ABLE NH Staff
Sarah Tollefsen she/her
Executive Director
Sarah is an experienced leader and a long-time partner to people with disabilities. She is a NH native and Saint Anselm College graduate who worked at The Moore Center for over a decade starting as a direct support professional and moving through case management, program management and employment services, new program development, and project management and lean facilitation. She is most proud of her work as a direct support professional, working to raise the wages of people with disabilities in her employment programs, and creating conversation about the rights of people with disabilities as an instructor for new hire orientation. Sarah has also owned a yoga studio in her hometown of Goffstown, and has sold real estate for the last decade. As a breast cancer survivor, Sarah is a passionate advocate for issues related to women’s health, as well as for school safety, women’s and children’s rights, and disability justice. Sarah lives in Goffstown with her husband, three children, and her dog Hashtag. She loves to walk, lift weights, read poetry, shop for antiques, and watch her children play sports.
Krysten Evans
Director of Policy & Advocacy
Krysten Evans comes to ABLE NH with a lifetime of experience advocating for social justice. She has worked on Federal, State and local campaigns for the American Cancer Society (both in NH and PA, where she served on the Board of Directors), Dress for Success NH, The Women’s Resource Center and the 8 Town Tobacco Control Program, where she was the Executive Director.
Through her leadership and bipartisan relationships in these positions, Krysten has helped enact the Affordable Care Act, The Breast and Cervical Early Detection and Treatment Act, raise the tax on tobacco products to make it unaffordable for kids to start smoking, smoke-free restaurants and workplaces, and aided countless women get jobs by providing suitable interview clothing and job interview coaching. She is a happy mom of two, one of her children has an Individualized Education Plan so she personally understands the importance of advocacy. Krysten loves a challenge, bringing people together and bearing witness to social changes.
Leah Stagnone she/her
Administrator/Social Media
After more than two years with ABLE NH as a Community Organizer and later serving as a Board Member At-Large, Leah is excited to return to the organization in this new role! Leah graduated with a BA in Politics and a minor in Spanish from Saint Anselm College in 2019. She is an alumna of both the NH Leadership Series and the Policy Partners legislative advocacy program through Community Crossroads. Leah sits on the New Hampshire State Council for Youths with Chronic Conditions, served as Secretary of the New Hampshire Rare Disorders Association, and is a co-founder of the New Hampshire Chapter of the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Action Network. Her passions for disability justice and healthcare access are informed by her own experience of living with physical disabilities. In Leah’s free time, she enjoys gardening, camping, and knitting.
Creighton Ward she/her
Community Organizer
Creighton Ward is proud to join ABLE NH as the Co-Chair of #MEAction New Hampshire and an organizer with the Xīn Shēng Project. As a nondisabled ally, she brings a special focus on infection-associated chronic illnesses to her advocacy work. Creighton is interested in the intersection of disability and the law, anti-carceral mental healthcare, and the political economy of health. She is a longterm resident of southern New Hampshire. In her free time, Creighton enjoys reading, painting, and creative writing.
Andrew MacLeay
Parade Director
Andrew MacLeay comes to ABLE NH with over 15 years of experience working for government, public and non-profit organizations. He has worked in a number of positions for Special Olympics chapters in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and served in leadership roles bringing Special Olympics delegations to national and international competitions. Through this work, he has developed a passion for collaborating with partners to ensure that all community members have the opportunity to be meaningfully involved in work, play and social settings.