GNAT-TV Board Members 2012

Patrick Monroe - President | Send E-mail

A Vermont resident since 1986. Patrick  is originally from Detroit Michigan, but has lived in Indiana, Maryland, and New Jersey before coming to Manchester. He started The Village Valet dry cleaner in 1990, which remained in business until 2007. Since then, he has served the community in various roles: Board of Directors of Manchester Health Services; Manchester Rotary Club; Bennington County United Way; Manchester Planning Commission. In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Mr. Monroe served as a corresponent for the Bennington Banner.



Kate Fox - Vice President | Send E-mail

Kathryn Fox, the Director of Operations for Casting  for Recovery, a national non-profit quality of life organization  for breast cancer survivors, is the former publisher of Vermont  Magazine and of Saratoga Living magazine. She has spent over twenty  years working in consumer and business-to-business magazine publishing,  including a stint as group publisher of American Angler, Fly Tyer, and  Saltwater Fly Fishing. Kate makes her home in Arlington, VT.



Ken Ax - Treasurer | Send E-mail

Ken has been a member of the Manchester community since 1965. He is President & CEO of Brook Valley Appliance, a retail and service center that sells major appliances, hot tubs and floor care. He is active in the Local First Vermont initiative and a former member of the Manchester Fire Dept. for 11 years. He is an active member and board member of the Manchester Lions Club and board member and clerk of the Manchester Health Services. Ken lives in Manchester with his wife Barbara who is currently pursuing her nursing degree along with their three children who are all also in college.



Marianne Kennedy | Send E-mail

Marianne Kennedy received her B.S. in Community Health from State University of New York, Empire State. Marianne worked in community health until she received her Juris Doctorate Degree from Vermont Law School in 1986. Marianne has practiced law in southern Vermont for many years. She also directed the Center for Restorative Justice. Marianne worked under an appointment for the Governor and was assigned as Special Assistant to the Commissioner for the Department for Children and Families. Currently she is the Director of the Stratton Foundation. She is currently Vice-Chair of the Board of the Battenkill Valley Health Center. Prior Board memberships include past Trustee, Long Trail School; Secretary of the Vermont Mediators Association; Director, Regional Affordable Housing Commission; Chair, Preservation Committee for the Northshire Court House. Marianne moved to Vermont in the ‘70’s from New York City. Her son, David, attended BBA and is an artist in New York City. She lives with her husband, Shane Sweet, and “Maggie”, the greatest Golden Retriever.


Jim Lind | Send E-mail

Currently a resident of Londonderry VT Moved from NJ 11 years ago. Operated a B&B, "The Inn at Three Ponds" for 5 years Assumed responsibility as Executive Director of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.



Jack McBride | Send E-mail








William Laberge | Send E-mail

With a history in the film and television industry, Bill provides the GNAT Board with a unique persepctive. Upon moving to NYC after graduating from UVM, he worked as a Gaffer and Best Boy on feature films and commercials for 6 years, before returning to to Vermont.

Bill owns his own business where he has been making hand-crafted furniture since 1990. Civic minded, he is involved in a number of community organizations, such as the Manchester and Dorset Chambers of Commerce and the Board of Directors for Frog Hollow Craft Center.

He was on the Planning Commission for the Town of Wells, where he served as respresentative to the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, and has been a member of several other boards, including the Dorset Church, Transition Town Manchester, and the Dorset Energy Committee.

Scoop Maginniss - Secretary | Send E-mail

L.W. (Scoop) Maginniss has been a part-time Vermont resident for over seven years and made Arlington his permanent residence last Fall. He was The President of Maginniss Properties Inc., a property management and brokerage firm in Reston Virginia. Also a licensed professional Auctioneer, he was under contract to sell excess property for The Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority since 1997. He has consulted with numerous charitable and non-profit organizations in organizing and conducting silent and live auctions.

Chuck Sharp | Send E-mail

Chuck Sharp resides in East Wallingford with his wife, Kim and 6 year old daughter, Kaitlyn.  In 1990, he received a Bachelor’s Degree from Creighton University, after spending 4 years in the United States Air Force in England and Omaha, Nebraska.

A Vermont native, Chuck returned home in 1996, and purchased an 1812 farmhouse where he and his family reside.

After 13 successful years as Executive Director of the United Way of Rutland County,  Chuck left the position and assumed a position as Brach Manager at the Berkshire Bank located on Richville Road in Manchester.

During his time at United Way, Chuck produced a show called “United Way at Work”, which highlighted agency representatives and the work of Rutland County nonprofit organizations. The experience gave Chuck a fresh perspective on professional efforts of PEG TV and the importance of community access television.

Dick Stillson | Send E-mail

With a professional background in community access television and boasting both technical and administrative experience, Dick has long been an active supporter of community based television.

Having worked in film, radio and television in Vermont, California and North Carolina, Dick applied his knowledge in commercial broadcasting to a fledgling local origination cable TV station in Bennington, producing  programming and advertising for the most active LO facility in New England. 

In the mid-80’s, Dick worked for Cox, Mountain Cable and Adelphia in marketing and local programming and served as Operations Manager for Adelphia’s Rutland access center.  During that time, he worked with a Board of Directors, through access television and was also involved in the initial Public Service Board hearings to determine cable’s local access responsibilities to their subscribers.

With this background, Dick understands the importance of a dedicated staff and the vision of enlightened leadership in creating a culture of broad inclusion by demonstrating the limitless possibilities for personal expression through public access television.

Leslie Keefe | Send E-mail

Leslie worked in retail for many years before joining the Manchester & the Mountains Chamber of Commerce as its Executive Director.  She was highly successful bringing the Chamber to a new level and growing membership as well as revenues.  For the past 10 + years, she has worked as a consultant specializing in strategic development for area non-profits.  Among her accomplishments was the building of the new Northshire Day School facility.  Clients have included, Long Trail School, Maple Street School, Burr and Burton, The Coolidge Foundation, Riley Rink, among others.