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NOW Board of Directors
Robert Ciappenelli
(he/him/his)
President
Bio coming soon!
JB Weir
(he/him/his)
Vice President
JB lives in Waitsfield, Vermont with his wife and two daughters. After graduating from Northwestern University in 2001, JB moved to Vermont and has never left. A life-long competitive tennis player, JB became a USPTA certified tennis instructor and taught at various facilities across Chittenden County. In 2003, JB enrolled at Vermont Law School, receiving his juris doctor in 2006. Subsequent to law school, JB worked in the insurance and medical malpractice field until moving to the Mad River Valley in 2008. JB currently works for the Town of Waitsfield as Planning & Zoning Administrator. He also serves on the Waitsfield Development Review Board.
John Donaldson
(he/him/his)
Treasurer
John and his wife Dana first visited the Mad River Valley to ski at Sugarbush in 1973. After decades of moving around the country they moved to the Valley in 2001 following John's retirement after 33 years as a corporate attorney for IBM. Since that time he has been active in community and non-profit organizations.
John was on the Warren Planning Commission and currently serves on the Waitsfield Development Review Board. He has been treasurer of a number of non-profits in Vermont. John currently is a substitute teacher at Harwood, and drives for Meals on Wheels and Freewheelin'.
Betsy Jondro
(she/her/hers)
Secretary
Betsy has an extensive professional background in business management and strategic planning in the retail industry. Her passion to ensure the sustainability of the Valley has focused her volunteer efforts on Neck of the Woods. Ensuring that young families residing here or interested in moving to the Valley have adequate, high-quality childcare is critical to the future of the Valley and the surrounding towns. She is the head of the Grant and Fundraising Committee plus a member of the Executive Committee. Betsy has lived full time in Fayston since 2006. She started visiting the Valley in the late 50’s when her parents started skiing at Mad River Glen, then building a house on the mountain in 1964.
Karl Klein (he/him/his)
Board Member
Karl discovered the Mad River Valley in 2002 when he relocated from San Diego to purchase the 1824 House Inn. After renovating the property and developing a well-known local eatery, he sold to pursue a career in real estate. Karl believes that service, communication, and integrity are the avenues to long term client relationships and constantly works toward improving his skills. A believer in local participation, he served as; chair of the Waitsfield Planning Commission, member of the Sugarbush Chamber of Commerce, and volunteered with the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service. Karl is an active member of the Valley Rotary Club and several local performing arts groups. Karl is an accomplished wood worker and can often be found in his workshop building furniture. He and his wife Susan reside in the town of Fayston.
Jenni Cavanaugh
(she/her/hers)
Board Member
Jenni lives in Granville with her husband and two children, and is a current parent at Neck of the Woods. Jenni received her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology in 2016 and works as a talent assessment and selection professional. As a parent of young children, Jenni sees the challenges that both families and child care centers are facing, and is excited to support Neck of the Woods as a board member. Jenni has served as a board member for local school and childcare non-profit boards. The Cavanaughs enjoy visiting with friends and family around New York and Vermont, swimming in Vermont's many rivers and lakes, gardening, and raising a small flock of chickens and turkeys. Between working from home and chasing her small children and animals she enjoys felting, game nights, and hosting the occasional brunch party.
David Babbott-Klein
(he/him/his)
Board Member
Dave lives in Waitsfield with his wife and two children, and is thankful to have settled in the Mad River Valley after growing up partially in Vermont (and later living around the country). Dave graduated from Amherst College and New York University School of Law and has professional experience as an investment analyst for a global bank, an organizer for a Vermont statewide political campaign, a commercial litigator for an international law firm, and a legislative policy consultant for a gun violence prevention nonprofit. During Dave’s years serving on local licensed child care center nonprofit boards, he’s seen firsthand the importance and challenge of providing high-quality child care, and he’s honored to support Neck of the Woods’ crucial mission. You’ll find him around town enjoying board games and trivia nights, skiing, trying to read just one more book, and playing or coaching most sports with a ball.
Jenni Cavanaugh
(she/her/hers)
Board Member
Jenni lives in Granville with her husband and two children, and is a current parent at Neck of the Woods. Jenni received her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology in 2016 and works as a talent assessment and selection professional. As a parent of young children, Jenni sees the challenges that both families and child care centers are facing, and is excited to support Neck of the Woods as a board member. Jenni has served as a board member for local school and childcare non-profit boards. The Cavanaughs enjoy visiting with friends and family around New York and Vermont, swimming in Vermont's many rivers and lakes, gardening, and raising a small flock of chickens and turkeys. Between working from home and chasing her small children and animals she enjoys felting, game nights, and hosting the occasional brunch party.
Minutes from the Neck Of the Woods Board Meetings are available by request of the Board President.