Our Board of Directors

I grew up in Michigan, studying journalism at Central Michigan University, where I was a full-time reporter and editor on the school newspaper. I had a short run in the political world as a committee aide in the Michigan House of Representatives before going to photography school at the International Center of Photography. I have practiced photography as an artist ever since studying at the ICP and worked commercially for many years as an architectural photographer. I was on the faculty of the New York School of Interior Design for eight years, teaching graduate and undergraduate students. In 2017 my wife, Laura, and I relocated to Montpelier where we live quite happily and are raising our son, Emerson, who thrived at Turtle Island and is now an alumnae! Since moving to Vermont I have been involved with Burlington City Arts, and currently serve as BCA's Photography Studio Manager. In addition to managing BCA's digital and black-and-white photo labs, I teach adult photo classes and summer arts camps for kids.

Becca Gentile is a special educator and 504 coordinator at Montpelier High School. She has a BA in biology from Colorado College and an MBA from Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder. She previously worked at LivelyHoods, a small international nonprofit in Kenya but changed careers when she realized that teaching was her passion.

Becca believes in the power of education and time in nature. She knows that early childhood education is critical to building solid cognitive and emotional foundations and appreciates Turtle Island's commitment to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to learn, thrive, and explore nature. Becca lives in Montpelier with her partner, three children, and two dogs.

I am a retired pediatrician from Burlington, VT and grandmother of several Turtle students and graduates. Turtle Island is a wonderfully unique children’s center and I am excited to be able to help it grow and continue to serve local children and families. I now live in Waterbury with my husband, though I frequent Montpelier, where all four of my daughters and nine grandchildren live. 

David Hershey is a Family Support Home Visitor and Parents as Teachers Parent Educator with the Family Center of Washington County. He has a BA in Public Policy from Duke University and previously taught middle and high school Social Studies in Vermont, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. David lives in East Montpelier with his wife and three children.

Simone Labbance grew up in East Montpelier and returned to Vermont after living in Boston.  Turtle Island has been part of her sense of the community for a long time.  She grew up knowing families who were part of the center in its early days, and she has always appreciated the special place Turtle Island holds in the lives of Central Vermont families.  She is excited to support its continued growth and the community it brings together.

Simone works with nonprofits as the CEO of Impact Innovations, helping organizations share their stories, build relationships, and gather the philanthropic support they need to thrive. She is especially excited to bring that experience to Turtle Island as a member of the Development Committee.

As a parent, Simone is grateful for the care, creativity, and community that early childhood educators create every day at Turtle Island. She values time spent in nature and is excited for her daughter to grow up with opportunities to explore and appreciate it. Simone lives in East Montpelier with her husband, daughter, dog, and two cats.

Summers Long works as an Asbestos Inspector at Asbestos Inspections of Vermont. Prior to starting this company in 2020, he worked as an Environmental Consultant/Scientist in North Carolina. He has a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, with a minor in Geology. He lives in Montpelier with his wife, two children, and dog.

We are looking to grow the board! No experience required, just a belief in the mission and a willingness to work collaboratively.

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Why join the board?

• See the inner workings. 

• Build deeper connections. 

• Shape what's next. 

• Give back to the community. 

Time Commitment

• ~5 hours per month

• Flexible Terms: 1-year or 3-year term 

Questions? 

Email TurtleIslandBoard@gmail.com

Brian Senecal works as an Operations and Project Manager for Kroll Business Services where he oversees the implementation of a variety of technology solutions in the Enterprise Architecture group. He has previously worked for ABC News, The Blackstone Group, Angelo, Gordon & Co., and as a middle school English and assistant Special Education teacher. He holds a BS in Journalism from Boston University and lives in East Montpelier with his wife and two kids.