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Maureen Gillis, President

Maureen Gillis earned her MG Certification with the Haddam Class of 2009 and her AMG in 2011. She is co-leader of the Middlesex County Focus Group, which manages the Model Community Garden at the Haddam Extension Center. In her former corporate life, Maureen was a CPA and Financial Services executive, having retired as President of a full service Broker/Dealer. She also has an MFA in Writing and is a published author (but prouder of the unpublished novel gathering dust on her desk!). After her retirement, Maureen created and currently operates an online vintage glassware business. She is the Web Administrator for the East Haddam Land Trust and has served as President, Vice President and Treasurer of several boards, including Hartford Interval House, Inc. and CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She is currently a member of the Rathbun Library Council in East Haddam. She enjoys experimenting in her large vegetable garden, trying new methods (such as overwintering) and unusual crops (celery root, horseradish...whatever! send her some suggestions!). Cooking and preserving her harvests has without doubt boosted Sears and CL&P stock prices.

Diane Ostheimer, Vice President

Diane Ostheimer received her MG Certification in West Hartford in 2003. She has been active in the association, creating the flyer and badges for the Annual Symposium for almost as long. Diane coordinated Symposium registration in 2010. A BFA in fine arts has added much to her ascetic appreciation of gardening along with, a more painterly approach to landscaping and view of the natural world. Diane’s former job was working with children where she created toddler gardens for 12 years. She is now in the midst of changing careers.

Toni Royal, Treasurer

Toni Royal received her Master Gardener Certificate in Tolland in 2006 after retiring from Corporate America, specializing in Personnel, Benefits, Pension and Marketing 401(k) pension plans and investment vehicles. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration, Saint Joseph College, Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) Designation and currecntly works part-time at her community library.

Toni is an active Board member of Vernon Garden Club for the past 6 years, where she has held several positions including Secretary and President as well as Chair of Junior Gardener program. She joins other Master Gardeners who volunteer at Channel 3 Kid’s Camp teaching children about gardening.

Tracy Burrell, Secretary

Tracy Burrell received her Master Gardener Certification in New London in 2008. She became an Advanced Master Gardener and a Master Composter in 2010. She is also a docent for Connecticut College's Arboretum. Over the last 100 years, Tracy’s family has managed to hold on to over 50 acres of forest in Charleston, RI, so she has a keen understanding of the challenges regarding preserving open space from development. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Tracy has been featured in several national publications, including Business Week, for her professional accomplishments.