The Adventurelore Staff is the biggest reason our program has been so successful in impacting the lives of youth, adults, and communities. Many of our staff members are highly skilled and educated in the human services field. They also possess the high degree of sensitivity, understanding and energy necessary to answer the needs of our adventurers. Most importantly our staff excel at relating and positively connecting to others, especially youth. They understand the importance of having FUN while taking on challenges that create life enriching experiences. The adventures are important, but these amazing staff create the amazing experience. Please read more about our core staff below.
The Adventurelore Family
Ryan Holder, M.Ed, LCMHC
Director of Programs
Ryan is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and has a masters degree and certification in school counseling from the University of New Hampshire. Ryan is also a certified physical education teacher in the state of New Hampshire. At the University of New Hampshire he was a 4x captain of the UNH club wrestling team and 1x All American. Prior to working at Adventurelore full time Ryan worked for Portsmouth High School in special education, counseling students with emotional disabilities. He also taught physical education there for one year. Ryan has been working with Adventurelore since 1999. Ryan is a general practitioner that focuses primarily on treating anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, family work and ADHD. As a program facilitator Ryan focuses on leadership development.
Jason Holder, Ed.D, LCMHC
Founder, Supervisor
In the late 1970's and early 1980's, Jason was the Health and Physical Education Department Head at Timberlane Regional High School. During the summer, he took students who had struggled in the physical education classes, on canoe trips to make up their missed credit. After returning one summer, a parent told Jason that their child's experience was life changing and asked if Jason would consider talking with their son on a regular basis. This became a common response. Jason's success led him to go on to receive his doctorate and earn his clinical mental health counselor certification and develop a highly successful private practice. Jason founded Health Wealth Inc. and Adventurelore Programs in 1982. He has taught classes at Boston University, Bridgewater State University, and Golden Gate University. Over the past 15 years, he has published two books in Adventure Therapy and Adventure Activities. Jason is a general practitioner who primarily works with ADHD, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, and family work. As a program facilitator Jason focuses on community building by learning healthy ways to communicate and interact with peers, co-workers and teammates.
Mackenzie Keefe MS, MSW
Group Facilitator, Counselor
Mackenzie’s roots are in the mountains, rivers, and lakes of New Hampshire. She has always had an affinity for recreation and healing that stemmed from the woods. Mackenzie began her journey with adventure therapy at Adventure Lore while studying at University of New Hampshire, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology: Outdoor Education. Directly following her undergraduate studies, she spent four years working in wilderness therapy with at-risk youth. Kenzie completed her Master of Social Work and Master of Science: Adventure Therapy dual degree program at UNH. Mackenzie has rejoined the family at Adventure Lore as a group facilitator and therapist who specializes in working with children and adolescents with anxiety and depression.
Corey Alberico, BA, MA
Group Facilitator, Counselor
Corey has a background in playing and coaching a variety of different sports to include college football. Corey earned his bachelors degree in sociology with a minor in coaching from Castleton University. After earning his degree, he graduated the 175th NH police academy and worked as a police officer in the lakes region of New Hampshire. After finding his passion for working with at-risk youth, he went back to school to earn his masters degree in clinical mental health counseling at Rivier University. Corey’s clinical experience includes working as an InShape health mentor, residential treatment counselor, and mobile crisis response team clinician in Manchester, NH. Corey is also a certified personal trainer which allows him to deliver a true holistic approach to therapy.
Suzi Bassett, M.S.
Part- time Counselor, Lead Facilitator
Suzi graduated Salem State University and has a Masters of Science degree in mental health counseling and psychological services and she is currently working towards her mental health license. Suzi has three years of experience working as an ABA counselor with adolescents and young adults on the Autism spectrum and recently finished her internship as a school counselor at an alternative high school for at risk teenagers. Suzi has been working with Adventurelore since 2002.
Carla Femino M.Ed
Lead Facilitator, Part-time Counselor
Carla earned her Master of Education in School Counseling after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Carla’s work in education started in 2006 creating a school-based alternative program for youth exhibiting risky behaviors. She has worked as a middle school counselor for most of her career. Recently, she moved into the role of a service coordinator at the highschool level. She integrates experiential and solution-focused approaches, supporting clients using their strengths while learning to navigate through day-to-day challenges. Carla is happiest while "playing outside" and staying active. Adventurelore has been the heart of her practice as a counselor and human since 2003!
Lee Holder, M.S, LCMHC
Part-time Counselor, Group Facilitator, Supervisor
Lee is a licensed clinical mental health counselor who has a Masters of Science degree in community mental health counseling from Southern New Hampshire University. She is also a state of New Hampshire approved supervisor for licensure candidates. Lee has over seven years of experience working in group homes for adolescents as well as over twelve years of experience working in community mental health with adults. Lee has been working at Adventurelore since 2012. She is a general practitioner with a strong focus in grief, substance abuse, personality disorders and clients with dual diagnosis.
