Meet Our Team
HALEY BEZON
Founder & Executive Director
LAUREN CUCCI, LMSW-cc
Taproot Therapeutic Director
DEBI ROGERS, LCSW
Clinical Director
CAROL MORRISON
Finance & Administrative Manager
ANGELA DESVEAUX
Operations Director
MISHA BARKER
Program Director
PAUL SVEUM
Facilities Manager
CADY GORSAK
Instructor
KRISTINA BUCKLEY
Marketing & Communications Manager
JACKSON MILLER
Lead Instructor
JULIA GATEWOOD
Lead instructor
EMILY BACKMAN
Instructor
AMANDA PENNY
Clinical Intern for Taproot
Meet Our Board
At Hearty Roots, we believe that effective leadership begins with authentic understanding. Our staff and board are intentionally composed of individuals who share life experiences with the youth and families we serve throughout Midcoast Maine. This commitment ensures that decision-making is grounded not only in professional expertise, but also in firsthand knowledge of the challenges, strengths, and cultural realities present in our communities. By bringing lived experience into leadership, our board provides informed guidance, meaningful oversight, and a deep sense of accountability to the people we serve. This approach helps ensure that programs remain responsive, culturally relevant, and rooted in the real needs and voices of local youth and families, strengthening both the impact and integrity of Hearty Roots’ work.
ALYSSA ALLEN
LISA STEELE-MALEY
HEATHER ABELLO Co-President
LISA KATZ, LCSW Secretary
POLLY VAUGHAN
DEB MILLS-SCOFIELD Co-President
MATT WELLINGTON
CHRIS PRENTICE-POPKEN
MELISSA KEEPORT, MD