Board of Directors
Jim Hoag, President – South Hero
Starting Year on Board: 2017
Current Board Position/Committees: President, also on Finance & Communications Committees
Current/Previous Occupation: Champlain College
Interests/Hobbies: Local History, Genealogy, Model A Ford
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved? The reason I like to volunteer for CIDER is it’s an organization that truly takes a community-based approach and adheres to its basic mission. The people involved all want to help the community in an effective and respectful manner.
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Bob Pekar, Vice Pres. – South Hero
Starting Year on Board: 2019
Present Board Position/Committees: Vice President, Co-Chair Capital Campaign, Chair of Development Committee, Finance & Nominating Committees
Present/Previous Occupation. Retired CEO of a Nonprofit Behavioral Health Organization
Interests/Hobbies: Gardening , WWII toy soldiers
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved? Wonderful mission of caring for senior citizens.
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Marie Kilbride, Secretary – North Hero
Starting Year on Board: 2018
Present Board Position/Committees: Secretary, Wellness Committee, Finance Committee
Present/Previous Occupation: Retired. Previously worked at Community College of Vermont
Interests/Hobbies: Grand Isle Rescue member interested in community health, Model A Fords, gardening
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved? I like that CIDER is a grassroots, community-based organization run by members in the community for members of the community. I volunteered because I thought that I could help make a wellness connection for both CIDER and Grand Isle Rescue.
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Kevin Ray Treasurer – North Hero
Starting Year on Board: 2023
Present Board Position/Committees: Treasurer, Executive Committee, Finance Committee
Present/Previous Occupation: Retired Vice Chairman of The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) after 35 years of service where responsibilities included overseeing the Bank’s corporate relationship activities and lending in the USA & Europe.
Interests/Hobbies: Skiing, golf, fishing, travel
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved? I appreciate the valuable services CIDER provides to the community of Grand Isle County and have enjoyed being a volunteer driver the past few years.
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Connie Boutin – Alburgh
Starting Year on Board: 2020
Present Board Position/Committees: Event committee, Wellness Committee
Present/Previous Occupation: Retired from the Grand Isle Court, State of Vermont
Interests/Hobbies: I have worked on and planned many church dinners at St. Amadeus and St. Anne’s Shrine. For the past two years I have planned Souper Sunday a fund raiser at our library in Alburgh. I have attended the annual CIDER dinner for several years and, as I am an antique dealer, I have done the CIDER antique show for many years. My other hobbies are gardening, photography, baking and Morgan horses.
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
I appreciate all that the organization does for our community and, as we have a large elderly population, feel that it is so important.
++++
Barbara Capen – Grand Isle
Starting Year on Board: 2020 (also served 2010-1016)
Present Board Position/Committees:
Present/Previous Occupation: Retired
Interests/Hobbies: Gardening, walking, hiking, travel
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
Involvement with a local organization, helping with different activities.
++++
Mark Cobb – Grand Isle
Starting Year on Board: 2017
Present Board Position/Committees Co-chair Housing Committee, Nominating Committee
Present/PreviousOccupation: Self Employed Contractor/Real Estate Agent for 35 yrs.
Interests/Hobbies: Hunting, reading, family and working with wood,
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
In my opinion, CIDER has always been a stellar organization. I love being a part of this community by giving back to this great non-profit. The challenges I have faced together with my colleagues have not always been easy, but they are “all heart”. Volunteering for CIDER has been the very thing that has helped me to reconnect to my community. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to serve this community as a whole.
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Doug Disabito - Alburgh
Starting Year on Board: 2023 (also served 2008-2014, 2015-2021)
Present Board Position/Committees:
Present/ Previous Occupation: Grand Isle County State's Attorney
Interests/Hobbies:
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
++++
Ethelyn Dubuque – South Hero
Starting Year on Board: 2020
Present Board Position/Committees:
Present/Previous Occupation: Retired/ Insurance Agent
Interests/Hobbies: Gardening
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
CIDER is very important to the seniors here on the Islands. I always enjoyed helping at the meal site and with the holiday meals. I would also bake for the meal site.
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Judy Duval - South Hero
Starting Year on Board: 2023 (also served 2015-2021)
Present Board Position/Committees:
Present/Previous Occupation: Employed for 30 yrs. with G.I. Supervisory Union teaching in schools. Business partner for 22 years and owned my own business for 6 years, I got my teaching license and stayed in education for 30 years—a love that I had wanted since 1st grade.
