Amy is an east coaster living in Seattle for the weather. She’s a consultant passionate about public health working for McKinsey and Company. Previously, she worked in West Africa for the Clinton Health Access Initiative supporting a national government’s health care system, and in New York as a financial services consultant. Her love for the Upper Valley brought her to Dartmouth to earn her Master’s in Business Administration, Master’s in Public Health, and B.A. in economics. In her free time, Amy enjoys listening to crime podcasts, trying new hot sauces, and hiking for views.
Arielle King
Arielle King
Arielle is an environmental justice advocate, environmental educator, and digital content creator. Originally from Albany, New York Arielle currently resides in the Washington DC area, where she works as the Environmental Justice Staff Attorney at the Environmental Law Institute. She also works for a digital-based climate justice resource hub called Intersectional Environmentalist, where she creates Tik Tok content and hosts a podcast focused on environmental justice updates and climate optimism called “The Joy Report”.
Arielle ran track and field from 3rd-10th grade, running on her high school’s varsity team since 8th grade as a mid-distance runner. After a series of injuries prevented her from competing anymore, Arielle continued her running career as a coach for the Albany Police Athletic League (PAL) summer track program for several years. Arielle trained in Budokai and Shotokan Karate for 8 years and performed tap and jazz dance for 7 years. She has coordinated and led community service projects since she was in the fourth grade. As a singer, Arielle has performed at naturalization ceremonies, grand openings, weddings, sports events, and more, from the time she was 11. She sang in her church choir growing up and was a member of chorus ensembles at school from 4th grade until her sophomore year of college.
Arielle holds a Master’s in Environmental Law and Policy and a JD from a law school in New England, and a Bachelors of Arts in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a concentration in Political Ecology from Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
David Bartlett
David Bartlett
David Bartlett founded Winrock Advisors Limited in Hong Kong in 2013 as a specialized advisory firm focused on arranging private lending facilities and other special situations debt transactions for a global client base.
Since 2006 David has also been Director of Pacific Harbor Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong SFC-licensed asset manager, and the Managing Director and Office Head of Pacific Harbor Advisors. David has over 24 years of experience in handling financial transactions in global markets. Prior to forming Pacific Harbor, the key principals established and managed Amroc Asia, a TPG / Avenue Capital affiliate – trading, advising and originating stressed and distressed debt transactions.
David was the Executive Director in Amroc Asia’s Hong Kong office from 2002 until 2006, generating transactions in China, Thailand and the Philippines. From 2000 to 2001, David was the COO of HNH Group Limited in Hong Kong. From 1998 to 2000, he was Project Manager of Corporate Banking & Investment Research at Asia Market Intelligence Group in Hong Kong. In 1997, David served for a year as Manager of Indonesian Equity Research at PT Samuel Sekuritas Indonesia in Jakarta, and from 1991 to 1994, he was the Program Manager at Africare based in Burkina Faso working with World Bank grantees and Project Manager at Associates in Rural Development in Burlington, Vermont implementing USAID financings.
David was awarded a B.A. from the University of Vermont in 1990 and an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in 1997. David lives with his family in his childhood hometown of Norwich Vermont and is a Hong Kong Permanent Resident.
Denva Nesbeth, Jr.
Denva Nesbeth, Jr.
Denva is an Associate Audience Analyst at Haymarket Media US. He completed his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College in 2024 where he earned his Bachelors of Arts in Mathematical Data Science with minors in FILM & Media Studies (F&MS) and African, African-American Studies (AAAS). Denva is passionate about youth development and uplifting his community. While at Dartmouth, he served as Vice President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). As Vice President, he collaborated with executive board members to provide professional development and academic support to help its members succeed. Additionally, he served as the Educational Chair of the Men of Color Alliance (MoCA). As Educational Chair, he organized education based events to foster community between young men of color on campus. It was through this organization that he became connected with Positive Tracks and even served as a Positive Tracks Challenge Captain, raising money for The Hidden Genius Project, an organization that trains and mentors Black male youth in STEM, technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to positively transform their lives and communities. In his free time, Denva loves to pursue his passion of music production by releasing instrumental albums on all streaming platforms, amassing over 20,000 streams. Notably, he’s released an instrumental album series called In The Stacks, which was inspired by Dartmouth Libraries.
