Meet the Board

Carmen Trafton, Executive Director

Carmen Prandini Trafton received her B.A. from Keene State in 1995 with a Major in Mass Communication and a Minor in Journalism. She attended The Grant Institute at Dartmouth College in 2005 and has helped countless artists, organizations, non-profits and schools diversify their revenue streams.

She previously served as Program Coordinator for The Samaritans; Grants Manager for MoCo Arts; Community Director for the NH March of Dimes; and Coordinator of Campus Activities and Community Service Programs at NH Technical Institute. She has vast experience in development, volunteers, donors, fundraising and community collaborations and partnerships.

She’s received many professional honors, including the March of Dimes Northern Region Staff Excellence Award; the Salvation Army Community Service Award; and the Campus Compact National Center for Community Colleges Service-Learning Collaboration Award for “Best Collaboration with a Social Agency”.

In 2013, Carmen received the Keene State College Presidents’ Community Partner Award for her work at The Samaritans. The award is given to a non-profit organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with a college or university.

She is responsible for management of the agency, serving as the spokesperson and representing the organization in the community. She also recruits, trains and supervises volunteers; coordinates and supports programs/services/events/fundraisers; supervises and mentors Keene State, Franklin Pierce and River Valley Community College interns; coordinates the crisis hotline; and provides community outreach and education.

She completed two years of national service as an AmeriCorps* VISTA and has lead many Alternative Spring Breaks. She served on the Board of Directors for the Cheshire Figure Skating Club (CFSC), the local affiliate of the U.S. Figure Skating Association and for the Keene State College Alumni Association. She’s a founding member of the North Central Neighborhood Association and worked diligently for many years to create a city park in the North/Central neighborhood. She coordinated the Benjamin Franklin Elementary School Playground Improvement Project, providing a beautiful playground with soccer goals, a crushed gravel walking path, raised-bed accessible gardens and natural landscaping, for families to enjoy year-round. Carmen was born and raised in Bennington, VT and lives in Keene, NH with her husband William and their daughter Hallie. She volunteers at Keene Middle School, MoCo Arts, CFSC and St. Bernard’s Church. She works out at Granite State Kettlebells and enjoys kettlebell competitions.

Heather Scheck, Chair

Heather has worked in banking for over 10 years, all of it on the retail/deposit side. She has worked as a teller, retail banker, and was recently promoted to assistant branch manager. She has taken numerous banking/financial courses through the Center for Financial Training, earning both her General Banking Diploma and Bank Operations Diploma through the American Institute of Banking.

Heather believes that The Samaritans, Inc. is a very important organization in the community and the cause it serves hits closer to home. Her brother took his own life at the age of 26, over 10 years ago. A death in the family is never easy, but Heather can attest to the fact that when the cause is suicide it brings with it a stigma and feeling of guilt that makes it even more difficult to manage. She feels that suicide is a topic that most people are reluctant to discuss or even acknowledge. Heather’s hope is that by working with The Samaritans, Inc., she can bring more attention to this serious public health problem and provide support for those in crisis.

Heather is 35 years-old and has lived in the Keene area for most of her life. She and her husband, Matthew, ought a home in Keene a few years ago, which they share with their two cats. Heather is a graduate of Keene State College, class of 2008, with a bachelor’s in Communication. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, seeing films, rock concerts, and comic shows.

Kimberly Drone, Vice Chair & Secretary

Kim has worked for the Savings Bank of Walpole as a Credit Analyst for over three years, and she has been in the banking industry for almost 10 years. Prior to joining the team at SBW, Kim lived in Boston and worked as a State Banking Regulator for five years.

Kim wanted to be more active in her local community, and being invited to join The Samaritans was a great opportunity. As with most board members, Kim’s life has been affected by suicide and depression. She hopes to help The Samaritans to bring awareness to this issue that affects so many, either directly or indirectly, and to be sure that those in our community are aware of this valuable and much-needed resource that could help save a life.

Kim lives in Stoddard with her husband and daughter. She enjoys reading, watching movies, hiking, and traveling. She has been to 15 countries so far, and she can’t wait to visit more of the world. Kim is a graduate of Plymouth State university with a degree in Business Management.

Jeff Rubin, Treasurer

Jeff has spent the past 22 yeas operating an independent advisory firm in Keene, NH. He specializes in retirement planning and offers services to both businesses and individuals. Prior to IPIC, he spent 12 years in banking, holding the positions of Funds Management Supervisor, Tax Manager, and Controller. He began his career on Wall Street, working for Oppenheimer & Co. in New York City.

Jeff became interested in serving on the board for The Samaritans, Inc. after his site visit as a United Way Allocator. He was impressed with the organization’s mission, the Executive Director, the board, and staff and decided that this was an organization that he could support. He has also been affected personally by suicide and he understands the stigma and resulting pain caused by this often misunderstood act.

He lives in Keene with his wife of 33 years, and is the father of two grown sons. His oldest lives in Maine ad works in Special Education, and his youngest just started college this fall in Vermont. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree (MBA) from University of Connecticut, and he holds the designation of Registered Investment Adviser. He enjoys sports, exercise, travel, and gardening, as well as time spent with family and friends.

Jessica Weston, Board Member

Kelli Ann Wilson, Board Member

Kelli has worked in publishing for the past ten years (with a rather long break in the middle to raise children), and is currently an editorial assistant at Taste for Life magazine, headquartered in Keene, NH. Prior to her current position, Kelli worked in the advertising department at The Keene Sentinel, and as a freelance proofreader.

As a child Kelli lost an extended family member to suicide. Although he and Kelli were not particularly close, she was very aware of the pain and guilt that his passing caused other members of her family. Knowing that her relative might have lived, had he been able to talk to someone about his feelings, inspired Kelli to get involved with The Samaritans, Inc. She hopes that her work on the board may help the organization to save lives and spare other families the pain that hers experienced.

Kelli and her husband, Damian, are both Keene, NH natives, but have lived in Walpole, NH for the past six years. They have two children: Lillia, age 12; and Zane, age 4. Kelli has a bachelor’s degree in History from Keene State Collage, and her hobbies include photography, blogging, arts & crafts, and genealogy.

Ron Ferguson, Board Member