Interests/Hobbies: Collect Cobalt blue glass, snowmen, sleighs, antiques, volunteering
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
C - Caring, capable, cooperation, capable
I - Individuals, interesting, informational
D - Debbie, driving, dedicated, dependable
E - Excellent, energy, eats
R - Responsible, rescue, ramps, reachable, respectable
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Diane Hauser – South Hero
Starting Year on Board: 2022 (previously 2015-2021)
Present Board Position/Committees:
Present/Previous Occupation: In the office at a machine shop and foundry, the telephone company as an operator , in a glove manufacturer, and a International truck dealership.
Interests/Hobbies: Reading, serving on the Board of CIDER, helping my daughter with her farmers market in New York.
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
When I first came to Vermont, I found out that I had stage 4 Cancer. Cider was a life saver for me and when Robin asked me to be on the Board as a client of Cider. I said yes as I wanted to give back for all Cider had done for me.The Cider organization is fantastic and I am proud to be a part of it.
++++
Evan Hill – Isle La Motte
Starting Year on Board: 2017
Present Board Position/Committees:
Present/Previous Occupation: Vermont Judiciary
Interests/Hobbies: My dog Zuri, knitting, crocheting, crafts, reading, bragging rights for talented granddaughter, antiques, getting through boredom of COVID
I think I am kind and tolerant
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
Because the organization helps elderly people be less isolated. Its mission is worthy.
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Jim Holzschuch – South Hero
Starting Year on Board: 2022
Present Board Position/Committees: Development and Communications
Present/Previous Occupation: Grand Isle Artworks, C.I.D.E.R Program Coordinator, US Army, IBM for 28 years and Manpower at IBM for 9 years (sharing an office with Robin Way)
Interests/Hobbies: Wood carving.
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
Interested in extending C.I.D.E.R.'s reach to the northern towns.
+++
Gail Horne – Grand Isle
Starting Year on Board: 2019
Present Board Position/Committees: Wellness committee
Present/Previous Occupation: KBV 48 years
Interests/Hobbies: Bike, ski, hike, travel
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
Interested in extending C.I.D.E.R.'s reach to the northern towns. I think CIDER is a great organization. I was an original signer 25+ years ago
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Ben Joseph – North Hero
Starting Year on Board: 2020 (previously served 2014-15)
Present Board Position/Committees:
Present/Previous work place: Retired Vermont Superior Court Judge, currently a North Hero Selectman
Interests/Hobbies: Gardening, singing and playing the violin
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
I have been a volunteer driver for Cider for some time
++++
Gina Lewis – Alburgh
Starting Year on Board: 2021
Present Board Position/Committees: Wellness
Present/Previous Occupation: Alburgh Library
Interests/Hobbies:
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
+++
Bob Pettegrow – Isle La Motte
Starting Year on Board: 2018 (also served 2008-2014)
Present Board Position/Committees: Currently on nominating and finance committees
Present/Previous Occupation: 15 years as court officer and currently retired.
Interests/hobbies: Fishing, gardening, camping.
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
I think CIDER is a good organization. It helps seniors with transportation, ramps, meals and medical supplies. Grand Isle county does not have a lot of resources.
++++
Missy Siner – Grand Isle
Starting Year on Board: 2020
Present Board Position/Committees: Communications
Current/Previous Occupation: Special Olympics Vermont
Interests/Hobbies: Avid skier, cyclist, hiker, paddler. Love the farmer’s market, cooking, my two grown kids, and my two labs – a 14 yr. old yellow, and a nine month old black lab.
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
I believe strongly in the benefits of and contributing to community. The Islands is a wonderful collection of communities, but life here can be challenging, especially for senior citizens and people with disabilities. CIDER's mission focuses on these populations, and is making a positive difference in the lives of many Islanders.
Tom Speyer – Grand Isle
Starting Year on Board: 2020
Present Board Position/Committees: At Large position on Executive Committee,
Present/Previous Occupation: Professionally, my career was in digital publishing – project managing and program-managing efforts to transform publishing organizations from print-on-paper to digital. Since 2001 I worked for John Wiley – publishing learning materials in higher education – teaching college students such subjects as math, physics, engineering and accounting online. Experience also includes online information services, newsletters and the like.
Interests/Hobbies: Boating and Boatbuilding, Racquet sports – Tennis and Pickleball, Skiing, Tai Chi, Jazz. Participated in ramp building projects Interested in Sr. Housing and Wellness
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
I like the fact that CIDER is a community-based organization in which people help other people in their community directly – cooking for them, driving them places, exercising, building ramps etc. The help is tangible and the connections are direct.
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Cathy Tatro – Alburgh
Starting Year on Board: 2018
Present Board Position/Committees: Wellness, Executive Director Search
Present/Previous Occupation: RN for 46 years
Interests/Hobbies: Antiques, travel
What do you like about CIDER? Why did you volunteer and become involved?
Empowering seniors and disabled.
