July 18, 2015 – The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) Board of Directors are pleased to welcome three new members to the NENSA Board, and bids a fond farewell to retiring members, John Attwood of Cape Elizabeth, ME and Greg Elder of Yarmouth, ME. In their stead, Ellen Chandler of NH, Kate McNay Koch of VT, and Walt Shepard of ME have signed on, each to a three year term.

Kate McNay Koch joins the NENSA Board from Peru, Vermont where she lives with husband Bill and their two children Mehana and Will. Over the years, Kate has been involved with many New England Nordic institutions including the Dartmouth Outing Club, the Weston Ski Track, and Southern Vermont’s West River Nordic.

“I’m looking forward to working with the great team at NENSA to continue to strengthen and grow the Nordic tradition in New England,” said Koch. “We are so fortunate to be part of such a vibrant cross-country skiing community. I love the fact that any day I might run into BKL’ers or Master skiers or Olympians, and all of them are so psyched to be part of this healthy club that is cross-country skiing.”

Walt Shepard has been a life-long nordic enthusiast, growing up skiing the community trails of Maine each weekend as part of the Bill Koch Youth Ski League. That early passion for skiing and competition led him to explore other opportunities in the sport, which resulted in a 10-year career in biathlon. Walt now lives in Freeport, ME with his wife and son where he works at L.L.Bean managing corporate research for the company.

“I’m so excited to be joining the NENSA board of directors, supporting Zach and the rest of the staff in the important work they’re doing to strengthen the nordic skiing community here in New England,” said Shepard. “I look forward to re-investing in the development work and other programming NENSA provides regionally, especially as my own family of young skiers grows.”

Ellen Chandler is the Nordic Director for the Bretton Woods Nordic Center at Omni Mount Washington Resort; and she is a business consultant specializing in promotional campaigns. She has held marketing management positions at Stonyfield Farm, N.H. State Parks (including Cannon Mountain and Mt. Sunapee) and Wildcat; and she managed catalog production at Reliable Racing Supply/Inside Edge Skier’s Catalog. A graduate of Williams College where she was the captain of the ski team, she lives in New London, N.H.

“I am Happy to be joining the board of NENSA because it will give me ‘a good reason’ to think about Nordic skiing, as if I needed one,” joked Chandler. “Really, it is an opportunity to share, learn and be a part of a team that is working to transcend Nordic skiing from sport to lifestyle for more people in the northeast.”

“The new crop of board members bring a diverse and exciting range of skills and experiences to our group,” said current Board President, Jim Levins of Vermont. “We look forward to working with them as we get ready for another great ski season!”

Levins spoke for the entire Board and staff in bidding a fond farewell to the two retiring Board members as well, fellow Mainers John Attwood and Greg Elder.

“We cannot thank John enough for all he has contributed to NENSA over his long tenure as a Board member,” said Levins. “His dedication to the organization was evident in his advocacy for our Masters programming and is his support of our fundraising efforts. His handmade furniture and other creations are always a highlight of our annual fundraising auction.”

“Several years ago we established the tradition of having an L.L.Bean representative on the NENSA Board of Directors, a role led by Steve Fuller,” continued Levins. “Greg Elder stepped in to fill that role as an indispensable resource bringing his business perspective to the work that we do. We are fortunate to now have Walt step into this role now.”

A Board Development Committee, comprised of current Board members and the Executive Director work to maintain an engaged and balanced 17-seat Board of Directors. NENSA’s full Board is listed below, and can be viewed along with full Committee rosters at NENSA.net.

NENSA Board of Directors:

• President, Jim Levins, Rutland, VT
• Vice President, Cami Thompson-Graves, Thetford, VT
• Treasurer, Peter Hendel, Plymouth, NH
• Secretary, Tim Caldwell, Lyme Center, NH
• Rob Bradlee: Reading, MA
• Ellen Chandler: Bretton Woods, NH
• Judy Geer: Morrisville, VT
• Diane Halvorsen: Stowe, VT
• Bob Haydock: Concord, MA
• David Hosmer: Stowe, VT
• Kate Koch: Peru, VT
• Kerry MacDougal: North Conway, NH
• John Ogden: Landgrove, VT
• Walt Shpard: Freeport, ME
• Lucian Snow: Weston, MA
• Tiffany Teaford: Peru, VT
• Carol Van Dyke: Stowe, VT

About NENSA: The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) is the community Olympic development program for cross-country skiing in New England as well as the umbrella for most organized Nordic skiing events in the region. NENSA hosts over 50 events and more than 20 clinics for skiers and coaches at venues across the Northeast. Cross-country skiing, as practiced by our youth skiers and families, is a lifetime activity firmly rooted in New England tradition. Cross-country ski racing, as performed in the NENSA Eastern Cup series, and at our Championship Events, is a fast, explosive, and visually dynamic sport. Learn more a www.NENSA.net.

NENSA Mission Statement: It is the mission of the New England Nordic Ski Association to implement educational, recreational, and competitive programs at all levels of cross-country skiing. NENSA works to sustain a vital and active skiing community in New England, and to provide the support structure necessary to bring cross-country skiers to their highest potential at regional, national, and international events.