Meet Our Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Margae Diamond
I grew up in Bennington and moved back here in 2020. I was named Executive Director of Turning Point Center, Bennington in July of 2022. I am a certified recovery coach and a passionate advocate for those seeking and in recovery. After graduating from The University of Vermont I spent 30 years in the San Francisco Bay Area, and studied at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. My work included helping a wide variety of nonprofits & NGO's with strategy and development. I also spent 13 years at Charles Schwab, leading business development for their National Donor Advised Fund, Schwab Charitable. Last year I served as co-chair of Bennington’s Community Police Advisory Board Taskforce. I’m honored to be serving as TPC’s Executive Director.
Email: director@tpcbennington.org
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / ED SUPERVISOR
Michael Kuser
Before stepping into the job of Assistant Director, I served as secretary and treasurer on TPC’s board of directors. I am a lifelong journalist and writer and have been in recovery since 1995. I have been a long-time champion of 12-step and other treatments for alcoholism and substance use disorder. In 2020 I earned my master’s degree in Consciousness Studies from Goddard College. I have studied the history of alcoholism and addiction in America, and understand the importance of self-care for people in recovery, including Recovery Coaches themselves. I am thrilled to be working with our amazing staff and clients.
Email: m.kuser@tpcbennington.org
ED RECOVERY COACH
Heidi Moore
I was born and raised here in Vermont, and came back to this beautiful state because it’s my home. I am a mom to an amazing teenaged son. I am also in long-term recovery for alcohol addiction. Being in recovery helps me listen and guide people on their own recovery journeys, whatever that looks like to them. That is the most important part of what I do—seeing clients learn and grow into the people they always knew they could be. I recently obtained my certification to provide recovery coaching in the Emergency Department at our hospital, which is equally rewarding to me. My goal as a recovery coach is to help clients discover how beautiful and rewarding life can be in recovery.
Email: h.moore@tpcbennington.org
ED RECOVERY COACH
Marcel Holland
I was born in the northeast and have lived here all of my life. I am in long-term recovery and work as a certified recovery coach and an emergency department recovery coach. My own recovery journey has been transformative. I have worked on having healthier relationships, attaining emotional sobriety, and evolving spiritually. I am grateful for the opportunity to sit, listen, and guide others in their path to recovery.
Email: m.holland@tpcbennington.org
.jpg)
OPERATIONS MANAGER
RECOVERY HOUSE COORDINATOR
Ralph Bennett CRC/ED
I was born in Bennington and moved back here in 1992. I’m in long-term recovery, and chose 12-step programming as my path. I started volunteering at the Turning Point after retiring from a company that I worked 26 years for. I have since become a certified emergency department recovery coach and a family coach, and I truly love what I do. My approach is to try to help people by meeting them wherever they are in their recovery journey, with no judgment. I’ve found active listening to be a powerful way to help others. Based on my experience with clients and their needs, I’m an active proponent of recovery housing, and am grateful to be part of the team that is moving forward with plans to open a recovery house here in Bennington.
Meet TURNING POINT’S board of directors
BOARD PRESIDENT
Wendy Lawrence, RTR
I am the President of TPC’s board of directors, and am also on the board of Recovery Partners of Vermont. Addiction hits close to home for me. I’m an active member of Al-Anon, and was a guest speaker
at their state convention. I have been an activist in Substance Use Disorder and recovery since 2012. I serve as the Director of Cardiology Clinical Services for GE Healthcare, and have worked in the
healthcare field since 2003. I graduated magna cum laude from NOVA College in Virginia. I believe that that peer coaching is one of the most effective ways to support people through their recovery journey,
and am honored to be a part of the Turning Point Center of Bennington.
BOARD VICE-PRESIDENT
Phil Steadman
I’m the Vice-President of the TPC board of directors and the senior pastor at Capstone Baptist Church in North Bennington. My decision to pursue a career in ministry was made partly in response to a coworker’s struggle with addiction and untimely death. My wife Dawn and I have fostered 36 children and adopted 9, all of whom came from families with histories of alcohol or drug abuse. I graduated with an MDIV in pastoral ministry from MidAmerica Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007. I live in North Bennington, and also serve as an adjunct professor at Bennington’s North Eastern Baptist College. I’m excited to be a part of Turning Point Center.
BOARD MEMBER
Diana "Dee" Myrvang
I work for the State of Vermont with the Bennington Health office, where I serve as Emergency Preparedness Manager. I have extensive background in leading community-based non-profits, including managing staff and working with boards of directors. I also have leadership experience in state and local government, including government relations, stakeholder engagement, and managing public projects. My passion is strategic planning on public health and welfare issues for government agencies and community organizations. I grew up in Vermont and returned to the state in 2015 after four decades on the West Coast and abroad. I live in Manchester Center with my husband and youngest of three sons and am excited to be serving on the Board.
BOARD MEMBER
Trey Dobson, MD
I am an emergency medicine physician with Dartmouth Health and serves as Chief Medical Officer for Southwestern Vermont
Medical Center in Bennington, Vermont. I am also an instructor of emergency medicine at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine and
a member of the board of trustees of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. I served as a past president of the Vermont Medical
Society and currently sit on their governance council. I strongly believe in building bridges between stakeholders. That’s why my focus is on creating collaboration between healthcare, business, education, and government to address Substance Use Disorder and alcoholism. I earned my medical degree at The University of Tennessee and completed my residency in emergency medicine at the University of Virginia.
BOARD MEMBER
Kristi Pepoon, LCSW, LADC
I own and run Shirkshire Counseling, a private mental health practice specializing in substance abuse and trauma that offers individual counseling. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the State of Vermont, and have over 20 years of direct social service experience. I graduated from UNE with my master’s degree in social work in 2015, and have trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Because of my work both with clients and as a community advocate, I bring treatment experience, as well as expertise on helping clients gain access to resources.
BOARD MEMBER
Moira Spivey
I graduated from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island with a degree in Social Work. Following my career as a medical social worker I became an owner of a community care home in Manchester Village, Vermont, specializing in elder care. I later worked as a social service resource provider in various medical practices. I have many strong connections to the Northshire communities. I am the president of the Northshire Rescue Squad and am a sales agent affiliated with Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty based out of the Manchester office. I'm a heartfelt advocate for those seeking recovery.
BOARD MEMBER
Patricia N. Johnson
I hold two positions at the Southwestern Vermont Health
Center: one as an Emergency Department Nurse and the
other as a Blueprint Spoke Nurse supporting those with
Substance Use Disorders. I was recently appointed to serve
as a member of the Vermont Health Equity Advisory
Commission and am on the board of directors of ACT. I hold
an associate degree in nursing from Vermont Technical
College, a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Southern
Vermont College, and a master’s in leadership management
from Springfield College.