Esme Cole
Secretary
Esme Cole
Secretary
Esme is an advocate for youth health and happiness. She lives in White River Junction, Vermont, and currently serves as a member of the House of Representatives in the Vermont Legislature. Prior to politics, she dedicated her professional career to a variety of nonprofits, including an early childhood education center and a music/activism organization. Esme first became deeply involved with Positive Tracks when she captained her own event to raise money for The Sidewalk School, an NGO which supports the health and education needs of asylum-seeking children on the U.S./Mexico border.
A 2019 graduate of Kenyon College, Esme majored in International Studies with a focus on Latin America. She volunteered as a translator at a free health clinic for asylum seekers in Matamoros, Mexico in 2021, and hopes to continue on a professional trajectory which allows her to support refugees. She is also passionate about food justice—whether it comes to sustainable farming practices, food security, or equitable access to healthy food.
She has played, coached, and refereed field hockey and lacrosse, but is up for trying any new form of physical activity. She hopes to see you at the next Positive Tracks challenge!
Gioia Perugini
Vice President
Gioia Perugini
Vice President
Gioia Perugini serves as Vice President of the Positive Tracks Board. Gioia is the Director of Philanthropic Services at Hemenway & Barnes, LLP, a Boston-based legal and fiduciary firm. She works with individuals, families, advisors, charitable trusts, and foundations to provide a range of philanthropic advisory and client services. She works with clients to design and implement charitable giving strategies, research particular charities, negotiate gifts of cash and/or tangible assets (with a specialty in gifts of fine art), and coordinate family meetings. Gioia oversees grant making for the CHT Foundation, Jane B. Cook Charitable Trusts, George B. Henderson Foundation, Jane’s Trust Foundation, the Rosalie Thorne McKenna Foundation, the Lydon Paul Lorusso Foundation, the AV Roy Foundation, and the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust. Gioia is a frequent speaker, writer, panelist and blogger on issues relevant to philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. She is the Vice President of the Board of the Brookline Community Foundation, where she also Chairs the Program and Grants Committee. She also serves on the Board of the Maine Philanthropy Center, as well as the Steering Committee of the Maine Environmental Funders Network. When not working in philanthropy and volunteering, she can be found running, biking, or on the sidelines of her teenager’s soccer and baseball games.
Jasper Meyer
Jasper Meyer
Jasper is a senior at Dartmouth College where he studies philosophy and government. He has specific academic interests in applied ethics, ethical theory, and philosophy of philanthropy. After he graduates, Jasper will work as an analyst at Innosight, a growth strategy consulting firm based in Lexington, MA. He has been involved with Positive Tracks for over a decade, both as a captain of several challenges and as an internal resource for communications, strategic, and programmatic decisions. He now sits on the Diversity & Inclusion and Program Expansion committees, as well as serving as the Secretary of the Board.
John Pepper
Treasurer
John Pepper
Treasurer
John Pepper serves as Treasurer of the Positive Tracks Board. John is the co-founder and Chief Worker Advocate (and reluctant CEO) of Boloco, a Certified B Corporation, a 6-unit restaurant chain that he started as a Tuck student in 1997. He is also a co-founder of B.Good, a 70+ unit restaurant chain and Worthee, a technology platform built to dramatically improve the futures and elevate the voice of hourly and low-income workers. John has advised and made early investments in more than 30 start-ups in consumer businesses and tech platforms that empower the workforce and/or support small businesses. John graduated from Dartmouth College in 1991 and received his MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in 1997. John lives in Hanover, NH with his wife Maggie and their three children.
Julie Von Bargen Thom
Julie Von Bargen Thom
Julie Von Bargen Thom, with her husband Jason, is the second generation owner of Von Bargen’s Jewelry. Von Bargen’s is a fine diamond and artisan jewelry business with stores in Burlington, Stowe, Stratton, VT and Hanover NH as well as a jewelry studio in Quechee, VT.
As a small business owner, Julie assumes a multitude of responsibilities but her primary ones include: jewelry curation – establishing Von Bargen’s as one of the finest artisan jewelry stores in the US, designer partnerships – establishing strong and long lasting relationships with the artists represented at Von Bargen’s, people development – attracting, cultivating and sustaining an exceptional team of passionate and motivated individuals, and, of course marketing and client development.
Julie is local to the Upper Valley, a mom of an 11 year old daughter, and an active community participant. She is on the Montshire Museum of Science Board of Trustees, and President of the Montshire Corporation.