Bryan Randolph MSW, LICSW
Part-time Counselor, Facilitator
Bryan is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Originally starting in Outdoor Education, Bryan has an undergraduate degree in Outdoor Adventure Leadership from Ithaca College. Working in a therapeutic outdoor program for adjudicated youth in Madison, WI prompted him to seek advanced training which led to enrolling in a dual master's degree program at the University of New Hampshire. Bryan obtained a Master of Social Work and a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a focus on Adventure Therapy. After Graduate School, Bryan spent five years as a primary clinician at Mountain Valley Treatment Center, a premiere residential treatment center focused on Anxiety, Depression, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Bryan has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy(ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. Bryan has completed the Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) intensive training on OCD through the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Bryan specializes in the treatment of Anxiety and OCD - particularly academic perfectionism and social phobia. Additionally, Bryan has experience working with trauma, family conflict and issues related to gender and sexuality.
Audrey Willis Riccardi, Psy.D.
Part-time Counselor
Audrey earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Plymouth State University in 2011 and her Master's of Education degree in School Psychology in 2014. She has worked as a school psychologist for multiple school districts in New Hampshire since 2014. In August of 2022, Audrey was awarded a Doctorate in Psychology in School Psychology from William James College. Her doctoral research centered around the connection between social-emotional learning and adventure therapy with children and adolescent populations participating in Adventurelore Programming. Audrey has been working with Adventurelore since 2017 as a mental health clinician.
Nicole MacVane M.S. LCMHC
Part-time Counselor
Nicole has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University. She is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and certified school counselor. Nicole is a part time clinician on staff at Adventurelore and also works as the Director and Counselor of a therapeutic school. She is passionate about Adventure Based Counseling, and has been working in the field for the past 9 years. Using an integrative approach that combines CBT, DBT, Mindfulness and Choice Therapy, to name a few methods, she helps children and youth overcome struggles or obstacles in their path.
Lexi Heidenreich
Group Facilitator, Therapeutic Mentor, Camp Coordinator
Lexi graduated Southern New Hampshire University with her Bachelors in Psychology and has begun studying for her Masters in Social Work. She began working for Adventurelore in 2016 as a summer camp counselor and now is a co-facilitator for therapeutic groups and school programs. Lexi loves helping children and adolescents build confidence through outdoor experiences and adventure. She often brings her fur baby Dixie to work with her, which is a favorite for many participants at Adventurelore.
Katharine Halkin
Office Manager
Katharine earned her BS degree in Special Education with a concentration in Communication Disorders at Bridgewater State University in 2012. She started out her career working as a Paraprofessional in a specialized classroom for Pre-K and Kindergarten students with Autism before switching into a Speech Language Pathology Assistant role. She changed career paths four years ago, working as an Administrative Assistant before coming to work at Adventurelore. Katharine is excited to work for Adventurelore where she gets to combine her office management skills and her passion for helping kids!
Jen Donnelly
Therapeutic Mentor, Group Facilitator
Jen graduated from Springfield College earning her Bachelor of Science degree. She majored in Health Science and minored in Adventure Education. She is currently earning her Masters degree in Social Work. Jen’s passion for helping youth brought her to Adventurelore from Rhode Island. After earning her Bachelor's degree, she worked at a High School and coached college volleyball at Roger Williams University. Jen is currently working as one of our therapeutic mentors and group facilitators. She has been working with Adventurelore since 2021.
Dixie
Office Dog
Dixie is one of Adventurelore's "office dogs." She comes to work each day with Lexi and provides endless love to our clients and groups when they enter the office. She is a husky and Shiba inu mix and loves to greet everyone at the door, swim, run in the woods and catch a squirrel or two.
Phoenix
Office Dog
Phoenix is another office dog, whom lives on site with our director Ryan. Phoenix is a black lab who loves to steal snacks, chase rocks and provide love to our clients and groups. You can always anticipate on being greeted by a bark and a tail wag from Phoenix when you step foot on the property.
Years of Experience with Adventurelore
Jason Holder, Ed.D./Founder, 41
Anne Holder, B.S./Elementary Education, 36
Ryan Holder, M.Ed./Counseling/Director, 23
Jay Holder, Ph.D. Physical Education, 25
Carole Sullivan, Office Manager, 25
Suzanna Bassett, M.S. Counseling, 19
Mike Woodworth, M.Ed./Counseling, 19
Carla Femino, M.Ed./Counseling, 18
Marty Chaput, M.Ed./Education, 15
Rob Flinn, M.Ed./Counseling, 15
Nate Bassett, M.Ed./Counseling, 15
Lee Holder, M.S./Counseling, 11
Nicole MacVane, M.S. LCMHC, 4
Bryan Randolph, MSW, LICSW, 3
Tyler Fitzpatrick, B.S.Special Education, 10
Tighe Blackadar, MSW, 6
Mackenzie Keef, MSW MS, 6
Matt LaCroix, B.S. Physical Education, 6
John Gabordi, B.A. Recreation Management, 6
Vincent Silano, B.S. Applied Exercise Science, 5
Lexi Heidenreich, B.A. Psychology, 6
Cat Sennott, UNH Student, 5
Audrey Willis, M.Ed (doctoral candidate), 5
Derek Wilson, B.S. Psychology, 5
Will Sheldon, Rhode Island College, 5
Severianel Burgos, B.S. Criminal Justice, 3
Jennifer Donnelly, B.S. Health Science, 1
Britney Rowe, MAT Secondary Education English, 1
Nathanael Tejeda, Springfiled College Student, 1
Maggie Donovan, SNHU student, 1
Corey Alberico, MA Mental Health Counseling
Freddy Schaake, B.S.