IHS Board of Directors
Officers
Doug Edwards
IHS BOD Chairman | Family Services Consultant
For over 25 years Doug Edwards has been a family services consultant who designs and facilitates fatherhood-focused programs. He provides professional development and training for family workers at state and non-profit human services agencies.
Doug earned certificates in Pastoral Counseling and Care, Infant Mental Health Home Visiting, Trauma Informed Family Support Practice, and Men’s Trauma and Recovery. And he is a Certified Family Development Credential Trainer and Parent Leadership Training Institute Master Facilitator.
Doug is the founder and director of Real Dads Forever, a Fatherhood Strategies Development organization. He serves on the advisory boards of the CT Maternal Child Health Coalition and ECHN’s Family Development Center. He is also a board member of the CT Association for Infant Mental Health. He enjoys spending time with his family in his hometown of Manchester.
Laura M. I. Saunders, Psy.D. ABPP
Vice Chairperson | Psychologist
Dr. Saunders is a staff psychologist working at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital and is also Board Certified in Clinical Psychology. She is the Director of the new initiative, the Center for Gender Health at Hartford Healthcare. In 2015, Dr. Saunders was named Employee of the Year for Hartford Hospital and in 2019, she was the recipient of the Ned Graffagnino Award for distinguished service in the areas of community-oriented work and collaboration with other mental health professionals. Her areas of expertise include LGBTQ mental health, child psychopathology, behavior management, parent training, and family therapy. She appears regularly in local TV news to provide psychological input on topics relevant to youth and families and currently has two weekly segments on WFSB/Ch. 3 Great Day CT, related to child mental health.
Dr. Saunders received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton, a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford and has been a board member at Integrated Health Services since 2019.
Dr. Saunders has resided in Wethersfield for the last 25 years. Her two children are currently in college, her son is a senior at Purdue University and daughter is a freshwoman at Rutgers University.
Christopher Sour
Treasurer | CFA
Christopher Sour is an Investment Analyst currently working at CVS Health. As an alumni of the CVS Financial Leadership Development Program, Chris has worked in Internal Audit, Corporate Treasury, and Investment Management. In his current role, Chris aids in the management of hedge fund, CLO, equity portfolios, and pension plan assets. Responsibilities include making new investments across the asset classes, managing risk, on-going monitoring of investments and allocating capital across the asset classes.
Chris obtained his Bachelor of Science in Finance summa cum laude and a minor in accounting from Quinnipiac University. Chris recently obtained his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation after years of dedicated studying. He currently resides in Newington, CT.
Kareen Wilson, RDH, MS
IHS BOD Secretary
Kareen Wilson is a team leader, owner, and patient-therapist at Contemporary General Dentistry in West Hartford, CT, and Smile Studio Dentistry in Hartford, CT. Kareen also works as an adjunct professor in the leadership program at Goodwin University. She has over twenty-five years of experience in clinical dental hygiene and office management.
Kareen earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Goodwin University. She is passionate about dental health care and teaching future leaders how to be assertive yet empathic guides of the future.
Kareen is involved in organizations that believe in spreading the message of equal health opportunities for everyone. In addition to serving on the board of Integrated Health Services and Bethesda Medical Mission, she is a vital member of the Women of Strength organization that helps women deal with and survive breast cancer. When she is not serving, you can find her enjoying life in Bloomfield with her husband, Dr. Bryan Wilson. She also enjoys long-distance running, skiing, challenging her peloton, and raising two extraordinary young ladies, Kierra and Bryana.
Members
Nestor Leon, MBA
Member | MBA
Nestor Leon has over 25 years of workforce development experience. He has designed, implemented and monitored programs that provide pathways to economic self-sufficiency. He has coordinated programs in multiple states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and Virginia that resulted in improved access for low-income customers. He is currently working with the Connecticut State College and Universities (CSCU) on a 35-million-dollar statewide healthcare and social work initiative.
Mr. Leon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Charter Oak State College and holds a Master of Business Administration from Albertus Magnus College. He lives in Newington with his wife and daughter.
Andrew Feller, MD
Member | Medical Doctor
Dr. Andrew Feller is a Family Physician who currently works with Trinity Health of New England. For the last 20+ years, he has split his time working as a family doctor in East Hartford, taking care of hospitalized patients at St. Francis Hospital, and teaching residents and medical students at University of CT in Farmington.
Though he was born in New Haven, he grew up near Miami, FL. He studied biology and environmental studies at Tufts University and then went on to the University of Florida (go Gators!) for medical school and residency before moving back up to CT.
In addition to being a board member of IHS, he also acts as its medical director. He lives in Glastonbury with his wife and is proud parent of two children who happily remain (relatively) close by.
Yanira Nazario
Member | Notary Public
Yanira Nazario is a Universal Banker at M&T Bank, with over 15 years of experience in banking. She is passionate about the community she serves and dedicated her time volunteering in and around Hartford County.
She enjoys problem solving whether it’s at work or doing a puzzle on her day off. She makes it her personal goal to financially educate each customer that she encounters. She is a big believer in the law of attraction and loves to work on self-development and listens to inspirational podcasts. Yanira resides in Manchester, CT and is an avid coffee drinker.
