Remarkable Women

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Celebrating Windham County women who lead in business and the community.

A special publication of the Brattleboro Reformer

Saturday October 27, 2018

Saturday, October 27, 2018 | Remarkable Women 2018

Judges Serenity Smith Forchion

Kelley Aither

Serenity is an award winning aerialist and business woman. Along with her twin sister, Elsie Smith, she is the winner of the BDCC Business Plan Competition that led to their founding the New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro, Vermont in 2007. Serenity’s resume includes Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey, Special Award at Wuqiao Festival, Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and American Circus Educators Award for Excellence in Education. Serenity’s expertise as a teacher and performer focuses on bringing together detailed technique with theatrical complexity to expand capacity for creative storytelling through circus. Through their award winning production company, Nimble Arts, Serenity tours the world as aerial performer while continuing to serve at NECCA as Artistic Director. Serenity hopes to inspire the current and next generations of circus performers and teachers with authenticity and grace.

Kelley has worked full time at Rental since 1998. For the co-owner of a 40-year-old locally-owned business, life is never dull. Kelley enjoys her work, planning events from festivals to weddings.

Prior to working at Rentals Plus she managed The Jolly Butcher Restaurant in West Brattleboro (now The New England House). Kelley has always been involved in her daughter Keagan’s sports and school activities, especially hockey. She has been the Treasurer of the Friends of Girls Hockey, on the Brattleboro Hockey Association Board, Treasurer of the Brattleboro Emblem Club, and the Grammar School Medieval Fair committee. Kelley studied accounting at Champlain College and CCV. In addition to her work and community involvement she enjoys travel, music, reading and a good IPA.

Karen Thomas Cedergren Karen has been employed with the River Valley Credit Union since 2006 and was named Vice President/Branch Administrator in December 2007. Karen’s career in financial services has been long and varied and she is well known in the Brattleboro area. Karen has been active with Project Feed The Thousands for over 20 years. She and her husband, Jim, live in Brattleboro.

Krista Gaedje Krista joined C&S Wholesale Grocers in March of 2017. Krista began as an Associate Recruiter and accepted a promotion to Senior Recruiter in November of 2017, supporting the operartions teams in New England. Krista holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Asnuntuck Community College. She currently resides in Connecticut with her husband and three children.

Kate Theriault Kate has been running the Marina Restaurant since 1984. In the original days it was just Kate, a bartender, and a cook. Over the years Kate’s customers have become accustom to her smile and excellent customer service. In 2010 the Marina burned to the ground in an unfortunate fire.

During the time it took to rebuild Kate worked diligently to find job for her devoted employees.

Under Kate’s leadership the Marina has now grown to over 50 employees and was featured on Rachael Ray’s $40 Dollars per Day television show. When Kate isn’t being the face of the Marina, she enjoys walking her dog Zeb down the beautiful West River Trails that run next to the Marina. (pic of Kate attached)

The Brattleboro Reformer | Reformer.com

Congratulations to the 2018 Remarkable Women Nominees!

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Kristen Ziter Taylor Kristen Ziter Taylor is honored to be a candidate for one of the local remarkable women.

She feels fortunate to have been raised in this wonderful community. After graduating with a health fitness degree, she worked in that industry for 13 years before getting her real estate license in 2004. Realizing that real estate was her passion, she and her husband Ken purchased a real estate company in 2011 that had two agents. Today, her company, Brattleboro Area Realty, has nine agents and continues to grow. The team Kristen has created is truly amazing, and she credits all of her success to the hard working realtors on her team.

Kristen lives in Brattleboro with her husband and two lovely daughters, Kali and Kennedy. Nothing brings her more pleasure than raising these amazing young girls, and she loves being involved in their interests as well. This past year she joined the Brattleboro Swim Team board and was just recently appointed the President. She foresees many years of involvement with this fabulous organization.

There is not a day that goes by that Kristen is not humbled by the amazing life she has, and she thanks God for all the blessings she has been granted.

