Our Team
Meet the Heart and Soul Behind Adam’s House
Get to know the faces behind our efforts, a dedicated team of compassionate individuals driven by a shared commitment to support and uplift those touched by grief. Discover the profound impact they make in guiding others toward healing and hope.
Allison Wysota
Founder and Executive Director
Allison Wysota, Founder and Executive Director of Adam’s House, is a proud, dedicated mom to three sons, Andrew, Austin and Addison. Before taking time to raise her sons, Allison was a teacher at the School for Language in Bellmore, NY. After she completed her Master’s in Speech Pathology at Adelphi University, she opened a private practice, providing services to speech-impaired children in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, NY.
After the unexpected passing of her husband, Adam Wysota, Allison found it challenging to find support for her family struggling to deal with their grief. Her search led her to decide to establish The Adam Wysota Foundation to honor Adam’s memory by creating a center, called Adam’s House, to help other grieving families.
Rachel Morrow
Director of Fundraising
Rachel is the Director of Fundraising at Adam’s House where she facilitates corporate and individual giving, grant submissions, and nonprofit partnerships.
Previously, she served as the Director of Development for People and Animal Learning Services in Bloomington, IN and has done extensive work with theatres and arts nonprofits. Rachel has worked both administratively and artistically for nonprofits including the Jewish Theatre of Bloomington, Cimarron Opera, Peach State Opera, Lyric Theatre OKC, and more.
She earned a BA in Music and Theatre from Mercer University and an MM in Voice from the University of Oklahoma. Rachel is honored to be on the Adam’s House team.
When she isn’t in the office, she is usually auditioning, reading a good book, riding a horse, or spending time with her husband (John), dog (Indie), and cat (Kota). She can be reached directly at rachel@adamshousect.org
Noelle Debes
Director of Communications
Noelle is the Director of Communications at Adam’s House, where she handles event management, volunteer programming, marketing, and community engagement.
Noelle previously led Development and Communications efforts for four Bridgeport schools and at Greenwich Catholic School, including their Annual Galas and Golf Outings.
Earlier in her career, Noelle spent 10 years working at NYC ad agencies, and then became a marketing consultant for multiple small businesses in Fairfield County. Noelle earned her BA in English at Providence College, where her son is a member of the Class of 2027.
When she’s not at Adam’s House, Noelle enjoys socializing with her husband and friends, and watching their daughter play field hockey and run track for her high school.
She can be reached directly at noelle@adamshousect.org
Michelle Jukoski
Board President
Michelle is a Senior Vice President and National Employee Benefit Technology Practice Leader for HUB International. With over 25 years of industry experience, Michelle is an industry thought leader and subject matter expert in the HR Technology space. She is responsible for strategic oversight of HUB’s National HR Technology Practice, managing vendor relations, delivery of internal platform solutions, consulting support for sales, complex client HR Tech needs and new initiatives. Michelle is a HUB Woman’s Network Ambassador, member of the HR Technology industry Advisory Collective and is an active member of several industry Broker Advisory boards. She is a past-President of the New Hampshire Association of Health Underwriters. Michelle received her BA in Business Management and Marketing from Notre Dame College. After moving back to CT in 2021, Michelle was seeking a meaningful volunteer opportunity when she was introduced to Adam’s House. Having experienced the loss of her mother at the age of 5, she was immediately drawn to the program and its mission. She is thrilled to serve Adam’s House and its families to provide grief support during one of life’s most difficult times.
Michelle resides in Stratford with her children Zach and Zoe after living in NH for over 25 years and their beloved pugs (Duke & Daisy) and cat (Addie). In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, the beach, walking, golf, kayaking, and cooking for family and friends.
Danielle Carlson
Board Vice President
Danielle is currently the neuromuscular outpatient clinical research coordinator at Yale University. Her passion for advancing medicine in hopes to save and improve lives is what brought her to the East Coast. Originally from Minnesota, she came from doing research with the University of Minnesota’s Department of Neurosurgery and the Department of Psychiatry. This passion developed as a result of losing her father to Hodgkin’s lymphoma while she was in high school. When introduced to Adam’s House, she knew she had to get involved. She wished Adam’s House would have been available to her during her own loss as an adolescent. Outside of research and medicine, Danielle was a longtime volunteer at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities. Supporting youth development in the community is near and dear to her heart.
