Meet the Administrative Team
Executive Director
Mallory Seely
Mallory joined First Steps as Executive Director at First Steps in April 2021. Mallory has been involved with not for profits for the last 3 years and has more than 10 year experience in management. Mallory has a passion to help others and provide guidance to those who need it most. All of her interactions will demonstrate compassion, warmth, encouragement, empathy and willingness to listen.
Mallory is a dedicated lifelong learner. Following University she continued her education and training related to mental health and Crisis Intervention and, most recently, undertaking Canada’s premier leadership development program, LMI.
She has extensive experience in leadership, strategy, public relations, team building and communications. Mallory also serves on the board of the Saint John Suicide Prevention Committee, F.A.C.E. Family and Child Education, and spends her time volunteering as much as possible in the community. Her experience working with mental health, young expectant mothers, and vulnerable clients makes her a great leader for First Steps.
Mallory will help us continue First Steps legacy as a respectful, high-integrity, caring, accepting, inclusive, and stable environment that creates a warm and safe home for the residents.
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Residential Director
Denise Morais
Denise graduated with honours from NBCC Human Services in 2005. She spent several years working with adults living with severe mental illness before joining the team at First Steps in 2009.
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Denise started with First Steps in the role of Residential Support Staff. She has held several different positions over the years and has been the Residential Director since 2019.
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Denise is dedicated and passionate about supporting the women and children in our community. She has a strong grasp of the needs of the vulnerable population we serve and she is committed to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty, childhood trauma, and intimate partner violence.
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Finance & Marketing Manager
Jessica Finlay
Jessica is an experienced professional who brings 10 years executive administration experience to First Steps. She joined the First Steps management team in February 2021 as Administrative Coordinator, and advanced to Administration and Finance Manager in 2022.
She manages and oversees the office administration, and assists with fundraising projects and events. Jessica maintains donation collection, creates web and marketing content , as well as social media management. She is also responsible for our accounts payable, receivables and monthly billing.
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Jessica has a passion for helping people in her community and is proud to be a part of the First Steps team. She enjoys bonding with the mothers and babies of First Steps and helping them reach their goals for a better future.
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Development and Events Manager
Karen Beshara Vickers
Karen joined our team in April 2019 as a Residential Support Staff (RSS). Always up for a challenge, Karen has eagerly taken on a new role within the organization as the Development and Events Manager.
Karen's diploma in Business-Accounting combined with her experience as an Administrative Assistant, Personal Support Worker and Competitive Sports Organizer,
makes First Steps lucky to have her as part of our team.
Born and raised in Saint John, Karen proudly calls our community home. Her passion for our beautiful Port City has been evident in both her personal and professional endeavors.
Karen looks forward to collaborating with our community partners.
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Outreach Coordinator
Melissa Richardson
Melissa has been a part of First Steps team for 3 years, she started as a Residential Support Staff and recently has accepted the management position of Outreach Coordinator.
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Her focus has been on keeping up to date with programs and services, helping clients obtain proper identification. She builds and maintains relationships with First Steps residents and Second Steps clients.
Melissa is passionate about helping moms and babies to make a difference. Before coming to First Steps, Melissa worked in a residential home for almost 10 years.
Melissa is a mom of 4 children and is very passionate about her family life.
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Programming & Outreach Coordinator
Lori Logue
Lori joined First Steps as the Programming & Outreach Coordinator in February 2024. She brings with her experience working with other local non-profits, as well as great communication, event planning, and management skills.
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Before joining our team, Lori worked with the YMCA of Southern New Brunswick, Acadia Broadcasting Corporation, and OSCO, and served on the Rothesay Rotary Club, where she was involved in humanitarian projects both local and international.
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Lori is passionate about helping people and developing the community.
Meet the Board
President
Brian Ferris
Brian started his Government career of over 25 years with the Department of Social Development back in 1996. From there he has increased his skills and abilities by moving into his present Department of Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour as an employment counsellor then into programs where he is presently a Senior Workforce Consultant for the Province. Brian works with people and businesses within the Province assisting them in HR Management and program assistance. Brian joined the First Steps board in October of 2020 and is very proud to be an active member.
Past President
Mary Ann Ketchum
Born in Moncton, NB and raised in Saint John, NB, Mary Ann’s (BN, MEd) involvement in the community throughout her personal and professional life has contributed in a positive manner to the city as a whole and is an asset to First Steps as she serves as the organization’s President of the Board for 2022 . Still a nurse at heart, but now a long time REALTOR, much of Mary Ann’s volunteer time is spent giving back to those in our community who benefit from additional care and services provided through the organizations to which she gives her time. During her professional career Mary Ann has worked with such organizations as the New Brunswick Kidney Foundation, Canadian Red Cross, New Brunswick Heart and Stroke, St Vincent's Alumnae Association, UNB Nursing Society, Saint John Real Estate Board, the New Brunswick Real Estate Association and the UNB Saint John Capital Fundraising Steering Committee.
