Our Core Team & Board

HCH wouldn’t exist without the steadfast commitment of our core team, a group of very special individuals who have made it their life’s work to carry out the mission of Help!ComeHome! Together with rotating volunteers, they manage every client intake, every disaster relief mission, every fundraising initiative, and every volunteer project. Read more about these incredible people below!

Ellie Mayo

Founder and Chairwoman

Alison “Ellie” Mayo was born and raised in Portsmouth, NH. A talented visionary and leader, Ellie nearly singlehandedly conceived of and created Help!ComeHome! in 2007 after leaving a special, life-changing job in hospice care. Ellie founded Help!ComeHome! after learning about the socioeconomic and health-related struggles of middle and lower-class Americans during her travels throughout the United States. A humble servant of Jesus Christ, she has devoted her life to helping the less fortunate. She is also co-owner of Ellie's Raw Juice and Oxygen Lounge in Portsmouth, NH.

Mark Shelton

Treasurer

Mark Shelton is one of our most dedicated volunteers and has been a loyal member of HCH since its conception. A native of Rye Beach, NH, Mark has been a consistent leader both in the field and in the office, lending his services to nearly every outreach project since the charity was founded. Kindhearted and considerate, Mark has over 30 years of experience in holistic medicine and over 25 years of experience as a certified Image and Beauty consultant, having served as an in-demand stylist for some of the most recognizable names in Hollywood.

Michelle Impey

Legal Advisor

Another Portsmouth, NH native, Michelle Impey works as an independent paralegal and was on the Developmental Disabilities Council for the State of New Hampshire (now the NH Council for Developmental Disabilities) for over 10 years. She also worked as a Guardian ad Litem for the State of New Hampshire for over 10 years. Michelle has served on the boards on many nonprofits, including A Safe Place, an organization that serves battered women. Michelle is a dedicated volunteer, lending her services to both outreach and administrative projects.

Lynnette Nicholas

Head Secretary & Notary

Lynnette Nicholas grew up in Portsmouth, NH.  After attending the University of New Mexico, Lynnette continued her education at Hesser College, where she earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Travel and Tourism.  As the Head Secretary, Lynnette oversees the entire HCH network, documenting each new member, client, and charity partner. She has served as a volunteer with Help!ComeHome! since 2008 and was a key player in the charity's founding.

Coleen Egan

Assistant Secretary

Coleen Egan, a Rye, NH, native, has proven loyal to the HCH mission, having served as a dedicated volunteer since the charity’s founding in 2008.  Now a full-time volunteer in her retirement, Coleen was a Head Nurse in the Oncology Department at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and has worked in health care for over 25 years.  

Sarah Mahl

Executive Assistant and Field Technician

Sarah Mahl grew up in the Boston area and joined Help!ComeHome! while attending Princeton University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in French. She has worked with HCH for over 15 years, serving on numerous disaster relief missions, organizing fundraisers, designing and managing the HCH website, and offering extensive administrative and techn support for HCH’s day-to-day operations. Also a professional operatic soprano, Sarah performs regularly throughout the US.

William Graves

General Operations Manager

William Graves brings a wide range of experience from previous positions with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, the Outward Bound School, Tyco Industries, and No Snow Joe, his own snow removal and landscaping company. From operating the Sarah Mildred Long and Memorial drawbridges in New Hampshire to manufacturing and loading the very first Transatlantic Telecom Fiber Optics cable, William has overseen and participated in all kinds of operations. Regardless of the project, what he loves most is bringing joy, hope, and a smile to those in need.

Karen Howe

Assistant Operations Manager

Stay tuned for Karen’s bio!

Matthew Walsh

West Coast Operations Manager

Matthew Walsh has received widespread recognition for his work as a team leader in telecommunications sales, where he repeatedly exceeded quotas, expanded markets and sales opportunities, and coached the consistently highest-ranking sales team in New England. Matthew’s dynamic leadership and positivity have been a valuable asset at HCH, where he has coordinated events, helped manage volunteer trips, and facilitated critical communication between our network of east and west coast volunteers.

Renee Anderson

Advisor and Head Field Technician

Renee Anderson, attended UNH, majoring in Fine Arts. She served as a Bus Operator and Peer Trainer for the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation from 2006 - 2023. In her spare time, Renee finds great enjoyment in painting, playing flute, traveling, being with family, and of course meeting those from all walks life! She has a wonderful and dedicated heart for those in need!

Andrea Arnstein

Auxiliary Board Member

I am blessed to be part of an amazing charity and be in the right place at the right time to help with The Water Project. After graduating from Portsmouth High School, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American History and Literature from Marlboro College in 1999. I currently reside in Window Rock AZ, the capital of the Navajo Nation Reservation. I hope that with the success of the water project, Help!ComeHome! will establish a base of operations here where we can expand our services to help the people in this area overcome their daily struggles. Help!ComeHome! was founded to help whoever needs assistance however they need it. The Americans in this area, both Native and immigrant, will benefit from Help!ComeHome!'s mission.