Staff
CAROLYN OHLE, Executive Director
villagedirector@innisfreevillage.org
Carolyn first came to Innisfree in 1976 as a volunteer caregiver having been a special education teacher in Appalachian Ohio. She has also been Innisfree’s Weavery Manager, Community Coordinator, and Training Coordinator, plus she has been Executive Director twice!
Carolyn has a bachelor’s degree in special education and psychology from Ohio University and a master’s degree in genetic counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia. During intervals when Carolyn was not working at Innisfree, she worked at Charlottesville’s Arc, Region Ten Community Services Board, and as a genetic counselor at the University of Virginia Health System. She maintained her connection to Innisfree during these years by serving on Innisfree’s Board of Directors.
Carolyn lives in Charlottesville, is married to Todd Cooper, and spends her spare time camping, kayaking, and weaving.
WES ANDREWS, Associate Director and Finance Officer
finance@innisfreevillage.org
Wes first came to Innisfree in 1985 as a volunteer caregiver after having been a psychiatric nurse in England. He became Innisfree’s Finance Officer in 1996 and Assistant Director in 2000, continuing his financial work. He became Associate Director in 2009.
Wes was born in Burma (now Myanmar) but was raised in England. He has two children, a home in Afton, and likes tennis and soccer.
RHONDA MISKA, Office Manager
and Community Coordinator
info@innisfreevillage.org
Rhonda came to Innisfree in 2008 after 4 years at Charlottesville’s Church of the Incarnation where she worked in social-justice promotion and with the local Spanish-speaking immigrant community. Rhonda has a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and French from the University of Wisconsin and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry on a part-time basis at Boston College.
Before moving to Charlottesville, Rhonda spent two years in rural Nicaragua serving as a Jesuit volunteer. She enjoys dancing, singing, creative writing, and staying involved in the local community through social-justice work.
NANCY CHAPPELL, Medical Coordinator
medicalcoordinator@innisfreevillage.org
Nancy first came to Innisfree in 1992 with her then 2 ½ year old son. She worked as the Volunteer Coordinator for many years, then left in 2009 to wander around Europe, visiting thirty or so former Innisfree volunteers.
She returned in January of 2011 to take over the position of Medical Coordinator, overseeing coworkers’ medications and appointments, as well as volunteer medical trainings.
Nancy has a Geography degree from Temple University, which has turned into a love of travel, maps, culture and history. Nancy also enjoys reading, singing in choirs, community theater and hosting Couch Surfers. Nancy’s son Alex is all grown up and living in Richmond.
IZRAEL ZAK, Fitness Coordinator and Fund-Raising Assistant
“Iz” came to Innisfree in 1996 as Fitness Coordinator and Fund-Raising Assistant. His fitness responsibilities include working out with Innisfree coworkers at an onsite gymnasium and coordinating Special Olympics training and events. His fund-raising responsibilities include coordinating Innisfree’s fund-raising campaigns and managing fund-raising databases.
Iz has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Rutgers University and is a massage therapist and certified Feldenkrais practitioner.
Iz was born in Uzbekistan, part of the former Soviet Union, lived in France until he was 12 years old, and then moved to New York City. Iz and his wife Leigh Sato are the busy parents of Gabriel and Ilo. Iz enjoys sports and reading.
SHARON SNYDER, Community Kitchen Head Cook
Sharon came to Innisfree in 1998 as a volunteer caregiver in Amity House, living there for seven years and managing this newly built house for Innisfree’s aging coworkers. With a background in culinary arts, Sharon also took on the task of planning and cooking Innisfree’s
community lunches. In 2008, she began administering medical files for Innisfree coworkers and planning in-service medical trainings for volunteer caregivers and long-term staff.
Originally from Michigan, Sharon has a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Michigan State University. She lived in several states and Europe and completed a 5-year stint with the Brethren Volunteer Service before coming to Innisfree.
After her service at Amity House, Sharon moved to Batesville where she lives with husband Lonnie Murray and daughter Ariel.
SHEILA STONE, Nurse
Sheila came to Innisfree in 2000 and has been providing medical assessments and medically ordered treatments for coworkers as well as some medical training for Innisfree’s volunteer caregivers on a part-time basis since her arrival.
