Our Board of directors

Dale Welch, Board Chair

Dale retired in 2012 after over thirty years in the technology search business. In his leadership role with his search firm, he was involved in many of the company’s volunteer activities. It was through these efforts that he began to understand the disparity in opportunity and income in the Boston area. Dale is an active volunteer with The Open Door and interested in improving local food access on the North Shore. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and lives with his wife in Ipswich.

Bethe Palmer, Treasurer

Bethe works as a fractional CFO and grew up on the North Shore. She has a BBA from UMass, Amherst and an MBA from Northeastern. Bethe has served as Treasurer for several local non-profits and resides in Essex surrounded by vegetable and flower gardens.

Nicole Whitten, Clerk

Nicole is a photographer and graduate of Salem State University. She is a founding member and Co-Chair of Ipswich Sustainable Education where she shares leadership of over 50 Ipswich School Green Team students. Nicole is a member of the Ipswich Waste Reduction Committee. She has served twice as an Ipswich Delegate at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention and is an engaged community member on social and environmental efforts. Nicole lives in Ipswich with her husband Chub, and has two daughters in the Ipswich Public School District.

Susie has been actively involved in the non-profit sector for many years. She was involved in the building of the new YMCA in Ipswich, as well as the formation of Manchester Summer Chamber Music and is a long-time member of the Ipswich Garden Club. She also owns and operates a flower design business called “Flowers Jubilee.” Susie is a life-long resident of Ipswich.

Sheila McAdams

Sheila comes from a long line of dairy farmers, spending her youth working the fields and farm. After graduating from Hamilton College, she moved to Massachusetts, received her Ed. M from Lesley University, and found her passion teaching elementary-aged children. As a teacher, Sheila became fully aware that students couldn't learn while hungry, embedding her motivation to ensure students and families had access to high quality food. First a teacher, and then the principal at Winthrop School in Ipswich, she supported the farm-to-school connection, established a weekly food distribution partnership with Open Door and sought to eliminate systemic discrimination for the most vulnerable families.

Jane Roundy

Jane is a former elementary school teacher, having worked in the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District and at Brookwood School. She has created curriculum for and worked with several summer programs connecting kids and agriculture. She has also served in a supervisory role for interns from Antioch New England pursuing advanced degrees in Environmental Education. Jane has a MEd. from Salem State University, a BA from Wheaton College, and an AAS from North Shore Community College. She has served on several non-profit boards and town committees and resides in Hamilton.