Our Board of Directors

Dana McGrath joined the Claremont community in 2021, drawn to the city by the affordable real estate and historic milltown aesthetic. She is a higher education professional working remotely for the online division of a private university. Her current full-time role includes establishing partnerships with employers and promoting student career readiness through virtual events and engagements. With a prior background in event coordination and skills in media arts, she enjoys creative opportunities to build community and promote the area's hidden treasures.  She is the founder and administrator of an informal Facebook group, Claremont Cooks, which has become supportive online community of food-lovers sharing recipes and culinary creations. To build local relationships and connections in-person, Dana has contributed her free time and skills as a volunteer on various Boards and Commissions including the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce, the City of Claremont Parks & Recreation Commission, Claremont Community Television, Claremont Opera House, and the EPA Grant Steering Committee for the Claremont Riverfront Project. Her main goal is to see Claremont thrive and to share her skills and passions with her new community and serve even a small part in its next renaissance. 

I am a semi-retired pastor and non-profit executive director. I served churches in NYS for over 20 years before going to work for Habitat for Humanity as an Executive Director in Santa Fe, NM, and North Central Massachusetts. In 2015,  my husband and I moved to Vermont to be close to our daughter and her family. I worked for 6 years as the ED for TLC Family Resource Center in Claremont. That was a job that equipped me well for the new title of grandmother to a 3 and a 5-year-old. Retiring from that work, I found myself pulled back into ministry at First Congregational Church in Claremont in 2022. For three years members of the church have been envisioning a new life for the 190-year-old Gothic Revival building on the corner of Pleasant and Glidden Streets. As a member of the church, I am excited to be helping to build a future for this building as a community hub in times when too many of our local church architecture is left vacant. 

Shawn Walch is passionate about building strong, inclusive communities where people can thrive. Based in Claremont NH, Shawn is a small business owner, farmer, and wellness practitioner who brings a creative, heart-centered approach to everything he does. Whether he’s sharing fresh products from his farm, offering Reiki shares, or supporting others through wellness consulting, his work is grounded in connection, care, and community.

For more than a decade, Shawn has been involved in a wide range of initiatives aimed at revitalizing the Claremont community and was awarded the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year award in 2023. He is dedicated to creating meaningful spaces for collaboration, healing and growth. He is also a founding member of the Claremont Growers Collective and deeply values the power of local connections to nourish both people and place. Shawn is proud to serve on the board of The Well Collaborative NH, and to be part of a growing circle of neighbors reimagining what’s possible for Claremont’s future. 

Gabriel St. Pierre is a third-generation North Charlestown resident and heavy equipment operator. He has been a member of numerous boards and committees over the last 20 years, including school board, school budget committee, and hospital board. His involvement in the recovery community led him to becoming a founding member of The Well Collaborative. Outside of volunteering, he enjoys spending time with his wife and critters, working in their gardens, walking through the woods, Jeeping, and paddling on the Connecticut River. 

Matthieu Allen Fortier serves as the Strengthening Families Coordinator for Claremont through New Hampshire childrens trust, where he is dedicated to fostering community engagement and supporting local families. In this role, Matthieu organizes and hosts monthly Family Cafés, providing a welcoming space for parents to connect, share experiences, and exchange valuable parenting insights. Additionally, he hosts a parenting podcast that brings together local parents for meaningful conversations, highlighting their lived experiences and wisdom. Through these initiatives, Matthieu aims to strengthen family bonds and build a supportive, informed community.