We are immensely grateful for our dedicated Board of Directors, who volunteer their time to Friends of Islands Initiatives, Inc. so 99% of our monetary donations can make it directly to our grant recipients.
 | PRESIDENT Mark Pinney is a long time resident of New York City with his wife, Laura, and has been instrumental in gathering a group of Charter Donors together to make Friends of Islands Initiative, Inc. possible. Mark is a direct descendant of Azariah Pinney of Pinney's Estate and Mountravers in Nevis. His career has been in the area of finance. Formerly Secretary, Mark serves as President of Friends of Islands Initiatives, Inc. and offers his financial expertise and perspective to the board. |
 | CLERK Raymond Hubbe is an ophthalmologist with a practice in Florence, MA. Dr. Hubbe organizes and provides a semiannual eye clinic on the island of Nevis. Formerly President of FOIII Ray offers his expertise as a medical professional to enhance the delivery of island medical services and serves as Clerk of Friends of Islands Initiatives, Inc. |
 | TREASURER Shelley Rappaport is a long-time Massachusetts resident, formerly from Worcester and now Eastham on Cape Cod. Shelley has 40 years' experience in public and private accounting, most recently as Comptroller of a full-service private golf club in central Massachusetts. Her enthusiasm and financial expertise help to further our mission. Since her retirement, Shelley and her husband, Bob, have spent winters on Nevis. |
 | ACTING SECRETARY Margaret Pinney has considerable experience working for nonprofit organizations, including The Nature Conservancy and the initial set up of the nonprofit arts organization Featherstone Center for the Arts on Martha's Vineyard, MA. She has also earned three advanced degrees in education and psychology. She oversees restoration efforts at Mountravers Ruins and is a former teacher at the Lyn Jeffers School, Nevis, as well as a volunteer teacher at Nevis International Secondary School. Formerly Clerk, Margaret serves as Acting Secretary of Friends of Islands Initiatives, Inc. and advises the board on educational issues. |
 | Helen Aronowitz goes by her nickname Cookie. She has an undergraduate degree from Bentley University and an MBA from Babson College. Most of her career has been spent in the banking and insurance industries. She is presently working for the town of Holden, MA supporting their technology operations. She first became acquainted with Nevis through her 20+ year friendship with a Nevisian family and has visited the island many times. She hopes to offer her assistance to the board with her technology and financial skills/background. |
 | Megan Elkins is a former financial services professional who currently works in online learning for K-12 educators. She has been a member of several boards and corporate task forces in both New York City and Philadelphia, primarily supporting women’s initiatives, mentoring, and diversity & inclusion. She has an undergraduate degree from Smith College and an MBA from Georgetown University. Megan and her husband, Terry, an artist, split their time between his studio on Eastern Long Island, NY, and their home in Nevis. She looks forward to contributing her business and education experience to further the Board’s mission and goals. |
 | Donna Jutras and her husband, Mark, first discovered the beautiful island of Nevis in 2012 on a family vacation. They now enjoy dividing their time between Nevis and their home in Massachusetts. Before retiring, Donna had a career in the high-tech industry, specializing in software development and engineering project management. Now retired, she is eager to apply her experience and expertise to support the board’s initiatives and contribute meaningfully to the community. |
 | Roslyn Kade bought a house with her husband, Doug Gest, in 2019 in the Hermitage Heights area and now lives in Nevis six months out of the year. Doug had previously owned two other houses on island - the first, he designed and built, and the second was a renovation. Both love the island and islanders and are anxious to do whatever we can to assist them in fulfilling their medical goals through such an organization as Friends of Islands Initiatives, Inc. Prior to retirement, Roslyn was a practicing gynecologist in Ohio. |
 | Miriam Knorr is a long-time coordinator for a number of Nevis nonprofits, as well as a former manager with her husband of Old Manor on Nevis. She has been a resident of both St. Croix and Nevis. With her excellent networking skills, Miriam has successfully organized communitywide events, including the Lionfish Hunts, Heritage Day at Mountravers, and the Earth Day Beach Clean-ups in cooperation with government and other nonprofit organizations. |
 | Myra Jones Roman obtained a J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center and practiced law in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts for 20 years. In 2001, she changed her focus from advocacy in the judicial system to nurturing in the health care arena. She is the director of the Edith Irby Jones Wellness Retreat Center in St. Kitts and Nevis. The Wellness Center promotes preventative care and addresses health problems through medical massage, physiotherapy, detox treatments, nutritional coaching, and physical fitness classes. For Friends of Islands Initiatives, Inc., Myra offers her varied experiences in community development, as well as her global perspective and musical talents to the board. |
 | Lori Weathers is a retired marketing professional who lives in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband, Alex, and two wonderful daughters. She has enjoyed her travels to Nevis and seeing the changes made on the island between each visit. Other than her family, Lori's greatest love is tennis. |