NHHS BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 2011

Julie Irwin – President

Julie Irwin has been a member of the NHHS Board of Directors since 2007.  She is now serving as board president as of March of 2011.  Julie has extensive experience serving the community in both professional and volunteer capacities.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire and her Master of Science degree from Teachers College, Columbia University.  Julie has been working as a speech-language pathologist for over 20 years in the specialty area of assistive technology.  She recently accepted a position as a regional sales consultant with TobiiATI, serving individuals with communication needs in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.  Most weekends in the winter, Julie can be found teaching in the adaptive ski school at Gunstock where she has volunteered for the past seven years.  Julie lives in Laconia and has two children, now in college, and her felines.

William Phenix – Vice President

Bill Phenix has been a NHHS board member since November of 2009. Bill is a Senior Marketing Consultant with Nassau Broadcasting, a regional radio station group including WLNH, WLKZ, WJYY, WNHW and WFNQ among others. He has worked in this field for over eight years and has recently returned to Nassau after five years with WXRV the River. Bill has a BA in History from the College of William and Mary in Virginia as well as a second BA from the University of Maryland at College Park in Social Studies Education. He brings to the board a wealth of contacts in the communities of Manchester, Concord and the Lakes Region. Originally from Detroit, Bill has made NH his home since 1999 and now lives in Concord with his wife Jane and their four cats: Jack, Sally, Beau and Digby—all of whom came from the NHHS shelter

Deb Carbone - Secretary

Deb Carbone has served on the NHHS Board of Directors since 2010, but was a volunteer at the shelter for 10 years from 1975 to 1985 receiving three awards for her work there. She has been involved in animal related issues her whole adult live. She has an Associates degree in Business Administration from NH Technical Institute and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management/Marketing from Franklin Pierce College. Deb is on the Marketing Committee for the Majestic Theatre in Manchester and is a board member for Bare Paws Rescue of Gilford. She grew up in Laconia and now lives in Loudon with her 13 year-old twin boys Connor and Casey; dogs Moose, Asa and Kiki; cats Willie and Cooper and gerbils Nutmeg and Coconut.

Wendy Palmquist

Wendy Palmquist is a Professor of Psychology at Plymouth State University. She also serves as the Director of the Frost Faculty Center for Learning and Teaching Excellence and Director of the First Year Seminar program.  She was the 2007 recipient of the Faculty Excellence in Service Award and the 2006 recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award. She has been at Plymouth State since 1981.

Her family has a long history of involvement in humane issues: her grandmother was active with humane organizations in Seattle, Washington and was given many honors for her work. Her mother worked with a small rescue effort that supplied the family with cats and dogs. Wendy first joined the New Hampshire Humane Society Board in November 1998 and served until June 2004. She returned in February 2006 and has served on the Finance Committee and most recently as Treasurer.

Jeffrey Cloutier

Jeffrey Cloutier joined the NHHS Board of Directors in the Spring of 2010.  Jeff is the owner of North American Reserve, LLC, a geologic and mining consulting firm that has been providing due diligence and technical services to the construction aggregate industry for over 20 years.  Jeff received a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of New Hampshire and is a licensed Professional Geologist.
Jeff is a native of NH and currently lives in Laconia after moving there in 1987.  He and his family have a long history of providing “forever homes” to shelter, stray, and abandoned animals.   Jeff’s household currently includes six stray and abandoned cats. 

Brenda Stowe DVM

Brenda Stowe is a veterinarian who, after graduating from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, founded Lakes Region Veterinary Hospital in 1992 and purchased Laconia Animal Hospital in 2000. She sold both of these hospitals to Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) in May of 2008 but has remained a full time practicing veterinarian at both hospitals. Her special interest is small animal surgery and reproductive medicine.
Brenda is a Corporator for Laconia Savings Bank, serves on the board of the Gilford Educational Endowment Fund, as well as on the Alumni Admissions Committee at Tufts University. She lives in Gilford on her 100 acre apple and blueberry farm, Stonybrook Farm, with her three human children, as well as her 3 canine and 2 feline children. Brenda joined the Board in March 2011.

Chris Volpe

Chris is Vice President and Chief Executive Officer at Melcher & Prescott Insurance Agency of Laconia, NH where he has specialized in Information Systems, Financial Management and Marketing.  Community non-profit and professional past and present affiliations include:  Winnipesaukee Skating Club, Board Member, Treasurer 2005-2006; Lakes Region Childcare Services, Finance Committee Member 2010 – Present; Professional Insurance Agents of NH, Board Member 2010 – Present.  Chris has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Boston College and a Master's Degree in Finance and Marketing from The University of Colorado.  Chris lives with his Fiancé and 4 adopted pets in Meredith, NH.

Jennifer M. Balkus

Jennifer Balkus has been an attorney for 14 years, and focusing her practice in family law for over 8 years.  She has been owner, and now partner with her husband John, at Balkus Law Offices PLLC in Concord since 2005.  She received her Juris Doctor from Franklin Pierce Law Center (now University of New Hampshire School of Law) and undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire.
Jennifer has lived in the Concord area for 30 years, and has 3 children and 2 grandchildren.  She has been the fortunate owner of several rescue cats and dogs.  Jennifer’s most recent addition to the rescue family was claimed, sight unseen, from a large shelter in Florida.  With the assistance and devotion of family members, this dog was picked up from the shelter, nurtured back to health, and driven all the way to New Hampshire.  Jennifer joined the Board in March 2011.

Mary G. Di Maria – Executive Director
Mary Di Maria has served as a volunteer at the New Hampshire Humane Society since 2002 as a foster home now to over 200 cats and kittens as well as being involved with events and fundraising. She served on the Board of Directors from 2007 to 2009 after which she assumed the role of Executive Director.  She previously owned an antique business in Meredith for 11 years and prior to that she worked on Wall Street for 18 years in various management positions in Operations and Human Resources. Mary was born and raised in NYC where she graduated from Pace University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She also received a Human Resources Certification from Cornell University.

Mary lives in Moultonboro with her husband of 27 years, Mark Diette and their 7 cats: Malcolm, Stinky, Rufus, Riley, Remy, Rocket Man and Winston along with the newest addition: Sampson the dog – all are former residents of the NH Humane Society.