Our Board

Lisa Breglio is an active member of one of our founding churches, First Church of Christ in Wethersfield.  A Board member and active volunteer since 2012, Lisa's heart for Hartford's North End started early as she served alongside her parents as a child through “Project Concern,” in the 1960's. She joined Vicki Huffman (one of HCM's co-Founders) serving in the LIFE program during the 1990s and alongside her husband, Paul and his business, Crest Mechanical Services, Lisa been actively involved in the rehabilitation and maintenance of HCM's ministry headquarters on Vine Street. Lisa is retired dental hygienist and has a passion for helping children. She felt this position would help afford her more opportunities to share HCM's vision with her home church as well as members of her community.  When asked what her favorite part about HCM is, Lisa eagerly tells people, "having the opportunity to engage the greater Hartford community in celebrating the commonality in Christ's love rather than the difference in ethnicity."

Tim Goodwin has significant experience working with non-profit organizations in Hartford. He is familiar with the hard work and perseverance that it takes to develop the infrastructure and support base of a small organization into something strong and tenable. He was the first Executive Director of Hartford Youth Scholars and Community Farm of Simsbury, two start-up organizations, which now have sustained success serving hundreds of Hartford youth and families. Tim’s work in the Hartford public school system as a Teacher, Dean, and Principal has given him great insight into developing young people into community leaders. While Tim was Principal at Weaver High School he oversaw significant test score improvement for students, as well as significant reductions in behavioral referrals and suspensions. He is well aware of the needs of the children, youth, and families with whom HCM partners. Most importantly, Tim is passionate about his faith and working under God to see lasting transformation take place in the city of Hartford.

Eliezer Mercado joined the board in August of 2014.  He is a District Sales Manager with Frito Lay, Inc., a division of PepsiCo where he has sales leadership responsibility for Frito Lay's Greater Hartford area generating over $3 million in annual revenue.  In addition to his work at Frito Lay, Eliezer is an ordained minister and currently an Associate Pastor at New Life Worship Center (in the North End) and helps lead the Faith-Based Initiative for the city of Hartford, CT. When asked what his favorite part of HCM is, Eliezer replied, "I love the wholistic Christian approach HCM utilizes for the betterment of the community. I also love how we are empowering our kids to become better individuals through our Noah After-School program by providing tutoring and mentorship.  In addition, we are building long lasting relationships with tomorrow's future teachers, doctors, pastors, city leaders, etc.  Overall, every program we have is a blessing to our youth as we help enrich their spiritual lives. "

Samantha Rose joined the board during the Winter of 2018, after being involved as a parent volunteer at HCM since 2016. Her love for the Lord and passion with working with children has led her to serve in multiple capacities in the community as a soccer coach, tutor and an active member with Calvary Church of West Hartford, where she serves as a Sunday school teacher and Awana helper. Samantha credits the people within her church in Jamaica that were instrumental in leading her to the Lord through their investments with rides to church, donations for her to attend VBS, summer camp and leadership retreats. She now tries to do a yearly collection to assist many children at her church in Jamaica to be able to be blessed with the same experience. Samantha has a Bachelors in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration in Business Analytics and Accounting from Central Connecticut State University. She works full-time with Trinity Health of New England where she supports the Revenue Cycle leadership team as an Executive Associate and passionately works part-time as a Youth Worker with the Bridge Family Center where she is blessed with caring and witnessing to the youths in the program. Her most rewarding ministry is raising her 10 year old son Jayden, who attends Camp Noah and SB2W each summer through HCM.

Scott Wilhite began volunteering with Noah’s Sidewalk Sonday School ministry in Hartford’s North End in June 2003, along with his wife, Rebecca.  Partnering with its founders, he helped to incorporate the ministry and set it up as the public charity now known as Hartford City Mission (HCM), serving as the first Board President.  From 2004-2006, Scott served as the coordinator of the project to renovate the ministry’s donated home base location at 280 Vine Street in the North End, now known as “the Vine."  Knowing God’s leading for him to “go all in” serving with HCM, he and Rebecca sold their home and moved to the North End, around the corner from the Vine in 2006.  Scott has volunteered with most aspects of HCM over the years and currently volunteers as HCM’s Administrative Director two (2) days per week and also in the roles of President and Treasurer on the Board of Directors.  He loves the way he’s seen children and youth embrace living “God’s way” through HCM’s ministries and also how God challenges and matures the faith of HCM’s volunteers when they begin to build relationships with the children and families in our community.  Scott graduated from Sterling College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, & Management Information.  He has worked in information technology at Travelers Insurance and then Citi ever since.  Scott is an active member of one of HCM’s founding churches, Valley Community Baptist Church in Avon.