Observatory Staff
Hannah Babineau
Alexandra Branton, Weather Observer & Education Specialist
Growing up in Pensacola, FL, Alex was able to experience a variety of exciting weather that sparked her interest in meteorology. From Category 4 hurricanes to a couple of surprising instances of frozen precipitation, and everything in between, Alex became intrigued by the weather. Additionally, Pensacola is home to a high volume of military aviation activity including the Navy’s Blue Angels.
The combination of interesting weather and aviation that Alex was exposed to while growing up inspired her to study Aviation Meteorology at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL. While in school, she was a member of the women’s cross-country team and competed in club rock climbing. In the summers between busy academic years, Alex discovered her love for the mountains through her work as a zip line guide and as a via ferrata guide in North Carolina and West Virginia. In her free time, she was able to explore her interests in hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and mountain meteorology. She also completed a thru hike of the 211-mile John Muir Trail.
In the summer of 2021, Alex wanted to gain a deeper understanding of mountain meteorology and was lucky enough to intern at Mount Washington Observatory. She fell in love with the White Mountains and the Obs’ mission and decided to go for a full-time Weather Observer and Education Specialist role after graduating in 2022. She is excited to experience the extreme weather on the mountain and take advantage of the many opportunities for outdoor recreation in her new home.
Jay Broccolo, Director Of Weather Operations
Jay was born and raised in Westerly, Rhode Island. Having grown up along the southern coastline of RI gave Jay the opportunity to experience all sorts of diverse and extreme weather from hurricanes to Nor’easters. Jay’s enthusiasm for the outdoors and the natural world only increased since childhood. His parents insisted that he spend as much time outdoors as possible. He joined the Boy Scouts and spent a weekend every month, regardless of the weather, learning useful outdoor skills, camping, and hiking all over New England. He became enamored with the White Mountains, but specifically Mt. Washington, its geology, and unique extreme weather.
Following graduation of high school and obtaining his Eagle Scout, Jay attended the University of Rhode Island. In the middle of his second year he took a semester off and lived in Boulder, Colorado where he had the opportunity to experience mountain weather and hiking the Flatirons. After returning home he continued and completed his B.S. degree in Geology and Geological Oceanography at URI. While at URI he also attended a Geology Field Camp operated by University at Buffalo, geologically mapping various regions Utah, Colorado and Wyoming.
With the completion of his Bachelors, Jay went on to work in the oilfield industries as a Mud logger on drill-ships in the Gulf of Mexico. After a couple years of working offshore and not feeling fulfilled with his career path, he interned at Mt. Rainier National Park where he was charged with observing and recording the weather on the mountain while conducting various research projects. Upon completion of the internship, Jay attended the University of Leeds in Leeds, England and completed an MRes in Climate and Atmospheric Science where he focused on factors that influence the development and intensification of extratropical cyclones over the Northeast United States.
With his intrigue in extreme weather events and his love for Mt. Washington, Jay is more than excited to be working here at the Mount Washington Observatory, home to the World’s Worst Weather. In his off time, Jay enjoys the outdoors, board and video games, reading, and learning to play the piano, just to name a few.
Dr. Drew Bush, Executive Director
Dr. Drew Fulton Bush possesses multiple decades of experience as nonprofit leader, researcher and educator. Drew’s research has examined the human relationship to climate and weather as well as the means to improve public knowledge of these topics and participation in policymaking on them. Before joining the Mount Washington Observatory, Drew led communications and development as the Assistant Director at the Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village, educational and public programs as the Director of Programs at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium and an Environment and Climate Change Canada funded project that utilizes machine learning to examine social media in relation to extreme weather.
Drew earned his Ph.D. from McGill University’s Department of Geography and Bieler School of the Environment, a master’s of Environmental Management from Duke University and a B.A. from Colby College. His past work includes conducting research at the National Aeronautics and Spaces Administration’s (NASA) Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York, NY, teaching for Cornell University/University of New Hampshire’s Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island, ME and introducing environmental science to New York University’s Prison Education Program at the Wallkill Correctional Facility in Wallkill, NY.
Outside of his professional work, Drew enjoys most outdoor activities although his particular favorites include sea kayaking, sailing, backpacking and gardening.
