Joan joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 2000. She returned to her hometown of Melrose after having children, to raise her family. She is married and has three daughters, all who have benefited from MAAV’S great programming over the years. She always wanted them to know growing up that they had a voice. In addition to being President, Joan serves on the Strategic Planning Committee & has Co-Chaired the Annual Walk Committee.  Joan was an original member of the Mentoring Program that MAAV ran in conjunction with the Melrose Police Department. She is actively involved with Special Olympics, and is the Superintendent of Mt. Hood Golf Course & Public Open Space for the City of Melrose.

Shawn joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 2008 because as a member of Melrose he wanted to contribute to MAAV’s proven track record in the areas of school base prevention and intervention.  In addition to being Vice President, Shawn serves on the Strategic Planning Committee.  Shawn stated that he remains involved with MAAV because it is rewarding to contribute to an organization that does so much, with so little, for so many people.  When not volunteering with MAAV, Shawn is the Deputy Chief of the Victim Witness Services Bureau for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office where he has worked since 2001.  Shawn has worked in victim services for approximately fifteen years, has served as a volunteer ESL tutor through Melrose Human Rights Commission and is an active parishioner at St. Mary’s Church in Melrose.  He is married to his wife, Shannon.

Anna joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 2010 because she has always been a strong supporter of the organization and thought she could offer her skills as treasurer.  In addition to being treasurer for MAAV Anna is passionate about raising public awareness about domestic violence in the community.  She stated that she stays involved with the MAAV board because she is proud to participate in an organization that has board members from such varied backgrounds, all of who bring their best game to the table.  In addition, Anna shared that as a teenage victim of date rape anything she can do to spare another individual that pain in worthwhile.  When not volunteering with MAAV, Anna is a lawyer and practices in the field of Wills, Trusts, Estates and Real Estate.  She is married to her husband Richard and they have three children.

Louis joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 2009 because she was already involved as a mentor and was very impressed with the organization.  She is a member of the Annual Walk Committee and enjoys being involved with this event.  She is also a member and the MAAV liaison for the Melrose League of Women Voters, which is the organization that formed MAAV.  Louise stated that she remains involved with MAAV because she feels that she is doing something to make a difference.  She shared that being a mentor has been a great experience and that she enjoys watching the youth grow and become more self confident.  When not volunteering with MAAV, Louise is an Economic Assistant with the Bureau of Labor Statistics where she collects data for the Consumer Price Index.  Louise lives in Melrose with her husband and has three grown children.

Mike joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 1995 because he believes in what MAAV is about and as one of the founders he still believes in the mission.  Mike is very involved with the Annual Walk Committee and the Mother’s Day Road Race.  He remains involved with MAAV because as one of the founders he still has a passion for the cause and what MAAV is doing in Melrose and beyond.  When not volunteering with MAAV, Mike enjoys spending time with her wife, son, daughter and grandchild.  He is retired from the Melrose Police Department, where he served as the Domestic Violence Officer.

Erin joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 2010 because she had previously been involved with crisis intervention and domestic violence prevention and as a resident of Melrose wanted to help in her local community.  Erin is very involved with the Mother’s Day Road Race and loves that it is a multi-generational event to celebrate women, mothers and health.  Erin serves as the liaison for MAAV with the Melrose Running Club.  She stated that she remains involved with MAAV because she is passionate about prevention, education and healthy relationships.  When Erin is not volunteering with MAAV, she works in the Human Resource and Retail Management fields.  She is also a CASA (court appointed special advocate) volunteer in Suffolk County.

Jodi joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 2010 because she wanted to become more involved in the community and believes very much in the cause.  She is involved with the Annual Walk Committee and MAAV liaison at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.  Jodi remains involved with MAAV due to her desire to end domestic violence, dating violence and bullying and feels that education is the key to prevention.  When not volunteering with MAAV, Jodi works as a medical social worker at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital where she oversees a “Safe Space” for victims.  As a clinical social worker, Jodi has counseled victims in a number of settings and is an advocate for empowering her clients.  Jodi is also a mentor through AFC Mentoring in Boston and a member of the Boston Walk Committee for Multiple Sclerosis.  Jodi is a proud aunt to her two nieces, Peyton and Ella.

Lisa joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 2009 because she wanted to help raise awareness throughout the community of Melrose and surrounding towns.  She is involved in the organizing and implementing of the Annual Walk and Mother’s Day Road Race each year.  Lisa stated that she remains involved with MAAV due to her desire to help the organization grow and improve.  When not volunteering with MAAV, Lisa works as a Realtor with RE/MAX Heritage in Melrose and lives in Malden with her husband, David and two children, Taylor and Madison.

Mary Landergan is a lawyer and an adjunct lecturer at Northeastern University of Law.  She joined the MAAV Board of Directors in September 2010 because she knew what great work MAAV does under the  leadership of Rebecca Mooney and Joan Bell. She has two daughters, Mary Frances, a senior at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Brighton and Betty Anne , a sophomore at Melrose High School. Betty Anne is on the Student Action Board for MAAV,  so Mary also appreciates having the chance to work with her on MAAV goals .

Mike Lyle has served as Melrose’s Chief of Police since 2007. Chief Lyle began his law enforcement career in 1986 when he joined the Melrose Police Department. In 1996 the MPD shifted from a traditional police force to community policing. Chief Lyle realized that the police department and the citizens of Melrose needed to work together towards making the City a safe place to live and work. He knew that the police could not do it alone, and needed the public’s support. To this day he still follows that philosophy.

Chief Lyle joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 2006, lending tremendous support to the organization. The MPD works hand in hand with MAAV to support victims of abuse, provide educational programming in the schools and awareness events in the community. Each year Chief Lyle provides tours of the police station for youth in MAAV’s mentoring program and organizes a  team from the MPD in MAAV’s Walk. Chief Lyle is highly committed to the cause and to doing “whatever it takes” to assist victims and help break the cycle of domestic violence.

Chief Lyle has been married since 1992 to his wife Eileen.

Rev. Larry Starr has served as pastor of the Green Street Baptist Church in Melrose since 1984. A native of Malden, he has provided leadership in many denominational and civic organizations during his 30 years of ministry. Larry has served on the MAAV Board since 2005, representing the Melrose Clergy Association. As a liaison to the faith communities in Melrose, Rev. Starr has been involved with MAAV’s Annual Walk, training for clergy and many fundraising endeavors over the past six years.

Rev. Starr feels that MAAV’s multifaceted, multigenerational approach to the problem of domestic violence is outstanding.  Support is provided to victims, of course, but significant effort is made to raise awareness of the problem with young people, undoubtedly helping potential victims and abusers alike to break the cycle of violence.  The work in the schools and through the mentoring program is simply excellent.

Karen joined the MAAV Board of Directors in 2010 because she is a domestic violence survivor and wanted to help other women, men, children and families in need.  She is a member of the Annual Walk Committee and a mentor for the Melrose CARES Mentoring program.  Karen stated that she remains involved with the MAAV Board because she feels she has been able to make a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims.  When not volunteering with MAAV, Karen works as a Rehabilitation Clinical Liaison and Physical Therapist Assistant.  Karen feels that as a domestic violence survivor she brings a unique and personal experience to the MAAV board.  She also brings over twenty years experience in the health care field.