NEKCA Leadership

Jenna O’Farrell | Executive Director

In 2018, Jenna O’Farrell joined the Northeast Kingdom Community Action team to serve as Executive Director.  Jenna, a native of Massachusetts, has been a resident of Caledonia County since 1997 and has raised her family in that community.  She has served as a co-principal of the St. Johnsbury School and managed several specialized independent schools for Northeastern Family Institute of Vermont.  She has over twenty-five years of experience that includes early education, school administration, non-profit management, and leadership.  Jenna has strong ties to the Northeast Kingdom and a deep understanding of the communities served by NEKCA.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Education and a Bachelor’s in Political Science.  Jenna is a licensed Vermont educator and holds an elementary teaching and principal endorsement.  She serves on the Vermont State Board of Education and is an Incorporator at Northern Vermont Regional Hospital.  Jenna has demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening communities and when she learned about the spirit and mission of Community Action, she knew this was the direction to take her career.

Linda Lotti | Director of Finance (CFO)

Linda has over 20 years of experience of fiscal management in both for profit and non-profit companies. She joined the NEKCA Team in 2020.

Amy Burbo | Director of Human Resources

Amy joined NEKCA in this role in August 2011.  Amy has over 20 years of administrative and human resource experience. The philosophy of a community action agency is, above all, people focused. While working with the intricacies of people management, Amy has experience that includes leadership, strategic planning, performance management, federal and state law compliance, policy development, employment contract negotiations, employee relations, employee benefits, recruitment, onboarding/hiring, training, and development. 

Amy is dedicated to working collaboratively to build a culture of community that will further recognize, support, and inspire staff. 

Nancy Powers | Director of Head Start/Early Head Start   

Nancy comes to NEKCA after 15 years in the public school system. She has taught pre-school to third grade. Nancy has also served as an academic and social emotional coach and has been part of many leadership teams. She has been supporting children and families in the Northeast Kingdom through her duties as a public educator as well as serving on local sports boards and working with organizations within the community.  

Nancy enjoys spending her time with family and friends. She enjoys watching her children play sports, cooking, camping and being outside. Her family has a small sugaring operation, where she spends a lot of her spring days enjoying people, food, and sweet syrup.  

Nancy graduated from Lyndon State College in 2008 with a bachelor’s in education and minor in Early Education.   In 2012, she received her master’s in education with a focus on mathematics from SNHU. She went on to get her CAGS in literacy development K-12 from UNE.  

Casey Winterson | Director of Economic and Community Based Services

Casey Winterson joined NEKCA in July of 2022 as the Director of Economic and Community Based Services. He currently oversees the Housing, Community & Social Justice, Financial Empowerment, Fuel and Community Services Programs offered NEKCA across the Northeast Kingdom. Casey comes to NEKCA most recently from Capstone in Barre where he oversaw the Housing Department. Before his time at Capstone, Casey worked for the Howard Center in Burlington where he managed case workers of clients with developmental disabilities. Casey brings with him 5+ years of experience working with marginalized populations across Vermont. He enjoys spending his free time with family and friends in both Vermont and New Hampshire. Usually, you can catch him kayaking or hiking through the NEK and North Country. Casey graduated from the University of Vermont in 2016 where he received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a secondary focus in both Business and Economics. 

Elizabeth Emmett | Director of Family, Youth, and Early Education Services

Elizabeth joined NEKCA as the Director of Family, Youth and Early Education Services in October, 2022. She currently leads NEKCA’s two Parent Child Centers which provide a variety of family supports and also house Youth Advocacy and Children’s Integrated Services for the Northeast Kingdom. She has a background in Waldorf early childhood education and Social Design. She holds a Bachelor’s in Art Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Social Design from the Maryland Institute and College of Art (MICA).