Class of 2021
Jane Clifford, Mascoma Bank
Jessica Clow, West Central Behavioral Health
Zachary Conaway, Dartmouth Hitchock Health
Janet Couture, Hanover Consumer Cooperative
Kathy Dunham-Bellavance, Geokon
Leon Dunkley, North Universalist Chapel Society (North Chapel)
Kimberley Gibbs, Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Susan Goodell, Otto & Associates, Inc.
Lynne Goodwin, City of Lebanon
Daynia Langlois, Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Nancy Lindahl, BAYADA Hospice
Jill Marshall, Jill Marshall Consulting (self-employed)
Ashleigh McFarlin, Claremont Savings Bank
Davis McGraw, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Shari McLaughlin, Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP
Ana Mejia, Vital Communities
Steven Monteverdi, Hypertherm
Melissa Norton, Spark! Community Center
Rebecca Owens, City of Lebanon
Amanda Roberts, Mascoma Bank
Tamara Rockwell, Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Valerie Thompson, LISTEN Community Services
Celeste Wetherell, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Ashley Wood, Upper Valley Haven
Terra Wheeler, Red River
Session Schedule and Information
Session One – Building Community
Date: September 9, 2020
Location: TBD
Thank you to our day sponsors: Aloha Foundation.
Community Building Day is the opening session for the program where we set the stage for our 10 months together. The goals of the day are to welcome participants to the program, get to know each other, and begin our exploration of the Upper Valley.
Session Two – Education Day
Date: October 14, 2020. Location TBD
Day Planner: Joanne Roberts, Superintendent, SAU 88 Lebanon Schools
Gain an understanding of the challenges, assets and innovations of the education system in the Upper Valley. Explore educational opportunities and possibilities for involvement.
Session Three – Art and the Creative Economy
Date: Nov 11, 2020. Location TBD
Day Planner: Jarvis Antonio Green, Founder and Producing Artistic Director, JAG Productions
Thank you to our day sponsor: Ben Schore.
Develops first-hand knowledge of how the arts impact our lives and the region’s economy. We will discuss ways to bring the arts into your workplace and your life.
Session Four – Health and Human Services
Date: Dec 9, 2020. Location: TBD
Day Planner: Barbara Farnsworth, Manager, Community Health Improvement, Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Thank you to our day sponsor: Dartmouth Hitchcock Health
Learn about the services supporting institutions and residents of the Upper Valley. We build an understanding of community dynamics and gain an understanding of the needs and resources of local nonprofit and service organizations.
Session Five – Economic Development
Date: Jan 13, 2021. Location: Claremont MakerSpace
Claremont, NH
Day Planner: Nancy Merrill, Director, Planning and Development, City of Claremont
Thank you to our day sponsor: Claremont Savings Bank Foundation
How does this region attract and develop business? Evaluate the dimensions of “growth”? What kind is positive? How is it monitored? What is the role of public opinion? Business and civic leaders outline the potential and limits of growth in our region, as well as standard practices and innovative systems, and the influence of entrepreneurship.
Session Six – Justice
Date: Feb 10, 2021. Location: TBD
Springfield, VT
Day Planner: Robert Sand, Founder, Center for Justice Reform, Vermont Law School
Thank you to our day sponsor: Center for Justice Reform, Vermont Law School
Explore some of the current issues surrounding the criminal justice system in the Upper Valley. Examine the broader societal issues which impact the criminal justice system and our community, including poverty, education, family structure, substance abuse, mental health, health care, and more.
Session Seven – Government & Politics
Date: Mar 10, 2021. Location: Rockefeller Center, Dartmouth College
Day Planner: Karen Liot-Hill
Thank you to our day sponsor: Rockefeller Center, Dartmouth College
The structure, role and responsibilities of state, county, and town/city governmental bodies are outlined. Learn how you can be a more engaged citizen, which will influence your professional and personal life. Gain insights from elected and appointed officials – as well as your peers in the room – into overcoming challenges to meaningful involvement in the affairs of your community.
