Ray’s journey to Newburyport spans several decades of working in leadership roles at the Department of Children and Families in Massachusetts and several Schools of Social Work in the Boston Area. His career started out working with homeless youth on the streets of Wellington New Zealand where he was born and raised. Ray has a strong sense of purpose and social justice rooted in his own family and community experiences, combined with many years of professional experience where he strived to make a difference in the lives of children and families. Over the course of his career, he has learned to deeply appreciate the value of community and partnership as prerequisites for working on complex social problems. Ray also credits Boston University School of Social Work where he obtained his master's degree with shaping how he sees the world and impacting his commitments. Ray is married to Tien, also a social worker, and has four children.
Ray Pillidge
Executive Director
Sheryl Rudis
Office Administrator
Sheryl comes to CSN after a long career working with nonprofit organizations in the Merrimack Valley. She started her career at the local March of Dimes office in Andover, MA. After a three year stint at a CPA firm, she moved back to the nonprofit world working at Goodwill Industries. For the last 22 years, she served as Associate Director and CFO of a nonprofit agency in Andover that works with children and families. Sheryl is certified in nonprofit Finance and Administration through a program at Suffolk University. After semi-retiring this spring, she has come to CSN to stay engaged and give back to the community. She lives in Methuen with her partner Marty and their rescue dog Jagger.
Sara A. Welch
Social Worker
Sara joined CSN in March 2023 after a career that spanned over 40 years in social work including 31 years at the Department of Children and Families as an investigator, supervisor and Area Program Manager. Prior to DCF Sara worked for the Greater Lawrence Community Action, Inc., as the Director of the Social Services Program for Lawrence Housing Authority Residents. Currently, Sara also works as a per diem Hospice Social Worker. Sara has lived in the Merrimack Valley all her life and is committed to engaging with individuals and organizations to ensure equity and social justice for all of our citizens.
Pamela Gray
Program Manager
Pam comes to Newburyport after living and working on the North Shore and Merrimack Valley for over 30 years. Most of this time was spent as a licensed social worker with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Mental Health, first as a frontline social worker, supervisor, and manager and eventually as a director in both the Lawrence and Salem offices. Her work is grounded in a strong sense of social justice, equity, and dignity. We are “better together" and can achieve greater good when we include and respect the needs of all our neighbors. Pam began her education at Connecticut College and continued to achieve her master’s degree at Northeastern University in Criminal Justice. Her work in child protection developed her deep sense of compassion for families who are struggling and the realization that where there is help, there is hope.
Much of Pam’s work in a leadership position with DCF included partnering with community agencies and providers. Understanding that communication and authenticity are critical to engaging partners, she enjoys meeting people from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Pam’s family includes nurses, teachers, musicians, and small business owners in the north shore area-each giving back to their community in unique and meaningful ways.
Pam seeks to live her life embodying "ubuntu" - a South African expression of the importance of humanity and compassion as well as the belief that we are better in community.