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GRDC Leadership & Staff

Meet the dedicated team that is eager to learn more about your business.

Anne Duncan Cooley
Chief Executive Officer

Anne is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of all GRDC operations including management of two business incubators, GRDC’s loan portfolio and programs, workforce development activities, business retention and recruitment efforts. Anne also works closely with Grafton County’s 39 municipalities to identify and achieve their unique economic development priorities.

Before joining GRDC, Anne Duncan Cooley was Executive Director of the Upper Valley Housing Coalition in Lebanon, focusing on workforce housing issues. After Tropical Storm Irene, Anne served as Chair of Upper Valley Strong, leading a multi-year collaboration of agencies, government, individuals and local organizations helping individuals in the region recover from the disaster. A longtime resident of Grafton County, Duncan Cooley has also volunteered in her community, including as a Board member and Chair of the Orford Selectboard, and was a longtime Director and Board Chair of Upper Valley United Way.

A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and Vermont Law School, Duncan Cooley practiced law with the firm of Stebbins, Bradley, Harvey and Miller in Hanover. She was honored in 2012 with the Granite United Way President’s award for her work with Upper Valley Strong, and in 2015 received the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Award. Anne is a member of the Leadership New Hampshire Class of 2008.

Michelle Beaudin
Grants and Operations Manager

Michelle is responsible for outreach to local businesses and managing participation in the Community Navigator Pilot Program. Through this program, funded by the Small Business Administration, Michelle will connect businesses and entrepreneurs with financial, marketing, operations, and business development assistance, as well as industry-specific training.

Before joining GRDC, Michelle worked in California and Rhode Island as a community outreach director for the national environmental group, Clean Water Action. In addition to community outreach and building membership Michelle was particularly focused on reducing toxic chemical exposure. She was able to help cities and towns in Rhode Island procure safer products and increase sustainability.

Michelle grew up in Grafton County and is excited to be home and doing what she can to aid in the economic development of this place that she loves.

Matty Leighton
Facility and Operations Coordinator, Enterprise Center

Matty is responsible for tenant relations and building management at the ECP. She’s from Durham, NH, and most recently worked in financial services at Plymouth State University. In addition to her role at GRDC, Matty is currently executive director of the Central NH Chamber of Commerce and serves on two non-profit boards. When not working, she mentors a young woman through the Circle Program, coaches rugby, collects Doc Martens, and hangs out with her rescue dog, Cash.

Bob Walker
Loan Officer

Bob joined GRDC in 2007. He is responsible for managing all areas related to the GRDC loan portfolio. This includes meeting with and interviewing loan applicants, reviewing and analyzing business plans and related financial information, and making recommendations for loan approvals. He is also responsible for developing new loan business by personally connecting with a variety of loan referral sources.

Bob is a former Vermont small business owner and retired in 2007 after 38 years in finance and banking.His banking background includes supervising multi-branch functions for retail banking operations in Vermont and New Hampshire. He was an 8-year manager for a Vermont based finance company.

Karen Saunders
Bookkeeper

Karen joined GRDC in 2009 and is responsible for all aspects of bookkeeping. This includes maintenance and management of all financial transactions within the organization. Karen successfully organized and implemented the installation of internal software, which manages and organizes all loan client financial activity.

GRDC Leadership

GRDC is led by a dedicated group of fifteen engaged volunteers who believe in a better future for Grafton County. They are diverse leaders; coming from many different industries, backgrounds, and geographic areas within Grafton County.

Interim Board Chair

Josh Lamoreaux
Director of H.R. at Simbex

Secretary

Sarah Rubury
Attorney at Wescott Law, P.A.

Treasurer

Bruce Wiggett, Sr.
Retired CEO of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation 

Assistant Treasurer

Kim Robinson
Vice President Senior Portfolio Manager at Mascoma Savings Bank

Members of the Board

Jeffrey Woodward
Managing Partner at Whales Tale Water Park & Alpine Adventure

Jim Alden
Owner of Chutters 

Karen Young
Director of Marketing at Construx Construction 

Brad Prescott
Architect at Banwell Architects

Ed King
General Manager at Littleton Food Coop

Erica Antonucci
AVP – Commercial Loan Officer  at Union Bank

Sara Holland
Owner, Sara Holland and Company

Nik Coates
Town Administrator, Town of Bristol

Ruth Ann Hacking
Executive Director, Cohase Chamber of Commerce

 

 

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