Board Of Directors
President
Linda M. Cannistra, BS, MBA, CCRC
Linda Cannistra joined the Steere House Board at the Directors’ Board meeting on August 26, 2013. Since 2000, Linda has served as CEO of Safe Harbor Clinical Research in East Providence, RI. Throughout her career, Linda has worked extensively in healthcare research, regulatory affairs, and management at several healthcare companies throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She holds an MBA with honors from Bryant University, a BS in Biology, and a BA in Chemistry from Providence College.
Vice President
Paul S. Astphan, RN, MBA
COL, USAR (RET)
Paul Astphan joined the Steere House Board in the Fall of 2013. He retired from the Department of Veteran Affairs in 2019 and returned to work in April 2020 in response to the call back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, he works part-time as a Triage Nurse at the VA Hospital. Paul brings experience in health care administration, having served as Manager of the Primary Care Clinics at the VA Hospital for ten years. He was also the Program Director of the Wound Center at Sturdy Memorial Hospital. His work includes Army Reserve Chief Nurse, Chief of Staff, and Hospital Commander of the 399th Combat Support Hospital. Paul received the Bronze Star in Iraq during the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a B.S.N. and holds an MBA with a concentration in Health Care Administration from Bryant University.
Treasurer
Norma J. Owens, Pharm.D., BCPS, FCCP
Dr. Norma Owens graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Pharmacy in 1977 and received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1979. She completed a research fellowship at Hartford Hospital from 1979-1982 before starting her distinguished career at the University of Rhode Island as a faculty member, Department Chair, and Associate Dean.
Dr. Owens is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and is recognized nationally for her expertise in pharmacotherapy for older adults. Her institutional leadership in promoting quality care to nursing home residents in Rhode Island is long-standing. She has been on the Steere House board since 1998, served as president, and is currently treasurer.
Secretary
Diane Steere Nobles, Ph.D.
Dr. Steere Nobles joined the Board of Directors of Steere House in 2005. She is the Board’s Secretary and represents Steere House on the Board of The Seasons of East Greenwich. Professionally, Dr. Steere Nobles retired from a multi-state career in community college administration, focusing on implementing a skill standards-based system in secondary and postsecondary technology education. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University in College Station, her master’s degree from Northeastern State University in Community College Education and Student Personnel Services, and her BA in Education and Sociology from URI. She is active locally, serving as Vice-Chair and Clerk of the Narragansett School Committee for more than a decade and serving in many church and community leadership positions.
Member
Carol C. McMahon, M. Ed.
Carol McMahon has been a member of the Board since 2012. She also serves as a member of the Corporate Development Team. Before her retirement in 2008, Carol worked for the State of Rhode Island as a Human Resources Administrator for over 33 years, serving the Department of Education, Transportation, Children, Youth, and Families and Corrections. Since 2000, Carol has served as an Executive Committee member and recording Secretary of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Peter’s Church in Warwick.
Member
Debra Page-Trim
New to the Board in 2018, Debra Page-Trim is the Economic Development Director for the Town of Barrington, RI. Her career has focused on creative direction and project guidance for designing and developing core marketing materials and related assets to support brand strategy. Deb assumed these responsibilities for several clients under her own firm, Page Trim Design + Communication, and as a director for such organizations as St. Andrew’s School, The Boston Globe, and The Providence Journal. Comfortable working in a purposeful work environment, Deb brings an entrepreneurial spirit to the endeavors she pursues.
Member
Mark Schwager M.D.
Dr. Mark Schwager joined the Steere House Board in June of 2023. Dr. Schwager is a primary care physician and medical educator with board certifications in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine. He is currently an Attending Physician and Clinical Preceptor at the Boston University Internal Medicine Residency Program at Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence. A graduate of Brown University and the medical school at the State University of New York at Buffalo, he completed his residency in internal medicine at Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia. Dr. Schwager has been active in post-acute and long-term care in Rhode Island in various settings. He is a Certified Medical Director and has served as a medical director for PACE RI and Genesis Physician Services. Dr. Schwager has served as a clinical faculty member at URI’s Geriatric Education Center and the College of Pharmacy.
Member
Carol Yarnel, M. Ed.
Carol Yarnel has a BS from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s in education degree from Rhode Island College. She served as a teacher in the Warwick School system for 25 years until her retirement in 2016. A past Steere House resident family member, and long-standing volunteer, Carol brings a unique perspective to the Board. She began her association with The Scandinavian Home, The Seasons, and Steere House in 2007 when her mother Marjorie first moved into The Scandinavian Home, transitioning into Grandview Gardens at The Seasons, and finally onto the third floor of Steere House in November of 2008 until her passing in January of 2012. For the past several years, Carol has been a Steere House Corporate Development Team member.
Member
Jonathan L. Cabot, J.D.
New to the Board in 2018, Jonathan Cabot is a Corporate Associate at Robinson + Cole in the firm’s Business Transactions Group. His practice involves mergers and acquisitions, commercial finance, and general corporate matters. Jonathan served in several capacities within the Rhode Island court system including interning with the Hon. John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court and as a clerk in the R.I. Supreme Court. He received his law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law and a BA in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University.
Member
Timothy J. Reiner
Tim Reiner was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2002 and is a member of the Finance Team. He serves on the Executive Board of the Steere Family Association, their roots dating back to before the American Revolution. Tim serves on the Board of the Smithfield Police Pension Committee and Smithfield Fire Pension Committee. Tim’s community involvement also includes working with youth as the Vice-President of the Smithfield Little League and Board Member of the Smithfield Youth Basketball League (SYBA).
Immediate Past President
Andrew C. Spacone, Esquire
Andrew Spacone is a Professor at the law school at the Roger Williams University School of Law. He recently retired as legal counsel to the law firm of Adler, Pollack & Sheehan P.C. Prior to joining Adler Pollock & Sheehan, he was the Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for Textron, Inc., where he headed the Litigation Department. He is a 1977 cum laude graduate of the University of Buffalo Law School. He holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Buffalo, where he was a teaching fellow and Ph.D. candidate before being drafted into the Army. Andrew retired from the United States Army Reserve with the rank of Colonel. He joined the Steere House Board in 2006.