Charlie Buterbaugh, Director of Communications
Charlie joined the observatory in 2020 with a multi-disciplinary background in communications and a passion for supporting climate science. After graduating with a BA in English from Susquehanna University in his home state of Pennsylvania, he pursued graduate studies that led to teaching college writing. Charlie then spent five years engaging audiences as a journalist and news editor, often drawn to writing about natural resource conservation and the interdependence of ecosystems and recreation-based rural economies. In 2007, seeking experience in business communications, he joined the scientific company VWR, where he helped develop their R&D services segment. Working in several brand, communications, and content marketing roles over the course of 11 years, the experience provided rewarding opportunities to lead marketing program planning while collaborating with international teams to engage scientists in university, biotech, and other research settings.
In 2013, intent on their return to rural living, Charlie and his life partner Mindy moved to Maine, a place that had sparked love for adventure earlier in life during ski, canoe, and camping trips to the Northwoods. They eventually found a home near the Village of Fryeburg, where they live with their three kids. In addition to the trials and tribulations of gardening in northern New England, Charlie enjoys cycling, hiking, and skiing through the region’s stunning landscapes. After joining Mount Washington Observatory as the Development Coordinator in 2020, he took on the role of Director of Communications in 2021. He also serves as the editor of our bulletin, Windswept.
Dr. Peter Crane, Curator
Peter oversees the Observatory’s Gladys Brooks Memorial Library, which features books, maps, prints, photos, and other material relating to the Observatory, Mount Washington, and the White Mountains.
Peter has lived in the White Mountains for more than thirty years, and has worked for the U.S. Forest Service and Appalachian Mountain Club in resource management, public information, and educational roles. He began his Observatory career in 1988 as a weather observer, museum manager, and Summit Shift Leader. After three years of summit duty, he served for several years as Director of Programs before transitioning to his current position.
Peter did his undergraduate work at Harvard College, and earned his doctoral degree in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania. An avid year-round hiker, he is also a volunteer trail maintainer for the Appalachian Mountain Club, a member of Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue (AVSAR), and serves on the board of the New Hampshire Outdoor Council.
Linda & Hank Dresch, Volunteer Coordinators
Linda is the daughter of Mount Washington Observatory co-founder Robert S. Monahan, and enjoys continuing her father’s legacy as volunteer coordinator with her husband, Hank.
Married for more than 40 years, Linda and Hank have one daughter and two very active grandsons. During Hank’s 30-year U.S. Coast Guard career they lived in several locations including Alaska and England. Linda’s diverse career has spanned positions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska, and the Editorial Staff of the Wall Street Journal. Linda and Hank both also had “retirement jobs” in Portland, Maine, where they continue to volunteer at Merrill Auditorium. They have been very active volunteers wherever they have lived.
Linda and Hank now reside in Jackson, New Hampshire, where they keep very busy with year-round activities in the great outdoors.
Brian Fitzgerald, Director of Education
Brian began his observatory career as a winter intern on the summit in early 2012 after attending the University of New Hampshire where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Conservation Studies. Following intervening seasons as a Backcountry Hut Naturalist and Education Assistant for the Appalachian Mountain Club, Brian returned to the Observatory as a full-time Observer and Educational Specialist on the summit where he performed daily weather observations and led weather station tours, distance learning programs and media interviews.
After nearly three winters on the summit, Brian headed south to work as the Chief Weather Observer at Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center just south of Boston while going to graduate school at night. In early 2016, Brian graduated from Boston University with a Master’s of Education with a focus in Science Education, and moved back to the Mount Washington Valley to serve as Mount Washington Observatory’s Director of Education. When Brian’s not administering and teaching educational programs and summit adventures, you can find him hiking, mountaineering, trail running, skiing or staring at the clouds. He currently resides in North Conway along with his partner, Stephanie, and their son Cameron.
Keith Garrett, Director of Technology
Keith brings over 25 years of experience in IT hardware, software and business networks. He has experience in working with municipalities, non-profits and individuals.
Prior to his work with the Observatory Keith was the owner of Wolfeboro Computer Solutions in the Wolfeboro and Lakes Region area. His services spanned all aspects of IT including deployment and maintenance of a wide range of systems.
Alexis George, Weather Observer & Meteorologist
Alexis’ interest in the weather began when she was a kid, when she witnessed the formation of a waterspout in Ocean City, MD. Born and raised in Arlington, VA, she discovered that her favorite season was winter when she witnessed thundersnow from a blizzard that hit her hometown in 2016.
To pursue her passion for the climate and weather, Alexis graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Meteorology in 2022. She spent her spring breaks during college photographing clouds and storm chasing on the beaches of Florida. Alexis learned how to snowboard later on and fell in love with the sport. Obsessed with snow and mountains now, Alexis landed her dream job as a Weather Observer and Meteorologist at Mount Washington Observatory. She is excited to explore and study more about the most extreme weather in the world.
