Jon Spector is a retired business executive and full-time resident of Woodstock, Vermont. He served as Chief Executive Officer of The Conference Board from 2007 to 2018, after serving as Vice Dean of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He began his career at McKinsey & Company, where he spent 20 years and was elected a Senior Partner. He subsequently served as the chief executive of two startup technology companies. Mr. Spector is an active Board member of several companies, not-for-profit organizations and government commissions, and he serves as a member of the Executive Board of the Business Committee for the Arts. He is a Trustee Emeritus and an alumnus of Wesleyan University and received his MBA from Harvard Business School.
Spector is the co-author of We Are Smarter Than Me (2007), which highlights the ways in which businesses can harness the power of collective intelligence. The book resulted from an experiment in which thousands of participants attempted to pool their knowledge and create a book manuscript. His introduction to Northern Stage came as an audience member, and his extensive theater career began in 1966 when he played “The Rabbit” in the renowned Fox Meadow Elementary School staging of Alice in Wonderland.
Alison P.R. Kapadia is an emergency medicine physician and a grateful member of the upper valley community. Outside of clinical work, her professional life focuses on communication skills, implicit bias, moral injury, trauma responsive care, and gender diversity. Both at work and in the community, Alison recognizes the power and importance of storytelling. She has a special place in her heart for sad theater, but also loves comedy and musicals! She was drawn to Northern Stage initially by the excellent art she witnessed as a theater guest. Her appreciation deepened as she saw how Northern Stage is consistently focused on people and relationships, from the actors and staff, to the kids in theater education, to donors and the local community. Her guiding principles on the board are to prioritize relationships, share power, seek difference, legitimize multiple ways of knowing, and reckon with history. She met her husband in medical school at Johns Hopkins. While she went to Stanford for college, her husband’s experience as a Dartmouth ‘03 brought them to the area in 2013. For fun she enjoys Nordic skiing, hiking, reading, and down time at home with her husband, two kids, and dog.
Joe Major is a dedicated leader and public servant with a diverse and accomplished career. Currently serving as a Vermont State Senator, he also leads the Upper Valley Aquatic Center as its Executive Director and serves as the treasurer of the town of Hartford.
A graduate of Howard University and a former Army officer, Joe brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to service to every role he undertakes. A native of Buffalo, New York, he has made Vermont his home while continuing to foster meaningful community connections.
Joe’s passion for civic engagement is reflected in his service on the boards of Northern Stage, Junction Media and Arts, Upper Valley Haven, Headrest, and the White River Rotary. Additionally, he is a corporator with Mascoma Bank, further demonstrating his dedication to enhancing the Upper Valley region’s quality of life.
Curt Welling is a Clinical Professor of Business at the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. His teaching activities include courses of his own design: “Business and Society: the Role of Business, Government and Markets in creating Social Impact”; “Social Entrepreneurship”; and “Impact Investing—the Creation, Allocation and Accountability of Capital for Social Impact”. He was a founder of the Tuck Social Venture Fund, an early stage impact investment fund run by Tuck students. Prior to his appointment at Tuck, Mr. Welling served for 12 years as the president and chief executive officer of the global public health NGO AmeriCares (www.americares.org), guiding the organization in delivering $9 billion in medicines and supplies in 90 countries around the world. Mr. Welling joined AmeriCares after an extensive career and leadership positions in the investment banking and securities industry with firms such as Societe Generale (SG Cowen), Bear Stearns, and Credit Suisse First Boston.
He has served on the boards of Coca-Cola European Partners (NYSE: CCEP) and Sapient Corp (SAPE). He currently serves on the Board of The Adirondack Council (adirondackcouncil.org), is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and is the Chair Emeritus of the Board of Visitors of the Rockefeller Center for Public Policy at Dartmouth College. Mr. Welling has a BA from Dartmouth, a JD from the Vanderbilt Law School, and an MBA from the Tuck School. He is admitted to the Bar in New York. Curt writes, “My interest in theater is long lived: school plays, starting young, undergraduate English major (Shakespeare is indeed the playwrite), love of Broadway from my post Tuck time in NYC. And, in my fantasy life, I am on the stage as Mark Twain Tonight.”
