Cornerstone VNA Welcomes New Board Members
Rochester, NH – Cornerstone VNA, a nonprofit home health and hospice care organization, is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors: Caitlyn Turgeon, MBA, Thomas Argue, and Gene Harkless, DNSc, APRN, FNP-BC, CNL, FAANP.
Jennifer Ufkin, RN, MSN, BC-NC, President/CEO of Cornerstone VNA, shares, “We are delighted to have Caitlyn, Tom, and Gene join our dedicated Board of Directors. Each brings a unique combination of professional expertise and community involvement that will help guide our organization as we continue to expand and innovate our services.”
Anne Brown, Director of Communications at Daystar, and the newly appointed Board Chair at Cornerstone VNA, adds, “Their insight and passion for Cornerstone VNA’s mission will be invaluable as we look to the future of home-based care.”
Caitlyn Turgeon, MBA
Caitlyn Turgeon is Vice President of Operations at HBL Insurance in Dover, NH. A Seacoast native, she is deeply connected to the Rochester community. A graduate of Spaulding High School, Caitlyn earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from Plymouth State University and a master’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University. She currently serves as Chair of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and volunteers on multiple Chamber committees. Previously, she served as President of the Rochester Crimeline.
“I’m honored to serve on the Board of Directors for this incredible organization,” Caitlyn says. “With my business background and deep roots in the community, I’m excited to support their mission. Giving back in a meaningful way has always been important to me, and this role is a powerful way to make a lasting impact.”
Thomas Argue, MBA, LNHA
Tom Argue brings more than four decades of experience in senior health care administration. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and Planning from the University of New Hampshire in 1980 and a Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 1991. A licensed New Hampshire Nursing Home Administrator since 1981, Tom served as CEO and Administrator of Webster at Rye for more than 36 years, following leadership roles at The Edgewood Centre in Portsmouth and Mount Carmel Nursing Home in Manchester.
Tom has been an active leader in professional associations, serving as Chair of the New Hampshire Health Care Association and of LeadingAge Maine & New Hampshire, President and Fellow of the American College of Health Care Administrators (NH Chapter), and Chair of the New Hampshire Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators. He has also chaired the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards’ (NAB) Examination Committee and served as Treasurer of NAB’s national board.
Reflecting on his collaboration with Cornerstone VNA, Tom shares, “I had the opportunity to work with Cornerstone VNA and see firsthand the professionalism and empathy their staff demonstrated with residents and families, as well as the support and educational resources they provide to the health care team. Cornerstone VNA is a valuable resource for the communities they serve. We are fortunate to have the scope of services they provide for some of the most frail and vulnerable members of our community.”
Gene Harkless, DNSc, APRN, FNP-BC, CNL, FAANP
Gene Harkless recently served as an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of New Hampshire, where she had taught since 1985 and served as Chair of the Department of Nursing from 2010 to 2024. Gene brings decades of experience in nursing education, clinical practice, and program development. She played a key role in launching UNH’s Family Nurse Practitioner program and has served on numerous state and national healthcare committees.
“With my lifelong commitment to advancing healthcare access and quality, I am eager to contribute my expertise and dedication to Cornerstone VNA’s mission,” Gene says. “Having lived in this community for over 40 years, I have witnessed firsthand the invaluable role this organization plays in providing compassionate, high-quality healthcare to individuals and families.”
Cornerstone VNA currently serves Strafford County, as well as parts of Rockingham, Belknap and Carroll Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine. The team at Cornerstone VNA provides award-winning care and support through five distinct programs: Home Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Life Care-Private Duty, and Community Care. For 112 years, Cornerstone VNA has been committed to bringing services to people of all ages so that families can stay together at home, even when facing the challenges of aging, surgical recovery, chronic or life-threatening illnesses or end-of-life care. To learn more about Cornerstone VNA, visit www.cornerstonevna.org or call 603-332-1133.