In her downtime, Alexis enjoys hanging out with her dog, hiking, crocheting, rock climbing, and photography.
Arron Hammack, Administrative Assistant
Arron grew up in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains in Western North Carolina, where she cultivated a deep love for the outdoors. Having worked in the mental health field for 17 years, she chose to drastically change her career path by shifting into the residential construction industry. Growing up, Arron enjoyed going to work with her father during the summers, learning the construction trade, and it had always stuck with her. From there, she worked her way up from a laborer to the office and project manager at her previous employer. Arron and her family relocated to Lovell, ME in the fall of 2018, where they found their dream home. With her strong background in office and project management, she hopes to apply her skills and knowledge to her role as Administrative Assistance at Mount Washington Observatory. Her hobbies include playing various musical instruments, reading, writing short stories and poetry, kayaking, gardening, and cooking.
Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer & Meteorologist
Originally from the Lake Tahoe region of California, Ryan was born into the alpine lifestyle. He came to the Observatory as a winter intern in 2005, and started as a Weather Observer in 2006.
Ryan’s interest in weather started as a child, when he would watch the morning weather report before going skiing. In high school, he enjoyed giving weather reports to fellow students and ski clubbers, and decided to pursue a career in meteorology. He graduated from San Jose State University in 2004 with a B.S. in Meteorology, and spent the first three years of his career as a weather observer for San Jose International Airport.
Ryan came to Mount Washington for the unique weather, and to explore and study the worst weather in the world. When he’s not watching the weather, he enjoys backpacking, ski boarding, aggressive inline skating, traveling, video games, and movies.
Nimbus joined Mount Washington Observatory staff in April 2021 as our resident summit cat. A sociable gray shorthair adopted from the Conway Area Humane Society, he shares his name with large gray clouds that bring precipitation.
Cats have been members of the observatory family and weather station since our founding in 1932, and Nimbus proudly continues this tradition. He succeeds longtime resident cat Marty, who was beloved by thousands of visitors from around the world.
When he’s not catching mice or stealing a seat in the weather room, he writes the “News from Nimbus” column, translated by observers and published in our magazine, Windswept.
Karl Philippoff, Weather Observer – Research And IT
Jon Powers, Transportation Coordinator
Brenda Sullivan, Director of Finance & Administration
With an Animal Science degree from the University of Maine, Brenda started her career as a veterinary hospital technician and office manager on the East End of Long Island, NY. After going back to school and completing her MBA, Brenda spent a number of years in central Connecticut as Finance Manager for Protein Sciences Corporation, where her responsibilities included the financial oversight of multi-million dollar government contracts and shareholder relations. In 2017 Brenda, her husband, two dogs and two cats moved to Madison, NH. After continuing to work for the same CT based company for over a year, she decided it was time to focus her attention on her new community by joining the team at MWOBS. With an MBA in Business and years of Finance experience, she now focuses on supporting The Observatory where needed.
Francis Tarasiewicz, Weather Observer and Education Specialist
Francis was born in Connecticut, a hotbed for all kinds of extreme weather. Between the beauty of winter storms and nor’easters, and the excitement of summertime thunderstorms, he quickly caught the weather bug at age 4. Growing up, he spent his days watching the Weather Channel and Jim Cantore’s “Storm Stories,” which told tales of extreme weather, further fueling his passion for meteorology.
This fascination followed Francis in high school where he started an online weather forecasting account on Twitter called “The Francast.” During this time, it was not uncommon for teachers to ask him if he thought there might be a snow day! He spent his first paycheck on a weather station and camera to observe and document some of the extreme weather Connecticut has to offer.
For college, Francis headed to the snowy mountains of northern Vermont, where he received a bachelor’s in atmospheric sciences/meteorology at Northern Vermont University (formerly Lyndon State College). While there, he was able to participate in many forecasting opportunities from forecasting for hikers attempting to summit Mt. Everest to the foggy depths of California’s Central Valley. In addition to weather forecasting, Francis became interested climate change education and outreach. This inspired him to join the Climate Consensus, a student-led group focused on communicating climate change science to the public. Francis also served as the president of the NVU AMS & NWA club, where he planned and chaired the 44th annual Northeastern Storm Conference, the largest student-run weather conference in the Northeast. While earning his bachelor’s degree, he focused his research on the impacts of extreme weather on electrical outages in the state of Vermont.