Session Eight – Transportation & Livable Communities
Date: Apr 14, 2021. Location: TBD
Day Planner: Bethany Fleishman, Transportation Manager, Vital Communities
Understand the impact of our growing and increasingly more complex transportation network and how our travel choices affect our environment, economy and social fabric. Discuss affordable housing issues and opportunities in our region.
Session Nine – Environment
Date: May 12, 2021.
Day Planner: Hannah Gelroth
VINS, Quechee, VT
What does an “environmentally sustainable” Upper Valley look like? Explore its implications on your quality of life and economic vitality. Broaden your perspectives on the interaction of environment, economy and community by addressing questions relating to the environment, energy, land use and agriculture.
Session Ten
Closing/Beyond LUV and Graduation
Date: June 9, 2021
Wrapping it all up. Review how you have begun to apply what you have learned during the program. Discuss how your workplace and your personal life have benefited by your participation. Clarify your plans to become a more active leader and contributor in your community. Receive your certification as an enthusiastic and active participant in the Leadership Upper Valley program.
What's Happening
Welcome 31 New Upper Valley Change-makers
Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 on Wednesday, June 10. This event marked the program’s [...]
Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead
Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Hero [...]
Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who [...]
A Lot Lighter with More Hands: Leadership Upper Valley
On the bright, sunny morning of June 13, Cobb Hill was waking up, and the soon-to-be graduating 2018 Leadership Upper Valley class was just arriving f [...]
Longevity & Commitment: Keynote Remarks from Heroes & Leaders 2018
Editor's Note: Many thanks to Kevin Peterson, Director of Economic Development for the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, who offe [...]
Long-Standing Stewards: Heroes & Leaders 2018
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts a Heroes & Leaders celebration to recognize individuals who make sign [...]
30 Local Leaders Graduate from Leadership Upper Valley
Vital Communities celebrated its Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2017 on June 14, in a commencement ceremony at Harpoon Brewery. Thirty of the region [...]
Closing Remarks for Heroes & Leaders from Markell Ripps
Thank you all for joining us to celebrate the young leaders who are being honored tonight, and thank you to Vital Communities for recognizing their im [...]
Meet the 2017 Heroes & Leaders Honorees
Merritt Patridge
Merritt Patridge joined the Tuck School of Business in 2015, where she serves as Executive Director of the Center for B [...]
Connection, Collaboration & Service
With the graduation of this year’s class of 30 participants, Leadership Upper Valley has trained more than 200 community leaders — from bankers to [...]
Vital Communities Program News
"Put Your Money Where Your Life Is": Reclaiming Our Local Economy
"Put Your Money Where Your Life Is": Reclaiming Our Local Economy Event series focuses on local investment as a tool for rebuilding our region's economy "When the pandemic recedes, we all will be called upon to take extraordinary ...more
Local Investment Inspiration & Resources
An "investment" always concerns the outlay of some asset today (time, money, effort, etc.) in hopes of a greater payoff in the future than what was originally put in. Where you choose to invest your ...more
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Save Energy
This week marks the close of Vital Communities and volunteers’ 2020 Vermont Energy Savings project in seven towns in the Vermont side of the Upper Valley. Vital Communities partnered with Sustainable Woodstock (serving Woodstock, Hartland, ...more
Farm Viability a Priority for NH Nonprofits
Farm Viability a Priority for NH Nonprofits Farm and Food Businesses Eligible for Team of Coaches Tailored to Their Needs Organizations from around New Hampshire are partnering to offer teams of coaches to New Hampshire farms and ...more
Valley Quest Volunteer Monitors Needed
Do you enjoy being outdoors? Do you enjoy bringing others outdoors and making their experience something special? Then you are a good candidate for monitoring one or more of our 160+ Valley Quests throughout the Upper ...more
Localvore Passport Webinar
Learn how Localvore Passport can help your business connect with customers at an informational webinar, Tuesday, January 12 or Wednesday, January 13! (Attend either event. The same information will be presented twice; Zoom link below). Vermont-based Localvore is ...more
Upper Valley Everyone Eats: The Common Good; Not-So-Common Meals
With the close of 2020 came a pause for Upper Valley Everyone Eats (UVEE), the local hub of Vermont’s coronavirus relief program, Vermont Everyone Eats (VEE), which pays Vermont restaurants $10/meal to prepare free meals ...more
2020 Volunteers of the Year: The Upper Valley’s Mutual Aid Groups
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the Upper Valley, it brought an ever-lengthening list of questions and concerns. Would supplies of food and other essentials hold out? Where would those suddenly without income get help? ...more
Calling for Civil, Inclusive Communication & Interaction: Thoughts on January 6
As an organization that brings people together, bridging boundaries and engaging our whole community to create positive change, we were shocked and saddened by the images that came to us from Washington, DC, on Wednesday. ...more
That's Snow Excuse!
