Ronald Hurd
President
Ron has always been a strong advocate for the youth and children in the North Worcester County region and feels that an excellent education enables students to overcome many of society's challenges. Over the years, he has served numerous organizations in the region as a director and officer including the Montachusett Regional YMCA, Children's Aid and Family Services, MultiService Center, HealthAlliance Hospital, ARC Community Services, Thayer Symphony Orchestra and Community Music School, United Way of North Central Massachusetts, and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. He is a graduate of the University of Maine's College of Education and has an Associate Degree in Architecture from Wentworth Institute. In 2000 he retired as President and CEO of Fitchburg Mutual Insurance Company and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Norfolk & Dedham Group and is Chairman of the Board of Family Federal Savings. Ron and his wife Dorcas reside in Westminster. All four of their children are graduates of Oakmont Regional High School.

Christopher Wells
Vice-President
Christopher is a graduate of Oakmont Regional High School and a lifelong resident of Ashburnham. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Ashburnham Area Basketball League and the Board of Incorporators for the Worcester Housing Alliance. He is involved in coaching youth basketball and baseball. Christopher and his wife, Jennifer, have three children in the Ashburnham Westminster Regional School district. He has been active in fundraising for the Massachusetts Special Olympics, local sports programs, North Central MA Community Foundation, the Jimmy Fund and many other organizations. Christopher is the Executive Vice President at DS Graphics Inc. in Lowell, MA. He is a graduate of Tufts University with a dual degree in Economics and Spanish. He is proud to be a product of the Ashburnham-Westminster community and is committed to helping the youth of our community achieve their goals.

Kenneth Caron
Treasurer
Ken is a semi-retired CPA with 50+ years in accounting and continues to be associated with Reagan & Co LLP. In his service to not-for-profit organizations, he was Treasurer of Nashua Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Childrens Aid and Family Services and continues as Treasurer for the Fitchburg High School Alumni Association, Fitchburg Sister Cities (Foreign Exchange Program), Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority (Industrial Development) and the Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District.

Beth D’Onfro
Secretary
Beth moved to to the center of Westminster 20 years ago to raise her family after a career in computer software training in Portland, Oregon and Boston. Her youngest daughter will graduate from Oakmont this spring. She has been on 2 school councils, involved with the Friends of Forbush Memorial Library and is presently serving her second term on the Library Board of Trustees. She is a past board member of WAVE (Westminster Ashburnham Value Education). Beth graduated from Miami University with a B.A. in physics.

David M. Christianson, Jr.
Director
Dave grew up in Ashburnham and is a 1979 graduate of Oakmont Regional High School. He and his wife Lynn have 2 children in college, both of whom also graduated from Oakmont. As a product of our local schools, Dave is committed to giving back to the schools and communities that gave him his start. Ensuring the quality of public education in our school district is one of his highest personal priorities. He is a member of the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee, and has been its chairperson since 2004. Over the years, Dave has served on several town committees, and has been active as a coach and fundraiser for various youth sports and school support groups. He is also currently the chair of the Mount Wachusett Community College Business Advisory Board. Dave is a founder and Chief Financial Officer of Concordant, Inc., a provider of professional IT services for the healthcare industry. Dave received his A.B. in Political Science from Boston College, and his M.S. in Management from Fitchburg State College.

Marie Heath
Director
Marie moved to Westminster two years ago upon retirement from MIT Lincoln Laboratory. She holds an AAS degree from Fulton Montgomery Community College, a BA in physics and an MS degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. Though the Heaths have no children of their own, Marie understands the value of a quality education and how much our youth can achieve given the opportunity and inspiration to do so. She also volunteers at the Community Food Pantry in Westminster and is a member of the Wachusetts Writers and Poets Club.

Walter Heath
Director
Originally from Michigan, Walter graduated from the University of Michigan with an MSEE degree. Before retirement he was employed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory for twenty-five years designing and building air traffic control prototype systems for the FAA. He and Marie moved from Concord to Westminster in 2007. He also volunteers at the Westminster Community Food Pantry. The beneficiary of substantial support for his education, Walter is pleased to be able to reciprocate for the current generation of students.

