VERMONT
WELCOME WAGON
PROJECT
MEET THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM VWWP TEAM
The NEK chapter of the Vermont Welcome Wagon Project is a run by the Northeast Kingdom Young Professionals Network, a regional group that holds mixers and other events. The main purpose of the group is to serve the needs of young professionals, employees, leaders and entrepreneurs of the tri-county region, who are hoping to find networking and social opportunities with others in their area.
The NEK YPN recognizes the word young to be dynamic and professional to be inclusive. The YPN welcomes all to participate in the Welcome Wagon Project.
Learn more about hosting here.
Learn about participating as a new or returning Vermonter here.
Maire Folan
Maire moved to the NEK in 2014 from New Hampshire by way of Washington state. She is the Program Manager for Green Mountain Farm to School and a consulting Dietitian for the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging. Though Maire feels right at home among Vermont’s rolling hills and vibrant local food scene, it took her awhile to build a community of friends and really feel connected. She joined up with the NEK Young Professional Network (YPN) in an effort to not only build her own social network but to help others overcome that barrier. She is excited to help launch the NEK chapter of the Welcome Wagon to compliment other efforts the YPN is doing to connect and support community members of the NEK.
Maire lives in Derby. You might find her digging into Vermont soils, swimming in beautiful NEK lakes, hiking in the forests or enjoying area ski trails.
Trisha Morley
Trisha was born and raised right in the NEK and never wants to leave! She has found a passion of creating life in the NEK from skiing, hiking, fishing, gardening and more. She works for Community Financial Services Group with their home office overlooking Lake Memphremagog.
She was raised specifically in Orleans, VT but now recently engaged and moved to Craftsbury, VT with her fiance. This event alone has helped her realize how vast the NEK really is. How different of a world 40 minutes down the road can be. All different people and different events, but it's the same great community. She wants to help you connect with that community through the Welcome Wagon project.
Gretchen Boswell
Gretchen grew up in Reading, VT and moved away to Oregon where she met her now husband, Ian, and convinced him to settle in Vermont with her. They moved to Peacham in 2017, and are always continuing to build community with support from neighbors. Gretchen and Ian organize the Peacham Fall Fondo, a fun 50-mile gravel ride in September and also enjoy camping, gardening, and cooking. Gretchen hopes to establish a community venue space in the old dairy barn on their property to be able to celebrate the NEK with both public and private events, barn dances, bike tours, and community farm-to-table dinners. In addition to working with the NEK Young Professionals Network as the Administrative and Communications Coordinator, Gretchen is a substitute teacher, contributor to The North Star, certified yoga teacher and behavioral coach.
Gretchen is eager to make folks moving [back] to Vermont feel comfortable and connected in this beautiful and tasty region!