Our Board of Directors
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Beth Ulion
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Mary Menard, DVM
VICE PRESIDENT
Mary has lived in the Salem area for almost 30 years, starting her veterinary practice here in 1996. She is proud to call the village of Shushan her home, and has enjoyed traveling the many back country roads of Washington County, visiting horse and alpaca farms. Now it is time to give back to this community who has given so much to her. Being on the board of directors of the Historic Salem Courthouse has been a fun and educational experience.
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Nate Kindel
TREASURER
Nate Kindel, a proud "Shushanite," has cherished living in the area since 1999. He works for a major insurance company as a claims specialist and national trainer, sharing his expertise and knowledge with others in the industry. When he's not working, Nate enjoys spending time on "the Farm," skiing, the outdoors, and spending quality time with his three kids and wonderful wife, Kaarina Wirkki. He also serves on local committees and enjoys getting his hands dirty, both literally and figuratively. Very humbled to have the opportunity to work with such a fantastic group of people!
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Todd DeGarmo
SECRETARY
Todd DeGarmo grew up in the rural mid-Hudson valley, with family ties to his father’s family farm in Saratoga County, and his mother’s homeplace on Long Island. Since the late 1980s, Todd and his family have lived in Shushan, a stone’s throw from the Battenkill. He is a graduate of Colgate University, and has graduate degrees from SUNY Albany and George Washington University, cutting his professional teeth in folklife studies with the Smithsonian’s Festival of American Folklife. Todd just celebrated his 30th year as the founding director of the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls, an award-winning program known for its research collections, gallery exhibits, and innovative public programing. For the past 12 years he’s been the editor of Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore.
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Jude Clary
Jude grew up in Salem, NY where he graduated from Salem CSD in 1991. After studying at SUNY Binghamton, he moved back to the area in 1995 working construction in New York and Vermont. In 1999, he moved to Boston to study Architecture at Boston Architectural Center and Construction Management at Wentworth Institute of Technology. He moved to Cambridge, NY in 2006 where he now resides with his family. Since then, he has been working on historical restoration projects all over New England including places like New York State Capital in Albany, Vanderbilt Mansion in Poughkeepsie ,and the Shaw Memorial in Boston to name a few.
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Christine Michael
Christine Michael has been a resident of Salem for 38 years, although until recently, she has spent far more time on the road, working for the national non-profits Foundation for Excellent Schools and College for Every Student as a rural education specialist in schools in Vermont, the Adirondacks, Colorado, Kentucky, and other locations.
Chris has earned degrees in English, education, counseling psychology, and professional counseling and supervision. These have led to 35 years of teaching and higher education administration in non-traditional masters and doctoral programs in such institutions as Vermont College, Norwich University, Antioch, Union Institute and University, and American International College.
Retiring at the end of 2019, she is now able to give back to the community she loves through service at the Historic Salem Courthouse, where she has been on the Board of Directors for 5 years, just finishing two years as the Vice President.
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Herb Perkins
Past President
Herb has been an educator, in some form or another, since 1966. He loves kids and finds satisfaction in helping to provide exciting and stimulating opportunities for them. Hence his volunteer oversight of the Lunch, Learn & Play free summer camp at the Courthouse. He also loves art and music and has found it fulfilling to help broaden the variety and number of
cultural offerings provided by the Courthouse. He and his wife and daughter have run a family alpaca farm for over 20 years. They love the woods and wildlife that surround their Salem farm. They and another daughter and her family enjoy hiking and traveling the world. Two grandchildren brighten their lives.
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Kristen Preble
Kristen Preble is a licensed real estate broker with 23 years of experience, and the broker-owner of Preble Realty LLC, a family-owned business she runs alongside her mother, Christine Preble. Born and raised in Shushan, NY, Kristen has a deep connection to the local community and a strong commitment to supporting its growth. She holds a degree in Biology with a focus in Forest Ecology from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry.
