Bios

Diane Bahrenburg, who lives in North Hero, has been the chairperson of the CIFS board of directors since its inception. She is dedicated to eliminating food insecurity in the Champlain Islands and working with others to strengthen our community.

 I am a 30 + year resident of Grand Isle, where I live with my husband John.  We raised two children in Grand Island and both children attended Grand Isle School.

In 2020, I retired after 40 years as an Early Childhood Special Educator/Pre-K teacher in Essex Junction.

I have been fortunate to volunteer at the Champlain Islands Food Shelf (CIFS)since 2020. First under the guidance of Judy and Bob Ayers. I truly enjoy getting to know and see the customers at the CIFS each time I volunteer.

I am also fortunate to serve on the CIFS Board, working with other Champlain Island Residents and Community partners to ensure that the CIFS continues to provide for our Island neighbors.

The dedication of those in our community to support our neighbors continues to inspire me!

Laurie Redell (Secretary)

Former logistics manager in Commodities,  I have been freelancing as a bookkeeper for the last 20 years, helping small business owners keep track of their finances in addition to teaching French.

We Started coming every year to the islands in 2005, loved it so much that we bought a home in 2018.

I am happy to be handling the books of CIFS, an amazing and growing organization that helps many families on the islands.

Feel free to talk to me in French, German, Italian or English, having lived half my life in Europe. 

You might see me around the islands walking with Tom, my husband and our cairn terrier, Polly.

Bettina Speyer (treasurer)

Alisha Utter grew up in New York's Hudson Valley, eventually moving to California to earn a degree in Environmental Policy/Marine Science from UC San Diego. Today she lives and farms in Grand Isle, VT where she grows vegetables, fruit, herbs, and cut flowers at Arbor Farmstead. She also used to operate Arbor Farm Market in South Hero, a shop specializing in local produce and Vermont products. Alisha got her PhD at UVM in the Plant and Soil Science Department. She serves on various agricultural boards, including the Working Lands Enterprise Board and the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association. Alisha is passionate about food access and is looking forward to joining the Champlain Islands Food Shelf board. In her free time, you can find her wildcrafting, hiking with her rescue dogs, or cooking. 

Hello Champlain Islands Community! 

My name is Whitney Doremus and I am so grateful to be the manager of the Champlain Islands Food Shelf. I live in South Hero with my spouse Shannon Lowe and my kiddos, Charley and Jude. Shannon and I moved to South Hero from Colchester in 2020, when Charley was just two weeks old, because we wanted to raise our family in this very special place. I have spent over two decades working with dogs and their people and running multiple dog-related businesses in various states. Through losing my business during covid, I have found the joy in keeping things simple, and focusing on my family and my community. I look forward to getting to know each person that is connected the Champlain Islands Food Shelf.

Josie Leavitt is the former State Representative for the Grand Isle-Chittenden district. The local issue of food insecurity has deeply moved Josie to become a volunteer and Board member of the Champlain Islands Food Shelf. Josie is also on the Grand Isle Select Board. She is the book manager at Hero's Welcome as well being one of the founders of the Flying Pig Bookstore. In her spare time, Josie is a stand up comic and storyteller.

As one of the newest members on the board at Champlain Islands Food Shelf I am grateful for the opportunity to serve with this vibrant group of men and women. Being invited on to the board has given me the opportunity to serve the community of Grand Isle County, which is also where I live. I strongly adhere to the concept of neighbors helping neighbors. 

I live in South Hero with my husband and two dogs and have been here for over eight years. I have been a practicing psychotherapist for the last 30+ years and I am dedicated to helping those in need. 

 As a focus of my role on the board, I look forward to broadening the roles of volunteers and continuing to make the experience of being a volunteer at our food shelf be a wonderful one.

Gale Pekar

I started volunteering at the Food Shelf in the Spring of 2023 after a long career serving Vermont communities. A wonderful way to ease into retirement! Directly after college, I spent seven years at Howard Bank in Burlington before deciding to focus my energies in the public sector. I served as Executive Director of Green Mountain Prevention Projects, a statewide substance abuse prevention program for teens, from 1991-1994. I then began her 22-year career at United Way of Northwest Vermont. In 2017, I was honored to serve as Deputy Secretary of Vermont Agency of Human Services for Gov. Scott. In January 2020, I became CEO at Wake Robin, a life-plan community for older adults in Shelburne Vermont. I retired in 2023 and haven’t looked back! 

Martha Maksym

Jordan has been the Executive Director of CIDER since 2022 and has served on the CIFS board since its inception. He is passionate about advocating for Islanders and fighting to ensure they have access to the same quality of life and services as its mainland neighbors.