Gene Arnould
Gene Arnould is the owner of the Arnould Gallery and Framery. He founded and produced the Marblehead Summer Jazz from 1985 to 2014. He was named Marblehead Rotarian (Paul Harris Fellow) in 1995 and the Chamber Frank Regan Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2014.
Jessica Barnett, Co-Chair
Jessica Barnett is a member of the faculty at Salem State University where she teaches in the College of Communications. She’s also President of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor.
Ed Bell, Co-Chair
Ed Bell retired as Boston Chief of Bureau from the Associated Press after a 50-year career in print and broadcasting. He is a Paul Harris Fellow at the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor and host of Up for Discussion on MHTV.
Virginia Buckingham, President
Virginia Buckingham is the former chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Port Authority, chief-of-staff to two Massachusetts governors, deputy editorial page editor for the Boston Herald and author of “On My Watch: A Memoir.”
Francie King
Francie King is a writer, editor, and author with more than three decades of work in journalism, publications strategic planning, fundraising, and project management for non-profits. Among development appointments over the years were those for Boston University, the Salem Athenaeum, Harvard University, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Wellesley College.
Robert Peck
Bob Peck is a Family Law Attorney and long-time community volunteer. He is a former member of the Finance Committee (and former Chair) and Select Board, the current Chair of the Retirement Board and Cable TV Advisory Committee and a life-long supporter and past President of the Marblehead Counseling Center. Bob serves on the editorial board of the Current. He graduated from Marblehead High School, class of 1966, Boston University and Suffolk Law School.
Donna Rice, Advertising Sales
Donna Rice is a Sales and Marketing professional starting her professional career at the Marblehead Reporter. She went on to leadership roles with The Boston Globe, Boston.com, NYT Digital, Community Newspaper Co, and others. She currently works with SaaS companies providing financial benchmarking.
Kate Haesche Thomson, Secretary
Kate Thomson is a brand strategist with twenty-five years of agency, nonprofit and client-side experience supporting organizations such as American Express, Fidelity Investments, Truth Initiative, and Nationwide Insurance. Current projects include raising two young daughters, freelancing for private clients and heading up the Current’s brand and marketing efforts. Kate is a graduate of Bates College and the lifelong president of Marblehead High School Class of ’96.
Rick Weed, Treasurer
Rick Weed is a Marblehead native who has worked in finance for over 30 years. He has served as an equity investment lead at institutions such as State Street Global Advisors, Putnam Investments, F-Squared Investments and Mackenzie Investments. Rick graduated from WPI and Northeastern University with degrees in Chemical Engineering, and from MIT with a degree in Finance and Accounting. He’s a proud graduate of Marblehead High School Class of 1981, and will always be a downtown kid.
