Twenty-nine leaders from around the region graduated this week from Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities that inspires, educates, and engages citizens to better serve their communities. The graduation was held Wednesday, June 11, at Harpoon Brewery in Windsor.
“The modern models of leadership that are most widely embraced in the world are inclusive and creative. They are problem solving and solution seeking,” said Opera North Executive Director Pamela Pantos, Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2010 alumna and this year’s commencement keynote speaker. “Graduates of Leadership Upper Valley are well-prepared to provide this kind of leadership, whether in their workplace or the broader community. It is a way of life that breeds success in everyone with whom we come in contact.”
Established in 2007, Leadership Upper Valley engages participants in ten day-long sessions from September through June focused on key aspects of community life in the region. Topics include Economic Development, Education, Government and Politics, Arts and the Creative Economy, Health and Human Services, Environment, Transportation, Justice, Community and Civic Engagement.
This year’s graduates include:
Anibal Sepulveda, Hypertherm
Beth Vessicio, Mascoma Savings Bank
Betsy McClain, Town of Hanover
Cathee Clement, Chrysalis Properties LLC
Chris Mazurek, West Lebanon Feed & Supply
David Brooks, City of Lebanon
Ellie Tsetsi, Good Beginnings of Sullivan County
Ericka Gray, Kendal at Hanover
Gary Laperle, Dartmouth Printing Company
Hailey Wetherbee, Kendal at Hanover
Ham Gillett, COVER Home Repair
Jacqueline Hill, Morgan Stanley
Janet Miller Haines, Northern Stage
Jason Dacier, Co-op Food Stores
Jaye Olmstead, David’s House
Justin Provost, Claremont Savings Bank
Kari Jo Grant, Dartmouth College
Kevin Kober, Ledyard National Bank
Laurie Tostenson, Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Linda Miller, Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Lucinda Walker, Norwich Public Library
Mike Kenney, Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Mollie Naber, Self-Employed
Richard Hoffman, Hartford School District (HACTC)
Sarah Simonds, Vital Communities
Sue Bryan, Lake Sunapee Bank
Susanne Abetti, Geobarns LLC
Sylvia Provost, Henderson’s Tree Service LLC
Tom Yurkosky, TPY CFO Services
Including this year’s graduating class, there are now more than 150 Leadership Upper Valley alumni. The Class of 2015 will begin in September.