Vital Communities welcomes three new directors to board

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. — Three new members joined the Vital Communities board of directors this month: Elyse Crossman of Claremont, Ken Wells of Lebanon and Sally Wilson of Ryegate. Daniel Newmark also joined as Revers Board Fellow from the Tuck School of Business.

Elyse Crossman is a graduate of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2018 and one of the Young Leaders honored at Vital Communities’ 2017 Heroes & Leaders celebration. She is executive director of the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce and a dedicated, frequent volunteer around Claremont and the Upper Valley.

Ken Wells is the chief retail lending officer at Mascoma Bank, where he has worked for more than 20 years. He is currently chair of the Local-First Alliance steering committee at Vital Communities and has been a resource and advocate for the organization’s energy, housing, and other efforts in recent years. Ken also serves on the finance committee of the Carter Community Building Association.

Sally Wilson started the Hanover Farmers’ Market on the Dartmouth Green, which she managed for 10 years. She previously owned and operated the Norwich Inn and restarted its brewery in 1993. Sally is a Ryegate town lister and is an active member of Vital Communities’ Valley Food & Farm Advisory Committee.

Other Vital Communities board members include chair Jenny Levy of Norwich, Barbara Barry of Taftsville, Bill Geraghty of Hanover, Sally Kraft of Hanover, Nancy Merrill of Lebanon, Rick Mills of South Strafford, Markell Ripps of Thetford and Ron Shaiko of Hanover. For more information on the entire Vital Communities Board of Directors, visit VitalCommunities.org/Board.