Kristen has been actively involved in her professional community, with past participation in the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the Washington County Board of REALTORS®. Outside of her real estate work, Kristen enjoys spending time with family and friends, horseback riding, and exploring the natural beauty of the region she calls home.
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Karen Sheldon
Karen grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood from Colorado State University in 1974. She met her husband at CSU and were married in 1974. She raised 4 active daughters in Salem and all attended Salem Central School.
She is a retired professional who worked at Washington County Head Start for 43 years. The first 5 years as a lead teacher and the last 38 years as an education coordinator. She supervised and supported 5 Head Start centers with 12 classrooms throughout the county. (Washington County Head Start was rebranded in 2021 to LEAP Head Start/ Early Head Start.)
She joined the Historic Salem Courthouse board of directors in 2015 and assumed the position as secretary since. She wanted to get to know her community and give back in any way possible to make Salem a vibrant, safe, and fun place to live. She currently volunteers at the Historic Salem Courthouse Shoppe Off Broadway one day each week. She has been on the following agency boards: Washington County Cooperative Extension, Washington County Home for Aged Women Foundation, and a member of the National Association of Young Children. She enjoys hiking and has completed the 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks, two-thirds of the 272 miles on the Vermont Long Trail, and many miles around Salem with her golden retriever dog.
ksheldon@salemcourthouse.org
Meet Our Staff
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Marissa Perkins
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Marissa graduated from the University of Vermont in 2012 and spent the early years of her career building a strong foundation in hospitality management throughout the Northeast. She later stepped into her most meaningful role, dedicating over five years to raising her children full-time before joining the Historic Salem Courthouse team.
Having called Salem home for nearly a decade, Marissa has developed a deep appreciation for the slower, more intentional moments in life. She finds joy in tending her garden, exploring the outdoors, cooking and baking, and sharing thoughtful conversation with her book group—all while savoring everyday moments with her family.
Marissa is honored to serve as Executive Director of the Historic Salem Courthouse, where she is passionate about building a welcoming, sustainable organization that thoughtfully serves and connects people both near and far. She is deeply committed to ensuring the Courthouse remains an inclusive, approachable space—one that fosters meaningful engagement, celebrates community, and endures for generations to come.
Guided by her motto, “here to help,” Marissa warmly invites ideas, questions, and collaboration, and looks forward to connecting with all who walk through the Courthouse doors.
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Chris Hubbard
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
Chris is an almost life-ling resident of Salem, having moved here from the Fort Plain area when she was young, and she graduated from Salem CSD.
After attending Green Mountain College and The College of St. Joseph and earning her BS and M.Ed. in education, she worked in public education for 10 years, transitioning to Merck Forest and Farmland Center in 2015. Joining their team as Education Director, she developed outdoor educational programming aimed at getting kids outdoors and into the natural world. Chris recently retired from Merck Forest, following the successful completion of a major wetland boardwalk construction project that now allows Mettawee Community School students easier access to Merck Forest land that lies adjacent to the school.
Chris has been involved in the arts throughout her life and she loves working with her hands, creating something others will enjoy. (Mostly) self-taught, Chris has been caning chairs for over 35 years. She own a small business, Birken Hill Farm and Fiber, where she focuses on seat weaving as well as creating Scandinavian inspired hand crafts. Chris teaches at numerous local venues, including, most recently, the Adirondack Folk School, Great Camp Sagamore, the Folklife Center at Crandall Library, and Bancroft Library.
Chris raised two sons, both who also attended Salem CSD and who are both artists in their own right. She enjoys reading, biking, kayaking, traveling and exploring different cultures, and hanging out with her husband, John, and their dog, Maisie. She has kayaked the length of the Champlain Canal, and biked all but 90 miles of the Empire Trail, which she hopes to complete soon.
Chris is excited to be working at the Courthouse, helping to support and create a space where community members, friends, and neighbors can connect!