She graduated from Humboldt State University in 1985 with a BSN, RN with emphasis in Community Health. Most of Sheila’s career has been in Home Health and Public Health. She teaches allied health at Piedmont Virginia Community College and has written a curriculum for Home Care Aides. She is pursuing a Master’s degree in Nursing Education at James Madison University.
Sheila loves organic gardening, old time music, and traveling. She lives with her daughter Amber in Afton.
TOM CLAY, Maintenance Superintendent
Tom came to Innisfree in 2007 as resident maintenance superintendent, moving into Walnut Level House with his wife Monika and their three young children. Tom maintains Innisfree’s physical plant, including its residential houses and administrative and workstation buildings.
After a six-year stint in the U.S. Navy, Tom received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Penn State with a concentration in sculpture. Tom also worked as a blacksmith in Philadelphia for many years.
Tom’s passions include storytelling, singing Sacred Harp music, fixing and playing accordions, boating, and tree-climbing.
TRISHA COSTELLO, Head Vegetable Gardener
Trisha came to Innisfree as a volunteer caregiver in 1989. She has been Innisfree’s Head Vegetable Gardener since 1995. Trisha helped launch Innisfree’s community-supported agriculture project, Innisfree Community Gardens.
Trisha has a bachelor’s degree in English from Notre Dame. Trisha married Innisfree volunteer caregiver Cabell Coward in 2006. She, Cabell, and toddler Lucy Mae live in Crozet.
CATHERINE BOSTON, Head Herb and Flower Gardener
Catherine arrived at Innisfree in 1993 as a volunteer caregiver and early on gravitated to Innisfree’s gardens. In 1996, she took over the leadership of the newly developed herb and flower garden. Catherine also helped launch Innisfree’s community-supported agriculture project, Innisfree Community Gardens,and she guided the development and building of Violet, the new home of the herb and flower garden.
Catherine has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in philosophy from Georgetown University.
MIRIAM PICUS, Head Weaver
Miriam came to Innisfree in 1984 as a volunteer caregiver. She became
Head Weaver in 1987.
Miriam has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois. She married Innisfree volunteer caregiver Pete Marshall. She, Pete, and their two daughters, Leah and Talia, live in Charlottesville.
DENNY GOBERT, Head Woodworker
Denny came to Innisfree in 2006 as a volunteer caregiver. He has been Head Woodworker since 2008.
Denny was a stonemason for many years and is one of Innisfree’s computer gurus. He and his partner Laura Neff live in and manage Laurel House.
VANESSA TRAVERSE, Head Bakery
Vanessa came to Innisfree in the summer of 2010 to volunteer.
She became the head of our Bakery in 2011 and continues to
live in the village at Laurel.
Vanessa is married to Nich Traverse, farm volunteer and son of farmer
Peter Traverse. She is a Registered Dietitian with experience in
Public Health Nutrition, Clinical Dietetics, and Food Science.
Vanessa completed her bachelors degree in Nutrition and Food Science
and Dietetics at the University of Vermont, and Dietetic Internship at
Bastyr University of Natural Medicine in Seattle, WA. Her passions
include whole foods nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and providing
a supportive and safe working/living environment for our coworkers.
PETER TRAVERSE, Farmer
Peter moved to Innisfree in 2008 to manage Innisfree’s farm with the help of his wife Deb. One of 12 children, he grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Castleton, Vermont. Peter worked as business manager on The Traverse Family Farm and has spent many years working as a community development specialist providing technical assistance to
micro-enterprises and non-profit organizations.
Drawing on his farming background, Peter developed creative organic designs in small business and community development, gaining him national recognition in micro-finance and invitations to work on large community projects, including the City of Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics and internationally in community development projects in the former Soviet Union.
DEBRA TRAVERSE, Farmer
Debra moved to Innisfree with husband Peter in 2008 to manage Innisfree’s farm. She has roots in upstate New York, growing up on a small farm in Holland Patent, NY. Deb moved to Vermont in the late 1970s where she raised three terrific children.
She has worked as an energy consultant, housing counselor, and family advocate within the juvenile justice system.
