Meet the Board
David Roberts
David is the Adult Ed Coordinator at the Hannaford Career Center and has spent the last 25 years working in financial consulting, education and workforce development. David holds an Assistant Director of Adult Education License and a Master of Accounting. He enjoys gardening, raising chickens, baking and creating stained glass.
Gary Meffe
Gary is a retired Research Professor in Ecology and Conservation Biology, and has lived in Brandon with his wife Nancy since 2007. He has a long connection to the written word, having authored dozens of scientific papers and several textbooks. He is also the author of two Vermont-focused books, a novel and a collection of essays. Gary considers reading and writing to be critical and fundamental rights of a free and open society, and is honored to advance that vision on the BFPL Board of Trustees.
Bruce Ness
Bruce's parents were library board members for 30 years at a small library in Indiana so he was acquainted with the library early. From a career as an engineer in the building industry, his experience should be helpful with both building management for maintenance and repairs in addition to any expansion projects.
Courtney Satz
Courtney is native Vermonter who fell into a fantastical 15 year stint as a farmer’s wife managing farm life and two growing boys. She now spends her days designing for print, obsessing with growing plants, seeking adventure with her kids, and volunteering her spirit and talents to the community. Her love for “real” paper books is shared with her mom, the two of them passing favorite reads back and forth.
Nancy Iwanicki
Nancy lives in Leicester on a small Christmas tree farm with her husband and dog. She is a retired Land Surveyor, having worked for the Green Mountain National Forest for 36+ years. She enjoys most outdoor activities, but is also an avid reader. Her love of reading goes back to those Scholastic book fairs as a kid and working in her Mom's bookstore as a teenager.
Jill Doody
Jill and her family have lived in Brandon for over 16 years, and the library was one of the first places she visited after moving to town. A life-long lover of books and reading, she has worked in the library world for almost ten years, currently serving as the library assistant at Otter Valley. Along with reading, she enjoys baking, crafts, walking her dog, and playing games with her family. She feels that libraries are an essential part of any community, and is excited to work to further the mission and reach of BFPL.
Mat Clouser
Mat is a former fancy pants chef, bookseller, fantasy basketball analyst, and journalist who moved to Brandon in 2020. A two-time Vermont State Trivia Champion, and a graduate of The New England Culinary Institute and Goddard College, he currently does a bit of this and a bit of that, working as an artist, writer, editor, and social worker. Mat can sometimes be found at Red Clover on Friday nights answering silly questions and occasionally getting his math right.
Susan Johnson
Through Susan’s background in law and policy—and the related need to escape with fiction—she has carted a multitude of books from house to house and across the country. However, the evolving role of public libraries involves so much more than books and Susan wants to help make the BFPL a key component of Brandon’s social infrastructure to bring people together through needs and interests we have in common.
Elizabeth Russell
Liz moved to Leicester in 2020, and was immediately impressed by the positive and welcoming atmosphere of the community. She is a retired teacher and school counselor, with a love of reading and a strong belief in the mission of the public library. She lives with her husband, and dog, has three adult children, and enjoys her retired laying hens, gardening, playing ukulele, e-biking, and swimming in Fern Lake. Liz is thrilled to be part of the greater Brandon community, and eager to contribute to its continued success.
Pam Douglass
Pam is a native Vermonter, moving to Brandon in 1990 with her husband, Steve. Pam is a CPA, retiring in 2024, after co-owning a small firm in Rutland and practicing public accounting for over 30 years. She has enjoyed volunteering over the years at the local, state and national levels. She was a frequent flier at the library around the corner as a kid. Still reading books, she has a circle of fellow readers that pass the good ones along. Pam enjoys family, gardening, travel, games and baking.
Brooks Donnelly
Brooks moved to Brandon in the ‘90s and has taught high school history and worked at Keewaydin’s summer camp and Environmental Education Center. He loves working and playing outdoors, but when inside can be found in his woodworking shop, at the jigsaw puzzle table, or on the sofa reading. As a 3rd-generation Brandon Library patron, he has a deep appreciation for its history and its integral place in the community, and looks forward to helping continue its vital role in the future.
Linda Gebhard
Linda is a retired quality assurance auditor who worked predominantly with the animal health industry. She moved to Brandon in 2023 and is looking forward to contributing to the community by volunteering for the library board. Along with reading she enjoys cooking, creating art, and various outdoor activities.
Board Members
- David Roberts, Board President
- Gary Meffe, Vice President
- Bruce Ness
- Nancy Iwanicki
- Mat Clouser
- Courtney Satz
- Jill Doody
- Susan Johnson
- Elizabeth Russell, Secretary
- Pam Douglass
- Brooks Donnelly
- Linda Gebhard, Treasurer
- David Roberts, Board President
- Gary Meffe, Vice President
- Bruce Ness
- Nancy Iwanicki
- Mat Clouser
- Courtney Satz
- Jill Doody
