The Just Roots Board of Directors provides vision, stewardship and strategic leadership with a goal of organizational sustainability. All board members are deeply invested in the mission and work of Just Roots. Our Board is growing and we are actively seeking new Board members.
For more information about the board, including joining the board or committee membership, please email Board President – Donna Dusell – board@justroots.org.
Meet our Board of Directors
Donna Dusell – President
Donna was born in Greenfield and grew up in Montague. She attended Greenfield Community College, Vermont College, and Plymouth State University in NH. Her background includes years of customer service in the restaurant business, as well as experience as a small business owner, a legislative employee, teaching, technology, and workforce development. She is currently Business Manager for Montague WebWorks in Greenfield, where her job responsibilities include customer billing and receivables, relations, networking, and whatever else isn’t happening in a timely fashion. In addition to serving on the Just Roots board, she is chair of the Greenfield Recreation Commission, treasurer of the Friends of Greenfield Recreation, and a member of the Franklin Hampshire Youth Career Connections Council. (Board member since 2019)
Kirsten Levitt
Kirsten has lived in the happy valley for over 20 years and is a retired reading specialist. She is a co-founder, the executive director, and chef of the Stone Soup Café. Kirsten’s passions are: community service, teaching, cooking, gardening, and singing. She has been an avid supporter of Just Roots since its inception. Kirsten was pleased as punch to be able to join the Just Roots board in May of 2019. She and the Café have benefited from the bounty the farm produces for 9 seasons and wants to give back to her community. Kirsten is looking forward to new adventures and growth as she transitions from full time teaching to full time leadership of the Stone Soup Cafe and service to our community. (Board member since 2019)
Bob Sunderland – Treasurer
Bob Sunderland retired in June 2019 from the YMCA in Greenfield after completing 50 years of YMCA employment at three Ys: Grand Forks ND, Camarillo, CA, and Greenfield, MA. Bob was the Executive Director of the YMCA in Greenfield for 32 years. During those years four capital campaigns were conducted resulting in three building additions and over $1,000,000 in renovations. The Y was debt free when Bob retired after 31 fiscal years with a positive cash flow.
Bob is now helping the United Way of Franklin County, and serves on the board of the Greenfield Business Association and Just Roots. Activities supporting “food as medicine” is important to Bob. He has three adult daughters and three grandchildren that he enjoys visiting with his partner Marsha. Bob likes exercising at the Y, doing home repairs, bike riding, and traveling. (Board member since 2020)
Patricia Crosby
Patricia Crosby is the former Executive Director of the Mass Hire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board, where she developed innovative and effective business and training partnerships in healthcare, manufacturing, green careers, youth services and other areas. Prior to that, she was Special Projects Director in Development at Springfield Technical Community College.
She lives in Gill, where her family owns and operates Upinngil, a family farm with the mission to provide sustainably grown, wholesome food for the community, including raw milk and farmstead cheeses, whole grain flours and baked goods, and PYO berry crops.
Pete Westover
Pete lives in Whately with his wife, Brenda, and is co-founder and managing partner of Conservation Works, LLC, a firm that works on land protection, farmland issues, wildlife restoration, trail planning & construction, open space planning, climate change plans, ecological studies, forestry work, work with Indigenous groups on land recovery, and related projects. He is a member and nominating committee
chair of the Massachusetts Board of Conservation Law Foundation, a member of CLF’s DEI committee, a board member of Pine Mountain Settlement School (Harlan County, KY), and is involved with many conservation land trusts. He indulges in trail running, paddling, hiking, tennis, and getting out to the wide-open spaces of the western US whenever possible. He has four great kids, all good outdoors people.
Kyle Bostrom
Alden Booth – Property Committee
Alden is owner and founder of The People’s Pint in Greenfield. He lives in Gill with his wife and co-owner, Lissa Greenough and has 3 daughters. Growing their own food (and some for the Pint), keeping bees, raising chickens for meat and eggs, riding everywhere on bicycles, playing tennis, and dabbling in singing and recorder playing occupies much of his and Lissa’s time (and energy!) Alden serves on the Board for MassBike/Pioneer Valley and on the Advisory Board of Real Pickles and is very excited to be involved with Just Roots as well. (Board member since 2018; Finance Committee member)