Steve Ahnen
Steve Ahnen
President
Steve Ahnen, President, joined NHHA in October 2008 after 16 years at the American Hospital Association in Washington, D.C. The Association serves as the primary advocate for the State’s acute care community and specialty hospitals with Steve as their principal advocate and spokesperson.
Under Steve’s leadership, the Association has built on the collaborative efforts of hospitals to improve quality, patient safety and health care delivery. Through the Association and its Foundation for Healthy Communities, hospitals are working together and leading the nation in providing evidence-based care to the patients and communities they serve.
Prior to joining the NHHA, Steve was senior vice president for association development at the American Hospital Association. He held a number of positions of increasing prominence at AHA, including serving seven years as senior vice president in the Office of the President, vice president & special assistant to the president, and lobbyist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and German from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, and an executive MBA in health administration from the University of Colorado in Denver.
Kathy Bizarro-Thunberg
Kathy Bizarro-Thunberg
Executive Vice President
Kathy Bizarro-Thunberg, Executive Vice President, MBA, FACHE, Executive Vice President/Federal Relations, has been with the New Hampshire Hospital Association (NHHA) since 1985. Kathy is a Fellow in the American College of Health care Executives (ACHE) and served as the President of the Northern New England Association of Health care Executives, ACHE Regent for the State of New Hampshire and as a Governor on the ACHE Board of Governors.
At NHHA, Kathy works with NH’s congressional delegation and the American Hospital Association regarding legislation on the federal agenda that affect health care and hospitals. Her other responsibilities include supporting state advocacy efforts, health policy development, hospital financial reporting, data management, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), public health issues and hospital emergency preparedness planning. Kathy also oversees the internal financial management of NHHA and the Foundation for Healthy Communities, an affiliate of NHHA.
She has an associate of science degree in computer information systems from the New Hampshire Technical Institute (1985), a bachelor of science in health management and policy from the University of New Hampshire (1992) and an MBA in Leadership through Franklin Pierce University (2008).
Tammy Boucher
Tammy Boucher
Director of Communications
Tammy L. Boucher, Director of Communications, joined the New Hampshire Hospital Association and the Foundation for Healthy Communities in 2023. Tammy serves as the primary spokesperson for both organizations, supports the development and management of external and internal strategic communications and marketing, and promotes high priority advocacy activities, projects and programs. She has 33 years of experience in marketing and communications, including internal and external communications, with a focus on messaging, branding, advocacy, public/media relations and relationship development. Tammy most recently owned her own public relations firm for 17 years. She holds a BA in English and Journalism from the University of New Hampshire and has been actively involved in the New Hampshire community serving on various boards of directors, committees, and as a volunteer.
Ben Bradley
Ben Bradley
Vice President, State Government Relations
Ben Bradley, Vice President, State Government Relations joined the New Hampshire Hospital Association (NHHA) in 2023 with close to 15 years of professional experience in government relations. Ben is the Association’s principal state government lobbyist, responsible for the strategic direction and management of the Association’s advocacy efforts before the New Hampshire General Court and executive branch of government. Before joining the NHHA, Ben was Director of Government and Community Relations for Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. He also worked as the Director of Government Relations and Communications for Granite Health, and for the offices of U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte and Marco Rubio. Ben earned his BA in Politics from Saint Anselm College.
Jackie Derosia
Jackie Derosia
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Jackie Derosia, Executive Assistant/Office Manager, joined the New Hampshire Hospital Association in November 2023, providing high level administrative and event support to both the Association and the Foundation for Healthy Communities. She serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external sources. Jackie also serves as a liaison to the Board of Trustees. Prior to joining the Association, Jackie held executive assistant roles at Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro and LRGHealthcare in Laconia. Jackie earned her A.S. Degree at Dean Junior College in Franklin, Massachusetts.
Caroline Lavoie
Caroline Lavoie
Vice President, Data Analytics
Caroline Lavoie, Senior Director, Health Information and Analytics is responsible for data collection, processing, and reporting for both the New Hampshire Hospital Association and the Foundation for Healthy Communities. Prior to joining the NHHA in April 2019, Caroline co-founded a data services company in the Concord area. Before moving to New Hampshire, Caroline lived in Rochester, NY and worked for several years as an administrator in a health care facility that serves the uninsured. Caroline earned her B.A. in Public Administration from Miami University and her M.S. in Analytics and Data Science from the University of New Hampshire.
Katie Lesnyk
Katie Lesnyk
State Government Relations Assistant
Katie joined the New Hampshire Hospital Association in July 2020, shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in health management and policy and a minor in English from the University of New Hampshire (UNH). In her role, Katie assists the NHHA lobbyist staff by by monitoring and reporting on legislation by the NH General Court and other pertinent state agency activities, including tracking legislative bill status, activity, and state / administrative rules, maintaining weekly legislative calendars for NHHA staff and other advocates, running legislation-related reports, and more. Prior to beginning the state government relations assistant role, she spent the summer of 2019 as an intern at NHHA and has written for two weekly newspapers as a freelance reporter.
Linda Levesque
Linda Levesque
Senior Director, Finance
Linda Levesque, Senior Director, Finance, is responsible for all aspects of the NHHA and the Foundation for Healthy Communities’ accounting functions, including financial statements, state and federal grants and payroll, and she also serves as benefits administrator. Prior to joining the NHHA in March of 2008, her accounting degree was put to use in the construction and manufacturing industry for 22 years, during which she held positions with the Kollsman Instrument Company’s sites in Merrimack and Nashua
Betsy Richburg
Betsy Richburg
Accounting Clerk
Betsy joined the New Hampshire Hospital Association and Foundation for Healthy Communities in June of 2022. Prior to joining the NHHA, Betsy had 29 years of prior non-profit accounting experience as the Controller at Berwick Academy in southern Maine, where she was responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating all accounting operational functions. Betsy received her Associate of Science degree in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
