Staff

Susan Beane – Susan Beane comes to Mount Washington Observatory fresh out of the Muskie School of Public Service in Portland, Maine. She had the privilege of working with Tin Mountain Conservation Center on their capital campaign while working on her Masters.

Ms. Beane's initial contact with Mount Washington Observatory originated in the mid-90's through her work with Hostelling International. Susan developed educational programs for visiting school groups, which incorporated meteorological components.

She looks forward to being part of this innovative and dynamic team at the Observatory and assisting the New Horizons Campaign toward a successful completion.

Michelle Cruz – has returned to continue bringing an interactive, hands-on, science/weather program into the classroom as well as work with The Weather Notebook. During 2002-03 North Country AmeriCorps year of service she was an Outreach Educator with the Mount Washington Observatory. She is thrilled to be given the opportunity to do it again.

During her time in between - then and now - Michelle was in New York City where she worked with two non-profit organizations; Only Make Believe, (NY, NY) an organization that brings interactive theater to hospital bound children and Art Lab, (Staten Island, NY) an art school that encourages creativity through fine and applied arts.

Michelle is a graduate of the College of Staten Island with a B.S. in Communications and has completed the DataStreme course through the American Meteorological Society.

Mike Davidson – After beginning as a summit volunteer in August, 2003, Mike Davidson returned to volunteer the following January. In June, 2004, he became a Summit Intern, assisting with hourly observations and helping to run the Museum Gift Shop. Now Mike returns to the Observatory as a Data Instrumentation Technician. Try as they might, they just can't keep him away. Mike enjoys hiking, cross country skiing, philosophy, and non-fiction. He graduated from Plymouth State University in December, 2004 with a degree in Information Technology and Communication Studies. When not bothering the Summit Observers, Mike can be found in Intervale, NH with Leasa and their son Torin.

Bob Deegan – After being employed as the Observatory's grants officer in 2002 and 2003, and after a temporary stint as a field biologist for the Massachusetts Endangered Species Program, Bob has returned as one of our Staff Scientists. He is working with our, Chief Scientist, Dr. Alex Pszenny, whose research focuses on the chemistry of the marine atmosphere. Bob's primary role has been to analyze field samples via neutron activation analysis, a process whereby sample filters are irradiated in a nuclear reactor core and then placed in gamma-radiation detectors. These detectors can determine which chemical elements are present based on the radiation emitted by the irradiated filters. Data analysis, laboratory prep, and fieldwork are additional aspects of this work.

Bob received a bachelors of science in zoology and a masters of science in natural resources science, both from the University of Rhode Island. He also has three and a half years of course work as a graphic arts major at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMASS, Dartmouth). For the last 20 years he has been working as a biologist, mostly in wetlands, especially forested wetlands and vernal pools, but has been engaged in studies focused on upland habitats as well. He has participated in research that focused on both flora and fauna, notably birds, amphibians, reptiles, ticks and rare plants and animals. Bob is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. His wife Marietta, is a special education teacher in Fairhaven, MA; she hopes to find a similar position in NH and join Bob as soon as possible.

Linda and Hank Dresch – are the Observatory's Valley Volunteer coordinators. They have been married almost 40 years; have one daughter and two very active grandsons. During Hank's 30-year U.S. Coast Guard career they lived in several locations including Alaska and England. Linda held various positions including ones with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska and the Editorial Staff of the Wall Street Journal. They also had "retirement jobs" in Portland, Maine, where they continue to volunteer as ushers at Merrill Auditorium. In addition both have been very active volunteers wherever they have lived. Linda has had a lifetime connection with Mount Washington as the daughter of Robert S. Monahan, one of the Observatory's founders. Linda and Hank enjoy living in Jackson, New Hampshire and participating in local year-round activities.

Bill Grenfell – is the Retail Coordinator for the Mount Washington Observatory. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest he has worked in the retail field across the country for over 22 years and has dealt all manner of merchandise ranging from cattle feed, farm goods, and building supplies to men's and women's apparel, outdoor equipment, gift items, and tropical plants. Bill moved to the Mount Washington Valley in 1999 with his wife Nina and son Corey. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, climbing and playing guitar. Bill is very excited to be part of the Mount Washington Observatory team and looks forward to the ever changing challenges of his job as Retail Coordinator.

Mary Ann Guerrieri – is the Observatory's Membership Coordinator.

She is a University of Michigan graduate who relocated to New Hampshire in 1983 for the shear beauty of the area.

She has worked in hospitality management for the past 20 years.

Pictured here with her canine companion, Joey, Mary Ann lives in Conway where in her free time she enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking and watching the Red Sox.

Development Assistant Karen Hemeon comes to the Observatory from Purity Spring Resort, where she worked for two years as their group sales coordinator. Karen's background prior to moving to the Valley in 2000 was purely financial, having worked as a boring staff accountant for many years. Karen is a graduate of New Hampshire College and currently lives in Freedom with her two daughters Katie and Amanda, and numerous small animals.

John Mitchell – Exhibit Fabricator, first came to the White Mountain Region from the Chicago area since 1977, as a photographer seeking to expand his portfolio. Like many others who are associated with the Observatory, he rapidly fell in love with the White Mountains, and stayed to establish a career in the two pursuits of photography and woodworking.

John has expertise in many areas of woodworking - general carpentry, historical restorations, sign making, furniture building, and architectural woodworking - and he finds he can use various aspects of these to help make building the Weather Discovery Center exhibits interesting and fun.

Thomas Seidel – returns to the Observatory as Staff Scientist where he will focus on continuing the effort to digitalize and analyze the summit's historical weather record. He is excited transform a century of data on the "World's Worst Weather" into 21st century formats ready for analysis.

After graduating from Cornell University with a degree in Science of Earth Systems, Tom spent the winter as a summit intern invigorating and elevating his love of winter weather and receiving a practical education in mountain meteorology. He next spent a summer season observing weather at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station before returning to the White Mountains. Tom has spent several years becoming knowledgeable in local weather, ecology, and air quality issues while working as a researcher and naturalist for the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Tom is excited to be a bike ride away from the office as well as the crags and trails of the Whites.