At its recent Annual Meeting, held at Creaser Park in Coventry, members of The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) elected new officers and board members.

Joining Board Chairman Mike Nelson of Norwich, CT are Myra Ambrogi of Plainfield, CT as Vice Chairman; Lisa Hayden of Sturbridge, MA as Secretary, and Marty Nieski of Woodstock, CT as Treasurer of the Board of Directors.

Current board member Karyn DiBonaventura of Pomfret, CT was re-elected to a three-year term. DiBonaventura is owner of Longmeadow Automotive and a passionate nature photographer whose images are often featured in TLGV publications.

Wayde Schmidt of Pomfret, CT returns to the board of directors for a three-year term. Schmidt is an Associate Director at Raytheon Technologies Research Center, with a Ph.D. in physical and analytical chemistry and an M.B.A. in Management Technology and a TLGV Volunteer Ranger. Schmidt previously served on the board after a one-year hiatus due to term limits.

The TLGV Board also welcomes the following first-time board members for three-year terms:

Ann-Marie Aubrey of Killingly, CT is also the town’s Director of Planning and Development. Aubrey brings to the board years of land use planning and legal experience.

Kent Boudreau of Union, CT is a retired pilot who says The Last Green Valley really is that dark spot in the middle of the east coast’s urban sprawl and an important navigation marker for pilots. Boudreau is an avid hiker.

Sandra Gibson-Quigley of Sturbridge, MA, is a retired teacher with expertise in cultural history and extensive experience on municipal boards and committees.

Christopher Hadis of Oxford, MA has a public health and safety background and is an animal health inspector with the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture.

Courtney Squire of Pomfret, CT, is the owner of Unbound Glory Farm with extensive experience in the retail food market.

Joining the board for the first time and filling a two-year vacancy is Rick Canavan of Pomfret, CT, an environmental scientist with 25 years of experience, specializing in wetlands and water quality.

Joining the board for the first time and filling one-year vacancies are:

Kwasi Acheampong from Brimfield, MA, founder of Our Bright Future, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to empowering youth and developing bright leaders through robotics, sports and academic guidance.

Nicholas Adamopoulos from Webster, MA, a tax attorney who has focused his volunteer efforts on economic and community development.

Board Chairman Nelson said the new board brings an array of experience to help TLGV continue building partnerships and advocating for The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor.

“This is an exciting time for us as an organization and for the region,” Nelson said. “I am looking forward to what this board can accomplish.”

The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor is the last stretch of dark night sky in the coastal sprawl between Boston and Washington, D.C. The Last Green Valley, Inc. is a member- supported, non-profit organization working for you in the National Heritage Corridor. Together we can care for, enjoy and pass on The Last Green Valley!