Kianny is a Senior Lecturer in Spanish at Dartmouth. She is a writer of fiction and poetry, a narrator of audio books, a translator of many different works, and a story-teller with a list of publications a mile long. She has a B.A. and M.A. from The City College of New York.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Kianny is a prominent voice in the Upper Valley for understanding and appreciating different cultures. She will deepen Northern Stage’s connection to Dartmouth College. She is a Northern Stage Education Program parent; her daughter Mia was in A Christmas Carol.
Members of the Governance Committee were struck by her energy and infectious enthusiasm, qualities she is ready to bring to the Northern Stage board. Kianny lives in Lebanon, NH.
Jenn seeks out mission-driven organizations where she can leverage her
experience spanning strategy, communications, coaching, wellness, and organizational culture. She enjoys the opportunity to support Upper Valley nonprofits and is honored to be on the Northern Stage team, recently serving as Board Chair. She’s served on the boards of The Family Place, Toddler’s Morning Out and is a member of the Montshire Museum and Howe Library Corporations. Jennifer holds an AB in Economics from Dartmouth, an MBA from Tuck and a certificate in Health Counseling from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Teachers College Columbia University. Most recently, she served as the Director of Learning and Development at Iora Health and established the Health Coaching offering for the Dartmouth employee community. She launched a private health coaching practice in New York City and served as the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s Chief of Staff. Prior to her work in the health and wellness sector, Jenn was a consultant at Bain & Company, led product marketing at a San Francisco start-up in the HR software and services sector, and worked in healthcare investment banking for Hambrecht & Quist/ JPMorgan Chase. She lives in Hanover, NH with her husband, two active boys and gentle giant Mastiff mix dog. Jenn enjoys singing, cooking, travel, yoga and learning about neurobiology and peak performance. As a lifelong theater lover (and theater kid), Jenn feels deep appreciation for all the ways that Northern Stage enriches the culture and community of life in the Upper Valley.
Bala Chaudhary is a soil ecologist specializing in plant-soil-microbial interactions and mycorrhizal symbioses. Research in her lab examines ecosystem-scale questions in mycorrhizal ecology along four main themes: microbial dispersal at the macrosystems scale, trait-based mycorrhizal ecology, synthesis in ecology, and microbial mediation of global change solutions. She uses trait-based approaches to develop predictive frameworks for mycorrhizal dispersal, community assembly, and biogeography, and employs complementary approaches of macroecological field work, controlled lab experiments, and data synthesis to study multi-scale questions in ecology. Her work spans dozens of ecosystem types and has applications in global change solutions including climate mitigation and adaptation, soil conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable agriculture. She also conducts research on ways to broaden scientific participation and promote racial and ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.
Keri Craft has been a member of the Upper Valley community for nearly 30 years. With a background in broadcasting sales and marketing she has been a fan of the performing arts since she was young and involved in theater in Westport and Darien, Connecticut.
Keri has enjoyed being part of boards and committees for The Montshire Museum of Science, The Howe Library and the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth; among other area non-profit organizations. Keri has embraced growing up on both coasts and is a graduate of the University of Vermont.
Rachel Dickson is excited to join the Northern Stage Theatre community as part of the BOLD Women’s Leadership Circle. While calling The Ensemble Theatre in Houston, TX home and currently serving there as the BOLD Associate Artistic Director, she has worked with various theatres throughout the Houston community and beyond, including Driven Theater Company (DTC) where she was the founding Artistic Director. Following securing her MFA in acting from the University of Illinois and her Master of Social Work from University of Houston she has worked as a professional actor, director, playwright, dramaturg, educator, producer, technical staff, artistic consultant, and board member for over 20 years. Rachel is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the current Vice President of Black Theatre Network.
David Grant is a retired educator living in Strafford, VT, where he is Town Moderator. With his wife Nancy, he founded and directed the semester program at The Mountain School in Vershire, VT from 1983-94. From 1998-2010, David served as President and CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation in Morristown, NJ, where he gained a deep respect and love for regional professional theater. For three years during that time he chaired the board of the Council of NJ Grantmakers, and for six years he was one of the first two non-family members on the board of the Surdna Foundation in New York City. In 2015, David published a book for nonprofit leaders titled The Social Profit Handbook, which has sold over 12,000 copies. David joined the Northern Stage Board of Directors in 2017, and he chaired the board during the pandemic. His other major community activity is offering literature courses as an Osher study leader.