Francis decided to continue studying meteorology at Plymouth State University, where he focused on boundary layer variables and their potential influences on power outage density. His time at Plymouth also afforded him an opportunity to work with MWOBS, where he helped install and maintain snowpack sensors in Pinkham notch. He further dialed in a passion for communicating and teaching meteorology when he served as a teacher’s assistant for three courses.
Once out of school, Francis worked for the New Hampshire Department of Emergency Management, where he used his meteorological knowledge to inform public safety. While there, he helped create disaster scenarios to help towns prepare for extreme weather. He also focused on helping communities in NH mitigate against weather-related disasters, as well as the future impacts of climate change.
Brandi Webb, Museum Operations & Retail Manager
Brandi grew up in Hopkinton, MA, which is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon. In September 2022, Brandi, her boyfriend, their 6 year old daughter, and their cat moved to Berlin, NH after a three-year plan to relocate. She began working as our Museum Operations & Retail Manager in March 2023. Before that, Brandi had only been to Mount Washington summit one time as a tourist in 2020, and she is grateful to be working with the MWOBS team and contributing to her new community. Brandi’s background is primarily in retail and customer service, and she is currently working towards an associate’s degree in business administration. Her hobbies include embroidery, drawing, shopping, gardening, learning, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.
Trustees
Officers
Robert C. Kirsch, Chairman
Rob Kirsch serves as the vice chair of the Observatory’s board of trustees. Rob worked as a weather observer between 1978 and the fall of 1981. He joined the Observatory board of trustees in 1985. In 2018, Rob retired as a partner from WilmerHale LLP, where he chaired the firm’s national environmental practice. Between 1983 and 2018 Rob focused his practice on environmental and human rights issues.
Rob’s environmental work concentrated on enforcement and litigation matters across a broad spectrum of federal and state statutes and regulatory programs. His clients spanned the energy, defense, life sciences-pharma, waste management, consumer products, and real estate development industries, among others. To demarcate his departure from full time legal practice, following the completion of a final hearing in May 2018, Rob climbed Mount Rainier with his two sons.
Between 2004 and 2015, Rob led a WilmerHale pro bono team representing six men interned at the US Naval base at Guantanamo Bay — receiving a favorable decision before the US Supreme Court, a favorable decision in the first Guantanamo habeas corpus trial, and the only ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in favor of a Guantanamo prisoner out of the more than 20 such decisions to date.
Rob serves as the Vice Chair of the board of the Environmental Law institute, is a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, and a Trustee of The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire.
Rob holds a B.S. from Middlebury College and a J.D. from the Cornell Law School.
Bruce C. Soper, Vice Chair
Bruce began his career as an English and Physical Education teacher in 1967 after graduation from Plymouth State College. After several years in education he became involved in the New Hampshire ski equipment industry for seven years. The remainder of his career was devoted to facilities and asset management in school systems, shopping malls and housing in New Hampshire, Maine and South Carolina. As General Manager of the Bangor (Maine) Mall he earned his designation of Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM) through the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Recently Bruce served on the Board of the Colonial Theater in Keene as chairman of that board’s facilities committee. He has also been a volunteer firefighter and was the Emergency Services Coordinator for the New Hampshire Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.
Bruce has had a life-long fascination with weather. He now has weather stations on the Weather Underground network, Weathercloud, and MesoWest; is a rain/ snow data collector for the nationwide CoCoRaHs network out of Fort Collins, Colorado and sends data to the National Weather Service through the CWOP program.
Now retired, he and his wife Marilyn live in New London, New Hampshire.
Paul T. Fitzgerald, Secretary
Paul received his B.A. from St. Michael’s College in 1972 and earned a law degree four years later in 1976. He is currently a director of the law firm of Wescott, Dyer, Fitzgerald & Nichols in Laconia, NH.
In addition to his law practice, Paul has been active in a number of community organizations and has served as both the Mayor of Laconia and Chairman of the Laconia Police Commission. Paul first became involved with the Observatory as an extension of being an avid hiker when he walked into the summit facility out of curiosity after climbing the mountain back in 1980. After serving on the summit operations committee for several years he was elected a trustee in 1985 and has been active on the executive committee and long-range planning committees. Paul is a past president of the Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Observatory’s Governance Committee.
Paul lives in Laconia, NH, with this wife, Cheryl Ann Fitzgerald. They have two grown sons.
