Leadership Team
Christina Emery
Christina Emery joined Brooker Memorial as Executive Director in 2024, bringing over 20 years of expertise in community and non-profit leadership. With a background as Director of Economic Development for the City of Torrington, Director of Development for LARC, and Executive Director of Prime Time House, Christina is passionate about fostering children’s health, wellness, and success. She actively serves on the boards of the Rotary Club of the Torrington/Winsted Areas, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, and the Torrington Development Corporation. Christina holds a B.A. in Economics and Management from Simmons College and an M.A. in Public Policy from Trinity College. She and her husband, Jason, reside in Harwinton with their two children—a son serving in the U.S. Navy and a daughter attending Lewis S. Mills High School.
Kaitlyn Graboski
Kaitlyn Graboski, a UConn graduate with a Bachelor’s in Communication, joined Brooker Memorial in 2021. She has played key roles across our business operations, earning a promotion to Marketing and Program Coordinator in 2023 and stepping into the role of Operations Manager in 2024. Kaitlyn is passionate about working with children and thrives on new challenges. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys being with family, friends, and her puppy Sierra.
Charlene Lee, B.S. Psychology
With 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, Charlene Lee has been a valued member of Brooker Memorial since 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood from the University of Connecticut. Charlene’s career at Brooker has spanned roles from classroom teacher to administrator, where she enjoys working with a supportive team, connecting with families, and cherishing daily interactions with the children. Outside of work, Charlene loves camping, hiking, biking with her husband and two children, and spending time in her garden.
Nicole DePaoli
Nicole has been an early childhood educator for over 30 years and has her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies. Nicole has worked at Brooker Memorial for over 9 years now and has loved every minute of it! Her roles have included classroom teacher, aide, and now Assistant Director. She feels that the teachers are supportive, the building and classrooms are gorgeous, and the parents are amazing! She loves to watch children grow to the point where they can be successful with a task that used to be a struggle! She loves to go to concerts and is a huge Star Wars fan!
Lynn Mellis Worthington
Lynn Mellis Worthington is the Community Engagement Coordinator and she brings to her role a wealth of experience with writing, photography, and publicity. Lynn says she looks forward to enhancing communications about Brooker as well as guiding the Pathways for Success Program and Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP). She worked at South Kent School, an independent high school, in various capacities for 26 years, including 10 years as the Publications Director. She also worked part-time as a reporter for several different newspapers. Lynn has also volunteered at several non-profits and is currently on the board of the Merwinsville Hotel Restoration in Gaylordsville, which is an 181-year-old historical building that has been renovated for the past 53 years. She lives in Kent with her husband and they have two adult daughters.
Dr. Suher Baker
Dr. Baker is a dual-trained board-certified pediatric dentist and dentist anesthesiologist who previously served as the Department Chair for Pediatric Dentistry at Yale University and Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Baker obtained her dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania, her pediatric dentistry and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan, her dental anesthesiology degree from the University of California and most recently her MBA degree from Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Baker has also completed two years of training with children with special healthcare needs at Helen Hayes Hospital and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Her research focuses on the burden of dental disease and the cost for dental related fear and anxiety. We are excited to welcome Dr. Baker to our team in early 2025 as our newest Dental Director.
Cara Dougherty
Over the past fifteen years Cara has worked the front desk for Dr. Ryan’s dental office in Winsted, and Dr. Kuhlberg’s orthodontic practice in Avon. She thinks our smiles are so important, and their health and wellness especially.She likes working with adults and children, and Brooker Dental brings all age groups into the mix. Cara has two wonderful children and a sweet grandson, three of the best siblings, and a tortoiseshell cat. In her free time she enjoys reading, walking, dining out and music. She loves spending time in Rhode Island or Cape Cod during the summer months.
Teachers
With 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, Charlene Lee has been a valued member of Brooker Memorial since 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood from the University of Connecticut. Charlene’s career at Brooker has spanned roles from classroom teacher to administrator, where she enjoys working with a supportive team, connecting with families, and cherishing daily interactions with the children. Outside of work, Charlene loves camping, hiking, biking with her husband and two children, and spending time in her garden.
Nicole has been an early childhood educator for over 30 years and has her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies. Nicole has worked at Brooker Memorial for over 9 years now and has loved every minute of it! Her roles have included classroom teacher, aide, and now Assistant Director. She feels that the teachers are supportive, the building and classrooms are gorgeous, and the parents are amazing! She loves to watch children grow to the point where they can be successful with a task that used to be a struggle! She loves to go to concerts and is a huge Star Wars fan!
