The Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation Board of Directors is a volunteer Board of local citizens, donating their time and energy to support the financial struggles of individuals and families as they fight the battle of their lives against cancer.

Board Members:

• Claire Flynn
• Deborah Jasien
• Kathleen Sweeney
• Joseph Manning
• Sara Bechtold
• Ruth Ann Fabrizio
• Maureen Garrette
• Diane Gilmore
• Arthur Hill Sr.
• Wendy Homes
• Michael Laracy
• Jill MacMillan
• Paul MacMillan
• Christopher Proulx
• Marta Ramsey

President
Claire Flynn: Claire joined Jen’s Friends in January 2003. She and her husband, Bill, had retired to Conway, after vacationing in the area for 15 years. Claire’s first career was a middle school teacher; she then moved to the business world where she was Director of Marketing Communications for Textron Systems, an aerospace and defense contractor. After retirement, she worked part-time as a Program Manager with Junior Achievement of NH, and as the Director of Elementary Religious Education at Our Lady of the Mountains parish in North Conway.

Vice President
Deborah Jasien: Deborah spent 25 years travelling the U.S and England as a scenic designer and painter, retiring to Mount Washington Valley in 1998 with her life partner Francis Savard, a native of the Valley. She runs her company, Fields of Ambrosia: Natural Bath and Body Products, out of their home at Intervale Farm. The business grew out of researching aromatherapy and homeopathic aids for her sister, who had been diagnosed with lung cancer. When her sister lost her battle with the disease in 2001, Deborah began donating 10% of the company's yearly sales to Jen's Friends in memory of her sister and Francis' mother, who lost her battle to cancer in 1998. In addition to crafting her company products, she loves gardening and cooking and hiking with her Golden Retriever, Mooshie.

Treasurer
Kathleen E. Sweeney: Kathy joined the Board in 2004. She is the president and owner of Kathleen E. Sweeney, CPA, a full-service accounting office based in Center Harbor, NH, with a satellite office in North Conway. Prior to buying her own firm, Kathy had worked for ten years with a Boston-based CPA firm and two years with a local small firm. She is a member of the AICPA, New Hampshire Society of CPAs, National Society of Public Accountants, and the New England Quality Review. She is also an incorporator with the Meredith Village Savings Bank, and a Board member for Advice the Players, a theater group.

Secretary
Joseph Manning: Joe joined the Board in 2006. After graduating from George Washington University in 2002, Joe moved to Conway to teach science at Kennett High School. He is currently the Associate Director of Admissions at Fryeburg Academy in Fryeburg, Maine. Joe and his wife, Maria, live on the campus of the Academy, and are dorm parents to twenty-five girls from around the world.

Sara M. Bechtold: Sara joined the Board in 2001. She and her husband, Bob, have lived in the Mt. Washington Valley since 1972, and her children knew Jennifer Hill. Previous professional positions included dental assistant, State of NH Child Protection Social Worker, elementary school counselor in the Conway, NH, and Fryeburg, ME, school systems, and Administrator of Vaughan Community Service, Inc. in North Conway, NH, the local mission for the First Church of Christ Congregational.

Ruth Ann Fabrizio: Ruth Ann, a board member since 1999, is an RN, directly involved with the Disbursement Committee. Professionally, she is the former Director of Social Services at The Memorial Hospital in North Conway, NH, now working post-retirement on a per-diem basis. Her other volunteer activities include serving as a Board Member for the American Cancer Society and the Vaughan Community Service, Inc. Ruth Ann and her husband, Bill, reside in Bartlett, NH.

Maureen Garrette: Maureen joined the board in February 2008. She is a Real Estate agent for Badger Realty in North Conway. Prior to Real Estate, she was a pediatric nurse in Massachusetts. She and her husband, Herb, have lived in the Mount Washington Valley since the early 80’s. Together they raised four boys; three of whom lost their first mom to cancer in 1998. She previously served on the Board of Directors for Vaughan Community Service, Inc., and is currently the Secretary of the White Mountain Board of Realtors.