Beth Newhouse, Treasurer
Beth is a retired Managing Director from Cambridge Associates LLC, where she was the Director of the Quantitative Research Group for over 12 years, responsible for creating the firm’s models, analytical tools and related materials used in the investment advisory practice.For the preceding eight years, Beth was an investment consultant for Cambridge Associates, working with college endowments, private foundations and health-care institutions.Before joining Cambridge Associates, she was the Director of Sponsor Services for BARRA Inc., where she was responsible for all aspects of the firm’s business unit consulting to pension fund, endowment, and foundation clients. Beth received an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley and a BA from Calvin College.
Beth is an avid hiker and became acquainted with the Observatory on her first ascent of Mount Washington after moving to New England in the early 1990s. She has been active in a number of civic and professional organizations for many years, including the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Gary MacDonald, Immediate Past Chair
Gary recently retired after a 40-year career in education. During that time he was involved in many aspects of school life – serving most recently as Superintendent of Schools in Fryeburg, Maine. He has served on many state and regional educational committees, and continues to be involved in a variety of educational work.
Gary, and his wife Karen, moved to the Mount Washington Valley over 40 years ago, planning on staying for a few years to ski and hike, and never left. They’re now introducing their grandchildren to the unique, and special places in the area. Gary has served on a variety of committees that have supported local needs.
Along with hiking, Gary enjoys tennis, kayaking, spending time on Cape Cod, as well as sailing on the Maine coast. Having lived in the shadow of Mount Washington for all these years, and with an interest in weather and forecasting, he has always marveled at the work as well as the history of MWOBS.
Trustees
Lourdes B. Avilés, Ph.D.
Lourdes Avilés has been a meteorology professor at Plymouth State University since 2004 and is currently department chair for meteorology, climate studies, and physics, and the director of the Computational, Applied, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences (CAMPS) Academic Unit. She has a Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus.
Ed Bergeron
Ed’s interest in weather began as a child growing up on a farm in southern New Hampshire where his father was the local NWS Coop Observer. His interest intensified during pilot training in the 1970s, and inspired him to serve as a backup observer for local weather icon Briggs Bunker for many years. Ed became the local NWS Coop Observer about 2002 when Briggs decided to winter in Florida. At the time he also took over Brigg’s role on the WMWV Morning Weather Show which provides the “rating of the day” to residents of the Mount Washington Valley. In October 2015 Ed turned the role of Coop Observer back to the Mount Washington Observatory through the establishment of NCON3 the new weather station at the WDC in North Conway.
Teresa S. Bowers, Ph.D.
Terri Bowers is an environmental scientist and advising principal at Gradient, an environmental and risk sciences consulting firm in Boston, MA, where she spent 30 years helping clients develop risk-based environmental strategies to address their regulatory and litigation needs. She served for eight years as president of the company before largely retiring in 2021. Terri served on the Science Advisory Committee for Mount Washington Observatory for several years in the late 2000s.
Erica Broman
Erica currently serves as Senior Advisor at Westfield State University after a successful tenure as Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Westfield State Foundation. During her time in that role, she oversaw an 100% increase in the assets of the Foundation and tripled their fundraising efforts. Previously, she oversaw the marketing, resource development, institutional research and advancement efforts at Holyoke Community College where she has helped grow their foundation four-fold. Erica received her BA from Miami University, her MBA from the University of Massachusetts and her doctorate in higher education management from Northeastern University. She also took part in Harvard University’s summer program for educational leadership. She is Trustee Designate at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona and was a founding member of the Healing Racism Institute of the Pioneer Valley.
Michelle Cruz
Michelle moved to northern New Hampshire from New York City in 2002 as a North Country AmeriCorps member supporting the Mount Washington Observatory’s educational outreach efforts. After her year of service, she resumed life in New York City and continued to stay involved in the nonprofit sector. Shortly thereafter, she returned to the North Country as an outreach educator for the Obs. Her dedication and passion for her work led her to becoming Director of Education. During this time she was involved in building distance education and the renovation of the summit museum now known as Extreme Mount Washington. Today, Michelle joins the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce supporting community and member engagement providing resources for businesses to strategically market the Mt. Washington Valley as the premier New England vacation destination.
