Who We Are

Volunteer Leader Gleaning
Carolyn Frye 
gleaning@willinghands.org

Volunteer Delivery
Truck Driver

Andrew Cliburn

Leslie Rimmer — President 

Leslie is the Director of People, Culture & Technology at the Upper Valley Haven where she sees firsthand the benefits of the fresh food Willing Hands provides to thousands of our neighbors in the Haven’s Food Shelf and the Café. Leslie transitioned to the non-profit sector in 2011 after spending 24 years at RSG in White River Junction. Prior to the Haven, she worked at the Student Conservation Association and the Upper Valley Land Trust. She lives in Norwich and also serves on the Norwich Public Library board.

Johanna Mirenda — Vice President

Johanna works in public service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program after 13 years in the nonprofit sector supporting organic agriculture through certification, advocacy, policy development, research and education. Jo started volunteering in the Willing Hands gardens in 2014 and joined the Board in 2017. She lives in Wilder, Vermont with her husband Jason and dog Moose.

Janet Hardy – Secretary

Janet spent most of her career conducting snow research and managing CRREL’s Antarctic program.  She now volunteers for some of her favorite local non-profits, including Windsor County Mentors, Willing Hands, Upper Valley Haven, and Dismas House.  She is continually in awe of, and very grateful for, the tremendous impact that Willing Hands has in our community. Janet lives in Norwich where she enjoys both her new hobbies, beekeeping and fly fishing, and her lifelong passions for nordic skiing, hiking, kayaking and being active outdoors. 

Sheldon Stansfield has been a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc for over 7 years. He joined the Willing Hands board in 2021 and sits on the finance committee. Sheldon is an avid skier in the winters and regularly travels to Quincy, MA to watch professional rugby games in the Spring. He enjoys planning long motorcycle trips through scenic areas of Vermont and NH on the weekends. He and his wife, Marie, live in Lyme, NH with their dog, Daisy.

Laurie Beyranevand – Director

Laurie J. Beyranevand is the Director of the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems and a Professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School. She has devoted her career to using law and policy to advance social justice and improve public health. As a first generation Iranian American with Appalachian roots, diverse food and culture have always been prominent in Laurie’s life symbolizing the power of food in bringing people together. Laurie lives in Woodstock with her husband, two children, and a mischievous but adorable dog.

Amanda Charland – Director

Amanda is the General Manager of the Co-op Food Stores and Auto Service Centers. She has been with the Co-op for more than a decade and continues to be passionate about finding innovative ways to support our Upper Valley community through cooperative business practices. Prior to joining the Co-op, Amanda worked in the environmental non-profit sector, primarily focused on climate education. She holds a BS in ecology and a Masters of Cooperative Management from Sobey School of Business at St. Mary’s University. During her free time, Amanda can usually be found in the great outdoors with her family, typically riding her mountain bike or shredding the slopes on a snowboard. 

Stacey Chiocchio – Director

Stacey is the Community Citizenship Manager for Hypertherm Associates, where she supports their robust worldwide Community Service Time program and 501c3 Hypertherm HOPE Foundation. Stacey manages their student STEM program, supports their Recovery Friendly Workplaces, and engages with other businesses on shared community challenges. She is an active volunteer with the Upper Valley Haven, David’s House, and home-delivered meals program with the Upper Valley Senior Center. She lives in Grantham with her husband, Nick, and black labrador, Elwood. During her free time, Stacey can be found outside road cycling, hiking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, or inside quilting.

Saranya Loehrer – Director

Saranya works at the intersection of health care, improvement, and advocacy. Her efforts focus on mobilizing health and health care leaders in service of improved health outcomes and a more just and equitable society. She is the Chief Health Equity Officer for Teladoc Health and previously spent a decade leading health care transformation efforts at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Saranya lives in Lyme with her husband and their goldendoodle. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, reading, and traveling.

Suzanne McDowell– Director

Suzanne is the Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at King Arthur Baking Company where for more than two decades her work has been deeply rooted in human resource management as well as social and environmental impact. Suzanne is a longtime member of the Norwich community and enjoys skiing, gardening, beekeeping, baking, and all the enrichment that life in Vermont has to offer.

Cyndi Scott – Director

An Upper Valley native, Cyndi’s fundraising career has included donor and advisory board relations at Tuck School of Business as well as gift planning for Dartmouth Health, the Geisel School of Medicine, and Dartmouth College. She is presently serving as Director of Gift Planning within the University Development Office at Harvard, where she is charged with the gift planning programs for the Radcliffe Institute, the Arnold Arboretum, the American Repertory Theater, and the museums of Harvard. Prior to her career in fundraising, Cyndi worked at nonprofit organizations devoted to families, the empowerment of women, and racial justice. She and her young son reside in Sunapee, NH.

Chuck Wooster – Director

Chuck Wooster owns and runs Sunrise Farm in White River Junction, a 400-member CSA now in its 25th year of operation. He’s the Town Moderator in Hartford and also serves on the board of the Vermont Almanac. He’s the author of Living With Sheep (Lyons Press, 2007) and is a 1989 graduate of Dartmouth.