Lori Christensen, Board Chair, Elementary School Teacher
Theresa Williams, Vice Chair, Medicinal Chemist
Chris Watabe, Treasurer, Financial Analyst
Rose Miller, Secretary, Vice President of Operations, Price Turner CFOs
Melissa Dalske - CXO, Nonprofits Insurance Alliance
Eleta Hittinger - Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Graig Nickel - Institutional Investment Consultant
Lori Christensen, Elementary Teacher. Lori and her family were first introduced to LHF in 2010 and Lori began participating in a workshare on Tuesdays in the distribution room in 2012. Lori grew up in Binghamton, NY not far from the extended family dairy farm GerryDell Farm which now also includes Ithaca organics. Lori’s parents also planted and harvested produce from their own large garden. Lori holds a K-8 Teachers Certificate and has taught abroad as well as in the US in different capacities for the past 28 years. Currently residing in Lansdale, Lori and her husband Joel have four grown children. Lori loves all things plants, hiking, running, biking, kayaking and simply being outdoors whenever possible.
Chris Watabe, Financial Analyst at Merck. Chris was introduced to LHF several years ago, and joined as a work share in 2021. After moving around a fair amount growing up (LA, Tokyo, Brussels, Chicago and NYC), he finally settled in Montgomery County in 2001. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh, and an MBA from LaSalle. He has been in finance and accounting for over 20 years including 4 years at The Nature Conservancy, and the last 15 years at Merck, mostly in Financial Planning and Reporting roles managing budgets. He has always liked gardening and has had vegetable gardens most of his life, and had backyard chickens for years. Chris currently lives in Schwenksville with daughter, girlfriend Nicole, and her children. They have 2 dogs, 2 mini pigs, and 2 guinea pigs. Chris joined the LHF board because he believes the farm does a great job providing vegetables, eggs, and poultry to the local community. He also loves the community focus here at LHF and would love to see it flourish and grow.
Theresa Williams, Medicinal Chemist. Theresa’s professional background is in organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry, with a PhD in organic chemistry. She was employed at Merck for 25 in drug discovery research. She currently works in the biotech sector as a medicinal chemistry consultant. In her free time Theresa can be found gardening, training in aikido, stepping on toes while ballroom dancing, scuba diving, or catering to two house cats. She volunteers her time to support fresh, local, organically grown produce and the mission of Living Hope Farm within the community.
Rose Miller, Vice President of Operations, Price Turner CFOs. Rosemary (Rose) Miller is an accounting and business management professional with over 30 years’ experience providing services to a variety of small business clients. She has worked as a consultant, employee, and entrepreneur, managing a successful privately-owned small business through its acquisition in 2009. Rose specializes in building and automating accounting processes for small businesses, payroll practices, and cash flow management. When not working, she loves to garden, go hiking out in nature, do yoga, and spend time with her family. Rose is a devoted mom to 2 kids, 4 kitties and a crazy moluccan cockatoo named Sarah. She lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her better half Andrew.
Melissa Dalske, Chief Experience Officer at Nonprofits Insurance Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which provides Property and Casualty Insurance to more than 26,000 nonprofits in 32 states and D.C. Melissa has over 20 years of insurance industry experience, specializing in insurance and risk management for the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining NIA, Melissa held leadership and management roles with national insurance brokerages, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Lamb Insurance Services. Melissa lives in Harleysville with her husband and children. In addition to her professional career and serving on Living Hope Farm's board of directors she volunteers her time to local music education programs.
Eleta Hittinger, a devoted mother of three with a heart for community and wellness. After 25 years of experience as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, specializing in pre-K children, she is looking to explore new interests. Outside of her career, Eleta finds joy in promoting healthy living through a daily yoga practice, hiking, and healthy cooking with local farm fresh ingredients. For the past three years, she has volunteered at Living Hope Farm. She values meeting and engaging with the members. Excited to contribute to the board of directors, Eleta looks forward to bringing her passion for wellness and community in hopes to help support and grow the mission of LHF.
Graig Nickel, Institutional Investment Consultant at Saline Stahl Wealth Management Group. Graig, his wife Caitlin, and three kids were introduced to Living Hope Farm during the "COVID-era," which opened their eyes to the importance of healthy eating and engaging with people and community. Graig has nearly 25 years of financial services experience, the last seven in Vanguard's institutional advisory business where he managed defined benefit pension plan investment portfolios and supported the non-profit group. He resigned in January 2024 to join an independent advisory practice and focus on smaller institutions. Graig and his family have lived in Gilbertsville since 2021, but he grew up in the Midwest - his Jersey-girl soulmate is the reason he never went back. Their lives are blessed and busy, with three kids spread ten years apart, but when Graig gets some free time, he plays bass guitar in a 90's grunge and hard rock band.