Ty Gagne
Ty Gagne, Chief Executive Officer of Primex3, has held executive positions in the municipal, non-profit, and healthcare sectors, and was a two-term school board member. Ty holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Science from Granite State College. He is a member of the Leadership NH Class of 2013. Ty completed the program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and holds the Associate in Risk Pool Management (ARPM) and the Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities (ARM-P) designations. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder and the author of the book The Last Traverse: Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites and Where You’ll Find Me: Risk, Decisions, and the Last Climb of Kate Matrosova. Two of his essays, “Emotional Rescue,” and “Weakness in Numbers: How a Hiking Companion can be Dangerous” were published in Appalachia journal. Ty is located in Hampton, N.H.
John F. Gorman
Growing up in the Berkshires, with the Appalachian Trail literally traversing his back yard, John seemed destined to be a hiker. As a member of the AMC, his love of four season backpacking led him to the White Mountains and the Presidential Range. In 1979 and 1980 he worked on the summit of Mount Washington as a union carpenter during the construction of the Sherman Adams Building. So began his association with the Obs.
During the 1980s, John assisted Obs staff in an attempt to mitigate the water leaking into the summit building. A member of the Observatory’s Facilities Committee since 2012, he recently spearheaded the renovations of the Obs summit bunk rooms. He is a former board member of the Friends of Tuckerman Ravine and a current board member of the Friends of the Mount Washington Avalanche Center.
John attended Northeastern University where he studied civil engineering and political science, disciplines that led to a career that included both politics and construction. As a Boston based political operative he has worked on campaigns all over the country, including stints as an advance man for the Clinton White House, the Kennedys, John Kerry and the DNC. Since 1978 his construction industry career has evolved from carpenter to contractor to project manager to permitting consultant. His company, Permit Strategies, specializes in resolving building permit and zoning issues in the City of Boston.
John and his wife Katie live in Boston. His four grown sons and his grandchildren are all avid hikers and big fans of the Observatory.
Jonathan Haynes
Jonathan Haynes is a long-time supporter of Mount Washington Observatory and former member of the MWOBS Board of Trustees. His career focused on ownership and management of commercial and residential real estate. He has been involved in construction management and contracting. Mr. Haynes is currently focusing on cranberry production and promotion of cranberry products. He has served on the board of Granite State Adaptive, The Rivers School, the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce, as well as the boards of two banks.
Jonathan Haynes is a long-time supporter of Mount Washington Observatory and former member of the MWOBS Board of Trustees. His career focused on ownership and management of commercial and residential real estate. He has been involved in construction management and contracting. Mr. Haynes is currently focusing on cranberry production and promotion of cranberry products. He has served on the board of Granite State Adaptive, The Rivers School, the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce, as well as the boards of two banks.
Mike Matty
Mike received his B.A. and M.A. from the Pennsylvania State University in Economics. He went on to manage various mutual funds, pension funds, and write investment research. He is currently President of St. Germain Investments in Springfield, MA. The investment management firm has nearly $1.5 billion in managed assets.
Peter Middleton
Peter graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1981 and has worked in commercial construction ever since. He is currently the president of Martini Northern General Contractors and Construction Managers in Portsmouth, NH.
During summer breaks from college, Peter worked on various construction projects in the Mount Washington Valley area, including the construction of the Sherman Adams Building at Mount Washington State Park in 1979 and 1980.
An avid skier, Peter spent more than twenty years supporting youth ski racing as a coach and board member of the Attitash Alpine Education Foundation. He lives in Portsmouth, NH with his wife, Meg, and their two children, Abby and Ben.
In addition to sitting on the Observatory’s Facilities Committee, Peter also serves on the board of Plan NH as treasurer and as president of Friends of UNH Skiing.
Jeannie Oliver
Jeannie Oliver is a professor of law and staff attorney at the Vermont Law School Energy Clinic, where she works with students to provide law, policy, and advocacy services to clients pursuing clean energy and climate justice solutions. Her particular area of focus is extending the benefits of renewable energy to low-moderate income communities.
Ken Rancourt
Ken is a native of Connecticut but spent most of his early years ‘summering’ in Conway, being shuttled between relatives in the area. He received his BS in Meteorology from Iowa State University and went on for a MS at the Meteorology Department at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where many of his ancestors came from. After a brief stint in the construction industry he started at the Observatory in 1979 where he spent his more than 30 year career. Starting at the Observatory as an Observer/Tractor Operator he eventually managed many research and testing programs on the summit and finished his tenure as Director of Summit Operations.He was fortunate to represent the Observatory at a number of World Meteorological Organization meetings in Geneva, Switzerland; Trappes, France; and Casablanca, Morocco. He believes in giving back to the community by volunteering. Ken was an early board member of Friends of Tuckerman Ravine, and currently sits on the boards of the White Mountain Interpretive Association as Treasurer, and the Conway Historical Society as President. He is also active on the Observatory’s Science Committee and has mentored a number of Summer Interns. He also serves internationally as the United States Secretary of the Eastern Snow Conference. Ken lives in an off-the-grid home In Conway with his wife Jane.