Stephanie Begen, MEd, MACP
Member
Stephanie Begen retired in 2021 after 44 years as an educator in the greater Hartford region. She began her career as an elementary Special Education Teacher in Hartford and wrapped up the last 22 years of her career as a middle school Special Education Teacher in Berlin. Along the way she also worked at the Capitol Region Education Council, the University of Connecticut, Division of Child and Family Studies, and at Newington Children’s Hospital as a Patient/Team Coordinator for the PEDAL program. Stephanie was a passionate educator working with families/caregivers, service providers and outside agencies to ensure that her students’ educational, emotional, and healthcare needs were met.
Stephanie obtained her undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Hartford and her Masters in Secondary Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University. Stephanie went on to earn her Masters in Counseling Psychology at Antioch/New England Graduate School.
Since her retirement, Stephanie has become an active member of Leadership Greater Hartford, completing both the year-long Third Age Initiative leadership training program and the Leaders on Board training. She volunteers in the Women’s Health unit at Hartford Hospital. In addition, she enjoys reading fiction, doing Pilates, and taking classes in pottery. Stephanie lives in Rocky Hill with her husband. She has two adult children, a daughter who lives in Salem, MA and a son who lives in Seattle, WA.
Jesse has worked in the Healthcare industry since 2003, primarily in the medical device space. He has direct experience in device management across a wide portfolio of technologies including medical imaging, general biomedical, and surgical instruments. Hands on experience leading teams focused on maintenance, device tracking, lifecycle management and capital planning for replacement. He has held national roles overseeing supply chain, logistics, contracting, pricing/marketing, customer contact center, and a wide range of back off support functions.
Christopher Sour is an Investment Analyst currently working at CVS Health. As an alumni of the CVS Financial Leadership Development Program, Chris has worked in Internal Audit, Corporate Treasury, and Investment Management. In his current role, Chris aids in the management of hedge fund, CLO, equity portfolios, and pension plan assets. Responsibilities include making new investments across the asset classes, managing risk, on-going monitoring of investments and allocating capital across the asset classes.
Stephanie Begen retired in 2021 after 44 years as an educator in the greater Hartford region. She began her career as an elementary Special Education Teacher in Hartford and wrapped up the last 22 years of her career as a middle school Special Education Teacher in Berlin. Along the way she also worked at the Capitol Region Education Council, the University of Connecticut, Division of Child and Family Studies, and at Newington Children’s Hospital as a Patient/Team Coordinator for the PEDAL program. Stephanie was a passionate educator working with families/caregivers, service providers and outside agencies to ensure that her students’ educational, emotional, and healthcare needs were met.
Yanira Nazario is a Universal Banker at M&T Bank, with over 15 years of experience in banking. She is passionate about the community she serves and dedicated her time volunteering in and around Hartford County.
Nestor Leon has over 25 years of workforce development experience. He has designed, implemented and monitored programs that provide pathways to economic self-sufficiency. He has coordinated programs in multiple states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and Virginia that resulted in improved access for low-income customers. He is currently working with the Connecticut State College and Universities (CSCU) on a 35-million-dollar statewide healthcare and social work initiative.
James Cornell is the Senior Manager of Accounting Compliance at Hartford Steam Boiler. For the last 17 years, he has provided his assurance and financial analysis experience to healthcare and insurance entities in Connecticut. He joined the IHS board in May 2023.
Dr. Andrew Feller is a Family Physician who currently works with Trinity Health of New England. For the last 20+ years, he has split his time working as a family doctor in East Hartford, taking care of hospitalized patients at St. Francis Hospital, and teaching residents and medical students at University of CT in Farmington.
Matthew Cholewa is an attorney with over 30 years of experience. Matt has spent about half his career in private practice and half in the title insurance industry and is currently employed with Old Republic National Title Insurance Company as First Vice President & Senior Underwriting Counsel for its Commercial Agency Services office based in Hartford, Connecticut. While in private practice, Matt’s practice consisted of commercial and residential real estate transactions, real property related litigation, zoning, tax appeals and other small business matters.
Jeff Walsh is a graduate of Babson College in Wellesley, MA, with a degree in Accounting. Prior to joining CRT as their CFO, Jeff worked in public accounting for 19 years, specializing in non-profit and governmental audits throughout the northeast region. Jeff has extensive experience with the Federal Single Audit and State of Connecticut Single Audit requirements, in addition to Form 990 preparation and indirect cost rate calculations.
Dr. Saunders is a staff psychologist working at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital and is also Board Certified in Clinical Psychology. She is the Director of the new initiative, the Center for Gender Health at Hartford Healthcare. In 2015, Dr. Saunders was named Employee of the Year for Hartford Hospital and in 2019, she was the recipient of the Ned Graffagnino Award for distinguished service in the areas of community-oriented work and collaboration with other mental health professionals. Her areas of expertise include LGBTQ mental health, child psychopathology, behavior management, parent training, and family therapy. She appears regularly in local TV news to provide psychological input on topics relevant to youth and families and currently has two weekly segments on WFSB/Ch. 3 Great Day CT, related to child mental health.
Kareen Wilson is a team leader, owner, and patient-therapist at Contemporary General Dentistry in West Hartford, CT, and Smile Studio Dentistry in Hartford, CT. Kareen also works as an adjunct professor in the leadership program at Goodwin University. She has over twenty-five years of experience in clinical dental hygiene and office management.
For over 25 years Doug Edwards has been a family services consultant who designs and facilitates fatherhood-focused programs. He provides professional development and training for family workers at state and non-profit human services agencies.
Joe Murphy is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Gateway Financial Partners. He has over 40 years of experience in Wealth Management and Investment Planning, including working with teams in the bank investment arena.