Meet the FFI Team

Steve Martineau

Executive Director

Stephen joined Friends Forever International as its Executive Director in November 2005, after having spent time working with Habitat for Humanity in South Carolina, the Children’s Museum of Boston, and MYTOWN, an innovative inner-city youth organization in Boston, MA. Over the last 17 years, Stephen's tenure has seen FFI expand to multiple sites across the continental United States, the establishment of Friends Forever Europe in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the formation of FFI programs in the Middle East, and the United States. He has also led the acquisition and renovation of the Friends Forever International Campus in Durham, NH, the FFI Center at Annalong in Northern Ireland, and the Diane M. Seagren Rainforest Academy in Belize, all spaces that are devoted to peace and leadership development.  

In addition to nearly two decades of high-level expertise in the field of NGO's, Stephen brings to Friends Forever International a genuine passion for building active leaders through service on the local and global levels by empowering the most underutilized asset in the world today: youth.

Amelia Burke

Special Projects Manager

Amelia came to FFI in January 2019 as an AmeriCorps VISTA member and then became Special Projects Coordinator in 2020 (and now Manager). As FFI's Special Projects Manager, she coordinates our alumni movement and works on event planning, grant preparation, and other projects.

Prior to joining FFI, she worked with international students and scholars to support them in getting their visas to study/work in the United States. She has her Master's in International Education from SIT Graduate Institute and a Bachelor's in French and Global Studies from Salve Regina University. She is very excited to be with FFI to continue to support international youth.

Natalie Gauthier

Volunteer Coordinator

Natalie joined Friends Forever International as a participant in 2018 as part of the first team out of Spaulding Highschool in Rochester, NH. Since then, she has gone on to join the Alumni Movement and was named our 2019 Eileen D. Foley fellow. Natalie has also done an internship with FFI, completed our program in NOLA, and been a part of three alumni teams. Most recently, she led virtual workshops and in-person programs for our Nationwide Teams. She is excited to continue her engagement with the Alumni Movement and fulfill her new role as our volunteer coordinator.

Natalie is currently attending UNH as a dual major in Political Science and International Affairs with Arabic as her chosen language of study. She aims to build a fulfilling career working internationally to help others in whatever capacity possible.

Alex DesRuisseaux

Program and Community Engagement Coordinator

Alex joined the FFI team in 2021 with loads of enthusiasm for youth and leadership development. Alex is a NH Certified Educator in Secondary Social Studies and worked in both public and alternative school programs before coming to FFI.

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She received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a certification in Secondary Education, Psychology minor, and Social Studies concentration from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 2019. She is passionate about FFI's mission and excited to engage with youth and the community through new and exciting ways.

Matthew Arsenault

Special Projects Coordinator

Matthew (he/him) began with FFI in February 2022 as an Administrative Assistant and then moved to Special Projects Coordinator. With an eagerness to learn and lend anyone a hand, Matthew takes on various tasks around FFI to ensure no loose end goes unaccounted for. A heavily involved background with his hometown’s recreation department has inspired initiatives to construct and facilitate experiences where younger generations can become best equipped to serve their respective communities.

Matthew recently graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies along with a concentration in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement. He is now continuing his education in graduate school studying Public and Nonprofit Management.