Meet Our Board of Directors

Judith McIntosh, President

Judith McIntosh, Board President

Joanna Moest, Vice President

Joanna has been a board member at NQCA since November of 2016. She has a unique connection to Citizen Advocacy as the daughter of Tom Doody, who founded NQCA in the 1980s and was its first executive director. Joanna learned about Social Role Valorization as a child, attended the Moral Coherency workshop as a young adult and has oriented her life around the importance of active community. As a teacher in Massachusetts public schools, she advocates for young people who are routinely devalued by social systems. She has had many wonderful relationships with adolescents who have learning challenges and who are on the autism spectrum. She strives to help their voices be heard and their experiences valued in all contexts of schools from administration meetings to classrooms. It is an honor to serve as a board member at NQCA. The dedication of the staff, the advocates and the proteges in fostering meaningful relationships is inspiring and fills her with hope for our community and our world.

Ben Feldman, Treasurer

Ben Feldman has been an active and contributing member of our organization since the 1990’s. Although he was born and raised in New Jersey, he married into an Athol family and has lived in town since 1976. His background is in finance management, and he served as Treasurer of the Town of Athol for about 30 years. He has also been treasurer of numerous local organizations, including the hospital and the historical society. He has been, and remains to be, vice chairman on the Finance committee of the Town of Athol for 14 years and continues to be active in town government. Ben is father to three adult children, all of whom live locally, and grandfather to 4 boys. In his non-financial life, he’s spent some years raising dairy goats and chickens, among other farming experiences. Currently he’s co-owner of Cutthroat Brook Tree Farm, a conserved forest in Athol, which is open to the public. He spends many hours working on its trail system and maintaining the forest land. He brings all these qualities to NQCA and is a valued member of our organization.

Susie Feldman

Susie Feldman is an Athol native (AHS class of 1960) who still lives in her childhood home. She and husband Ben own and manage Cutthroat Brook Tree Farm, also known as the “Gnome Trails” and is open for public forest recreation and education. Susie was, for many years, the elementary school art teacher in Orange. In addition to NQCA, she’s a Library Trustee, and is a member of the Athol Shade Tree Commission. Her passion currently is to provide safe and positive experiences for people of all abilities in our local conserved woodlands.

Mark Jackson, Secretary

Naomi Charest

Naomi

John DeWitt

John

Sharon Field

Sharon

Pastor Stacey Hartford

I am Pastor Stacey Hartford, and it is truly a gift to serve as a board member with North Quabbin Citizen Advocacy and to be part of a community that cares so deeply for one another. I also have the joy of serving as pastor at Starrett Memorial UMC in Athol and Richmond Community UMC in Richmond, NH, places where I am continually reminded how powerful it is when people feel welcomed, comfortable, and truly seen just as they are. At the heart of who I am is my family. I am a proud mom of five adult children, including my son with autism, who has shaped my life in ways I could have never imagined. Through him, I have learned so much about patience, compassion, and the importance of making sure everyone has a place where they belong. I am also a grandmother of three, “Gigi” to them, and that role fills my heart in the most beautiful ways. My children and grandchildren are, without a doubt, my greatest joy. Beyond the church, I find meaning in being hands-on in the community, serving on the Green Clean Athol Committee and volunteering at the local warming center this past winter. These moments, whether big or small, are where I see the heart of this community shine. Everything I do, in ministry and in life, is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: everyone matters. Everyone belongs. My hope is to continue creating spaces where people feel cared for, connected, and never alone, walking alongside one another with grace, love, and a whole lot of heart.

William Johnson

Will

Frank Kanserstein

Frank

Raenette Kramer

My name is Raenette Kramer, I am a lifelong resident of Athol. I graduated Athol High School with the class of 1977. I have 2 adult daughters, who are married, and 4 grandchildren. My family roots are very deep in this community. My grandfather, who immigrated from Italy when he was two, grew to serve the community as head of the then tree and moth division of the DPW. My father relocated from Boston, served on the Athol Police Department before becoming an electrician, my mother who was a registered nurse, is a lifelong resident of Athol. I too am a registered nurse, I worked for Athol Memorial Hospital and Community Health Services before beginning my career as an ICU Nurse at St. Vincent's Hospital in Worcester, retiring in 2018. I am currently a substitute nurse for the Swift River School in New Salem. I am a 27-year member of the Athol Lion's Club, an active volunteer for many community events including church suppers, local support groups, and will plug in wherever help is needed. I am an active member on the Board of Health and follow other town committees. My personal interests include cooking, rug braiding, sewing, crocheting and many other craft type activities. I enjoy gardening, hiking and a multitude of other outdoor activities. Being a Nonni brings me the ultimate joy, along with also being can "Arnty" as called (and spelled) by my nieces and nephews. Family is always first and foremost. I value NQCA's mission and find that being on the BOD along with being an advocate myself very rewarding. People helping people through loving kindness and compassion. I find when you brighten someone's day you can't help but brighten your own.

Lisa Pollock

Lisa