Luci Hynes
Director
Luci and her husband Rob moved to Westminster 5 years ago because they knew there was something special about the schools there. She joined the Foundation primarily because she believes the community has a responsibility in aiding our dedicated teachers provide our children the best possible educational experience. Luci has 2 children, Lucas (10), who attends Westminster Elementary School and Cathryn (6), who attends Meetinghouse School. She enjoys being part of their school experience, whether it be volunteering in the classroom, chaperoning a field trip, or sitting on the bleachers to watch a baseball game. She received her B.A. in Biological Sciences from Rutgers and her M.A. in Biological Sciences from St. John’s University. Luci has been a quality assurance professional in an number of industries for over 20 years and recently started working as a QA Lead at Bristol Myers Squibb in Devens.

Robert Latour
Director
Bob grew up in Gardner where he married Phyllis and started a family. Ten years ago Bob and Phyllis moved to Ashburnham to raise their family. They were impressed with the school system and liked what Ashburnham and Westminster had to offer to a growing family. Bob has coached his children and others from Ashburnham and Westminster in Soccer and also assisted in a number of different sports. His two children have grown up in the Ashburnham Westminster school system. His daughter, Emily, is currently at Oakmont and his son, Justin will be graduating from Overlook this spring. Bob graduated from the University of Lowell and received a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He has been fortunate to work close to home in a number of engineering and management positions. Recently he has completed his MBA from Assumption College. Bob is currently involved with a new company, Propell Energy, located in Jaffrey, NH. Propell is a wholly owned subsidiary of New England Wood Pellet. Bob understands the financial strains the school system faces and believes the Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Academic Excellence is focused to help aid in the academic achievement of all the children from the two towns.

Cathy McDonald
Director

Gary McDonald
Director

Margaret 'Peg' Romano
Director

Jennifer Shenk
Director
Previously active in land preservation in Westminster, Jennifer welcomes the opportunity to work with community members who are committed to promoting academic excellence.  Jennifer has three children who have graduated from Oakmont and three others who are currently students at Meetinghouse and Westminster Elementary Schools and Overlook Middle School. A graduate of Franklin Pierce College with a B.A. in graphic design and sociology, Jen previously worked for Little, Brown and Company Publishers in Waltham, MA. She is currently Editor of Community Vine, a bi-weekly electronic newsletter and website for and about Westminster and the surrounding area.

J. Michael Sunderland
Director
Michael worked for 33 years as an educator in Gardner and Ashburnham-Westminster. He has held positions as a social studies teacher, reading specialist, and building administrator. He served as principal of Overlook Middle School for four years before retiring in 2006. Michael, his wife Deborah, and their daughters moved to Westminster in 1986. Their children are all graduates of Oakmont. In addition to his professional duties Michael has been a member of the Westminster Lions since 1997, held Deacon and Trustee positions in the First Congregational Church of Westminster, was a member of the Oakmont Booster Club, co-founded the Westminster Biddy Basketball program, and chaired the Magical Maze Playground Committee, among other community activities. He looks forward to helping the staff and students of Ashburnham and Westminster attain academic excellence through his association with the Foundation.

Jennifer Wells
Director
Jennifer is a lifelong resident of Ashburnham and a graduate of Oakmont. She has a degree in occupational therapy from Worcester State College and owns Functionality Therapy Services. Jennifer has two children who are students at J. R. Briggs Elementary and one who is a student at Overlook Middle School. She is excited at the opportunity to contribute to the school district which has enriched her life and enhance the educational opportunities of the next generation.

Dr. Michael Zapantis
Director
Dr. Zapantis has been Superintendent of the Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District since 2003. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, his Masters in Education from Boston State College, and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from NOVA Southeastern University in Florida. Before coming to our school community, Dr. Zapantis served as Superintendent in South Hadley, MA and Deputy Superintendent in Pittsfield, MA. Prior to that, he held classroom and administrative positions in several curriculum areas at the local and state level. Dr. Zapantis is eager to work with the Education Foundation as this work will help supplement the school district with resources that will ultimately improve student learning and achievement.