Danielle lives in Fairfield, CT with her two dogs, Frank and George, and her two cats, William and Harry. She enjoys hiking with her dogs, improving her golf game and being at the beach.
Kevin Atterberry
Board Member
Kevin Atterberry is currently a full stack web developer for Peralta Design, a digital marketing and creative agency located in Shelton. Kevin uses his knowledge of programming along with his attention to detail and passion for problem solving to build custom solutions for businesses and entrepreneurs. Kevin is also licensed to sell life insurance in the states of Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and is currently studying for his Series 6 & 63 so he can become FINRA licensed.
Outside of work, Kevin has always had a passion for giving back and connecting with his community. Since Kevin was 12 he’s been volunteering in food pantries, participating in toy drives, and supporting local groups and nonprofits all over Fairfield county and the valley. Kevin is currently the vice-chair for the Greater Valley Chamber’s young professionals networking group FUEL and the vice-chair of their technology council TIED. Kevin loves meeting new people and making connections, especially when there is food involved.
Lisa Bisson
Board Member
Lisa Bisson is the Director of Community Outreach for Wesley Village in Shelton. Wesley Village is a non-profit community offering independent, assisted and memory support living options for seniors. In addition, Wesley Village also has a skilled nursing home which provides short term rehabilitation and long term care.
Lisa has spent much of her career working for local non-profits including Griffin Hospital and the March of Dimes. She has volunteered and served on board with area organizations including the Derby-Shelton Rotary, United Way, Junior Achievement, and the Valley Chamber of Commerce. Her connections with area corporations and community leaders allows her to spread the word and gather support for programs in need.
Lisa lives in Shelton with her husband Scott who is the assistant chief of the Fairfield Fire Department. Her daughter Meg, a recent FIG volunteer at Adam’s House, is at Syracuse University majoring in Child Psychology. Her son Joseph attends St. Joseph High School in Trumbull.
Shawna Vallillo
Board Member
The path that has led me to a chair on the Adam’s house board has been daunting at times. I was introduced to the program after the devastating loss of my oldest son Damien in 2019. I was a busy Mom of 3, selling real estate and attending PTO meetings while also finding time to volunteer at local organizations.
One day my life changed with a single phone call, the Army never calls, but they called that day and told me that my son was found unresponsive in the barracks. I numbly remember navigating the planning of his services, the impending holidays for the family, and even a memorial celebration almost a year later to celebrate what would have been his 21st Birthday.
There were many facets to my child, and finding a way to honor him and his memory has always felt necessary but nothing ever “fit”. After participating in the grieving hearts program with my family, and being asked to serve on the board, I found a home for that at Adam’s house. This is the perfect way to be able to make a difference in others lives and honor the whole person.
I reside in Shelton with my husband Vincent. My daughter Vivianna is a talented artist attending Shelton high school who is planning on attending college to pursue her passion. My youngest son Vincent is a budding musician who is currently battling a brain tumor that took his vision in 2018. I don’t know why people are given the challenges we are, but I do know that each one we have faced as a family has made us stronger and we have been able to turn that pain and loss into light and healing for others. I read a quote once that said “one day telling the story of what you went through will become the pages of someone else’s survival guide.” And it’s so very true, so I am telling my story in the hopes of helping to heal.
Chris Lynn
Board Member
Chris Lynn is an Assistant Athletic Director at Southern Connecticut State University, and a Police Officer in Orange, CT. Chris was a contestant at the 4th Annual “Dancing with the Stars” event in 2023, and his performance was a crowd favorite. He and his family reside in Trumbull. His beautiful wife Katie Lynn is an assistant principal at Bassick High School in Bridgeport, and they have two sons, Colton (11) and Cassius (8). They also have a 13-year-old Boston Terrier named Lola. In his spare time, Chris can be found playing golf.
Deirdre “Dee” Tutka
Board Member
Deidre “Dee” Tutka was born and raised in Fairfield, CT. Dee’s career has led her down many interesting paths, including ballroom dance instruction, restaurant and country club management, restaurant ownership, corporate real estate design & management, and event planning. Currently, she owns and manages CTMAID, LLC, and works with Three Guys Masonry & TGM Construction as an office manager and hardscape field design trainee.