Don't be deterred by wet, cold or snow. Good times can be had when a-questing you go! Be sure to search our website Valley Quest page selecting for Season and Year Round to see what ...more
Quest to Refresh Winners!
Congratulations to all the our participants in our Quest to Refresh Challenge! 28 teams took us up on the Challenge to get out and explore our Quests to beat the pandemic blues. Malcolm and Joseph Marchesi ...more
Love your bike ride, even in cold weather
We (Bethany and Mike from the Transportation team) are still riding our bikes these cold dark days, because it keeps us healthy and relieves anxiety! Your bike can offer fresh air, motion, and safe social ...more
One stop shop for VT green transportation news!
Some of our friends in Burlington have put together a super cool online resource called Vermont Goes Green for everything related to green transportation in Vermont — it's an events calendar and a clearinghouse for ...more
Why Bank Locally?
Where You Bank Makes a Difference! When you use a bank or credit union rooted in our community, you're making a conscious choice to support our local economy. Local First Champion member Mascoma Bank is a ...more
Fall 2020 Transit Updates!
Just in time for fall and back-to-school, there are some exciting transit updates from both sides of the river! Tri-Valley Transit (formerly Stagecoach) has a new midday route on the 89er South route. This route connects ...more
Weatherize Webinar, August 17
Weatherize Webinar with NHSaves Monday, August 17 at Noon Did Covid-19 stop your 2020 weatherization plans in their tracks? NOW is the right time to jump back on the weatherize band wagon. Lower energy bills and cozy ...more
Pick Your Own is OPEN ♥
Yes...Local as Usual, Safer than Ever. Pick Your Own strawberry farms opened this past weekend. Get out there and pick the delish! There is nothing like ripe berries. So good. Each berry that comes into season ...more
Five Inspiring Stories
On March 18, Vital Communities held a webinar featuring five inspiring stories from energy committees across the Upper Valley. Stories included: Electric charging stations in Bethel An Upper Valley eBike lending library Energy saving window ...more
Staff

Rob Schultz
Leadership Upper Valley Manager, Director of Development
Leadership UV
Leadership UV
— Rob Schultz, Leadership Upper Valley Manager, Director of Development
Rob Schultz is the Leadership Upper Valley Manager and Director of Development at Vital Communities. Most recently, he served as Area Coordinator for Granite United Way in the Upper Valley Region. Rob was Executive Director of COVER Home Repair in White River Junction for 9 years. Before working at COVER, Rob was Executive Director for the Farm & Wilderness Foundation for 8 years; helped start a corporate training center for PT Timah in Sumatra Indonesia; and ran programs for Outward Bound in Minnesota, Texas, and New Mexico. He is a graduate of Earlham College and has done graduate work at University of Maryland in International Political Economy. He lives in Hanover with his partner Diane. He sings with Thetford Chamber Singers and is an avid carpenter, cellist, wilderness traveler, and gardener.