Carla McComb Carla McComb has owned and operated Supreme Fitness since 2006. She has lived in the Franklin County area her whole life. In her spare time she enjoys riding her motorcycle and spending time with her grandkids. Carla has been certified by the International Fitness Professional Association (IFPA) as a personal trainer since 1999. She has competed in both state and national levels. She currently holds world records in APA-WPA Powerlifting for Bench Press, Dead lift and Squat. On Monday and Friday mornings you can find her at the gym teaching “Strength Training Instructional for Beginners” as well as giving personal training to those in need. As a personal trainer, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the members at the gym.

Lisa McCormick Lisa’s passion for music began when most people are still learning their ABCs. “I was addicted to The Beatles by the age of six,” she says. A self-taught musician, she channeled her passion into creating a successful career as a GRAMMY-nominated touring singer/songwriter and guitarist.

“I quit my very responsible day-job in my late 20’s, to follow my passion for music. I never looked back,” she says. Her independent and entrepreneurial spirit has led the way ever since.

More recently, Lisa’s focus has turned to sharing her passion by inviting others to experience the magic of music-making through lessons, classes, and an extensive set of selfproduced award-winning online video courses. The magic of the internet has enabled Lisa to teach hundreds of thousands of people to play.

Lisa holds a degree in Education, and is a Certified Gateless Master Teacher in creative method. Founder of the Note2Self Method of music-learning, she’s currently at work on the book.

And don’t forget the ukuleles! Lisa’s credited with having changed the Brattleboro-area community for the better through the ripple effect of her ukulele classes. She’s lovingly accused of inciting a regional Ukulution that shows no signs of letting up any time soon.

Nominees: Ingrid Chrisco Gretchen Hardy

Julie Lineberger Michele Lowry

Trish Thomas Elizabeth Wood

One Remarkable Woman from each of the three categories will be announced on November 8th from 6:30-8:30pm at the River Garden downtown Brattleboro.

This event is open to the public. Our speaker for the evening will be Rebecca Balint, Vermont State Senator.

We salute all of the Remarkable Women

The Brattleboro Reformer | Reformer.com

Remarkable Women!

Drinks available from Whetstone Brewery and appetizers provided by The Marina and The Porch. Come join us to celebrate all the Remarkable Women nominated.

Remarkable Women 2018 | Saturday, October 27, 2018

Finalists Entrepreneurial Leaders

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Saturday, October 27, 2018 | Remarkable Women 2018

Finalists Business Leaders Chloe Learey Chloe Learey has been the Executive Director of the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development in Brattleboro since July 2007. After graduating in 2000 from Boston University with a dual degree MBA/ MPH with a focus in Healthcare Management she worked at the Brattleboro Retreat as a Data Analyst for two years, and then became Director of Operations at Monadnock Developmental Services in Keene, N.H. Her father owned a summer camp in the mountains of Western Maryland so she had the fortune of growing up

in the woods and having fun as a camper, then counselor, and ultimately program director and song leader. She has two children, ages 15 and 17.

She graduated from Earlham College with a BA in English Literature and a minor in Biology. Chloe is passionate about helping create communities where everyone is valued and has a chance to develop and contribute their gifts. The development of the Winston Prouty campus is a wonderful opportunity to channel that passion and build an asset that helps our community thrive.

Kate O’Connor Kate currently serves as the executive director of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce and as chair of the Brattleboro Select Board. She began her career in public service as an aide to then Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin. For fourteen years she was a top policy and political advisor to Howard Dean during his tenure as Vermont governor and as a candidate for president of the United States

– an experience she chronicled in her book, “Do The Impossible: My Crash Course in Presidential Politics Inside the Howard Dean Campaign.” Kate serves on the Board of Trustees of the Brattleboro Retreat and is a member of the State of Vermont’s E-911 Board. She most recently served as the chair of the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel.