Dee has two amazing sons and a daughter in law, and she is also a bereaved parent to her heavenly daughter, Viviana, who gained her wings in 2009.
Dee is an advocate for M.A.D.D. and has been a facilitator and steering committee member for The Compassionate Friends of Stratford/Bridgeport for the last 14 years. Dee is also a Certified Grief Educator, founder of State of Sorrow Grief Recovery for Bereaved Parents, and founder of the Shelton Butterfly project.
Prior to starting in her role on the Board, Dee was named “2023 Volunteer of the Year” at Adam’s House, in recognition of her dedication as Garden Committee Chair, Memorial Brick Fundraising Chair, Dancing with the Stars committee member and judge, and Golf committee member. In her free time, she likes to spend time in her garden or with her eight-month old great Pyrenees puppy named Raja!
Laura Krauss
Board Member
Laura is currently a Business Banking Relationship Manager, Vice President at M&T Bank. Her offices are located in Trumbull and Stratford. She joined M&T in 2023 after 12+ years of experience in the banking industry at Newtown Savings Bank. She started her career as a Teller, worked her way through Commercial Credit Underwriting, and was promoted to Commercial Loan Officer, Vice President. She is passionate about SBA lending because it helps small businesses in the community obtain financing. Laura received her Bachelors in Finance from Manhattanville College and her MBA from Sacred Heart University where she graduated second in her class.
Laura was born and raised in Monroe and has resided in Shelton since 2015. She is active in the community as a Board Member of Shelton Economic Development Corporation and has a strong relationship with the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce. Laura volunteers with the United Way, has organized local food drives, and enjoys giving back to her community. Laura connected with Allison Wysota in 2018 when they participated in and graduated from the Leadership Greater Valley program together. Since that time, Laura has organized annual volunteer days at Adam’s House, bringing employees from her bank to make blankets for incoming sessions.
Laura is excited to bring her finance background to the Adam’s House Board of Directors and aspires to be a future FIG!
Adriana Mazza
Board Member
Adriana Mazza is currently an SVP Deposit Operations Officer at Ion Bank, a leading mutual financial institution in Connecticut focused on offering high-quality, innovative, and accessible solutions to achieve client prosperity for generations to come.
After the loss of her daughter, Adriana has found a new purpose in life in way of the Juliana Mazza Memorial Foundation, whose mission is to keep Juliana’s memory alive by helping children and promoting the concept of “Paying-it-forward”.
Adriana and her family participated in Adam’s House “Helping Hearts Heal” program in 2022, which truly embodies its title by providing children coping mechanisms to help their hearts heal.
It is an honor for Adriana to be a member of Adam’s House Board of Directors. She is humbled by the opportunity to “Pay-it-forward” and be a contributor to such an amazing organization.
Patti Moonan
Board Member
When I heard about Adam’s House, an organization that offers free peer support to children and their parents/guardians who are coping with the loss of a loved one, I knew I wanted to become involved. A few years back, when I suddenly became a widow, there was no place like Adam’s House for me to bring my children, ages 17, 14 and 9. This was the piece that was missing for us; as peer support is so important in normalizing grief and assisting in navigating a whole new world without your loved one. Since becoming involved with Adam’s House in 2021, I have served as a friend in Grief, assisting in the running of a support group for the Middles, children ages 7-12 years, and as a Peer to Peer Fundraiser as part of the Great Give. Recently, I was asked to become a member of the Board of Adam’s House which was an honor I gladly accepted.
My professional background as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, having worked with clients ages 5-85, has allowed me to see the effects of grief first hand not only on the individual but on the family and community systems as well. In December of 2012, I was a therapist at an agency in Sandy Hook, CT and for the next 4 1/2 years my clinical focus was to provide clinical counseling services to those who experienced a mass community trauma with the loss of 20 young children and 6 school personnel due to a school shooting. As such, I am trained in various empirical models that address traumatic grief and to this day my clinical practice is primarily focused in this area.
I am a resident of Shelton, CT and am currently serving my second term as a member of the Shelton Board of Education.