Marsha Rich
An Observatory trustee since 1995, Marsha is chair of the Education Committee and leads an EduTrip each winter.
Marsha received a B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1980 and a Masters of Education from the University of New Hampshire in 1985. She taught middle school Earth science for many years and served as the science department chair at the Derryfield School in Manchester, New Hampshire. Currently, Marsha runs the “InSHAPE” program at the Riverbend Community Mental Health Center in Concord, New Hampshire, a physical health and wellness program supporting mental health and recovery from mental illness. She also teaches yoga and on winter weekends teaches skiing at Wildcat Mountain.
Marsha lives in Chichester, NH, and has two children who are new out of college. A retired sea captain who skippered charter sailboats in the Virgin Islands in the 1980s, Marsha loves to ski, hike, bike, garden, and travel with her family.
Mary Stampone
Mary is an Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of New Hampshire and has been the New Hampshire State Climatologist since 2008. Originally from Michigan, Mary received a B.A. in Geological Sciences from Albion College before earning an M.S. in Geography and a Ph.D. in Climatology from the University of Delaware. After a year teaching in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, she accepted a faculty position in the Department of Geography at the University of New Hampshire.
As a UNH faculty member, Mary teaches courses on weather, climate, natural hazards, and land surface processes. Her research interests include climate system science with a focus on climate modeling and cryospheric processes. She also serves as the New Hampshire State Climatologist, providing the public with information on weather and climate though research, education, and outreach. She is the point of contact for the two NOAA Climate Reference Network (CRN) stations located in southern New Hampshire, co-coordinator of the NH Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network, and is also an NWS cooperative observer for Durham, NH.
Mary and her husband, Dan, live in Dover, NH and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities with their two dogs.
Karen Umberger
Karen Umberger retired as a Colonel from the US Air Force after having served 28 years. Her assignments took her throughout the United States as well as overseas in Germany, Korea and Panama. She served for 6 months in the United Arab Emirates during Desert Storm. Upon retiring she and her husband settled in Kearsarge where she has been active in the local community serving on the Conway Budget Committee and as a Conway Selectman. She served 10 years as a State Representative from Carroll County District 2. During her time in office, she was an active member of the Mt Washington Commission.
Life Trustees
Brian K. Fowler
Brian has a degree in Geology and is a retired consulting engineering geologist. He is currently involved in research on the late-glacial geology of northern New England and southeastern Quebec and has published more than twenty professional papers, including the only scientific treatise on the collapse of the Old Man of The Mountain. He and Betsy are active mountaineers and members of the American Alpine Club, and Brian is a co-founder of the Mountain Rescue Service.
Brian was introduced to the Observatory during seven summers working for the AMC Hut System, especially the two he spent as “croo” and then hutmaster at Lakes of The Clouds. He joined as a member in 1964, a trustee in 1972, and served as board president from 1981 to 1996. He has made significant financial contributions to summit improvement projects, and his leadership and tireless efforts helped provide the foundation upon which the Observatory is thriving today.
Guy Gosselin
Guy is one of the North Country’s most respected modern pioneers and North Country historians, but he says the “high point” of his career began February 15, 1961, when he became a Mount Washington Observatory weather observer. He was promoted to chief observer in 1963 and appointed to the director’s post in 1971. He joined the Board of Trustees in 1978.
Since retiring as executive director in 1996, Guy has continued to serve the Observatory in a variety of important roles; he has advised the organization as a consultant, and also served as managing editor of Windswept. Guy became a life trustee in 2002 and continues to contribute to the success of the Observatory, while also volunteering for other local charitable causes.
Kenneth A. Jones
Ken is a retired managing partner of Wilson/Reilly Associates, a technical sales firm in Nashua, NH, following a long career in industrial management. He earned an engineering degree from Penn State and an MBA from Syracuse University.
Active in many outdoor activities, Ken has always been keenly interested in weather. His introduction to the Observatory in the early 1980s kindled a love of Mount Washington and its unique climate. He has been a member of the Mount Washington Observatory Science Committee since 1995, and is a past president of the Board of Trustees. He serves on other non-profit boards as well.