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Weddings & Special Events

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Toni Ciampaglione Toni Ciampaglione is a Senior Financial Advisor with Park Place Financial Advisors at the Brattleboro Savings & Loan. She is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) designee and holds the following FINRA securities registrations: General Securities Representative (Series 7), Uniform Securities Agent State Law (Series 63), and Uniform Combined State Law (Series 66). She is also a Vermont state life, accident, and health insurance licensee.

Outside of work, Toni has volunteered her time with the Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club for the last 18 years, holding various positions including Club President, Treasurer and Vocational Committee Chair. Additionally, she served for many years on the Finance Committee of the former Windham Child Care Association, the local Boy Scout Troop 405 Committee, Vice President of the Brattleboro Union High School Athletic Booster Club and presently as the Treasurer for the 888th Movement Control Team FRG (Family Readiness Group). The FRG is an organization designed to support families of soldiers currently deployed.

Toni and her husband Peter Carvell live in Brattleboro with their two rescue dogs, Rosie and Lola. She is also a certified Insanity instructor and teaches 2 evenings a week at Command Combat located in the former Book Press building. Above all else, Toni is most proud of her two incredible children Brett and Kyle, both serving in the United States Army.

Nominees: Debbie Boyle Maribeth Cornell Stephanie Huestis Yudah Huestis Beth Vendetta

Remarkable Women 2018 | Saturday, October 27, 2018

Finalists Business Leaders

Kristen Ziter Taylor, Broker/Owner

Brattleboro Area Realty

Contact Kristen at 802-380-6632

The Brattleboro Reformer | Reformer.com

Kristen Ziter Taylor is a life long resident of Brattleboro, and she feels very fortunate to have been raised here in an area with such a strong sense of community, good schools, cultural diversity, limitless four-season activities and easy access to urban centers. She has a passion for sports and fitness and loves to compete and is currently the president of the Brattleboro Swim Team. She jumped at the opportunity to purchase Brattleboro Area Realty in 2011 knowing she had a good team of Realtors® behind her.

Here’s why we nominated Kristen...

“She is one of the hardest working women I know, managing her business, raising award-winning girls and supporting our local community.”

- Chris Lewis “Kristen is an instinctive and trusted leader. A dedicated and passionate professional. She is caring and treats all of us like family.” - Angela Sherman “Kristen brings a level of energy and enthusiasm that is unparalleled. As a business owner, she runs her business with honesty, fairness, and is incredibly supportive of those that work for her. I consider myself very lucky to be a part of her work family!” - Rebecca Seymour “A shining star, who brightly glows as a business owner, a mom and a friend.” - Marcia Jansen “Kristen is a dedicated and passionate professional, a gifted businesswoman and an inspirational real estate mentor!” - Kerry Mulverhill “I respect that she took the opportunity to buy the firm where she worked and make it her own successful business. She is a great leader.” - Stephanie Wilde “Kristen sets an inspiring example of dedication to her agents and clients. All of her interactions demonstrate her high standard of ethics, while thoughtfully and purposefully doing the very best for agents and her clientele.” - Randi Ziter “She is assertive, accommodating and always has my back.” - Victoria Woods

Brattleboro Area Realty

163 High St., Brattleboro,VT 05301 | www.realtyvermont.com

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Saturday, October 27, 2018 | Remarkable Women 2018

Finalists Non-Profit Leaders Carolyn Pieciak Carolyn Pieceiak was born in West Springfield, Mass. She attended the Elms College in Chicopee, Mass., and moved to Vermont with her husband in 1970.

She is presently the Volunteer Director of St. Brigid’s Kitchen.

She had the blessing of chairing the committee tasked with studying the need for a soup kitchen in Brattleboro in 1981. The committee of 20 community members started the kitchen in 1983 and Carolyn served for several years as a volunteer director.

