Board and Committees

Rev. John Whitley has a BA in Religious Studies from Florida State University, a Masters from Yale Divinity School, and a Th.D. in Old Testament from Harvard Divinity School. He serves as the pastor at Milford United Methodist Church, and also has backgrounds in Youth Ministry, teaching, publishing, and writing. As a teacher, John was awarded the Harvard University Certificate for Distinction in Teaching and, as a writer, was awarded the Regional Scholar Award by the Society of Biblical Literature. John has written scholarly articles on biblical interpretation for top journals in the field and has worked as an editor for the Harvard Theological Review and for the academic publisher Walter De Gruyter. John’s wife and three children are his greatest joy and he also enjoys reading, woodworking, and fly fishing.

Debbie learned about Wanakee after she became a member of the East Parish UMC in Salisbury MA. Her daughter, Courtney, attended Wanakee for several years, has been a volunteer and staff member. Debbie and her husband, Steve, have both volunteered as camp directors ("Build This" and "Games, Games, Games"). For 16 years, Debbie was a member of the Triton Regional School Committee. Currently, she runs a personal training studio in Salisbury, is on the East Parish Worship Committee, and is a volunteer foster "parent" for the Merrimac River Feline Rescue Society. Her spring/summer/fall "hobby" is vegetable gardening.

Mara has been involved at Wanakee as a camper, summer staffer for 7 seasons, and member of the Program Committee since 2016. Her favorite event of the year is the Wanakee Wilderness 5K and Homecoming BBQ. Mara currently works in admissions at the University of Vermont, and in her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, and playing hockey.

Pastor Michelle has served at Leominster United Methodist Church (MA) since 2018, where she was appointed after earning her Master of Divinity degree from Boston University while receiving her on-the-ground training with the homeless in Boston. Michelle first experienced Wanakee in 2022, when she volunteered as a Chaplain for a week while sharing in the camp experience with children and youth from her congregation. As a Pastor, Michelle is passionate about Biblical preaching, social justice, and empowering ordinary Christians to join in with God’s extraordinary mission in the world. Pastor Michelle was born and raised in Texas, but now proudly identifies as a New Englander. She loves spending time outdoors, cooking, eating, cultivating friendships, and exploring new places with her family. She lives in Leominster with her husband Jon and daughter Esme.

Courtney was introduced to Wanakee at age 10 by her pastor’s son, and developed a quick, faithful bond to Wanakee which has remained strong throughout her 20+ years as a camper, volunteer, and staff member. Her roots began in the Salisbury, MA East Parish United Methodist Church. As a young adult, Courtney spent her college and graduate school summers working and volunteering at camp. Courtney is a pediatric speech-language pathologist working in the Triton Regional School District.

Jessica has over 10 years of experience in early childhood education, having worked in accreditation and best practice, event management, and organizational development. Jessi was a Wanakee camper for most of her adolescent years and a staff member from 2006-2009, and has volunteered in many capacities. When asked about Wanakee, Jessi says “it’s amazing to witness strangers unite as family within hours of arriving at Wanakee.” She has innumerable positive memories of being unplugged and enjoying time with others around a campfire, and is passionate about providing youth those special moments to learn and grow in new ways. Her love for camping and retreat ministries lead her to serve on committees and the Board of Directors.

Nancy Hartmann has over 40 years as a youth development professional working in camp administration, non profit work youth organizations and private independent schools. Nancy was first introduced to camp through her parent’s leadership of their United Methodist Church Day Camp for 10 summers, and has subsequently worked in virtually every camp role, from counselor to multi-site camp administrator. To say that the joy of camp runs deep in Nancy’s veins is no exaggeration.

Nancy’s introduction to Wanakee came with the excitement of the Merrimacport UMC youth group’s love of their Wanakee summers and weekend retreats, and as an American Camp Association Standards Instructor while Wanakee worked toward ACA accreditation in the early 2010s.

Nancy holds a B.S. in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Missouri and a M.A. in Human Resource Development from American International College. She is currently the Chair of the American Camp Association National Standards Commission, and has served on the Boards of the Massachusetts Camp Association (President), Newburyport Choral Society, Merrimacport UMC Church Council Chair, Merrimacport UMC Youth Group Leader, and Chair of the New England ACA Standards Committee. In February 2023, Nancy was awarded the American Camp Association National Service Award. Nancy is currently employed as the Pike School Auxiliary Operations Manager in Andover, MA.

Matt did not grow up as a camper, but very quickly became a parent of campers after being exposed to Wanakee through his church – Aldersgate UMC in Chelmsford, MA. The summer (and winter) camps became such an important part of his children’s lives but also had a profound effect on the whole family. Matt has been a finance professional his entire 30-year career and enjoys road cycling during his free time. After growing up in Pittsburgh then spending 18 years in central Ohio, he became a “New Englander” in 2013. He lives in Chelmsford with his wife, Angela and children, Amelia (when she’s on break from UNH), Declan and Finnian.

Amelia was first introduced to Wanakee at four years old when she attended You N’ Me with her mom and has been going back ever since! She worked on staff for 5 summers in a variety of roles and developed a strong passion for community building and faith development– two pillars of the Wanakee experience. This passion led her to earning her master’s in public administration from the University of Vermont and to her current position in operations at the American Camp Association New England. Amelia serves as the Chair of Wanakee’s Communications Committee, and represents the Board on that subcommittee. Wanakee has influenced Amelia’s entire life in so many positive ways, and joining the board is a way for her to give back to a community which has given so much to her while ensuring campers can enjoy our beautiful spiritual place in the hills for many years to come.

Kimberly (Kimi) Macdonald first came to Wanakee as a camper in the 1990s, then as a volunteer and staff member in the early 2000s. She holds a BFA degree in Graphic Design and is expected to graduate in May 2023 with an MS in Advertising degree from Boston University College of Communication. She is currently the Director of Communications at the Boston University School of Theology, the oldest Methodist seminary in North America, and previously worked in the financial industry as a vice president of creative services at an institutional investment firm in downtown Boston. Kimi is passionate about Wanakee's mission of radical acceptance, and is excited to dedicate her gifts and professional experience to Wanakee's community in this capacity. In her free time, she enjoys painting, singing, watching historical documentaries, exercising, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Matt is the Assistant Director of Recreation and Facilities in Laconia's Parks and Recreation Department where he runs the city's Summer Day Camp, five beaches, and smaller programs throughout the year. Matt has been a camper, staff member and volunteer since 1993. Wanakee has played such a major part of Matt’s life and he appreciated the incredible impact that Wanakee has on so many young people.