Meet our Board of Directors

Contact any BOD member through AARC Connect

Jessie Exilus- President 2023-2025

Jessie Exilus, BSRT, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS

Jessie has been involved with the AARC since she moved to New Hampshire in 2014. Jessie has worked primarily in inpatient tertiary care in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. She currently works as a Clinical Specialist for GlideScope. Jessie plans to focus on expanding relevant continuing education opportunities, operational organization and increasing the profile of Respiratory Therapists in the community we serve. Jessie lives in Nashua and is a proud dog mom to her rescue pup. 

Lisa Darling- Past President

Lisa Darling, MS, CRT, RPSGT, CSE, RCP

Lisa became a respiratory therapist immediately after high school and has managed departments and worked in sleep medicine. She loves patient care, and is now working in DME. Lisa will focus on offering continuing education in the current environment, as well as organizational processes. As evidenced by the photo, she’s a newlywed, and the proud mother of two sons. She is an avid nature photographer and rail trail walker.

Kerry McNiven- Secretary

Kerry McNiven MS, RRT, FAARC

I have been an AARC member since I was a freshman in college. I recently moved to NH, after retiring from teaching respiratory therapy for many decades. The profession of respiratory care has been very good to me, and I feel that although I have retired from a job, I have not retired from my profession. I would like to continue to give back and help where needed. Although I may not be well known in VT/NH, I hope you will give me the opportunity to continue to serve our profession and its members.

Jeff Cirignano - Treasurer 

Jeff Cirignano BS, EMT-P, RRT, RRT-ACCS

Jeff has been involved in pre-hospital and hospital-based healthcare for over 40 years; I graduated Summa Cume Laude from the VTC Respiratory Therapy program in 2015 and since then have worked as a hospital-based RRT at both Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Rutland Regional Medical Center. He is currently working as a full-time RRT at RRMC.  Jeff earned my RRT-ACCS in 2017 and maintains that credential.  In 2019 he was appointed by the Vermont Secretary of State as an advisor to the VT Respiratory Care Board and continues in that position today.

Jeff is also a member of the Randolph Village Fire Department as a Volunteer Firefighter and a member of the Training Committee, as well as a volunteer with the Brandon Area Rescue Squad as a Nationally Registered and Vermont Licensed EMT-Basic.  Jeff lives in Randolph, VT, with His wife Larae, three rescued dogs, one rescued cat, and two rescued ferrets.  

Chris Chambers- House of Delegates

Chris Chambers BS, RRT

Chris has been a registered respiratory therapist for 29 years. He is currently the supervisor of respiratory therapy at The University of Vermont Medical Center. He has worked in all aspects of care, including Adult ICU, NICU, PICU, E.D. and transports. He is currently an NRP instructor. Since 2008, he has been a clinical expert and faculty member of the Vermont Oxford Network’s Neonatal Quality improvement collaborative, NICQ. He is a content team member for the National Credentialing Corporation’s ELBW Care of the Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate certification exam. He is currently a Vermont State Licensure Board of Advisors member and an active AARC member. His goals as a house delegate is to help promote the Respiratory Care profession through recognition,

reimbursement, recruitment, and retention.

Tracy McGuiness- Board Member at Large

Tracy McGuinness, M.Ed., RRT, CPFT

Tracy has been an RT for 39 years. Currently, she is the Program Director at Vermont Technical

College’s Respiratory Therapy program. Prior to that, she was with UVMMC in various roles. Tracy’s goals this year include promoting Respiratory Care as a career. Tracy is married

with three adult children, loves to cross-country ski, bicycle, and visit friends & family.

Kathy Hilliard- Board Member at Large

Kathy Hilliard, BS, RRT, RCPCoI have been a Respiratory Therapist for over 35 years. My personal mission is to provide superior customer service through safe, quality, cost-effective, respiratory services under the guidelines set forth by the American Association of Respiratory Care and the National Board of Respiratory Care.

I love my chosen profession and now as the Director of the Respiratory Therapy program at River Valley Community College; I am able to share my mission and my passion as I develop future Respiratory therapists.

Over the years I have worked in many patient care areas from neonatal transport, neonatal to adult open-heart patients, critical care services, and pulmonary rehabilitation. I have had many roles as a respiratory therapist from staff therapist, transport therapist, critical care therapist, system Respiratory Therapy Department Director of a two-hospital system, and as a Respiratory Therapy Educator.

Fortunately, and unfortunately, with the current Coronavirus pandemic, the dynamic role of a respiratory therapist in patient care and our profession is now recognized for the part we contribute to the care of critically ill patients. I have never been more proud of my profession.

On a personal note, I relocated to New Hampshire in September 2020, to accept the position at River Valley Community College and to be closer to my one daughter who lives in New Hampshire. My other daughter and her husband live in Chicago. I currently share my home with two golden retrievers and two cats, my fur children.

Dan Van Hise- Board Member at Large

Dan Van Hise BS, RRT, CRT-NPS

Hannah Magro- Education Committee Co-Chair

Hannah Magro RRT, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, PDE, CCT