Meet Our Team
Dedication. Expertise. Compassion.
The Haven’s Board of Directors is a diverse group of professionals with wide-ranging specialties and lived experiences. Their combined expertise, from Public Safety to Finance, Law, Psychology, and more—strengthens our ability to serve our community with clarity and purpose. This diversity is essential to our mission and our capacity to make a meaningful, lasting impact.
Founding Member, Chief Executive Officer
Michelle Vincent
Police Officer (Ret) Ph.D, M.A.C.P., C.C.P.A., I.S.S.T.
Dr. Michelle Vincent is an 18-year retired police veteran with frontline, investigative, and community policing experience, and the Founder & Lead Director of The Haven Mental Health and Wellness. With a PhD in Forensic Psychology specializing in Crisis Response, Michelle has dedicated her life’s work to supporting Public Safety Personnel (PSP), Military members, and their Families.
Through The Haven, she creates safe, peer-led spaces where individuals can learn, connect, build resilience, and access meaningful tools for navigating occupational stress and life’s challenges. Michelle is deeply committed to ensuring that those who serve others wake up feeling connected, anchored, and empowered with the tools and resources to work through life's challenges.
Known for her collaborative leadership style, Michelle brings people and ideas together to create innovative, actionable programming that meets individuals where they are. She delivers webinars and talks globally, sharing her passion for connection, collaboration, partnership, and the belief that lasting change happens when we come together.
Her guiding philosophy is simple: Together We Can!
Co-founder, Lead Director
Melissa Petriglia
H.B.A., H.B.S.W., M.S.W., RSW.
Melissa is a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Toronto, specializing in Mental Health, and has extensive clinical experience in both hospital and community settings. Her early career included working alongside York Regional Police on mental health calls, followed by crisis intervention work in major Emergency Departments, supporting individuals experiencing addiction, acute distress, and psychiatric emergencies. Melissa now runs a private psychotherapy practice treating anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, life transitions, and occupational stress, with a specialization in supporting First Responders and frontline medical staff. She also serves as the Clinical Director for the York Region CISM team and remains deeply committed to supporting those who serve their communities.
Chair & Lead Director
Lissa Ruocco
Police Officer
Lissa brings over 24 years of policing experience, including 17 years in Tactical operations, where she became North America’s longest-serving female tactical member and the first female sniper in Canada. With expertise in crisis negotiation, rappel, counter-sniper work, and resiliency training, she instructs nationally and was one of only four global participants selected for the FBI Hostage Negotiator course in 2023. She is a Master Trainer for iPREP, a leader in crisis negotiation and mental performance within her unit, and an award recipient for mentoring, coaching, and contributions to police psychology. Lissa has supported federal PTSI research, delivered Peer Support Training across Canada, coached countless candidates into specialized units, and maintains deep involvement with CISM and public safety peer support networks.
Secretary
Dr. Paula Di Nota
PhD, Postdoc Researcher University of Toronto
With a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and nearly a decade of applied research experience, Paula specializes in understanding the complex relationships between occupational stress, wellness, resilience and performance in Public Safety Personnel. Her current role as a Senior Perofrmance Measurement and Reporting Analyst within the Inspectorate of Policing is helping drive improvement and innovation across Ontario's Policing Sector.
Her expertise spans neuroimaging, training, and policy consulting on critical issues like mass casualty response and use of force. We're honored to have her leadership guiding our mission.
Director
Matthew Simon
Paramedic Superintendent
Matt is an Operations and Tactical Superintendent with one of Ontario’s largest paramedic services and also serves part-time as a TEMS provider with the UCRT team. With 20 years of emergency response experience, he has long supported his peers through York’s CISM team and as a dedicated peer supporter, always advocating for improved mental health support for frontline staff. A collaborative leader, Matt continually seeks new ways to enhance care and resilience within emergency services. Outside of work, he coaches his children’s hockey teams, stays grounded through running and time outdoors, and draws leadership inspiration from Simon Sinek’s people-first approach. He is passionate about creating healthy workplaces where First Responders can thrive.
Director
Paula McKechnie- Ballak
Emergency Room Nurse
Paula is a nurse, having worked in the ER for a number of years. She currently works in the community as a nurse and has a strong connection to mental wellness. Paula breads Barbet puppies (French Water dogs) which many have gone to Policing and other First Responder organizations as support dogs. She has supported mental wellness promotion for many years in CISM.
Director
Dr. Jen Frendo
MD, MBA-C (2027), BSc, CCFP, FCFP
Family Physician, Surgical Assistant, VP - Medical Staff Association
Jen is a family physician and surgical assistant in the Niagara region, practicing since 2005 after completing medical school and residency at the University of Ottawa. A generalist at heart, she cares for patients across the lifespan and collaborates closely with colleagues to ensure comprehensive, thoughtful care. With an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science, Jen brings a broad perspective on how environment and health intersect, and she is passionate about the outdoors and community service. In 2025, she will begin a part-time Executive MBA at Queen’s Smith School of Business to further expand her leadership and governance skills. She is honoured to serve on The Haven’s Board and looks forward to contributing to its mission.