Our staff may be small, but we are ready to get our hands dirty!

Meet the dedicated team that is eager to learn more about your business.

Anne Duncan Cooley
Chief Executive Officer

Anne is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of all GRDC operations including management of two business incubators, GRDC’s loan portfolio and programs, workforce development activities, business retention and recruitment efforts. Anne also works closely with Grafton County’s 39 municipalities to identify and achieve their unique economic development priorities.

Before joining GRDC, Anne Duncan Cooley was Executive Director of the Upper Valley Housing Coalition in Lebanon, focusing on workforce housing issues. After Tropical Storm Irene, Anne served as Chair of Upper Valley Strong, leading a multi-year collaboration of agencies, government, individuals and local organizations helping individuals in the region recover from the disaster. A longtime resident of Grafton County, Duncan Cooley has also volunteered in her community, including as a Board member and Chair of the Orford Selectboard, and was a longtime Director and Board Chair of Upper Valley United Way.

A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and Vermont Law School, Duncan Cooley practiced law with the firm of Stebbins, Bradley, Harvey and Miller in Hanover. She was honored in 2012 with the Granite United Way President’s award for her work with Upper Valley Strong, and in 2015 received the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Award. Anne is a member of the Leadership New Hampshire Class of 2008.

Bob Walker
Loan Officer

Bob is responsible for originating, analyzing and managing loans within the GRDC loan portfolio. He works regularly with businesses throughout Grafton County to help them navigate the commercial loan process and find the financing they need.

Bob is a retired banker who joined GRDC in 2007, with 39 years of experience in banking and financial management. He also has 9 years of experience running his own business, having owned and operated a three store retail business in Vermont.

Karen Saunders
Bookkeeper

Karen joined GRDC in 2009 and is responsible for all aspects of bookkeeping. This includes maintenance and management of all financial transactions within the organization. Karen successfully organized and implemented the installation of internal software, which manages and organizes all loan client financial activity.

Karen also serves as the Treasurer for the Town of Gilford and enjoys bookkeeping for many local businesses and professionals.

GRDC Leadership

GRDC is led by a dedicated group of fifteen engaged volunteers who believe in a better future for Grafton County. They are diverse leaders; coming from many different industries, backgrounds, and geographic areas within Grafton County.

Board Chair

Steve Schneider
Executive Director Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commision 

Vice President

Russ Gaitskill
Retired President & CEO of Garnet Hill

Secretary

Todd Boucher
Principal at Leading Edge Design

Treasurer

Bruce Wiggett, Sr.
Adjunct Professor at Plymouth State University

Members of the board

Mark LaClair
Principal Owner of TotalScope Marketing, LLC

Bill Webb
Former Owner/Manager of The Inn on Golden Pond

Mike Alberts
Director of Organizational Development at New England Wire Technologies

Mike Ransmeier
Law Office of Michael M. Ransmeier

Sharon Beaty
President & CEO of Mid State Health

Terry Martin
Vice President of Commercial Lending at Mascoma Bank

Jeffrey Woodward
Managing Partner at Whales Tale Water Park & Alpine Adventure

Ingrid Moulton Nichols
Managing Partner at Banwell Architects

Bob Butson
Director of North Country Workplace Education Program