BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Karen Osbrey
President
Karen Osbrey, a northeast Connecticut native, is the co-owner (with her husband Gary) of Osbrey Broadcasting Company and WINY Radio, a full-service community radio station located in Putnam, CT. She began working at WINY in 1980 and purchased the company in 2001. Karen has always been deeply committed to community involvement and service. In addition to President of IHSP, Karen presently serves as President of the Putnam Arts Council, Vice President of the Putnam Rotary Club Foundation, and Co-Chair of Putnam’s Great Pumpkin Festival and Halloween Trick or Treat Night. She volunteers weekly at the Daily Bread Food Pantry and NU2U Clothing Closet. She is also an active member of the Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation, the Putnam Rotary Club and the Putnam Business Association.
Lori Wajer
Vice President
Lori Wajer was born and raised in Putnam. She is the Director of Human Resources at Woodstock Academy, where she has worked since January of 1980. Lori has a long history of service to her community, including her many years of service to the Philanthropy Committee at Day Kimball Hospital. She currently serves on the DKH Women’s Board, Friends of Hospice at DKH and St. Mary’s League of Catholic Women. She is also a long-time volunteer at Daily Bread. Lori resides in Woodstock.
Ann Kathi Peterson
Treasurer
Kathi, a lifelong resident of Putnam, retired in 2000 as Technical Service and Regulatory Affairs Manager from Aearo Company, the former American Optical Safety Products Business.
With the establishment of Interfaith Human Services of Putnam in 2005, she has served as Treasurer and Secretary. She also serves as Program Coordinator for the IHSP-Daily Bread Food Pantry, the Putnam Fuel Fund and the Homelessness Assistance Program and was instrumental in the establishment of the IHSP-Diaper Bank of NECT in 2011.
Kathi also serves as the Community Resource Coordinator & Treasurer for the Northeastern Connecticut Salvation Army Service Unit.
Over 25 years ago she was instrumental in starting the Living Faith United Methodist Church’s Critical Needs Ministry which is still operational today. This program provides furniture and household items to individuals and families in need in Northeastern Connecticut.
Kathi has been the Recipient of the George J Racine Humanitarian Award from the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce; the L. Gerald LaPointe Award for Outstanding Community Service from the Putnam Lions Club and the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Putnam Rotary Club.
Shawn Johnston
Immediate Past President
Shawn was raised in Putnam, graduated from Putnam High School and Quinebaug Valley Community College and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in General Business from Nichols College. Shawn is employed by Eversource Energy as a Community Relations Specialist and previously served sixteen years as State Representative in the CT General Assembly representing the towns of Putnam, Killingly and Thompson. A previous President of IHSP, Shawn continues to serve on the Board of Directors and volunteers at the Daily Bread Food Pantry and he also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Northeast Economic Alliance which is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving and assisting small business development in the 21 town Region of Northeastern CT. Shawn resides in Thompson with his wife Rachael, owner of Johnston and Associates Real Estate and they enjoy their down time relaxing at Alexander’s Lake.
Emily Barnes
Member
Emily is a Putnam native, and has always lived and worked in or around the area. She graduated from Putnam High School and Eastern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. She is currently a Commercial Insurance Representative at Archambault Insurance Associates in Putnam. Emily is also a member of the Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club (QVR Rotaract), which works closely with IHSP, provides local high school scholarships, hosts fundraising events such as their Trivia Night and Cornhole Tournaments, donates to other local non-profit organizations, etc. She regularly volunteers with Daily Bread and in the Diaper Bank, and enjoys giving back to her community in any way possible.
Holly Ann Gilbert
Member
Holly is a lifelong resident of Putnam and a member of Living Faith United Methodist Church, which has been a very important part of her life. She worked at Day Kimball Hospital for 25 years, has volunteered with Hospice for 25 years and IHSP - Daily Bread for 34 years. Holly has participated in several medical missions to Nicaragua and Honduras, serving the world’s hungry and poor. She also volunteers every Friday at the Community Café. Holly feels blessed with her children and grandchildren who are the light of her life. She is a cancer survivor of 35 years and is also involved in the NECT Relay for Life.
Marge Guerin
Member
Marjorie was born & raised in Brooklyn, NY. She has a BS from Cornell University & an MS from Brandeis University. Marjorie is member of the Board of Directors & Ritual Committee of Congregation B’nai Shalom in Putnam. She has been active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary to Post 10088 in Thompson, at the local, District & State levels, winning several National & State awards. For the past 26 years, she has been a member of the Greater Putnam Interfaith Council, which deals with the spiritual needs of the greater Putnam area as well as trying to create understanding & harmony between the many religious & ethnic groups in the community. She has been on the Interfaith Human Services of Putnam board since its incorporation. She has also volunteered at Daily Bread & The Community Kitchens of Northeast CT at both the Putnam & former North Grosvenordale sites. Through her membership in her volunteer organizations, she has organized or participated in many community service & veterans’ aid projects including Interfaith Thanksgiving, Peace Day & Earth Day programs, student bicycle rodeos, Halloween Parties for mentally challenged residents of the area, preparing gift bags for the residents of a local Domestic Violence Shelter & visits to VA hospitals & nursing homes.
Bill Guillot
Member
Bill Guillot is a lifelong resident of the Quiet Corner and currently resides in Killingly with his wife Donna and two children. He has held various positions in public education for over 30 years; having worked at Killingly High School and currently at The Woodstock Academy and QVCC. He is active with his church, Our Lady of LaSalette in Brooklyn, CT, and is honored to serve on the Board of IHSP.
Patricia Harrington
Member
Patricia Harrington is a native of northeastern Connecticut and is a graduate of Killingly High School. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Education from Central Connecticut State University, her graduate degree in Education from Eastern Connecticut State University, and a 6th year certificate in Supervision from Southern Connecticut State University. Now retired, Pat taught in the Business Department at the Woodstock Academy for 37 years. While at the Academy, Pat was the co-founder, and co-advisor to Future Business Leaders of America, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, and three-time chair/co-chair for NEASC evaluations. She is new to the IHSP Board and volunteers at the Daily Bread Food Pantry.