Our Staff – Housatonic Valley Health District

Our Public Health Service Teams

HVHD is organized into three Public Health Service Teams.

Operations Team

Amy Bethge, MPH
Jennifer Luis
Leslie Kuik
Megan McClintock, MS
Shelby Meier
Ruth Quattro, MPH

Environmental Health Team

Joe Kmetz, RS
Jeff Andrews, RS
Dennis Buell
Michelle Laguerre
Alyssa Pannone

Community Health Team

Heidi Bettcher, RN, BSN
Emily Gomes, RN, BSN
Daniel Sibio

Amy Bethge, MPH

Director of Health 203.264.9616

abethge@hvhdct.gov

Amy Bethge has a Masters of Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University and has worked in Public Health and the healthcare industry for over a decade. Her previous work includes management of grants, community-based programs and research activities for Nuvance Health and Griffin Hospital. Most recently, moreless

Amy worked in Quality Improvement at ConnectiCare/EmblemHealth. In her capacity as the Director of Health, Amy is tasked with supervising administration, grants, preparedness, operations as well as the community health and environmental programs of the Housatonic Valley Health District. Amy works to ensure the provision of high quality public health services, expanding critical programs, as well as implementing and advocating for policies that best serve the district’s residents. Amy is passionate about healthcare policy and health equity.

Joe Kmetz, RS

Chief Sanitarian

eht@hvhdct.gov

Joe received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University during the Spring of 1993. Joe has worked as a Registered Sanitarian for 28 years. At the end of 1993, Joe became certified in food inspections, phase 1 and phase 2 of subsurface sewage and then became a Registered Sanitarian in the spring of 1994.

Heidi Bettcher, RN, BSN

Community Health Nursing Supervisor

cht@hvhdct.gov

Heidi Bettcher earned a BS in Nursing from Western Connecticut State University and has been a practicing nurse for 20 years, specializing in pediatrics. Heidi has held various nursing positions, which include her position as a home care case manager and community health coordinator. moreless

She has worked for medical offices, hospitals, schools, and homecare nursing agencies.

As the Community Health Nursing Supervisor, Heidi is in charge of clinical operations, which includes overseeing vaccine clinics, manages clinical personnel, monitors infectious disease cases, establishes community relationships with local health care providers, and plans and conducts a range of community health programs and screenings. In Heidi’s spare time, she enjoys hiking, spending time with her family, which includes four children, and traveling.

Operations Team

Jennifer Luis

Operations Manager

inbox@hvhdct.gov | 203.264.9616

Jennifer Luis has been working in office management for over 20 years and has worked for the Town of New Milford for five years. As the Office Manager, Jennifer is in charge of ensuring smooth office operations and functions, such as payroll, reports, moreless

employee benefits, staff scheduling, accounts receivable, accounts payable and tracking purchases. As well as ensuring the staff has all the updated procedures and policies for Public Health Care and Environmental. Additionally, Jennifer runs the administration side of the clinics and works diligently to provide quality customer service to the community.

Leslie Kuik

Public Health Office Administrator

inbox@hvhdct.gov | 203.264.9616

Leslie joins our team with over 10 years of experience in administration and customer service. She assists the Environmental Team with processing forms and applications, as well as assisting the community with questions and resource connection moreless

as needed. In her free time, Leslie enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, DIY projects.

Megan McClintock, MS

Public Health Preparedness and Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator

hvmrc@hvhdct.gov

Megan McClintock is the Public Health Preparedness and Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator. She received her bachelors in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology and a masters degree in Emergency moreless

Management from the University of New Haven. Megan brings real-world pandemic response to the team and strives to make a lasting impact in the communities HVHD serves. Highlights of her experience include creating a FEMA Independent Study 100 course in the analogy of a wedding and creating outreach models to better gain feedback from volunteers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her cat, and being outdoors.

Shelby Meier

Public Health Office Administrator

inbox@hvhdct.gov | 203.264.9616

After many years of working in healthcare, in both direct patient care and medical administration roles, Shelby joined our team. She has been eager to apply her skills and knowledge in her role as Public Health Office Administrator, where her moreless

assisting the Environmental Health team. Shelby assists the team and our community with processing forms and applications. Along with supporting our Sanitarians, she is dedicated to supporting the community and is happy to help guide you through all our processes; or connect you with any resources you may need.

Shelby spends her free time with her daughter, husband and their cat, Nigel.

Ruth Quattro, MPH

Data Visualization and Communication Specialist

inbox@hvhdct.gov

Ruth Quattro earned a BA in Communication Studies and minors in Community Health Education and Marketing from Western Connecticut State University. She also earned Masters in Public Health, specifically in Community Health Education, moreless

from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ruth creates education materials to distribute to the public, communicates with stakeholders about proper public health practices, identifies health related issues and creates plans to address those needs, and produces educational reports about health issues, such as COVID-19.

Environmental Health Team

Jeff Andrews, RS

Senior Sanitarian

eht@hvhdct.gov

Coming soon!

Dennis Buell

Sanatarian

eht@hvhdct.gov

Dennis joins our team with 4 years of experience in the environmental health field and is certified in phase 1 and phase 2 subsurface sewage. He is responsible for investigating housing complaints, environmental plan reviews, and office administration.

Michelle Laguerre

Food Inspector

eht@hvhdct.gov

Michelle comes to HVHD with 11 years of experience as a Health Inspector/Environmental Health Specialist. She will take the lead on the District’s food inspections.

Alyssa Pannone, RS

Sanitarian

eht@hvhdct.gov

Coming soon!

Community Health Team

Emily Gomes, RN, BSN

Part-Time Public Health Nurse

cht@hvhdct.gov

Emily graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science in Nursing. She has experience in the hospital setting working in Labor and Delivery and moreless

the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and also has Case Management experience in Maternal Child Homecare. Since COVID, Emily have been assisting in vaccination clinics and community education. As a Community Health Nurse at HVHD, she is excited to get to know the towns we serve, along with providing education and services to the community members.

Daniel Sibio

Medical Biller

Daniel received his Medical Coding Certification from Westchester Community College in 2021 and has previously worked as an accountant for Westchester Community.

Updated on February 12, 2025