Meet the Board

Prior to becoming president in 2019, now retired, Robert Jones served as Treasurer of HSI for nearly 30 years. He has decades of experience in commercial banking, including as Vice President with the Newburyport Bank and, before that, many years with the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation and other Essex County banking institutions.

Karen Pollastrino holds a Master's in Regional Planning from UMASS-Amherst and a B.A. from SUNY-Albany. As Senior Project Manager at Minco, Karen coordinates the permitting process and has been with the company since 1982.

Frank Cousins served as the President of the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry until 2021. He is the former Essex County Sheriff and lifelong Newburyport resident. Prior to his appointment to Sheriff, Frank had served on the Newburyport City Council and was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1993.

Max Laguerre is a skilled banking professional with a decade of expertise, currently serving as Vice President of Government Banking at Eastern Bank. Max is actively engaged in the community and dedicated to community impact through volunteer efforts.

Jim Kelcourse is a member of the MA Parole Board and previously a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1st Essex District, and a City Councilor At-Large for the City of Amesbury, MA.

Dorothy La France was the Director of the Newburyport Public Library for many years and was Treasurer of HSI for two decades. Dottie retired from HSI in 2022 and has become an honorary member of the Board of Directors.

Karen Conard has many years of experience in the public and private sectors, including having served in both the executive and legislative branches of state government, and local government. The former President of HSI, Karen has become an Honorary Member of the Board of Housing Support Inc. She is currently the City Manager for the City of Portsmouth, NH.

Paula Newcomb has been involved in the development of private and public affordable housing opportunities for forty years, including fourteen years in compliance at the US Department of HUD, and ten years with the City of Haverhill in Community Development and Affordable Housing production.