Senior Leadership

Sophie Santaella is Executive Vice President/Chief of Operations at Seven Hills Foundation. Sophie works closely with the President and CEO on strategic initiatives that further the mission of Seven Hills Foundation and Affiliates and collaborates with Senior Leadership to execute the initiatives to achieve targeted results. She is responsible for optimizing resources, streamlining processes and production of performance analytics to ensure high quality service delivery and sustainable growth across the company. 

Sophie has over 25 years of experience in administrative, financial, and strategic management in corporate and nonprofit organizations. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, payment and care delivery innovation for complex populations, public sector healthcare reform, sustainable use of innovative technology in health care delivery, and evaluation of impact and value of healthcare service delivery models.

Prior to joining Seven Hills Foundation, Sophie was Chief Operating Officer at Vinfen where she oversaw all programmatic and administrative functions for Vinfen and its subsidiaries, ensuring that services were planned and managed to the highest standards of the industry and that the Vinfen companies were managed effectively and efficiently.

Prior to joining Vinfen, Sophie led the policy development, programmatic design, implementation, and oversight of integrated care management initiatives for Massachusetts’ Medicaid program.

Sophie has an MBA from Babson College.

Mike Matthews was appointed to Senior Vice President of Business and Finance in 2019 after serving as Chief Financial Officer of Seven Hills Foundation and its operating affiliates for 18 years. His responsibilities include the day-to-day supervision of the Business Office staff, including the support functions Payroll, Accounts Receivable, and Accounts Payable. He coordinates the annual external audit of financial statements and preparation of the annual Uniform Financial Report for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mike works closely with the Business Office senior staff on the annual budget preparation of the operating affiliates as well as monthly analysis of their financial statements. He is involved in various federal and state tax filings and other filings required by Seven Hills’ funding sources.

Before becoming CFO in 2001, Mike was Controller of Seven Hills Foundation and its operating affiliates from 1997 to 2001. Prior to joining Seven Hills in 1997, Mike was an Audit Manager for a certified public accounting firm in Massachusetts, where he concentrated on not-for-profit and construction accounting.

Mike earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Bentley College in 1988 and his Certified Public Accountant license in 1994.

Kathleen “Kate” Myshrall has served as the Vice President of Advancement at Seven Hills Foundation since 2010. She oversees fundraising and marketing initiatives that support all Seven Hills Affiliate organizations, including capital campaigns, marketing, proposal development, program development, and special events. From 2003-11, Kate served as both a Trustee and Director for Seven Hills Foundation, and chaired the Philanthropy and Community Relations Committee.
 
Prior to joining Seven Hills, Kate served as Program Manager for the Women’s Initiative of the United Way of Central Massachusetts, raising awareness, community collaborations, and funds to expand and develop programs for adolescent girls. In her eight years with United Way, the program raised more than $4.5 million and grew to over 1,400 members who gave annually.

Kate has been in the public relations/marketing field for more than 20 years. For 13 years she worked in television production, specializing in live sports and event production. She spent time at NBC in New York City, covering the Summer Olympics and the NFL, and then at New England Sports Network, (NESN), Boston, as Coordinating Producer for Professional Sports, including Red Sox Baseball and Boston Bruins Hockey.

Kate has held leadership positions as a volunteer for the Worcester Special Education Parent’s Advisory Council, the Council for Children with Special Health Care Needs, and the Community Neighborhood Development Council. She was honored with the 2011 Knollwood Award for Leadership in her profession and community from Notre Dame Academy, Worcester.

The parent of three children, one of whom is living with a disability, Kate remains active as an advocate and supporter of initiatives that promote inclusion and opportunity for people of all abilities. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism and Physical Education from Springfield (MA) College.

Marilyn Lopez-Haddad JD, Vice President of Human Resources, joined the Seven Hills Foundation senior leadership team in January 2008.  As the Vice President of HR, Marilyn oversees the Human Resources Office and Seven Hills Corporate College. She provides leadership in the areas of employee relations, recruitment and retention compensation and benefits, learning and development.

Before joining Seven Hills, Marilyn worked for various municipalities in Connecticut as the head of Human Resources, Personnel and Labor Relations. She also worked as a Social Security Disability Associate in Florida. Most recently, Marilyn worked as an Adjunct Professor at Clark University in Worcester where she taught Global Talent Development.