Paula has been at Brooker Memorial for over 17 years. She has worked in two other child care centers and within public schools. Paula has taken classes at Danbury Hospital, Goodwin, and Northwestern Community College with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. She loves watching the children learn and grow. Paula enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She especially enjoys spending time with her two granddaughters.
Devon joined the Brooker team in 2024 with over 8 years of child care experience. She thoroughly enjoys every aspect of working with children and, even more so, has a passion for learning new teaching techniques each and every day. She said, “There is never a dull moment working with kids, and although I have worked with all ages ranging from 6 weeks to school age, I have mostly enjoyed working with infants.” Aside from work, some of her hobbies include spending time with family and friends and taking her two dogs on walks and car rides. She is looking forward to many more years of making new friends, learning new teaching techniques, and making new memories at Brooker!
Mia has been at Brooker since 2022 when she began as a volunteer. During that time Mia has been promoted from per diem to a full time infant room teacher. She has always had a love for children that has grown each day working at Brooker. She loves the relationships she gets to cultivate with the families & watching the children grow into the individuals they become as they learn new things along the way. Knowing she will be greeted with smiles & hugs every morning is the favorite part of her day. In her free time, Mia enjoys spending time with her four cats, baking, listening to music and spending time with her family.
Danielle has an associate degree from Northwestern Community College in Child Study. She has been working at Brooker Memorial in the Toddler Program for over 19 years. She likes coming to work each day because she feels that she experiences something new every day with the toddlers with whom she works. She enjoys watching them grow into the individuals that they are. She has learned to be flexible because you never know how the day is going to run and she has learned to change plans at any given moment. Danielle enjoys being able to build long, trusting relationships with Brooker Memorial families. Danielle is a foster mom and enjoys helping children who need her.
Jennifer joined our program as a Toddler Teacher in 2024. She has 20 years of experience working with children and is currently taking courses towards a Child Development Associates Credential. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children going camping, hiking, and fishing.
Christine has over 35 years of experience working with children. She has worked at Brooker Memorial for over 34 years. She enjoys working with children no matter how her day is going. The children always put a smile on her face! Her outside interests include reading and going for walks.
Lacey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Bay Path University and holds a Lead Teacher Certificate from the Office of Early Childhood. In 2004, shortly after moving to Connecticut, Lacey discovered the joy of working in Early Childhood. She joined our Brooker team in 2019. She believes there is no greater joy than seeing young children grow and develop. One of Lacey’s favorite things about working in Early Childhood is seeing the children in her class go on to succeed in their formal education knowing that she helped build their foundation for success in life.
Molly has an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and an Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s degree focusing on Human Development and Family Services and Psychology. She has worked at Brooker for over 10 years. She loves working with children and feels that there is no greater reward in life than watching children grow and learn. She could not ask for a better family environment than that provided by Brooker Memorial. Molly likes being outdoors where she enjoys gardening, walking, or fishing.
Tammy has an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Development. She has over 35 years of experience as a Head Teacher/Pre-K teacher and has been at Brooker for over 14 years. Tammy teaches Brooker’s Nursery School Program and our before and after school program. Tammy loves to see a child learning a new skill. The look of “I did it!” never gets old. She loves to read! Tammy also enjoys family time with her human family and her rescue kitty.
Karissa’s love of working with children is a direct result of growing up in what she describes as a “huge family” with many children. She has many years of experience in the “mom role,” caring and loving all her siblings who were born after her. As the mother of her two-year-old daughter, she enjoys and finds it so rewarding to watch her own child grow and learn things from what she shows and teaches her on a day-to-day basis. Nothing can compare to it for Karissa. She has previously worked at another daycare facility and was a volunteer at The Arc. She also teaches at a dance studio. Most of her free time is spent with her family and their two kitties. She loves watching Disney movies with her daughter, baking or cooking new recipes in the kitchen, seasonal camping and taking summer vacations to Canada to visit family.
Shianna has nine years of experience working in Early Childhood and she has worked with children of every age from six weeks to 12 years old. Her favorite age groups are infants and toddlers. She worked for two years as an administrator. She earned her associate’s degree in Early Childhood and has a head teacher certificate through the state Office of Early Childhood.
She is the mother of two children and also has two “cat children.” In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, playing outside with her kids, reading and writing. She shares a fun fact that she is currently writing a children’s book series.
Dental Team
Dr. Suher Baker
Dr. Baker is a dual-trained board-certified pediatric dentist and dentist anesthesiologist who previously served as the Department Chair for Pediatric Dentistry at Yale University and Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Baker obtained her dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania, her pediatric dentistry and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan, her dental anesthesiology degree from the University of California and most recently her MBA degree from Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Baker has also completed two years of training with children with special healthcare needs at Helen Hayes Hospital and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Her research focuses on the burden of dental disease and the cost for dental related fear and anxiety. We are excited to welcome Dr. Baker to our team in early 2025 as our newest Dental Director.
