31 graduate from 12th Leadership Upper Valley class

CLAREMONT — Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2018, including three participants from Claremont, on Wednesday, June 13 at Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, Vermont.

This year’s 31 established and emerging local leaders from around the region have spent 10 months together in the program developing and deepening their knowledge and understanding of the Upper Valley in order to better succeed in and serve the community, according to a press release.

“For more than a decade, Leadership Upper Valley has introduced rising community leaders to the complicated issues the region faces and challenged them to produce fresh and innovative solutions,” said Vital Communities’ Leadership Upper Valley Manager Rob Schultz. “The members of this year’s class span a wide range: from employees of small businesses and nonprofits to the largest employers in the area, as well as being from all reaches of the Upper Valley region. The breadth of their perspectives allowed them to forge unique connections and bring new ideas to their work. It was wonderful to support them through this process.”

In the course of the 10-month program, the class worked to understand the Upper Valley’s education system and opportunities for further involvement; enjoyed a hands-on exploration of the rich local arts world with Northern Stage; discovered the varied service and nonprofit organizations supporting the community; examined the past, present, and future of the Upper Valley’s economic development with help from the City of Claremont; explored the criminal justice system and broader issues which affect our community; learned about the structure and responsibilities of governmental bodies, as well as how to engage actively as a citizen; discovered the region’s growing transportation network and how various modes of travel can impact every aspect of our lives; and addressed the topic of environmental sustainability at VINS. The class also completed a service project opening trails in Claremont’s Moody Park.

This year’s Leadership Upper Valley graduates include the following: Alison Marchione of Lebanon – Upper Valley Land Trust; Amber Johnston of Fairlee, Vermont – Upper Valley Haven; Amy Duda of Wilder, Vermont – Dead River Company; April Turner-Girard of Newbury – Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society; Bella Stachowski of West Lebanon – Greater Sullivan County Public Health Network; Cortney Nichols of Claremont – High Horses Therapeutic Riding Program and Spark!; Derek Ferland of Claremont – Sullivan County; Doug Adams of Plainfield – Red River; Elyse Crossman of Claremont – Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce; Eula Lee Kozma of New London – Good Neighbor Health Clinic; Hannah Rheaume of Charlestown – Lambert Auto Sales, Inc.; Ian Pahl of Sunapee – ReVision Energy; Jacqui Baker of Lebanon – ALL Together at Dartmouth-Hitchcock; Jason Kendall of Etna – Gallagher, Flynn & Co.; Jaxson Potwin of Quechee, Vermont – King Arthur Flour; Jenny McKenna of West Hartford – Upper Valley Waldorf School; Jesse Pacht of East Thetford, Vermont – Long Wind Farm; Joe Clifford of Plainfield – Lebanon Opera House; Kathy Welling of Norwich, Vermont; Kevin O’Leary of Hanover – Dartmouth College; Lee Michaelides of Norwich – Subtext Media, Dartmouth College; Matthew DeGroot of Worcester, Vermont – Global Campuses Foundation; Micky Lambert of Enfield – Kendal at Hanover; Nick Hamilton of Grafton, Vermont – Hypertherm Inc.; Nico Bekker of Bradford, Vermont – Ledyard National Bank; Nicole Dexter of Quechee – Lake Sunapee Bank; Paige Heverly of Wilder – Vital Communities; Raelene Robinson-Garrow of Windsor, Vermont – Mascoma Bank; Rob Taylor of Meriden – Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce; Ryan Scelza of Quechee – Dartmouth College; and Sharon Wight of Lebanon – Concepts NREC.

Leadership Upper Valley runs from September through June each year. Participants spend one intensive day per month learning in-depth about a different regional issue from topic-area experts. Residents and employees within Vital Communities’ 69-town service area are welcome to apply; the program accepts 30 participants per year. Learn more at VitalCommunities.org/LeadershipUpperValley.

Vital Communities is a nonprofit organization based in White River Junction, Vermont.