Diane Gilmore: Diane joined the board in April 2007. She has spent the last ten years working in adult education with mostly low-income families. She began as an AmeriCorps member in an Adult G.E.D. Tutorial program, and later with the Tri-County C.A.P. Head Start program. In December 2006, Diane
earned her Masters of Education, with an adult learning concentration.   For over 20 years he has been a volunteer for her local community’s coalition against domestic and sexual violence (Starting Point).  Diane and her husband, Ray, have two grown sons, one an Army Captain currently serving in Afghanistan and one completing his second year of medical school in Philadelphia, PA. 

Arthur Hill, Sr.: Arthur, now retired, is the former owner of Art-Lee Floor Covering in Intervale, NH, a business that he started in 1969. Prior to starting his own business, Arthur worked at Graylin Furniture for 13 years. He is also a Deacon at the First Church of Christ Congregational in North Conway. Arthur and his wife, Leona, are life-long residents of Mt. Washington Valley, where they raised five children. Jennifer, for whom Jen’s Friends Cancer Foundation is named, was their youngest child and only daughter.

Wendy J. Holmes: Wendy joined the Board in June 2008. Wendy lives with her husband, Tom and daughter, Meredith, in Center Conway and is a native to the Mt. Washington Valley. Wendy has a Bachelor's Degree in Management, and has worked at Badger Realty since 1996 as its Closing and Relocation Coordinator. Wendy is also a Trustee of the Trust Funds for the Town of Conway, and a Delegate to the State Republican Convention.

Mike Laracy: Mike joined Jen’s Friends in 2004. He is also involved with Camp Sunshine, a retreat in Casco, Maine, where children with life threatening illnesses attend week-long camps along with their entire families. Mike has his undergraduate degree in Economics and Finance from Catholic University, and his Masters degree in Economics from Rutgers University. He lives in North Conway, and works in Center Conway, where he heads a small software startup company.

Jill MacMillan and Paul MacMillan: Jill and Paul, who share a seat on the board of directors, joined in February 2008. They live in Conway with their three children.

Jill moved to Conway in 1978 from Massachusetts to be a 3rd grade teacher at Conway Elementary School. She worked with 2nd through 4th grade until leaving to have her three children. Jill has remained active within the community as a volunteer at the school, helping with fundraisers for numerous causes, as an active member of her church, and on many boards and committees. Jill has worked at SOLO Wilderness & Emergency Medicine for the past 20 years, currently serving as Director.

Paul moved to Conway in 1977 from Massachusetts to take a teaching job at Kennett High School. Paul spent the next 20 years in various roles: teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal, and principal. He has also been active in the community outside of Kennett as an EMT/Firefighter with Conway Fire and Rescue, and on committees and boards throughout the community. Since 1997, Paul has been principal of Kingswood High School in Wolfeboro.

Chris Proulx: Chris joined the board in June 2008. Since 1998, the year he moved to the Mount Washington Valley from southern New Hampshire, Chris has been a video producer and the production manager for RSN TV16, a resort television station in North Conway. He has a bachelor's degree in television and film from Boston University. When not capturing the Valley's events and activities on video tape, Chris enjoys participating in them directly with his wife, Kim and young son, Nolan. Although he's competed in many running, bike and ski races, the only record he holds is for the first man ever to complete the Jen's Friends Climb Against Cancer in a tutu (part of a TV awareness campaign). He is proud of this record.

Marta Ramsey: Marta joined the board in 2006 and works at The Memorial Hospital in North Conway. She is both a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department and a Clinical Coordinator. Marta moved to the Mount Washington Valley in 1986 after working for the YMCA in Maine and Massachusetts. She initially worked in marketing and special events for the ski industry in New Hampshire before returning to nursing school. She is currently working on her Masters Degree in Nursing at Saint Joseph's College. Marta and Andy, a native of the valley, live in Jackson.