Meet the Team

Troisy Juarez

Enrollment Specialist

Hello! My name is Troisy Juarez (she/her), I am in my early 20s, born and raised in Grand Island Nebraska. 

About me: I am a first generation Guatemalan American. I graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in May of 2024 and was the second in my family to get a bachelor's degree. I majored in Psychology and Spanish with minors in Child Youth & Family Studies as well as Criminal Justice. I hope to get my master's and become an addictions counselor. Being the child of immigrant parents, I understand that life is not always easy, but that adversity helps us grow and learn to become better versions of ourselves. I am grateful to be a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters team where we can continue fostering a positive experience and mentorship for Littles and their Bigs. I strive to provide better opportunities and open more doors for our Littles and their families.

Match Support Specialist

Michelle Brisnehan

Match Support Coordinator

My name is Michelle Brisnehan and I am the Match Support Coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central NE.  I help oversee Matches, plan monthly Community Based outings, coordinate holiday outreach programs for our families, work with guidance counselors and social workers at area schools for our School Based program and give presentations throughout the community about our programs.  (I’m usually the one wearing green!)  I rarely do the same thing two days in a row and as I often joke, I spend a lot of time working from my “car-fice” which makes this the perfect job for me!


I’ve lived with my family in Grand Island since 1997.  My background is in education.  After I earned my degrees from Doane College and UNL, I spent many years teaching at GISH before I began with Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2017.   (It was actually through my time at GISH that I was recruited to work here by a former student that was on our board at the time!)
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When I’m not working with Littles and Bigs, you’ll most likely find me baking for friends, hanging out with my family or enjoying the great outdoors hunting, fishing or biking.  Live music and outdoor concerts are my biggest guilty pleasures, with Northern Colorado being my happy place. I try to get there as often as my schedule allows!

Christine Haba

Executive Director

Hi, I’m Christine Haba (she/her). I’m Filipina American and have lived in central Nebraska since I was three years old, so I claim both the Philippines and the Cornhusker State as home. My husband Shawn and I live on an acreage outside of Trumbull with our 4 teen/adult kids, and suspicious orange cat, Otis.

These days you can usually find me playing music, reading, journaling, or at the gym trying to build a little muscle and character. I’m a proud graduate of Central Community College, where I earned my associate’s degree, and later Bellevue University, where I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Once a Bruin, always a Bruin.

My journey with Big Brothers Big Sisters actually started as a volunteer Big, and that experience shaped so much of how I think about community and mentorship. After spending eight years working in adult education across central Nebraska, stepping into the role of Executive Director has felt like both a challenge and a calling. I’m grateful to do work that centers connection, belonging, and the idea that every young person deserves someone in their corner.

Also, no avocados please — I’m allergic.

Marcene Damitz

My name is Marcene Damitz and I am the Match Support Specialist. I work alongside Michelle, the Match Support Coordinator, to ensure positive, safe matches within community and school based programs.

I am new to Big Brothers Big Sisters and to Grand Island but not to Nebraska. Originally born in Scottsbluff, I spent the first ten years of my life living in Hemingford. I later lived in Colorado, Wyoming, and Michigan. Much of my family lives in Hastings and the panhandle areas.
I graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and received my master’s degree in Reading from Central Michigan University. I spent much of my life working in education with young children. I taught second grade for 12 years, was a Reading Specialist for nine years and then was an Elementary Principal for the last 12 years of my career. I recently returned to Nebraska to reside and am very excited about the opportunity to be working with children and families once again.
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I am married and the mother of two beautiful grown daughters. My oldest daughter Kelsey is married and resides in Alanson, Michigan and my youngest, Lauren, lives in Omaha with her boyfriend and his son whom I consider my grandson. I share many interests with my husband Jeff. We both enjoy working however when not working you will find us gardening, reading, fishing, walking or traveling.