Katie Berdy
Tuck Fellow
Katie Berdy
Tuck Fellow
Katie is originally from Ellicott City, Maryland. She attended Columbia University where she played Division I lacrosse. After graduating, she spent four years in Boston working at Accenture and doing a year-long public policy fellowship. She is now in her second year at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Katie is a fellow with the Center for Business, Government & Society, a member of the student board, and she co-chairs the Business & Politics and Outdoor Clubs. As a lifelong athlete and sports fan, Katie is passionate about the unifying power of youth sports. She loves to explore the Upper Valley while running, cycling, hiking, or skiing.
Maeghan Finnigan
Maeghan Finnigan
Maeghan is a small business owner of The Studio in White River Junction, VT. The Studio is independently female-owned yoga and fitness studio that is passionate about empowering students in their practice, and supporting a diverse, inclusive, and authentic community of people who feel strong and healthy in their bodies. Maeghan is motivated watching others crush their goals and face their fears in class. After twenty years of teaching group fitness, she has been witness to endless miracles in the hot room and is constantly inspired to do better because of the people she teaches and takes class with.
At the Studio, Maeghan assumes a multitude of responsibilities including growing an uber talented, well equipped and supported team, navigating and celebrating continued learning and growth, elevating the Studio’s five core values (inclusivity, authenticity, respect, community, and perseverance), and establishing strong and wonderful community relationships with a large client-base and aligned businesses.
Nini Meyer
CEO & Founder
Nini Meyer
CEO & Founder
Nini Meyer is Founder & CEO at Positive Tracks where she supports younger generations in building healthy futures through sport activism. Rooted in hands-on leadership training, team building, inclusion and connection, Positive Tracks helps young adults build and lead athletic events to champion the causes they care about most. Nini grew up in Lyme, NH, and returned to New Hampshire in her mid-twenties to raise two sons and many dogs. Nini enjoys endurance sports and the outdoors. She has served as a Board Trustee of Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth; The Hopkins Center for The Arts at Dartmouth; of the Jane B. Cook Charitable Trusts, The Lyme Foundation; Hypertherm HOPE Foundation, and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
Sarah Blatt
Sarah Blatt
Sarah is a 2007 United States Military Academy graduate who served 13 years as an Army intelligence officer, including three years in the Army’s only Special Operations Aviation unit. After multiple deployments to Afghanistan, she pursued a life of peace in California becoming a top fine wine sales consultant based out of San Diego. Ready for the next adventure, Sarah and her family moved east so she could attend the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She graduated in June 2021 and joined McKinsey & Company. She lives in Hanover, NH with her husband and young daughter, is fiercely passionate about supporting veterans, and adores champagne. A collegiate volleyball player turned runner and HIIT enthusiast, she loves to explore the Upper Valley, kayak the Connecticut River, ski, and play backyard soccer with her family.
Sean Kissel
Sean Kissel
Sean Kissel, 27, is based in Boston and brings a blend of financial acumen, technological expertise, and a deep passion for giving back. He is committed to volunteerism, community building, and leveraging the transformative power of sport to drive positive change both locally and globally. A graduate of Yale University’s Class of 2020, Sean earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and was a two-time Ivy League Champion as a member of the Varsity Football team. Since graduation, Sean has accumulated diverse experience in the financial services industry. He currently serves as a Private Equity Associate at Sverica Capital Management LP, where he is responsible for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, executing transactions, and supporting portfolio companies across the Healthcare and Advanced Industrial sectors. Prior to his role at Sverica, Sean worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Guggenheim Securities, focusing on Technology broadly.
Stephanie Akosa
Stephanie Akosa
Stephanie is a first year medical student at the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Medicine. She completed her undergraduate education at UConn’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2021 where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Physiology and Neurobiology. Stephanie is passionate about pediatrics, advocating for youth, and supporting her community. She began volunteering with the patients at Connecticut Children’s, her local children’s hospital, in high school. After four summers of being a summer volunteer, she became involved in HuskyTHON during her junior year at UConn. HuskyTHON is a student-led year-round philanthropic effort run through UConn in partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to raise money for Connecticut Children’s. It was through this program that Stephanie became involved with Positive Tracks. She hosted her own set of Positive Tracks Challenges ranging from burpees, to pull-ups, to running weekly 5Ks.
