In the absence of a true executive director, the Friends of Holcomb Farm board president Bob Bystrowski saw the need for a person to bridge the goals of the board with community and financial resources. He tapped Granby resident Jenny Emery for the job. Emery had joined the board in 2014 after retiring from full-time employment in public sector risk management and a stint as executive director of a national trade association.
She served as treasurer for the board until this summer when she agreed to move over to the directorship, but notes that it is just part-time—when the need exists. In this role, she provides board management support, leads in grant applications, and supports membership growth and fund-raising activities.
When asked what drove her to take on board responsibilities in the first place, she noted that the resources of the Farm have always been an important part of her family’s life, interweaving education, open-space and agriculture—areas she deeply cares about. The Friends of Holcomb Farm are indeed lucky to have this very skilled part-time executive director.