Flanders Annual Meeting

MICHAEL AUDETTE* is a retired consumer marketing vice president with over 40 years in the food and packaged goods industries with Nestle USA, H. J. Heinz, and Unilever.  Michael’s career focused on brand positioning and development and building new consumer businesses.  He is a long-time resident of Connecticut.   He and his wife, Fabienne have a small 10-acre Christmas tree farm in Thomaston, called Nibbling Brook Farm.  Michael is a passionate nature photographer and wood carver. In addition to chairing Flanders Art Committee, he serves on the Flanders Board and heads Flanders’ Nature Photography Club which he established nearly eight years ago.

JOSEPHINE S. HAMER, PhD** is an Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Western Connecticut State University, having retired in 2019.  During her 33 years at WCSU, she served as a faculty member, department chair for 12 years, and Interim Dean of the Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences for 2 years. Josie also has had varied experiences as a statistical consultant for Danbury Hospital and Timex Corp., as well as working as a statistician at AT&T Long Lines and BBD&O Advertising. She received her Bachelors from Seton Hill College and her Masters and Ph.D. from Purdue University. She has been an Ambassador at Flanders since 2018 and a member of LEARN since 2020, serving as its chair beginning January 2022. Besides Flanders, Josie is active in her church, serving as a lector, member of the Social Justice Committee, and a volunteer with their Home Front project each year. In her spare time, Josie enjoys hiking, biking, paddle tennis, Pickleball, golf, skiing, and especially visiting her grandson in Colorado. Her love of hiking has enabled her to hike Ben Nevis in Scotland, the Inca Trail in Peru, and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. She hopes to visit Australia to fulfill her dream of visiting all 7 continents. Josie has lived in Southbury since 1985.

CHERYL KOROWOTNY** brings a unique blend of passion for nature, expertise in sales management, and an entrepreneurial spirit to her role as the Director of International Sales for The Magic Birding & Photography Circuit of Ecuador. With a focus on expanding the company’s global market presence, Cheryl specializes in catering to birding and photography enthusiasts worldwide. Her leadership journey began with a business foundation acquired at Chamberlain College in Boston. Several notable leadership roles have marked Cheryl’s career trajectory. Cheryl spent fifteen years at Polar Cooler Mfg., honing her sales and management skills within a family-owned business setting. Following this, she ventured into entrepreneurship by founding Four Seasons Travel Agency, where her entrepreneurial flair and love for travel flourished. Beyond her professional endeavors, Cheryl is a member of various clubs, including the Flanders Photography Club and Middlebury Swim Club. Her diverse interests have also extended to memberships at the Washington Tennis Club, Middlebury Hunt Club, and Roxbury Flying Club. Residing in Woodbury for the past forty-three years, Cheryl and her husband, Gary, call Walnut Ridge Farm home. Their daughter, Kristen, resides in California, contributing to the family’s widespread connections. Cheryl’s interests encompass wildlife photography, tending to her horses, gardening, and embarking on international travel adventures. These pursuits reflect her deep-rooted love for nature and exploration, aligning seamlessly with her values of environmental stewardship.

DANA MOREIRA* is a self-employed attorney in Middlebury.  Her work at the Law Offices of Dana D’Angelo concentrates on real estate, probate and representing the Town of Middlebury. Dana graduated from Providence College and Suffolk University Law School. She is a member of the Waterbury and Connecticut Bar Associations. Dana is the Chair of the Land Acquisition Committee and also serves on both the Governance and Land Management Committees.  She has previously been a founding member of the Flanders Field & Forest 5K Committee. She lives in Middlebury with her husband George and 3 children.

LARRY SMOTROFF* joined the Flanders Board in June of 2018 and serves as Vice President of Flanders.  He brings over 40 years of work and volunteer experience from higher education and nonprofit organizations to support Flanders continued success and development. He chairs the Grants Development Committee expanding research and support for Flanders’ strategic plans and has served on the Succession Planning Team. He earned his Baccalaureate from Rutgers University and a Master’s and  Doctorate from the University of Connecticut. Larry enjoys gardening, woodcarving, reading, outdoor activities, and music and sings in the B’nai Israel Synagogue choir. He has lived in Woodbury with his family since 2004.

JOHN TRAINOR*  has been a member of Flanders and an active volunteer since 2015. He currently chairs the Land Management Committee and serves on the Land Acquisition, LEARN, and Finance committees. Before retiring, John worked in engineering and program management within the consumer products and medical device industries. Some brands John worked on may be familiar such as Duracell, Gillette, Oral B, and Timex. John also served 8 years in the US Navy. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from UCONN and an MBA from Western CT State University.  John and his wife Debbie live in Woodbury with their dog Charlie and are parents to 4 adult kids and grandparents to 2.  In his spare time, John enjoys playing with his grandchildren, hiking, any paddle sport, and traveling with Debbie (whenever they have the chance!).

THOMAS F. (TIM) UPSON* had parents who were heavily involved with Flanders from its inception. Warren Upson, his father, was Natalie Van Vleck’s attorney. Tim had a law practice in Waterbury, was a CT State Senator for 16 years, and a CT Superior Court Judge for 16 years. He has also been a member of numerous boards and organizations in Waterbury and Connecticut.  He is currently a member of the Flanders Development Committee and Farm Task Force.

* renewing board member
** new board member