Sheryl Rudis

Office Administrator

Sheryl comes to CSN after a long career working with nonprofit organizations in the Merrimack Valley. She started her career at the local March of Dimes office in Andover, MA. After a three year stint at a CPA firm, she moved back to the nonprofit world working at Goodwill Industries. For the last 22 years, she served as Associate Director and CFO of a nonprofit agency in Andover that works with children and families. Sheryl is certified in nonprofit Finance and Administration through a program at Suffolk University. After semi-retiring this spring, she has come to CSN to stay engaged and give back to the community. She lives in Methuen with her partner Marty and their rescue dog Jagger.

Mike Connors

Staff Social Worker

Mike’s comes to Newburyport after working for the Department of Children and Families (DCF), as a social worker for twenty years. He worked as an ongoing social worker supporting families to preserve family units and protect children, as an investigator of child abuse and neglect, and as an adoption specialist matching waiting children with adoptive families.

After retiring from DCF, Mike worked as a Probation Officer at the Essex Probate and Family Court. He worked on negotiating agreements and/or formulating recommendations on domestic relations issues of custody, visitation and support, including doing full scale investigations into these issues.

Mike’s social work career has continued after retiring from the state. He supervised Juvenile Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Family Services of the Merrimack Valley, and he co-led psychoeducation groups for men court-ordered to attend after perpetrating violence toward a partner in an intimate partner relationship.

Mike worked at two Massachusetts County Jails for vendor agencies providing educational services for incarcerated men – leading groups, teaching college-prep, vocational and life readiness classes, and advising on career issues.

Mike’s most recent venture was working as an Employment Specialist for MAB Community Services. This involved advocating for and assisting individuals with acquired brain injuries gain and maintain employment.

Mike’s life work has come with an understanding that all individuals do not have an equal starting line in life, and that those born and raised with the good fortune of opportunity and advantage have an obligation to help those less fortunate.

What we all share is a common humanity and ability to notice and help where we can.

Pamela Gray

Program Manager

Pam comes to Newburyport after living and working on the North Shore and Merrimack Valley for over 30 years. Most of this time was spent as a licensed social worker with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Mental Health, first as a frontline social worker, supervisor, and manager and eventually as a director in both the Lawrence and Salem offices. Her work is grounded in a strong sense of social justice, equity, and dignity. We are “better together" and can achieve greater good when we include and respect the needs of all our neighbors. Pam began her education at Connecticut College and continued to achieve her master’s degree at Northeastern University in Criminal Justice. Her work in child protection developed her deep sense of compassion for families who are struggling and the realization that where there is help, there is hope.

Much of Pam’s work in a leadership position with DCF included partnering with community agencies and providers. Understanding that communication and authenticity are critical to engaging partners, she enjoys meeting people from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Pam’s family includes nurses, teachers, musicians, and small business owners in the north shore area-each giving back to their community in unique and meaningful ways.  

Pam seeks to live her life embodying "ubuntu" - a South African expression of the importance of humanity and compassion as well as the belief that we are better in community.