissa and their three children, George, Louisa, and Teddy. He has dedicated his entire career to education. Starting as a mathematics teacher at a small boarding school in Connecticut, he then spent many years in New Hampshire as a math teacher, school counselor, and building administrator. Currently, he serves as the Principal at Traip Academy in Kittery, Maine.
Jaime's involvement in athletics extends even further. As a former collegiate athlete, he channels his passion and appreciation for sports into service. He has coached football and track and field at the high school level and now coaches the youth sports that his children play. He enjoys spending time with his family, especially skiing, biking, and playing in the backyard.
Jaime values and understands the importance of participating in activities like sports. Helping families in need is a true passion of his. The #areuin? card provides families with easy access to resources that support an active, healthy lifestyle.
Kari Lazerowich | Board Member
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Kari is a resident of Rye Beach and works as a graphic designer. As such, she plans to contribute to KEY Collective's efforts (as she has for numerous other local non-profits over the years). Kari was one of the founding board members of Womenade of Greater Squamscott and served actively on that board for a decade.
As the mother of two boys (now successful young men) Kari understands the value of out of school activity. By working with KEY Collective on their #areuin? card program she hopes to see deserving families able to take advantage of opportunities for their children in both the arts and athletics.
Adam Berezin | Board Member
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Adam Berezin is a co-founder of GuidePoint Media (GPM), and has been the CEO since its inception in 2008. GPM is the owner of MSDynamicsWorld.com (MSDW), recognized as the world’s largest independent digital source for news and information in the Microsoft Business Applications space. Additionally, MSDW is the largest provider of digital demand generation programs to Microsoft Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) around the world.
Adam is responsible for the strategic direction of the company, overseeing all business development efforts, and the creation of digital demand generation programs.Prior to co-founding GPM, Adam was responsible for new business development at Wellesley Information Services (WIS), a leading publisher of technical journals, magazines, newsletters and conferences for SAP professionals.
Prior to WIS, Adam held senior business development positions at International Data Corporation (IDC) and Lightship Telecommunications.
Adam has a degree in Economics from Wheaton College in Massachusetts.
Adam has lived in Stratham since 2014 along with his wife, Valerie, and their two children, Ava and Sam. As a father of two children who are very active in sports, Adam understands the value of after school enrichment, and is determined to help make The KEY Collective a household name in New Hampshire and beyond.
The Advisory Committee is a group of trusted community leaders who meet twice a year to offer insight, ideas, and connections that help guide The KEY Collective’s work. They help us stay grounded in the real needs of local youth and families, identify opportunities for growth, and serve as advocates for our mission across the Seacoast.
Patrice Baker, Early Intervention Outreach Specialist, SAU 21
Greg Bisson, Director, Exeter Parks and Recreation
Hilary Hopkin, Welfare Administrator, Town of Hampton
Lisa Jacobus, School Social Worker, SAU 52
Kristen Johnson, Pediatrician, Core Physicians
Jennifer Jones, Pediatrician, Core Physicians
Jodie Lubarsky, VP of Clinical Operations, Seacoast Mental Health
Jill Marchand, Family Support Specialist, Waypoint
Sarah Marino, Care Coordinator, Lamprey Health Center
Dan Murphy, Community Member
Brianna Taylor, Counselor, Cooperative Middle School
Molly Zirillo, Executive Director, St. Vincent de Paul Exeter