Dr. Braverman
Dr. Braverman joined the Brooker team with over 20 years of experience as a General Dentist, most recently at B & B Dentistry in Torrington and New Hartford. He earned a DDS degree from Marquette University, where he graduated among the top five of his class, and a DDS degree from the National University of Mexico. Dr. Braverman is fluent in Spanish and proficient in all aspects of general dentistry including operative, molar root canal therapy, restoring implants, removable and fixed prosthodontics, and selected surgical extractions. Outside dentistry, Dr. Braverman remains active playing squash, practicing yoga, and cooking.
Dr. Victoria Massey
Dr. Massey works part-time for Brooker and loves working with children and practicing pediatric dentistry. She is known for her compassion towards patients. Dr. Massey listens to patients' concerns and tailors treatment to what they need. She also works for Generations Family Health Center in Putnam. She previously worked as the Associate Dental Director in the Community Health and Wellness Winsted office.
She is an alumna of UConn, graduating from the University of Connecticut with a dual degree from the B.S./D.M.D. Program and the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. In addition, Dr. Massey completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at New York University Langone at Holyoke Community Health Center. The recipient of awards for both teaching and service, she is part of the core dental faculty for UConn Health’s Urban Service Track. Her passions include patient advocacy, vulnerable populations, and social determinants of health.
Dr. Moises Salas
Dr. Salas is a fellow trained pediatric dentist who completed his residency training at University of Puerto Rico and University of Nuevo Leon-Mexico. In addition to caring for patients at Brooker one day a week, Dr. Salas is an attending pediatric dentist at CCMC and an attending pediatric dentist, clinical assistant professor and pediatric dentist provider at Charter Oak Health Center. Dr. Salas also proudly served as a pediatric dentist at Hospital for Special Care while studying for his MPH at UCONN. He volunteers at South Park House Shelter, Special Olympics, Mission of Mercy and “Give Kids a Smile.” He received the Mission of Mercy Volunteer Leadership Award for his work at a free oral health care fair in Lima-Peru.
Sharon Grieco, RDH
A 1977 graduate of Westbrook College in Portland Maine, Sharon has been practicing Dental Hygiene for 39 years. She has been part of the Brooker staff for the past 20 years and is an instrumental part of our team. Prior to joining Brooker, Sharon worked in private practices in both Farmington and Torrington. On her off time, she enjoys gardening and knitting projects and spending time with her grandchildren.
Julia Nield, RDH
Julia began working in Dentistry with the United States Air Force in 2010, where she worked as a Dental Assistant and a Dental Hygienist. After completing her military enlistment, she attended Harcum College in Pennsylvania to become certified as a Registered Dental Hygienist. She joined the Brooker dental team in November of 2020, after returning to her home state of Connecticut. She loves sharing laughs and creating a fun experience for her patients while educating about the importance of proper dental home care and nutrition. In her free time she enjoys teaching yoga, working out, playing with her nieces and nephews, and spending time outdoors with her dog named Bailey.
Kristine Navin, RDH
Kris is a recent addition to Brooker and appreciates the opportunity to be a part of the Dental team. She has many years of dental hygiene experience in family practice as well as in the CT Department of Correction Dental Services. She is a 1991 graduate of Northeastern University and Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists in Boston. Her favorite part of the job is making patients feel comfortable and have a positive experience at every visit.
Kris has lived in Torrington for twenty plus years with her husband, 3 dogs, 1 cat and raised two daughters and a son here. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking with her family and dogs or lounging on the beach or by the pool. She also enjoys attending many sporting events, especially horse racing at Saratoga and the Boston Red Sox!
Debra Ravlin, RDH
Debra graduated in 1986 from Westbrook College with an Associate's Degree in Dental Hygiene and has over 40 years of experience in the field. She spent 25 years working in a private family practice before joining the Brooker Dental team, where she has been for more than 15 years.
In her current role at Brooker Dental, Debra provides dental care as part of the Region 1/ Botelle and Torrington School dental programs, and she is also instrumental in coordinating community outreach initiatives. Additionally, she sees patients at Brooker’s Dental Center to help create positive dental experiences for patients of all ages.
Debra is passionate about helping children develop a lifelong love for their dental care, ensuring that early experiences are not only educational but also enjoyable. She finds great fulfillment in both her clinical work and her community involvement, making a lasting impact on the health and well-being of those she serves.
