Vermont
SBC VT
Board of Directors
Laura Bowe
Board Member
Laura is a highly experienced real estate professional with over 30 years in sales and marketing. She is currently with Polli Properties. Laura is known for her exceptional client service and expertise. Her extensive career includes roles with WCAX, Church Street Marketplace, Chittenden Bank, and Comcast Spotlight, and she is deeply involved in community organizations such as the Burlington Business Association and Sail Beyond Cancer VT. Known for her unwavering dedication and extensive network, Laura has built lasting relationships, making her a trusted advisor for home buyers, sellers, and relocating families. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her partner Mike and their dog, Mookie. Laura grew up in Maine, moving to Vermont to attend St. Michael’s College and decided to make Vermont her home. Her journey with cancer started when her twin sister's daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 2 &1/2 in 2001. She has been volunteering for nonprofits related to cancer causes ever since.
Cari Kelley
Board Member
Cari Kelley has over 30 years of non-profit experience and is currently the Workplace Donor Relations Manager at the United Way of Northwest Vermont. She works with business and nonprofit partners in engaging in the Community Campaign and developing Workplace Giving strategies prior to United Way, Cari was at the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and ran all Workforce Development and Training Programs, such as Leadership Champlain. In 2017, Governor Phil Scott appointed her to the State Rehabilitation Council, which she currently serves on and is a member of the Advocacy and Education Committee.
Chris von Trapp
Board Member
Chris began sailing at the ripe old age of 8 years, with his family on their 19’ Lightening class sloop on Natrraganset Bay, RI. At times those outings were a bit frightening but inspite of that experience, he caught the sailing bug and has never looked back. More recently, Chris joined Lake Champlain Yacht Club and purchased his current sailboat, a 1978 Tartan 37 in 2013. During the years that SBC did not have their own dedicated sailboat, Chris hosted many sails on the SeavT to show support for the mission of Suzanne Johnson and Sail Beyond Cancer. When not on the water, Chris is a top-producing real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman. As the founder and lead REALTOR® of the Chris von Trapp Team, Chris has assembled a team of four highly skilled & licensed real estate professionals to provide clients with a seamless transaction experience. Chris is also a proud member of the internationally recognized von Trapp family, depicted in the classic movie, “The Sound of Music.” Like his grandparents, who settled their family in Vermont decades ago, Chris has raised his 3 children here and enjoys the outdoor life with his wife, Kelly.
Whit Wales
Board Chair
Whit believes that resilience is fostered by acceptance and that acceptance often arises when an experience transcends our attachment to a given situation. He has come to understand that for many people sailing provides that transcendent experience.
"In my involvement in Sail Beyond Cancer, I have had the privilege to share and document through photography and film people whose perspective on their physical and mental state, as well as their relationship with others, has been transformed - and for the better - by simply being able to breathe and break bread with family members and friends on a boat powered by wind, water and sail. As current board chair, I am determined to create greater awareness and to help bring as many people in this region as possible to a Sail Beyond Cancer experience."
Dr. Peter Gunther
Board Member
Dr. Peter Gunther, MD is an internal medicine specialist in South Burlington, VT. He currently practices at Good Health PC and is affiliated with University Of Vermont Medical Center. He served on the board of directors of the Community Health Center of Burlington and was the board chair of HealthFirst, Vermont’s Independent Practice Association. His clinical interests include comprehensive health care, prevention and health promotion.
Peter Newman
Board Member
Peter joined Merrill in 2014, after 28 years working on Wall Street. His focus is on developing tailored strategies to help pursue short- and long-term goals for a select group of high-net-worth individuals, their families, and their businesses. Peter has been personally touched by cancer, has been a passenger on several of our mission sailing excursions, and absolutely loves our mission!
Jeff Small
Board Member
Jeffery D. Small graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting in 1979. He worked for a small local accounting firm based in Montpelier, Vermont for 6 years, then a large accounting firm in Burlington, Vermont for 3 years. In 1987 he started his own accounting practice based in Burlington, Vermont. Jeffery and his wife Martha reside in South Burlington, Vermont after living in Shelburne, Vermont for 25 years. In his spare time, Jeff likes to golf and has been a member at the Burlington Country Club for the past 25 years. Jeff has also served on the board of the Lund Family Center for 16 years and has also served on the boards of: Spectrum Youth Services, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, Vermont Children's Trust and Very Merry Theatre.
Jeffery D. Small has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1988 and also earned the designations of ABV - Accredited in Business Valuation, CVA - Certified Valuation Analyst, CFF - Certified in Financial Forensics. He has also testified in various courts around Vermont and New Hampshire as an expert witness in regards to financial and valuation issues. He also produced a course for the Vermont Association for Justice which focused on Business Valuation and financial matters in Divorce proceedings for trial lawyers.
Sail Beyond Cancer
Vermont
Sail Beyond Cancer VT, Inc.
EIN 85-1000939 (501c3)
info@sailbeyondcancer.org
802.825.WIND (9463)
