Meet the Team

Doreen Arnfield, MA, LSW - Director

Doreen Arnfield has served the Amesbury community since 2007. She also is a Licensed Social Worker and is trained in evidence-based programming; Chronic Disease Self-Management Leader, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, and Healthy Eating for Successful Living Leader. With a background in health education and Community Social Psychology, she has the passion and opportunity to assist in providing many different wellness programs to the growing older adult population. As Director she enjoys supporting her dedicated staff and the wonderful community collaborations that allow for great programming and services to the community's older members.

As important, is the capacity to assist seniors and disabled adults with accessing many resources like fuel assistance, food stamps, housing and transportation. One way she helps to meet those needs of the growing community is by teaming up with colleges to supervise interns who then work with elders doing outreach. Doreen is a member of the Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley Advisory Board. She is newly married and has 2 adult sons and one precious grandson.

Courtney Hutchinson, MA, MSW, LICSW - Assistant Director & EMHOT Program Manager

Courtney is a licensed independent clinical social worker who holds a Masters degree in criminal justice and social work. After receiving her Masters in Criminal Justice back in 2006, and working various jobs with both the state and non-profit, Courtney decided that a Master's in Social Work would better suit the population that she wants to work with (older adults). After working with people of all stages of life, infancy through end of life, Courtney has found her passion working with older adults that are struggling with mental health issues.

Born, raised, and having spent much of her life on the North Shore. When not at the center, Courtney enjoys spending her time with:

• Her children
• Her three year old English mastiff, Winston who is also a mental health therapy dog
• Her four Nigerian dwarf goats: Remy, Rex, Knox & Nash

Donna Scott - Administrative Assistant

Hello! I am very happy to be helping the Amesbury Council on Aging as your Administrative Assistant. My education is in business and liberal arts and my professional background covers over twenty-five years of Executive Secretarial experience supporting financial executives and marketing managers. At work my strengths are organization and record keeping, document creation and editing, and person-to-person client service.

On my own time, I enjoy a different path as a designer, artist and caregiver to menageries of pets. A proud mom of three young men and grandmother to six, my husband and I enjoy living near the beach in Salisbury.

Andrew Suggs - Program Coordinator & Community Relations

Andrew grew up in Amesbury and graduated from Amesbury High School before leaving town to go to college at Fordham University in New York City. Andrew had a successful career in the music industry doing marketing and artists and repertoire (A&R) that included many awards, and helping start a record label that launched one of the biggest acts in music today. Andrew left NYC to help start a professional soccer team in Tampa, FL. Andrew returned back to Amesbury to be closer to family.

Upon hearing about the position at the Council on Aging, Andrew was very excited to become involved in supporting the mission of the COA. Upon joining the team in August of 2019, Andrew has found great joy in bringing programming and opportunities to the members of the community, and supporting the efforts of the amazing social work and outreach team.

Cindy Chapper MSW, LCSW - EMHOT Case Worker

Cindy is a licensed certified social worker with a  Masters degree in Social Work and a Bachelors degree in Gerontology.  Her passion for working with older adults stemmed from her close relationship with her maternal grandparents and wanting to help those who were less fortunate. She has worked in the field of geriatrics for over 30 years in various roles including  home care, adult protective services, assisted care and long term care and is excited about her new position with the COA’s EMHOT program.

Cindy grew up on the Southcoast and has lived in the Merrimack Valley area for the last 20 years with her husband and son. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, hiking, knitting, and reading a good mystery!