Trish Jackson, chief advancement officer, joined Northfield Mount Hermon School in June 2022 to lead both the advancement and marketing and communications offices. She previously held leadership positions at Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Wheaton College, Geisel School of Medicine and Dartmouth Health, Brown University, and Dartmouth College. She also served as interim senior vice president for development and alumni engagement at The New School and as a consultant providing development leadership for the University of Vermont Health Network. In addition, Trish serves on the Scripps College Board of Trustees and on the boards of Northern Stage, a regional theater in White River Junction, Vermont. She received a bachelor’s degree from Scripps College and an MBA from Claremont Graduate University.
Steve Immelt is a retired lawyer who divides his time between Maryland and Lake Sunapee. He was the Chief Executive of the global law firm, Hogan Lovells, a role that entailed living part time in London, where he broadened and deepened his love for theatre in all its many forms and settings. He believes that theatre can change the way we see the world and each other, and by doing that enhance the quality of life in our communities. Northern Stage undoubtedly plays that role in the Upper Valley. Steve and his wife Susan are passionate bicyclists who are grateful to all the motorists who pass them gently, whether in Vermont or Tuscany. Steve is an active Osher student who has partaken of a number of literature courses, including some taught by Northern Stage’s own David Grant. He always has a book. Freed from spending time on planes and in airports, he has turned his attention to trees and perennials, especially big hostas. He grew up in Cincinnati, and graduated from Yale and University of Maryland School of Law.
Jenn Langhus lives in Norwich with her family and loyal hound. Jenn is a teaching artist and owns and operates Jenn Langhus Studio, specializing in musical theatre, audition prep and classical voice for all ages. She attended Oklahoma City University and studied with the late great Florence Birdwell. Jenn is deeply involved in the theater scene in the Upper Valley and can usually be found onstage performing, or behind the scenes directing or music directing. She loves the feeling of community that theater brings, both to the players and the patrons and the excitement of starting a new project every few months. “Theater is my happy place, my fairytale, my soapbox, my broken heart, my classroom, my humanity.”
Jim Lynch and his wife Ellen returned to Hanover in 2013. He was the VP of Medical Science and Administration at a comprehensive cancer center in Philadelphia for 21 years. Prior to that, he was the administrator of Norris Cotton Cancer Center for 9 years. Upon retirement in 2008, he was an independent consultant to cancer centers for a decade. He is a lifelong fan of theater, beginning at an early age with visits to the New London Barn, and then moving on to visit theaters in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, and London and now enjoying the Upper Valley offerings. His love of the theater is shared by all his family. He joined the Board of Northern Stage in 2017, serving as Secretary for 4 years, and a member of various committees, especially focusing now on the exciting housing project for staff and visiting artists.
Jim is a member of Osher’s Leadership Committee. He is a graduate of Amherst College and earned his MBA in healthcare administration from Boston University.
The daughter of an Air Force pilot, Nancy Murray has lived throughout the United States and four years in Japan. Upon her father’s retirement, Nancy moved to Texas, graduating from the University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University School of Law. Nancy moved to San Francisco to work for the law firm of Pillsbury, Winthrop, and was named partner in 1987 as a corporate litigator. She has been active as a mediator with the American Arbitration Association and a Judge Pro Tem for the California Superior Court. Nancy has served on a number of non-profit boards, including Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco as board chair. Nancy and her husband, Jim Feuille, now live in New Hampshire where Jim teaches at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. They are the proud parents of four children. Nancy is honored to be a part of Northern Stage—the arts preserve our humanity, allowing us to understand the experiences of others. Nancy can’t imagine the Upper Valley without all that Northern Stage brings to the community. In her free time, Nancy enjoys a good book, an even better glass of wine, and is a late-blooming mountain climber having summited Mt. Fuji (easy), Mt. Kilimanjaro (not so easy), and Mt. Fansipan (a day from hell). Nancy is currently working her way through the 48 New Hampshire Four Thousand Footers.