Due to life and babies, Carolyn served in other ways for many years, before again heading up the kitchen 20 years ago. St. Brigid’s presently serves 21,000 meals annually and helps with warm clothing, coats and blankets. In 2009, St. Brigid’s opened a

pantry to serve family and seniors with food insecurity.

Through the generous donations of St. Michael’s Parish and the Brattleboro community, St. Brigid’s is currently building an expanded kitchen with handicapped access in order to continue to help their Vermont neighbors in need for the next 36 years.

One of the greatest rewards Carolyn has received has been her association with the hundreds of dedicated and caring volunteers that have made St. Brigid’s Kitchen work wonderfully for 36 years.

She and her husband Joe have three grown children, four grandchildren and one German Shepherd.

Amber Thibodeau Amber is the Executive Director for Southern Vermont Therapeutic Riding Center (SVTRC). She grew up in Upstate New York, and spent much of her childhood on her grandparents’ farm, helping with the livestock and sugaring. Some of her first memories include horses. Amber holds a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Science Education from Cornell University.

During her college years, Amber worked for a summer camp in the Adirondacks managing their horse program, and worked on campus as a student office assistant. Upon graduation, she worked as a 4-H Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension.

These experiences helped shape Amber’s ability to serve nonprofit organizations, and oversee areas such as funding

and volunteer management. Amber moved to Vermont in the spring of 2015, when High 5 Adventure in Brattleboro hired her husband, Jamie. In August of that year, she joined Southern Vermont Therapeutic Riding Center as the Office Administrator. Her position evolved over the next two years, becoming a PATH International Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor and transitioning into the role of Executive Director.

During that time, SVTRC also saw many changes, including a move from Newfane to Wilmington. Amber is proud of the impact that SVTRC has on its many clients and the community, and loves watching her clients realize their potential.

The Brattleboro Reformer | Reformer.com

CIRCUS TASTER SESSION!

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Becky Graber Becky Graber has been enjoying and sharing music all of her life. She learned music from a series of fabulous teachers who encouraged both skill building and creativity.

After graduating from Colgate University, Becky moved to Brattleboro in 1977. She began teaching piano at the Brattleboro Music Center, and classroom music in the West River Valley. She has been a music teacher ever since, guiding singers towards their own gifts and teaching them fun or beautiful songs they will never forget!

In 1984, Becky received a Master’s in Education from Lesley College in the Creative Arts; after graduation, she toured as a storyteller for children and families, and taught teachers at Antioch New England. Becky also worked as a music director in musical theatre for decades, notably at the Putney School and New England Youth Theatre in Brattleboro. Becky founded the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus in 1996 and continues as their director.

The BWC sings a broad repertoire of world and American folk music, and welcomes all women 10 and up. In 2016, the BWC chorus performed a concert entirely comprised of Becky’s compositions; Becky now publishes those compositions under Chimsee Music Publishing. Last June, 18 BWC singers joined her at the national Sister Singers Festival. Becky also directs Animaterra, a women’s chorus in Keene NH, sings in “Big Woods Voices”, a SATB quartet, is the choir director and organist at Second Congregational Church in Londonderry, VT, and loves to sing jazz!

Becky lives in Brattleboro with her husband Tim Ellis, former director of KidsPLAYce, where they welcome visits from their grown children, Sarah and Jacob Ellis.

Jayniee Adhvaryu Stephanie Bonin Julie Cunningham Emily Falta Sadi Fischesser Jill Fortier Cindy Hayford Rhianna Kendrick Carol Lolatte Michelle Mahin Orly Munzing Erin Maile O’Keefe Rita Ramirez Brandie Starr Ellen Walsh Elizabeth Wohl Deborah Zak

It just doesn’t work without them!

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Supporting remarkable women in business since 1946: Women make up the majority of our staff and senior staff.

Nominees:

Remarkable Women 2018 | Saturday, October 27, 2018

Finalists Non-Profit Leaders

The future of banking…nowTM

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Saturday, October 27, 2018 | Remarkable Women 2018