Leading us and guiding us.
BVHC’s Board of Directors is comprised of devoted individuals who volunteer their time and energy to provide the Center with ongoing guidance and leadership. The majority of our Board members have been BVHC patients, so their leadership reflects the interests, issues, and concerns of the people we serve. The Board of Directors are vested with ultimate responsibility for the fiduciary management of BVHC, and to ensure that the Center fulfills its mission. Volunteers often work behind the scenes without much recognition. We would like to publicly thank our incredible Board.
- James Blanchard, Arlington, VT, 2019
- Christine Bongartz, Manchester Center, VT, 2020
- Mary Ann Carlson, Arlington, VT, 2010
- Brian Cunningham, MD, Bennington, VT, 2015
- Carol Gottlieb, Ph.D, Dorset, VT, 2021
- Peter King, MD, Shaftsbury, VT, 2015
- Carol Kirkland, Arlington, VT, 2017
- Thomas Lenkowski, Pownal, VT, 2022
- Russell Leslie, Shaftsbury, VT, 2018-2023, 2024
- James Martinez, Hoosick Falls, NY, 2021
- Sebastian Massey, Arlington, VT, 2024
- Joseph O’Dea, Esq., Arlington, VT, 2022
- Kimberly Tenner, Manchester Center, VT, 2023
James Blanchard
Jamie has been serving southern Vermont as a member of law enforcement since 2004. He currently holds the rank of Lieutenant with the Manchester Police Department and is a member of the Career Development Center’s Law Enforcement Program board. Throughout Jamie’s career, he has worked to establish partnerships to enhance community well-being and looks to continue that work as a member of the BVHC board. He is committed to his family, his work, and his community. Jamie and his wife, Cat, have four children and have lived in Arlington since 2009.
Christine Bongartz
Chris worked for the Vermont Department of Health for 32 years before joining the Rutland County Supervisory Union in 2016. During her time at the Health Department, she collaborated with various community partners to enhance health outcomes in Bennington County. As a school nurse, Chris promoted health and wellness and connected families to community services. She was previously on the board of the Northshire Day School and currently serves on the board of Hunger Free Vermont. Throughout the years, she has been actively involved with numerous organizations across Bennington County. Now retired, Chris is enthusiastic about contributing to the advancement of health equity as a member of the BVHC board. She and her husband, Seth, have one adult son.
Mary Ann Carlson
Mary Ann is currently a self-employed psychotherapist and Reiki Master Teacher and practitioner. Previously, she worked as a Clinical Psychologist for children and their families at United Counseling Services for 14 years. Mary Ann volunteers her time to the Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, the Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, and Southwestern Vermont Medical Center as a Reiki volunteer. She has two adult children and is the proud grandmother to three.
Brian Cunningham, MD – Chair
Dr. Cunningham spent 36 years at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center as an internist. After retiring in 2014, he has been teaching at the Department of Medicine Residence Program at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. Previously, he served as a board member of the Bennington Area Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, as well as the board of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. Dr. Cunningham and his wife, Janice, have four grown children. They enjoy traveling and visiting their children and grandchildren.
Carol A. Gottlieb, Ph.D. – Secretary
Carol has worked in the field of psychology for over 30 years. Early in her career, she spent four years as an instructor at the University of Toledo, teaching psychology courses. Since 1995, Carol has been conducting individual, marital, and family psychotherapy through her private practice. In her free time, Carol enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and hiking. Carol and her husband live in Dorset and have three adult children.
Peter King, MD – Vice-Chair
Dr. King was the director of the Bennington Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic from 1997 to 2015. During his tenure, the Clinic grew from a small office on a bus to a practice with 25 employees. Currently, Dr. King serves as the medical director at the Vermont Veterans’ Home in Bennington, focusing on long-term care and medical services for older adults. He has also been a volunteer board member for the United Way and coordinated an afterschool music program at Molly Stark School. Dr. King and his wife, Dawn Dayton, have two adult children, and they are thoroughly enjoying their roles as grandparents.
Carol Kirkland
Carol is a retired instructor from Penn State University, where she taught courses in statistics and quantitative business methods. She now volunteers at Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home in Manchester. In addition to her work at Hildene, Carol has served on the national board of The American Chestnut Foundation and on the board for the VT/NH Chapter. She is also a long-time board member of the Trust for Wildlife, a local non-profit that promotes wildlife and habitat protection through conservation, research, and education. In her free time, she often travels to New Mexico to visit her son.
Thomas Lenkowski – Treasurer
Tom spent the majority of his 44+ year career as a chief financial officer for various health systems in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. During that time, he played an integral role in the strategic financial and facilities planning for health systems to prepare for changing technology and industry trends. Tom’s knowledge of the complexities of the health industry and the delivery of health care in a community setting will be invaluable to the BVHC board. Tom is also involved with the Bennington Performing Arts Center, the Bennington Rotary Club, and Bennington County Open Arms. Tom and his wife, Sharry, live in Pownal and enjoy traveling to visit their grown children and their families.
Russell Leslie
Russ is the co-founder and retired associate director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a Professor Emeritus of architecture at Rensselaer. He has authored numerous research reports, books, and articles on lighting, daylighting, architecture, and energy. Russ has been the project architect for over 100 buildings, developed and directed the National Lighting Product Information Program, and has served as a Director of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. Together with his wife, Janice, Russ lives in Shaftsbury and has four grown sons.
James Martinez
Jim started working in the banking industry in 1987. Since 2000, he has been the President of Tri State Area Federal Credit Union, responsible for managing nearly $40 million in assets. Jim has been a board member of the Hoosick Falls Health Center and the SVMC Regional Advisory Board, where he gained valuable insight into the challenges of healthcare in rural areas. He is committed to addressing the shortage of healthcare providers and is willing to invest the necessary time to make a difference. Jim, along with his wife and college-aged daughters, resides in Hoosick Falls, NY.
Sebastian Massey
Sebastian has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare technology with Optum Insight. As a product support manager, he has implemented radiology solutions in over 25 major hospitals, introduced quality assurance software in hospitals of all sizes, provided technical support at all levels, and managed a team that supports claims processing software. In addition to his professional work, Sebastian has volunteered with the US Peace Corps in Niger for two years, focusing on developing projects related to food security for low-income rural communities. Currently, he serves on the Arlington Planning Commission. Sebastian values BVHC’s impact on the community and industry and is pleased to contribute his expertise in a localized way. He lives with his wife, Jessica, and their two young children in Arlington.
Joseph O’Dea, Esq.
After graduating from Vermont Law School, Joe practiced law in Manchester from 1978 until his retirement in October of 2021. Throughout his career, he provided a wide range of legal services, including adoptions, estate administration, litigation, and family law. Joe has also been actively involved in various boards such as the Friends of Hildene Board, the Arlington School Board, and the Arlington Nursing Association Board. One of his most significant roles was representing the Board at United Counseling Services of Bennington, which he held for over thirty years. Joe found it fulfilling to work with the UCS team and was consistently amazed at the impactful work they did with the marginalized population of Bennington County. Joe and his wife, Sandy, have four adult children and eight grandchildren and have been proud residents of Arlington since 1978.
Kimberly Tenner
Kim was a teacher and school administrator for 37 years in Vermont and Texas before retiring in 2021. She developed a passion for literacy, gifted education, and mentoring during her career. After retiring, she started volunteering with several local organizations, including Neighbor to Neighbor, where she also serves as a board member, The Community Food Cupboard, Meals on Wheels, and the Medical Reserve Corp. In her free time, Kim enjoys downhill skiing, baking, reading nonfiction, and traveling. She lives in Manchester with her husband, Art.