During Stephanie’s final year as an undergraduate, she joined the HuskyTHON’s Management Team as the Director Strategic Fundraising. In this role, she created fundraising initiatives and acted as the liaison between HuskyTHON and Positive Tracks, increasing partnerships with Positive Tracks within the organization. During Stephanie’s undergraduate years, she also co-founded Knit for NICU. Through this organization, she worked with her peers to knit and crochet hats, blankets, and more for babies in local neonatal intensive care units. The group also raises money for The Loveland Foundation, an organization that provides free therapy to women of color, with a particular focus on Black women. In Stephanie’s free time, she likes to pursue her other interests. She appreciates weekly walks and runs, can always be found singing, and loves catching up on the latest Marvel movies.
Ted Fischer
President
Ted Fischer
President
Ted Fischer Serves as President of the Positive Tracks Board. A life-long Rhode Islander, Ted is Co-Founder and CEO of Ageless Innovation and the Joy for All brand. Ageless Innovation is focused on re-imagining how we live and age by unleashing the power of play. Ted has spent his career building, working with and leading collaborative teams that strive to achieve meaningful financial and social impact. In 2015, After a 25 year career founding or working with early stage companies, he joined Hasbro as VP of Business Development, and led the launch of the Joy for All brand, as well as the launch of Nerf Energy, a UnitedHealthcare co-branded mobile app and kid’s activity tracker that promotes healthy active play for underserved children. Ted holds a BA degree from Boston College double majoring in Economics and Philosophy, and is a graduate of the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School. After graduating he served on the Harvard Business School Global Alumni Board for 10 years, including two years as President. Ted serves as Board Chair of Year Up RI and on numerous nonprofit boards, including the BCA Mezzanine Fund, LLC Advisory Board, and as Campaign Vice-Chair for Moses Brown School’s $60MM capital campaign where he served on the Board of Trustees for more than a decade.
Walter Cunningham Jr.
Walter Cunningham Jr.
Walt Cunningham Jr. attended West Point Academy, making him one of only a thousand plus black Americans to graduate from the distinguished military academy, where he continued to serve as a national spokesperson. He further honed those skills in the business sector working for corporate giants Pfizer, Inc. and Wilson Learning, earning many awards including top national salesman for the launch of Viagra. Walt, a beloved force at Dartmouth College and its student and Upper Valley community, is an accomplished pianist, director and producer. He currently serves as the Producer/Creator of Dartmouth Idol, Dartmouth Pop Music Ensemble, and the Gospel Ensemble where he writes, arranges, produces and conducts concerts, tours and special events. Walt is also the Founder and CEO of One Soul In Prosperity (OSIP) Productions, LLC, a full service live and recorded music production and publishing company established in 2005 and located in Chicago, IL.
Walt’s influence and voice extends far beyond the Dartmouth campus and Chicago. He has ignited audiences at the World Bank and the White House. He has developed productions and performed for the Venite Festival in Lucern Switzerland, Unity in Chicago Charity Concerts, Harpo Entertainment, Roadhouse Jam Benefit Concert for Hurricane Katrina, and Obama’s inaugural brunch with Carole King, Yolanda Adams and Bebe Winans. And much more.
Walt spends much of his life working with students in leadership development and mentorship, ranging from empowerment to effective communication, delegating and directing, team decision making, conflict and budget management. He has created multiple curricula and learning systems for Dartmouth with an emphasis on real world application and organization. He also plays a key role on campus in MLK Day, Baccalaureate, Dimensions, Reunions, and the Call to Lead Capital Campaign.
Make A Donation
This year, our mission to help young people serve their communities and lead change in the world has never felt more meaningful–or more urgent. With your donation, we’re one step closer to our goal: Powering 1,600 youth leadership experiences in 2025, so young people can take bold action on the issues impacting their communities and beyond.
At Positive Tracks, we provide free programs for youth ages 12–25 to build and lead athletic events (we call them Challenges) that support the causes they care about most—at no cost to them. Your donation fuels more than just events. It powers:
Resources that remove barriers, like starter grants and technology
Our annual Youth Leadership Fellows Program
A high impact team dedicated to helping young people turn ideas into action
1:1 coaching and personalized mentorship for every young person—offering encouragement, skill building, and hope for a generation that needs it now more than ever
As one Captain shared:
“Positive Tracks is about real people having my back and helping me get through really crappy times. Your currency is hope, and that’s big right now.”
Learn more about the impact of your gift here. Thank you for believing!
Make A Donation
Your gift directly powers our free Challenges program. You’re funding personalized coaching, mentorship, starter grants, and essential resources that help young people turn athletic events into real-world impact.
The result? Transformative, hands-on leadership experiences; increased confidence; whole-body health; and connections that bridge generations and strengthen our communities.