Jessica Creel
Jessica embarked on her dental hygiene career right after high school, graduating in the top 1% of her dental hygiene class and receiving membership into the National Dental Hygiene Honor Society for high scholastic achievement. With a strong foundation in education and a passion for patient care, she has dedicated herself to making a positive impact in the field.
As a recent addition to the Brooker team, Jessica is committed to transforming the dental experience by helping patients overcome the stigma and fear often associated with dental visits. She strives to create a welcoming and supportive environment where every patient feels safe, heard, and empowered to build a strong foundation for their oral and overall health.
Outside of work, Jessica finds joy and purpose in volunteering at her local church, where she deepens her faith and draws inspiration to bring light and positivity to those around her.
Irene Maturo
Irene has been in the dental field for over 19 years. Before becoming a dental hygienist, she worked as a dental assistant and then office manager for 9 years. She graduated from the University of New Haven with a Bachelor’s in Dental Hygiene in 2014.
She has worked with pediatric and adolescent population for the past 10 years. She is truly passionate about her job and her goal is to make the world brighter shining one tooth at the time! Working at Brooker Memorial completely aligns with her goals.
Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband of 20 years, her two boys, and her cat Draco.
Rylei Abraham
Rylei has over four years of experience as a front desk schedule coordinator and three years as a dental assistant. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing with her four dogs—Zeke, Dak, Blu, and Scout—or relaxing with her boyfriend, Sean. Rylei is also a part-time student at Naugatuck Valley Community College, pursuing a degree in Radiology Technology. With a passion for working with children and a love for embracing new challenges, Rylei is always ready to make a positive impact in everything she does.
Jennifer Dupill
Jennifer has over 30 years of experience in the dental field, She is certified in radiology and has over 100 Continuing Education Credits. She has been employed by Brooker Memorial for more than 15 years. Jen loves being a Dental Assistant at Brooker Memorial. She loves the awesome support of her co-workers and she also enjoys working with children. Her interests include cooking, traveling, and being with family and friends. She loves horses, cats, dogs and wildlife.
Anne Krupa
Anne has been a lifelong resident of Torrington and she’s been a dental assistant for 40 years. She recently joined the Brooker team and enjoys engaging in conversation with both the staff and patients. Caring for patients is her main priority.
Jen Duran Gutierrez
Jennyfer is a full-time dental assistant and is training to become a hygienist. She enjoys working with children and doing everything possible to make them feel comfortable. Jennyfer is also an accomplished makeup artist.
Leiden Vivar
Leiden Vivar has been a Certified Dental Assistant for 14 years and she speaks both English and Spanish. She is originally from Colombia. Leiden is an orthodontic assistant as well. Her passion is to help others and she enjoy working with kids and adults. In her free time, she enjoy dancing and playing with her cat.
Cara Dougherty
Over the past fifteen years Cara has worked the front desk for Dr. Ryan’s dental office in Winsted, and Dr. Kuhlberg’s orthodontic practice in Avon. She thinks our smiles are so important, and their health and wellness especially.She likes working with adults and children, and Brooker Dental brings all age groups into the mix. Cara has two wonderful children and a sweet grandson, three of the best siblings, and a tortoiseshell cat. In her free time she enjoys reading, walking, dining out and music. She loves spending time in Rhode Island or Cape Cod during the summer months.
Susanne Eanniello
Susanne has spent over 14 years at Brooker Memorial and has enjoyed meeting lots of new people and families. She has an Associate’s degree from Briarwood College. She is a graduate of the Pastry/Baking program of the CT Culinary Institute. She loves spending time with her children and grandchildren. When she has the time, reading and relaxing on the beach are at the top of her list!
Laureen Gonzalez-Namias
Laureen Gonzalez-Namias enjoys interacting with patients in her role here as an office specialist. She is bilingual and a native Spanish speaker, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from high school in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. She attended college in Ulster County, NY, and at the University of Phoenix, earning an associate’s degree in Elementary Education, a bachelor’s degree in Human Services, a Head Teacher certification in Connecticut, and a CNA-PCA-HHA certifications in various states. Laureen said she brings a large skill set and experience to her job at Brooker with knowledge in human resources, education and teaching, nursing, food service management, marketing, and customer service management, and administrative management.
Laureen has children ages 10, 15 and 16, two boys and one girl, and has been married to her husband for 20 years. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, helping her community and less fortunate individuals, traveling, arts and crafts, photography, cooking, event planning, etc. With her upbeat attitude, Laureen is counted on to be a jack of all trades and is quick to volunteer to help.
Erica Kaye
Erica joined our dental office staff in 2023 as a front desk schedule coordinator and is working towards becoming a dental assistant. When she is not working she enjoys cooking, fishing with her husband and taking her dog for hikes.
