Dan was a Groton, MA resident for thirty years before recently relocating to Rhode Island. He retired in 2009 after over twenty-five years of founding and growing global, high-tech service organizations in the Boston area. Currently, Dan spends time investing in and helping new companies in the Medical Technology arenas, while also donating time to nonprofit boards. As board president, he assists Cultivate in broadening their healing reach into the community, and furthering their leadership and recognized expertise in Farm-Based Therapy.

Susan retired from Middlesex Community College in 2017 as the Associate Dean of Student Support Services. She teaches college courses focused on developmental disabilities and special education and positive psychology and is an Independent Professional Development Consultant for students and teachers. She uses her extensive background in disability support and education training to help facilitate students; transitions to higher education. Her consulting website is www.susanbwoods.com. In her spare time, Susan enjoys traveling, outdoor adventures at her home in Sunapee, NH entertaining, theater, and supporting the important work of Cultivate Care Farms.

Elaine Stark is Vice President of Quality and Compliance at Square Medical Group, a leading provider of comprehensive behavioral mental health services based in Watertown, MA. Prior to joining Square Medical in 2014, she was the Executive Director of the Boston Institute for Psychotherapy (BIP) for ten years and previously served as Chief Administrative Officer for New England Psychiatric Consultants, P.C. (NEPC). She brings significant expertise and experience in program development, contract procurement and administration, federal and state regulations, and healthcare accreditation requirements, gained through work in government, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. Elaine earned a BA from Assumption College with a double major in Psychology and Social Rehabilitation, and a Master of Liberal Arts from Harvard University with a concentration in Psychology. Long a proponent of the healing power of nature, Elaine is an avid gardener, kayak enthusiast, and outdoor explorer. She looks forward to continuing to use her expertise in the mental health field to promote the vision of Cultivate Farms and extend its farm-based therapy programs to greater numbers of children and adolescents.

Paul is the Vice President of Business Development at Allied Universal and holds both a JD and LLM from Suffolk University Law School. With experience ranging from human resources to coaching law school trial teams, Paul provides Cultivate with legal and business advising.

Dr. Louisa Sylvia is a staff psychologist and associate director at Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation at Massachusetts General Hospital, director of the Office for Women’s Careers at Massachusetts General, and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Sylvia’s major research interests are developing resilience and wellness programs for individuals with mood disorders. She has received funding to develop in-person, therapist-administered lifestyle and sleep interventions for individuals with serious mental illness as well as online, self-directed programs to increase physical activity and overall wellness.

Joe spent the early part of his career as a CPA at a large international accounting firm. Subsequently, he spent over 30 years in the investment management industry. He held the positions of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at several S.E.C. registered investment advisers in Boston during this period. In 2021, Joe, his wife, and his dogs relocated to Vermont where they take advantage of great year-round activities. Currently, Joe is working with the Department of Financial Regulation for the State of Vermont. He feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to use his professional experience to benefit the farm and the fantastic work it does.

Dave is a Customer Experience Executive with over 20 years of experience. He is passionate about building resilient, adaptable teams to exceed expectations while achieving business objectives. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and lifelong animal lover, Dave takes his commitment to the community seriously and was drawn to Cultivate because of its mission to empower clients and the community in realizing their mental health goals through Farm-Based Therapy. The husband of a therapist and a former volunteer for the MSPCA Nevins Farm, Cultivate provides a melding of two areas he strongly supports. Dave moved to Hudson with his wife, son, and their Great Dane seven years ago and he enjoys spending time with family, golf, and all things Geek culture.

Dave started and finished a 30-year career in Insurance and Risk Management. His 2nd career is working towards wetland and natural resource protection.

Dave has served and continues to serve on a number of Boards and Commissions. As a part of this interest, he has developed, and encourages, outreach and environmental education.

Kirsten serves as the COO and Senior Consultant at Principal Gift Solutions LLC, a nonprofit advancement consulting firm based in Boston and Oakland, California. With a 30-year career in communications and marketing, she excels at crafting strategies that drive organizational transformation. Kirsten is passionate about tackling challenges that have the potential to create positive change in the world. Beyond her professional achievements, Kirsten’s true measure of success is creating social impact, reflected in her service on the board of Cultivate Care Farm and volunteering as a rape crisis counselor for Bay Area Women Against Rape in Oakland. A world traveler and lifelong learner, she brings a global perspective and infectious enthusiasm to all her endeavors. Kirsten lives in one of Stow’s historic farmhouses with her husband, Spencer, their two daughters, Teagan and Sigrid, and two rescue dogs, Desmond and Douglas. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, podcasting, and reading