Board of Directors
Peter J. Barrer
President, Building Committee Chair
Peter is a Professional Engineer; in 1989 he founded Demand Management Institute, Inc. to consult to building owners, architects, and utilities on cost effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. The company has become a New England leader in engineering-based energy efficiency analysis and implementation of complex energy efficiency programs. Presently, Peter is a consultant to DMI’s management. In Newton, he is a member of the City’s Design Review Committee, and a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Renewable Resources.
Ted Chapman
A passionate organic gardener for 35 years, Ted practiced homeopathic medicine and raised a family in Newton with his wife Beverly. After launching his two daughters, he took up a second career in landscape design and will graduate from the certificate program at Arnold Arboretum’s Landscape Institute this spring. A member of the Newton Lower Falls beautification committee, his gardens have been featured on the organic garden and Newton garden tours and his home on the annual solar home tour. He produced a Cultural Landscape Report for the Angino Farm, and master plan for the Newton Community Farm will be his final project at the Landscape Institute.
Jenny Craddock
Education Committee Co-Chair
Jenny has been a Newton resident for over 30 years with her husband, Ed, where they raised their two children. Interests that drew her to the farm are sustainability of food production and education. Jenny has earned two master’s degrees in education from Lesley University, one in science education. She currently writes curriculum and develops teacher training and support for the Newton Public Schools. In addition, she contributes to research in science education in area educational collaborative groups. The education committee designs courses and workshops, develops curriculum, teaches and models sustainable home food gardening and preserving the harvest at the farm.
Rick Dinjian
Rick is an attorney who has represented poor and middle class clients both as a public defender in New York City and as a general practice attorney here in Massachusetts. Rick has been a member of the Board since 2008 and primarily advises the Board on legal and contract matters. Rick lives with his wife and two young sons in West Newton where he continues his family’s tradition of growing far more tomato plants than he should.
Sam Fogel
Sam has been a Newton resident for 35 years, and an avid gardener for 40 years. He and wife, Margaret, have a special interest in growing fruit trees and berries with no or very limited use of pesticides. Sam has a PhD in microbiology and is also a soil scientist. He and Margaret operate an environmental microbiology laboratory in Watertown specializing in Bioremediation (the use of bacteria to biodegrade hazardous chemicals). Sam is one of the Farm’s gardening teachers, designing courses and teaching gardening through the Newton Community Education program. He also initiated, organized and installed the demonstration dwarf apple orchard.
Christine Liu
PR and Communications Chair
Christine has over 10 years’ experience in marketing, business development, and project management in the high tech industry. A strong advocate of local food sources, she is excited to lead the farm’s promotions and to help expand its community. Christine holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from MIT.
Jerry Regosin
Fundraising Co-Chair
Jerry has extensive merchandising, marketing and operations experience in corporate retailing, developed over many years as a senior executive with Macy’s and Talbots. For the past 10 years he commuted from his Newton home to Lancaster, OH where he served as President/COO of a therapeutic shoe manufacturer. Jerry looks forward to applying his business expertise to help the farm enhance its impact and expand its support base in the community, particularly among local businesses. Jerry is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Gene Rubin
Gene Rubin is Chairman of the Ledgebrook Condominium Trust, the Farm’s only immediate neighbor. He was instrumental in convincing the City of Newton to acquire the Angino farm land and to establish Newton Community Farm as its operator. He was vice-president and general manager of Lockheed Sanders in Nashua, New Hampshire, and is still an active consultant to its successor company, BAE. Dr. Rubin has 2 degrees from MIT and, as a Fulbright Fellow, holds a DIC from the Imperial College of Science & Technology and a PhD Engineering from the University of London. He brings to the Farm a vast knowledge of business practice and management experience.