WREN’s mission is to support better lives and livelihoods through education, economic development, and community engagement in the North Country.

WREN’s Board of Directors

Julie A. Weisman, President
Franconia, NH

Julie is committed to supporting women, education, and the arts. She believes in WREN’s mission and seeks to actively support the arts community and rural entrepreneurship in the North Country. Julie attended Dartmouth College and has the “granite of New Hampshire in her muscles and her brains.” She looks forward to using her past experiences with public school governance and her deep connection to the North Country as a member of the WREN Board.

Darlene Jones, Secretary
Bethlehem, NH

Darlene became a full-time resident of Bethlehem after retiring in 2021. She and her husband, Tim, joined WREN to become more involved in the community, an experience they have found very rewarding. Darlene has a strong passion for the arts and education and has co-owned a photography studio while serving in various roles on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Professional Photographers Association. In 2022, she became a brakeman on the Mount Washington Cog Railway, where she enjoys interacting with visitors from around the world and sharing her knowledge of the White Mountains and Mount Washington.

Sharon Washwick-Francis, Treasurer
Bethlehem, NH

Sharon is passionate about helping women succeed in whatever paths they pursue. With over 17 years in the insurance industry, she opened her own agency on Main Street in Bethlehem, NH, in 2023. She has served and volunteered with numerous nonprofit organizations and committees, and she and her husband—a local pastor—are deeply committed to making a positive impact in their community. Sharon enjoys being part of WREN’s supportive community of women.

Rebecca Fullerton
Bethlehem, NH

Rebecca is a landscape painter and has served as Archivist for the Appalachian Mountain Club since 2005. She returned to New Hampshire in 2018 after many years in Boston, choosing Bethlehem for its vibrant arts community. Living in the North Country, she focuses her art on the White Mountains in oil and watercolor and enjoys mountain history, conservation, hiking, trail running, and kayaking.

Christa Hollingsworth
Franconia, NH

Christa is a community partner for the Neil and Louise Tillotson Funds of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. She brings extensive experience in nonprofit advancement, including roles at Plymouth State University and as Managing Director of the North Country Center for the Arts in Lincoln, NH. Originally from the Midwest, Christa now lives in Franconia and was drawn to the North Country after completing a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

Robin J. Ross
Franconia, NH

Robin, originally from New Jersey, spent her career and raised her family with her husband in the Boston area. As president of a social service provider agency contracting with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, she supported adults living with physical and mental challenges. Her experience as an employer, business owner, and state contractor gave her a strong understanding of opportunity, bureaucracy, compromise, and accountability.

Amanda Arcone
Franconia, NH

Amanda is an interior designer and owner of a design studio, window treatment, and furnishings boutique in Lincoln, NH. A longtime advocate for supporting women, she values mentorship and believes strongly in collaboration over competition. Originally from Kentucky, Amanda married a New Hampshire native and, despite joking about the long winters, considers the North Country a truly magical place she’s proud to call home.

The Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN) is an equal opportunity organization and will not allow discrimination based upon age, ethnicity, ancestry, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or any other status prohibited by applicable law.