Marilyn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Marilyn was admitted to practice in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. She is a certified Executive and Career Coach and has also acquired the SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications.

Joe Allred is the Senior Vice President of Children’s Services at the Seven Hills Foundation. The Children’s Services division includes Stetson School, a nationally accredited, fully licensed Massachusetts Chapter 766-approved Residential and Education Treatment Program; You Inc., which includes several short and long-term community based homes serving young men and women ages 9-19 years old in group-care settings; Crotched Mountain School, a unique combination of innovative day and residential special education program serving children ages 5-21with autism and other disabilities; and the Seven Hills Pediatric Center, a Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility serving integrated care to children and young adults from infancy to age 22 who have profound developmental delays and complex medical needs. The Children’s Services division also includes medically complex group homes in Groton and in Hopedale Massachusetts as well as Adoption Services at Children’s Friend.

In his role, Mr. Allred provides leadership and operational oversight to programs and services that support youth and families in a variety of settings. Mr. Allred has extensive experience with state and federal licensing, state procurements and state and federal regulations. He works extensively with state placement agencies across New England, New York and the Mid- Atlantic region to find appropriate living environments for the most vulnerable children and adolescents.

Joe received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth; his Master of Science Degree in Organizational Management and Leadership from Springfield College, and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science/Criminal Justice from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah.

Leslie Courtney joined Seven Hills Foundation as a family services case manager in 2010. Today, in her role as Vice President of the Seven Hills Family Services (SHFS) Affiliate, she manages more than 60 full-time and 200 part-time employees and a budget $17 million. SHFS is dedicated to working hand-in-hand with individuals with disabilities, and with their families and caregivers to support each individual’s chosen life path, and helping them on that journey. Through a wide range of supports and services, Seven Hills Family Services provides individualized options that help each person succeed.

Among her many professional affiliations, Leslie is a Board member of the Statewide Family Support Council of the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Disabilities; president of the Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts; and a parent advisor of the Rett Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.
    
Prior to coming to Seven Hills, Leslie was with Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services’ Community Healthlink. There she provided in-home behavioral supports and healthcare coordination for children ages 2-22 with serious emotional disturbances. Earlier she provided family-health support in the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics practice at UMass Memorial Health Care, Worcester.  

Leslie earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration, Summa Cum Laude, at Suffolk University, Boston; a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications, Cum Laude, at Rhode Island College, Providence; and a fellowship in Leadership in Education of Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) at Suffolk University and E.K. Shriver Center, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).

Anne has been with YOU, Inc. for 17 years and has been instrumental in creating our new integrated behavioral health system. Anne has served in various roles at YOU, Inc. and Seven Hills, including Program Director, Director of Outpatient Services, Vice President, and most recently as Sr. VP/Director of Clinical Services.

A graduate of Allegheny College with a Master’s in Social Work from Smith College, Anne ran a Psychotherapy and Consultation private practice until 2018. She continues as an Adjunct Faculty at Boston University School of Social Work, teaching courses that include: Group Work, Trauma Treatment (Adult Trauma Treatment and Child Trauma Treatment), Family Therapy, Child Psychopathology, and Family Violence.

In the community, Anne has served as Advisory Board Member for Child Trauma Centers at UMass and LUK. Currently, she serves on the Board and Steering Committee for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Worcester County and as a Committee Member for the Worcester Institute on Loss and Trauma.

Jennifer O’Brien, MBA, is the Chief Information Officer for Seven Hills Foundation & Affiliates, joining the team in July 2024. Jennifer is a visionary IT leader passionate about leveraging technology to transform healthcare delivery. Her proven track record of developing and executing strategic initiatives that enhance patient care, operational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness will drive quality care and seamless access at Seven Hills. She is skilled in building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Jennifer has leadership experience from her CIO position at the Center for Human Development, as IT Director at Behavioral Health Network, and as project manager at Baystate Health System, all in  Springfield, Massachusetts.

Jennifer holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare from Fitchburg State University and is a Member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Project Management Institute. In addition to her professional credentials, she serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, dedicating her time to supporting and advocating for children in the foster care system.