He lives in Amherst, NH, with his wife, Suzanne. They have two grown children, as well as several grandchildren, who visit them often at Lake Winnisquam.
Gail Langer
Gail graduated from Merrimack College in 1972 with a B.S. in chemistry and received an M.S. in organic chemistry from Southern Connecticut University. She is the Senior Director of Business Development for St. Teresa Medical Inc., prior to which she worked for twenty years in R&D, sales, marketing, manufacturing, quality, and business development for Pfizer and Dupont Pharmaceuticals.
Always a lover of the outdoors, Gail’s interests include sea kayaking, skiing, swimming, snorkeling, bicycling, and hiking. She has hiked in Peru, Alaska, Western Canada, Nepal, and Switzerland, but especially loves the White Mountains.
Gail lives on a mountaintop in Stoneham, Maine, and volunteers as an Advanced EMT for Fryeburg Rescue Association, Fryeburg, Maine. She has served on the Observatory board since 2005.
Jack Middleton
Jack worked at the Observatory from 1952 to 1953, and has been a trustee since 1957. He serves on the Executive and Governance Committees and held the position of secretary for more than five decades.
Jack received his A.B. from Lafayette College in 1950 and his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1956. He is president of the law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, and has been active in numerous civic, professional, and bar association activities for many years.
Jack lives in Freedom, NH and has three grown children.
Gail Paine
A retired Program Coordinator for the University of New Hampshire College for Lifelong Learning (now Granite State College), Gail worked in the North Country of New Hampshire from 1980 to 2004. She is a University of Michigan graduate with a B.S. in nursing.
Gail served on the Memorial Hospital board of trustees (past president) from 1974 to 1996, the YMCA Camp Nellie Huckins board from 1984 to 1995, the New Hampshire Distance Learning Commission from 1994 to 2003, the New Hampshire State Board of Education from 1995 to 2005, and was a member and chairman of the New Hampshire Juvenile Parole Board from 1995 to 2006. She is also a former board member of the Bartlett School Board, the New Hampshire Farm Museum, the Northern NH Charitable Foundation, and the Mt. Washington Valley School to Career Partnership.
Gail presently serves as a board member on the Goldberg Foundation, Tillotson Foundation, Walker Foundation, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative Foundation, and the Visiting Nurses of Northern Carroll County. She has served on the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council since 1991, is secretary of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, and is also a member of the Mountain Top Music Advisory Committee. Gail represents New Hampshire on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board in Arlington, VA and serves on both the Administrative Committee and as chairman of the CEO Evaluation Committee for that organization. Gail is active in the Town of Bartlett, New Hampshire, where she resides, serving as chairman of The Lower Bartlett Water Commission ZBA and chairman of the Supervisors of the Bartlett Voter Checklist.
Gail is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and is taking courses towards the Credentialed Leadership Director degree for the National Rural Electric Association directors. Her hobbies include fly fishing, ornithology, golf, hiking, skiing, and traveling.
Bryant F. Tolles, Jr.
Bryant has held a variety of leadership positions at distinguished museums and institutions since the early 1970s. He served as the director of the Museum Studies Program at the University of Delaware from 1984 to 2006, and is a Professor Emeritus of History and Art History. He has also written books on New Hampshire architecture including The Grand Resort Hotels of the White Mountains and Summer Cottages in the White Mountains.
A visitor to the White Mountains since the late 1940s, Bryant was introduced to the Observatory in the mid-1970s by Brad Washburn. He joined the Board of Trustees in 1976, and helped enhance the Observatory’s educational programs and former summit museum. He was elected a life trustee in 2003.
Bryant and his wife, Carolyn, live in Concord, NH and have a second home on Squam Lake in Sandwich, NH.
Mark Van Baalen
Mark earned an A.B. in astronomy in 1966 and a Ph.D. in geology in 1995, both from Harvard. He is now a lecturer on Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard.
Mark has been an Observatory member since 1966, and a trustee since 1984. He was a member of the Executive Committee for fifteen years and has also served on the Long Range Planning Committee and chaired the Nominating Committee, Personnel Committee and Science Advisory Committee. Mark was the program chair for the successful 75th Anniversary Symposium for Air and Climate in 2007, and has been a regular EduTrip leader since the inception of that program.
Mark and his wife, Louisa, reside in Harvard, MA and have one grown daughter. Mark is a member of the American Alpine Club and a life member of the Harvard Mountaineering Club. He is also a sailor and a commercial pilot.