Staff
Jamie Aspenson, Executive Director
Jamie comes to Overlook FARM with over a decade of non-profit experience in the fields of environment, health & education. Her experience ranges from wilderness therapy to supporting health and wellness programming in area schools. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Education from the University of Minnesota – Duluth.
Jamie lives in Templeton with her husband and son. Together they operate a family Christmas tree farm in Stow, MA and New Hartford, CT. She is thrilled to be advancing Overlook’s mission as a community resource focused on growing a healthier world.
The Board
Jessie Gildea Trowbridge, President
Jessie has been teaching and creating curriculae for more than 20 years, most recently for Mass Audubon at their farm- and nature-based preschools, and is currently a trainer for childhood educators around Massachusetts. She holds a Master’s in Child Development from Tufts and is on the board of the Wachusett Chapter of the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children.
Jessie grew up in Eastern Mass. and now lives in Princeton with her family. She and her daughters loved coming to Overlook previously and are looking forward to its new life.
Lauren Williams, Treasurer
Lauren married into the Williams family and lives in the original Overlook farmhouse with her husband, Jon, and their son.
Her professional experience includes serving as Operations Manager and Education Manager for the Massachusetts Farm to School Project, donor relations work for NOLS, field and retail farm work at a handful of Massachusetts farms, and writing and editing a range of materials (newsletters, grants).
Meghan Maceiko, Secretary
Meghan grew up in Holden and now lives in Rutland with her husband and two children.
She is a Development Officer at the United Way of Central Massachusetts where she oversees workplace campaigns and assists with funding allocations. She has extensive nonprofit board experience, having recently served on the Board of Directors for NEADS, YWCA, and Dismas.
Travis Blake
Travis is a long time friend of the Williams family and former Rutland resident. He returns to the farm frequently with his wife Sherri and son Otto.
He is a Design Director at LLM Design in Boston where he oversees the design and production of numerous brand, positioning, video, photography, and placemaking projects.
Marja Dempski
Marja grew up in Berlin, Germany and moved to Massachusetts in 2009. She soon discovered Overlook FARM (when it was still the Heifer Farm) as a perfect place to take her family to learn and play and looks forward to helping the farm be useful and resourceful for future generations.
Marja started her professional life in Process Management and Marketing Communication for IT companies and airlines, has freelanced as copy writer and translator, and currently works as a paraprofessional at a middle school.
Jeffrey Scales
Jeff grew up in Rutland spending time at Overlook Farm and still returns frequently to visit his mother who lives in town.
Jeff serves as Internal Sales Director at Empower Retirement and formerly held a similar role at Fidelity Investments. He lives in North Andover with his wife, Mehrnaz.
Leah Stidsen
Leah is a lifelong friend of the Williams family and grew up in Rutland, spending many an afternoon volunteering at Heifer Farm during her teenage years. She currently lives in Waltham with her husband and two boys, but regularly visits her parents in Rutland to fulfill her farming and gardening needs.
Leah is a Chemical Engineer supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing at Moderna, and balances that with her passion for all homesteading activities and supporting her hometown Rutland community.
Jen Williams
Jen is the third generation of Williams family living and farming on this property (and her son is part of the fourth).
She is a veterinarian at Hubbardston Veterinary Clinic in nearby Hubbardston. Jen was a volunteer at the Heifer Farm for many years and credits it as the inspiration behind becoming a veterinarian.
Advisory Committee
Elizabeth Joseph
Liz served as the Garden Manager at the Heifer Farm from 2010 until its closure in 2017 and lives in Rutland.
Before coming to Rutland, Liz lived and worked on a farm in rural Maine, beginning her lifelong love of sustainable agriculture. She has also served on the board of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association.
Richard “Dick” Williams
Dick has lived and worked on Overlook Farm his entire life, first working with his father, Bill Williams, taking care of the family dairy herd, having a small herd of his own, and now owning and operating Overlook Services .
He has been a tireless volunteer for and steward of Overlook Farm, mowing, moving wood, fixing tractors, and more. Dick also serves on numerous Rutland town boards and committees.
Jon Williams
Jon (with his wife, Lauren, and their son) lives in the original Overlook farmhouse and is the third generation of Williams family farming here.
Jon is a carpenter, sculptor, and sugarer. He is the owner/farmer behind Sap Castle maple syrup, tapping the same Overlook Farm trees - but boiling in a new timber frame sugar house he built.