Robin Berthet
President
Robin owns R.B.C. Construction a full-service construction company including new construction, renovations and historical restoration and preservation. He has built, remodeled, renovated, and restored every kind of style, type, and condition of structure found in New England (and some in England and Europe). Robin is well known in his field and has been an advocate for people with disabilities for over three decades. He knows well all individuals served by Leander House as well as their home care providers and is enthusiastically involved in the mission.
Jennie Reins
Treasurer & Clerk
Jennie is the founder and director of Leander House. Since 1996 Jennie has run Leander House, which has served up to four Lifesharing households for individuals with disabilities. She is the mother of two daughters, who grew up sharing their home and lives with Leander household members.
Janice Hylton
Director
Janice moved from NYC in 1996 to open a hair salon in a neighboring community. With an eye toward creating a true ‘salon,’ conversation and community come together during appointments. She is an advocate for individuals who are differently abled through her relationships with clients and their families. Her spouse, Gail, has worked on behalf of individuals with intellectual disabilities since 1999.
Christina Root
Director
Christina and her husband founded one of the earliest Lifesharing homes (Berkshire Village) in the Great Barrington area in 1984. They raised their children while sharing their lives with individuals with disabilities. In _____ Christina retired from providing direct care but remains active in the lives of many individuals through friendships and as a massage therapist.
Gail Smallridge
Director
Gail joined the Lifesharing community in 1999 as an agency administrator where she formalized a relationship with the Department of Developmental Disabilities gaining access to funding for residential and day programs. She continues this work with Leander House and provides case management for all individuals served.
Nina Thayer
Director
Nina lived and worked at Innisfree Village in Virginia, a Lifesharing community with adults with intellectual disabilities, before moving her family to Great Barrington in 1989. She then founded Shadowood House and, like other long-term householders, raised her children and created an extended family by Lifesharing with three individuals with intellectual disabilities. She shared her life with the same three individuals for over 30 years. She retired in 2021 supporting two individuals in transitioning to our 48 West house and the third to High Spirit Community Farm. She enjoys ongoing relationships with all three individuals and continues to advocate through her work on the Leander House Board.