Donate Now

Andy joined NECHV in June 2011 after a 30 year career in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Officer and Aviator. He commanded a Navy fighter squadron and two ships, including the aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, CVN72.

Andy earned his B.S. in Naval Architecture from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, an M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, CA, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. In 2001, he completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.

Following active duty, Andy worked in the aerospace and defense industry, most recently as Vice President, Afghanistan Program for Alenia North America.

Mr. Ward joined the Center in 2003 and oversees the accounting, budgeting, strategic planning, information technology, grants and contracts, treasury, and payroll functions at the Center. Previously, Kevin spent over 20 years in senior and executive management positions at healthcare institutions including Boston Medical Center, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Hebrew SeniorLife, and Beth Israel Hospital.

Kevin played a key leadership role in the merger of Boston City Hospital and University Hospital in 1996, which at the time was the largest merger of a public and private healthcare institution in the U.S.

Kevin received a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from North Adams State College. He has achieved the designation of Fellow in the Health Care Financial Management Association, a Certified Manager in Patient Accounts and has successfully completed his C.P.A exam. Kevin is a former Board Member and Chair of the Finance Committee at Hearth.

Charlene joined the Center in December 2011 as Senior Vice President for Advancement which includes fund raising and community relations. She has an extensive background in fund raising and marketing, the majority in health care. She was Vice President for Marketing, Development and Planning for Good Samaritan Medical Center, Vice President for Development for Brockton Hospital Foundation and Signature Healthcare, and for Walker Home and School until she joined the Center.

She has been involved in several hospital mergers and identity changes, has managed marketing for multiple physician practices and successful health care ventures, has won more than twenty regional and national marketing awards and has led six capital campaigns, including the successful closure of a number of seven-figure gifts. She has also served on a number of boards and was a member of the board at NECHV for seven years prior to taking her current position.

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Ms. Pontbriand is a member of many professional organizations including the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association for Fund Raising Professionals.

Victoria Bifano joined the Center in October 2012 as Vice President of Human Resources and is currently responsible for Human Resources, Administration and Information Technology. She has over twenty years of experience as a Human Resource and Operations professional within varied industries. Prior to joining the Center she was Vice President of Human Resources for Rockland Federal Credit Union. For seven years she served as Director of Human Resources and Administration at Vantage Partners, LLC.  She has been involved in several start-up companies including driving the development and growth of the Human Resource department at the British Schools of America, a private International school with five locations in the US. Victoria has also played a key role in operations overseeing numerous construction projects including several company relocations and serving as project manager for the construction of a new school facility.

She holds a B.S. Business Administration, Western Governors University and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®) certification.  She is a member of several professional organizations including Society for Human Resource (SHRM) and New England Human Resource Association (NEHRA).

Brian directs NECHV operations to ensure the safety, security, and quality of life of Veterans residents, staff, and guests.   Brian is responsible for all Operations, Maintenance, Housekeeping and Dining services.

Brian has over 35 years planning and executing large, complex operations.    A Veteran with 26 years of active military service, the highlight of his Navy career was as Commanding Officer of a carrier-based squadron in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

As part of the NECHV Executive team, Brian served as Project Manager and “Clerk of the Works” for numerous project.   The projects include a $35M+ occupied renovation of the NECHV facility in downtown Boston without disrupting services to.   Most recently, in 2020, Brian led the design and project management of the construction of a new “Low Demand” semi-private accommodations dormitory.  The $500K project was accomplished in 10 weeks.  The dormitory serves Veterans with mental health or/substance use challenges, who may not be ready to engage in behavioral health care.

Brian received an undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico, and graduate degree from the Naval War College, Newport, RI. 

Lena Asmar, MSW, LICSW, is the Vice President of the Human Services Department at the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV). In this role, she oversees a variety of programs that provide behavioral health, case management, housing, stabilization, employment, and training services to Veterans experiencing or at risk for homelessness. These programs use innovative Harm Reduction, Housing First, and Trauma Informed Care approaches to help Veterans reach their self-identified goals and move towards dignified independent living. She started at the NECHV in 2016 as the Director of the Veteran 360 Behavioral Health Programs, overseeing a team of clinicians and case managers, and was promoted into her current role.

Lena has spent the last 20 years working with the most vulnerable and marginalized populations and has held leadership positions at community-based organizations. She has spent her career compassionately providing services to people who struggle with substance use and mental health issues, homelessness, and other co-occurring conditions.

Previously, she was the Senior Director of Program Administration at the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, overseeing a variety of public health programs that provided services to to people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C. She serves as adjunct faculty at the Simmons College Graduate School of Social Work. Lena teaches and designed the online curriculum and asynchronous content for the course “Alcohol, Drugs and Social Work Practice” and provides mentorship to other faculty who teach this course.

Lena received a Master of Social Work, with a certificate in Urban Leadership, from Simmons College and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts. She has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on the topics of Harm Reduction, substance use, program evaluation, and program management. She has participated in and has held leadership positions in several professional organizations and currently is a member of the Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research Veterans Engagement Stakeholders Council.