John Sanders is a retired heart surgeon who moved to the Upper Valley to join the DH Section of Cardiac Surgery in 1995. Prior to that, he was Professor of Surgery at Northwestern University School of Medicine for 19 years. He and his wife, Karen, have long enjoyed live theater, and were thrilled when Northern Stage opened its curtains in 1996. Without pagers and a rigorous on call schedule, they are now free to enjoy the many live theater venues in the Upper Valley, and especially, Northern Stage. We believe theater offers all aspects of creative expression: comedy, tragedy, protest, history, and even politics in a way that captures our attention in a more personal way than movies or even the written word is able.
John still teaches at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, is Past President of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Dartmouth, and still teaches courses for it. He is Dartmouth Class of 1964 and a graduate of University of Michigan School of Medicine. He did all of his Surgical training at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.
Lori is a Real Estate Broker, licensed in Vermont and New Hampshire, and working as a Regional Manager for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty in Hanover, New Hampshire. She has been helping buyers and sellers navigate the local real estate market and life in the Upper Valley for 10+ years. Along with her husband, Mike, Lori has lived, worked, and raised three great humans for over 25 years. Those experiences helped Lori develop a deep-rooted love and comprehensive knowledge of the Upper Valley. They also helped her forge lifelong friendships and wonderful connections to a cast of characters who help make the Upper Valley so wonderful and unique.
Lori is passionate about building community and has served on the board of and/or volunteered for many nonprofits in the Upper Valley, including Crossing Paths, Special Needs Support Center, Fashion from the Heart, The Family Place, Lebanon Opera House, Youth-In-Action, and more. Lori looks forward to using her positive energy to strengthen, expand, and share all that Northern Stage does to enrich the lives of those in the Upper Valley.
Rubi Simon is the Library Director at the Howe Library in Hanover, NH, having relocated to New Hampshire in 2016 after working in Vermont since 2009. Her previous roles include Director of the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington and Burnham Memorial Library in Colchester. Before moving to Vermont, Rubi spent nine years at the Boston Public Library, where she advanced from children’s librarian to Assistant Neighborhood Services Manager, overseeing 27 branches. She focused on staff development, city-wide initiatives, and youth literacy, particularly for diverse populations. Rubi holds a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Kentucky and a Master’s in Library Science from the University of South Florida. Throughout her career, Rubi has volunteered for numerous community organizations, advocated for minorities, and supported leadership and civic engagement initiatives. She has served on boards and committees including Rotary, United Way of Northwest Vermont, and the U.S. Civil Rights Commission’s advisory committees in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Rubi resides in Etna with her husband and three daughters.
Kathryn “Kat” Smith moved to the Upper Valley in 1999, where she introduced Ashtanga yoga to the region, founded Power Yoga By Kat, and later co-founded Upper Valley Yoga. Originally from Pennsylvania, Kat attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business before launching her career in Financial Strategies and Fixed Income Sales at Goldman Sachs. She went on to earn an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. In San Francisco, Kat worked for Dakin Securities, RCM, and Frorer Partners. Transitioning away from formal finance, Kat joined the board of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. She worked as a freelance writer, publishing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and became deeply involved in volunteering at her children’s school where she served as the Varsity and Middle School Dance Coaches. A firm believer in the importance of community engagement, Kat has long been dedicated to supporting the arts. Kat joined Northern Stage’s board in 2024 with the conviction that Northern Stage is an extraordinary jewel in the Upper Valley. In 2025, Kat joined the Advisory Committee of the Walt Disney Family Museum and is a consultant to the Walt Disney Museum Animation Academy. She lives with her husband and English Bulldog “Child” in Hanover.
In active “retirement,” Posie is a consultant to camps around the country, particularly in the areas of board development, fund-raising, and strategic planning. She has served as Board Chair of The Family Place and Crossroads Academy and Vice Chair of The Children’s Literacy Foundation. She has degrees in English and History from Middlebury and advanced degrees from Columbia and University of Michigan.
Posie chose a career in camping for its unique place in the education of children, especially around emotional intelligence and community. She is a legend at The Aloha Camps in Fairlee, having served a Camp Director, Director of Development, and Executive Director of The Aloha Foundation. In 2017 she received American Camping Association’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award, for her service as a teacher, mentor and leader.
She has been a Director’s Circle member at Northern Stage for many years and a theater junkie since grade school. Posie lives in White River Junction, VT.