Our Board

The Board of Trustees exists as the governing body of Many Rivers Montessori, on behalf of all stakeholders, to ensure that the school achieves the outcomes stated in its mission. To achieve this goal, the Board of Trustees works to:

  • Provide visionary and strategic leadership for MRM’s future
  • Support, advise, develop and oversee the Head of School to execute MRM’s mission 
  • Ensure responsible management of MRM’s finances
  • Exemplify MRM’s values and cultivate its community

Contact the board at board.chair@manyriversmontessori.org. The Board of Trustees is a strategic board and does not participate in school operations or routinely review decisions made by the Head of School. Read the Bylaws here.

(L-R, back row – Jeff Engbrecht, Nick Christensen, Grant Schluender, Suzanne Niemi, Matt Cartier, Roberto Fernandez, front row – Camille Hansen, Mary Conger, Joel Vikre, Jennifer Lien, David Barthel (past trustee) – Not pictured, Zach Burns, Riel Monette, Arianna Ryan)

  • Chair – Matt Cartier, president of Cartier Agency, active community member in local arts and area nonprofits, parent
  • Vice Chair – Mary Bliss Conger, Ed.D., writer, facilitator, ombuds specialist, parent
  • Secretary – Jennifer Lien, D.M.A., voice instructor, musician, former business journalist, parent
  • Treasurer – Joel Vikre, owner of Vikre Distillery and co-owner of Cedar and Stone Sauna, parent
  • Zach Burns, M.S.Ed., owner of Encompass Learning and Program Manager at the University of New Hampshire’s Browne Center for Innovative Learning, parent
  • Nick Christensen, Owner of Christensen Investment Group, Real Estate Broker, parent
  • Jeff Engbrecht, founder/CEO of Clearwater Composites, alumni parent
  • Roberto Fernandez, D.O., M.P.H., physician, parent
  • Camille Hansen, VP – Senior Commercial Banker at NBC, former Montessori parent, current MRM grandparent
  • Riel Monette, handyman, business owner, enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, parent
  • Suzanne Niemi, data and analytics professional, outdoor enthusiast and nature lover, parent
  • Arianna Ryan, J.D., Chief People Officer and EVP of Sustainability at asmodee, parent
  • Grant Schluender, M.B.A., Owner of Stoplossbags.com, Adjunct Professor LSBE, parent