The North Country Alliance for Balanced Change works to advance initiatives and policies that balance our region’s natural attributes and economic interests. We are located in New Hampshire’s Great North Woods — Coos and northern Grafton counties — with a current focus on Forest Lake, Burns Pond, the Ammonoosuc and Johns rivers, and surrounding communities of Dalton, Whitefield, Littleton, and Bethlehem.
NCABC was founded in 2008 by a group of concerned citizens working to ensure that a proposed drag strip in Dalton, New Hampshire would not damage fragile wetlands around Alder Brook and pollute the Ammonoosuc River watershed.
Over 10 years later, neither the state of NH nor the town of Dalton has allowed this drag strip to be constructed.
In early 2019, a proposal for a large regional landfill emerged as a new threat to our North Country environment. NCABC is now preparing to engage with government regulators once again to preserve this important ecosystem and natural habitat in the area where Dalton, Littleton, Bethlehem, and Whitefield converge.
Laurie Boswell
Laurie is a mathematics educator, educational consultant, and mathematics textbook author. She taught at Profile School in Franconia, NH for nearly 30 years before accepting a position as Head of School at the Riverside School in Lyndonville, VT. She holds a BS and MEd in mathematics and an EdD in educational leadership and policy studies. Laurie has authored more than 40 textbooks K-12 and college, and currently works with school districts across the country implementing research-based best teaching practices.
Laurie has served in leadership roles in regional and national mathematics organizations. She also serves on several non-profit boards and is active in the First Congregational Church of Littleton where she was raised. Laurie’s descendants go back many generations in the Littleton, Whitefield, and Dalton area, hence her deep desire to preserve the natural resources of the north country for future generations.
Laurie lives in Franconia with her partner Dave. She is an avid gardener and enjoys geocaching, being on the water, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Sarah Doucette
Sarah’s commitment to safeguarding the landscape and waters near her home compelled her to work with NCABC at its founding in 2008. That commitment has intensified as the threat to local woods and wetlands, wildlife and public health has become more ominous.
Sarah’s occupations have spanned the printing industry, development work for an innovative mental health care community and giving yoga instruction in north country towns and academic settings. Education and mental health sectors have been the focus of her volunteer work. Her education includes a BA from UNH in Durham and Advanced Teacher Trainings at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.
Raised in Littleton, she lives in Whitefield with young grandchildren nearby. In that family context, environmental stewardship is an obvious imperative alongside the pleasures of a country life.
Mary Menzies
Mary works as the Business Manager for a local real estate firm. She is a New Hampshire native with long family ties to the North Country. After many years in the world of business and finance she has returned to her roots bringing with her a wealth of experience working for a diverse group of public, private, and not-for-profit employers including the State of New York, Procter & Gamble, and more.
She holds a BA from Smith College, an MBA from the State University of New York at Albany, and has taken advanced management and leadership training. Mary is very active in the First Congregational Church of Littleton where she serves as a Deacon and sings in the choir. She also serves on the Town of Littleton Planning Board, the Littleton Parking Commission, and is the Treasurer for the Littleton Community Center.
She lives in Littleton and enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, Doug, and their succession of Golden Retrievers.
Dana Nute
Dana is founder of Resilient Buildings Group which is an energy consulting firm located in Concord, NH. He is a graduate of Northeastern University with a civil engineering degree working in construction management and development. Dana has worked in the Mideast in the construction industry. With Littleton roots, he is glad to be back in New Hampshire. as a 3rd generation owner of a camp built in 1905 on Forest Lake, he and his family enjoy the serenity of the lake each summer. Dana’s descendants date back to arrival in New Hampshire in 1649.
He has been an intervener with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission on Energy Efficiency Programs, a member of the New Hampshire Climate Collaborative, and is Vice Chair, on his Governor appointed position, on the Advisory Board of the Residential Ratepayers for the Office of the Consumer Advocate. Dana received the 2009 U.S. Department of Energy Management and Administration Award.
Labeled a gentleman farmer, Dana spends much time in his greenhouse and vegetable and flower gardens. In addition, he serves on boards for housing, energy efficiency, school, and his local Congregational church in his town of Sanbornton, NH.
Wayne Morrison
Wayne is recently retired after a 35 year career in the technology field. He held senior management roles at Teradyne and Amphenol including responsibility for global sales, marketing, applications engineering and general management. He has travelled extensively in support of business development, establishing, strengthening and growing customer relationships and in managing operations domestically, across Europe and in Asia. Wayne’s educational background includes a Business Degree from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. from Northeastern University.
Wayne, and his wife Nancy, split their time between a home in the greater Nashua area and a family camp on Forest Lake in Whitefield. An active lifestyle has been an integral element of Wayne’s life including time spent in the outdoors, fitness, running, golf and being a lifelong New England sports fan.
Wayne continues to do consulting work for Amphenol, is an active member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Peter Paul School of Business and Economics and the Athletics Advisory Board at UNH, in addition to his role at NCABC.
Tom Tower
Tom is a commercial leader who has managed sales teams in both small and large company environments for over twenty five years. He has spent the vast majority of his career on the road. It has been the sharp contrast between hectic travel schedules, airplanes and hotels with the peace, beauty and tranquility of the White Mountains that attracts him to the area.
Tom was introduced to the North Country many years ago through his wife’s family which has owned a residence in Whitefield for over fifty years. It was the regular exposure to the majestic scenery and year round outdoor recreation that prompted Tom and his wife, AnnMarie to purchase their own home in Whitefield in 2015.
Tom has sat on the Boards of Directors for numerous volunteer organizations. He enjoys spending time with his family, boating, biking and skiing along with the many things that northern New Hampshire has to offer.
Mike Patriarca
Mike Patriarca has been a General Manager and CFO during his 40-year career working for both a Global Fortune 200 company and a private manufacturer of power equipment. He has been in charge of several large businesses in both the U.S. and Europe. Previously working in the Greater Boston area, Chicago, and Amsterdam, Mike now resides in Dedham, MA while spending as much time as possible at the family cabin in Whitefield, NH. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Providence College and an M.B.A. from PACE University in New York. He is also a member of the Finance and Warrant Committee for the town of Dedham.
Mike and his wife Diane have been enjoying an active lifestyle in the North Country of New Hampshire for over 40 years. They are both outdoor enthusiasts, in particular skiing, kayaking, and hiking many of the 4,000 footers in the White Mountains. Both of their children learned how to ski on Cannon Mountain and Bretton Woods. Mike also enjoys exercising, biking and is an avid golfer.
Mike has always been passionate about his family and preserving our environment for future generations.