Our Board Members
Nicole Lawrence-OBrien - Founder & Executive Director
After many years of struggling with addictive behaviors, the pain became great enough that it caused me to realize that my life had become unmanageable. My recovery process began in 2007 when I established a relationship with God. In 2014 I founded Ruth's Way. We offer person person-centered support to assist others in building their recovery capital. I have a certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling, facilitate recovery-based training, and I am a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach, Recovery Coach Supervisor, and Certified Community Health Worker. As a trainer, I enjoy engaging with participants as they become self-aware, learn to facilitate problem-solving solutions, and develop skills to remove stigma while they promote wellness. I serve as the Training Chair and Ethics Committee for the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing. I am a Recovery Court team member and participate in several community-based organizations and coalitions. Today I am married to a wonderful man, have two amazing adult children, and am a dog mom.
Amanda Houk - Secretary
Amanda Houk is a full time special education teacher who holds a Master’s degree in special education, and she faithfully serves as a leadership team member at Maplewood Baptist Church. She has been worshipping at Maplewood with her husband, Matt, the family and youth pastor, for 11 years. Prior to this, she attended Southeastern Bible College where she earned a degree in Bible and Theology & Elementary Education and Liberty University where she earned a master’s degree. Amanda’s leadership work focuses on outreach services, including her work with women’s and children’s outreaches and youth ministry. Amanda and Matt are also dedicated foster parents who have provided both short and long term placements for at-risk teens. Amanda mentors new teachers through her school’s mentoring program and has worked in special education for over a decade. Amanda has been serving on the board of Ruth’s Way since 2019. Amanda is passionate about Ruth’s Ways mission to help women on their journey to healthy lives.
Linda Febles
Linda has served as a Treasurer of a Non-Profit organization for almost 15 years. She serves on the Leadership Team at the Maplewood Baptist Church and is the Children's Ministry Leader. She has a heart for outreach ministries, particularly those focusing on women and children. She worked in the publishing field for almost 20 years before working as a Business and Marketing Manager of a law office. She is a graduate of Simmons University with a degree in Marketing and Communications. Linda is also an experienced copy-writer, editor, and successful grant writer. As a woman of faith, she is passionate about the Ruth's Way mission and Biblical approach to helping women on their journey to wellness and peace knowing their recovery story will bless someone else one day.
Dena Pulsifer
Dena has been involved in home missions for many years within her community and home church. She volunteers to aid the homeless and those being affected by domestic violence by doing clothing drives and also food drives. She gives her time to those in need whenever she is able. She has been a missions leader for over a year now and is discovering new ways to have more boots on the ground to do Gods work!
Nicole Balkissoon - Treasurer
Nicole Balkissoon is an ICF Associate Certified life coach specializing in coaching women through life changes and into the balanced, healthy, purposeful lives of their choosing. Nicole’s passion for helping women is derived from her personal experience of moving through many of
the same life transitions and challenges facing her clients. Based in Boston, MA Nicole works with her clients to create a dynamic relationship that supports clear objectives, understanding, strategies, actions, and results. Nicole also holds a bachelor's in business administration from Bay Path University in Longmeadow, MA. In addition to her own practice, Nicole volunteers as a coach with One-to-One Women Coaching
Women, empowering women reach their goals one at a time.
Nicole shares Ruth's Way mission of supporting and empowering women.