Mary Ann and her husband Don have five adult children. In their spare time, they enjoy spending time with their family, getting out on the water in the summer months, and being with their seven grandchildren.
Treasure
Natalie Urquhart
Natalie was raised and has been working her whole life in the Maritimes. She has spent most of her adult life living in the Saint John, New Brunswick area and has now worked for J.D. Irving, Limited for over 25 years.
she has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Saint Mary’s University and a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation as well as an MBA from Western University.
Natalie has been the Treasurer on First Steps board since the fall of 2022.
Secretary
Jennifer Perkins
A member of First Steps since 2023, Jennifer brings experience in secondary and adult education, as well as a passion for supporting the education of mothers and their children. She holds bachelor’s degrees in arts and education and a Masters in Adult Education, and she has taught for over twenty years in various educational settings around North America. She lives in Saint John with her family, and she is currently an online educator with the New Brunswick Virtual Learning Centre. Jennifer is grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to First Steps.
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Member
Ross Galbraith
Ross Galbraith is an International Representative for the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Prior to starting this role in 2021, he had been the Business Manager of IBEW Local 37 for 15 years, representing a diverse group of 2,500 energy workers in many different trades, technical and professional disciplines throughout New Brunswick. He also served as the Canadian member of the IBEW International Executive Council for eight years,
where he provided governance oversight and acted as a trustee on the union’s Pension Benefit Fund. Throughout his career he’s been a champion of equality, diversity, and inclusion
for all people, as well as an advocate for a robust and reliable electrical system in the province of New Brunswick. He has often commented on energy and labour issues in the media and has been a frequent guest lecturer about unions, human resources topics, and labour relations at university level courses.
Ross has been very active in his community and has served on many volunteer boards and committees at the municipal, provincial, national, and international levels. He is currently the Vice-Chair of the New Brunswick Public Service Pension Plan, the Vice Chair of the Canadian Nuclear Worker’s Council, and until recently he served on the board of the Canadian Nuclear Association, and he
previously served for many years on the Board of Saint John Energy. A graduate of the Chemical Technology program of the New Brunswick Community College, Ross lives in Saint John, New Brunswick with his family.
Member
Joanna Everitt
Joanna Everitt has been a longtime supporter of First Steps and joined its Board of Directors in Spring 2023. She brings with her many years of previous board experience through her work with the Imperial Theatre, Saint John Theatre Company and Family Plus Life Solutions, serving as president of those organizations’ boards of directors at various points in time. She is a professor of Political Science at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, former Dean of Arts at UNB-SJ, and former Director of the Urban and Community Studies Program responsible for UNB’s Promise Partnership.
Member
Jocelyn Parker-Whalley
For the past 20 years, Jocelyn has been a local leader in the leasing business. She attributes her success to her ability to build strong relationships, have a creative vision and most of all, enjoy a good laugh. Outside of work, she is blessed to raise 4 fantastic kiddos and to be married to the person that makes her laugh the most! Jocelyn feels that giving back to other women and their children is a perfect match for what she feels passionate about and is fortunate to be on this board.
Member
Krisanne Bishop
A corporate commercial lawyer practicing primarily in banking and finance, with experience in real property and bankruptcy and insolvency.
Member
Dr. Natalie Graves
Dr. Natalie Graves has been a board member of First Steps since March of 2020. She practices Family Medicine in the Saint John region with an interest in women's health and obstetrics. She holds faculty positions at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick as well as Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Member
Sydney Logan
Sydney is a lawyer practicing primarily in family law and alternative dispute resolution. She earned her law degree at the Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations at Mount Allison University. She has practiced law in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. She has been a long-time supporter of First Steps and a proud board member since 2023.
Member
Maria Conway
Maria joined the First Steps board in 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (UNB), and a Bachelor of Social Work (St Thomas University). Maria has been a Social Worker at with the Department of Social Development since 2009. Maria has experience working in child protection, disability support, as well as youth group care. Maria recognizes the tremendous opportunity that First Steps provides to young mothers as well as the significant need for this support in our community. Maria hopes to bring her social work and previous community board experience to make the future of First Steps successful.
Member
Dayna Lutes
Dayna has a Master’s in Adult Education from UNB, and is passionate about human rights issues around education and poverty alleviation. She was previously a board member for Sophia Recovery Centre, from 2016-2020, before joining the First Steps team. Dayna has been working as Senior Human Resources Consultant with the Chapman Group since 2018.