Our mission is to bring together young, emerging, & rising professionals and foster connections in the Upper Valley.
Upper Valley Young Professionals (UVYP) is an advisory steering committee of Upper Valley Business Alliance. The steering committee consists of young professionals living in the Upper Valley who volunteer their time to create a community for other young professionals. Serving as a UVYP steering committee member is an opportunity for young people to flex their leadership muscles, and expand their network in the Upper Valley. It has also proved to be a springboard onto other board and leadership positions in the Upper Valley, including: Leadership Upper Valley, Leadership NH, and Vital Communities.
If you are interested in joining UVYP’s Steering Committee, please submit an application here. We are continuously looking to expand our network and find ways to get our members involved!
Benefits of joining the committee include networking with local businesses, shaping the future of the organization, resume building and ultimately, thinking globally and acting locally.
Emerson Gale
Chair
Emerson Gale received his Masters Degree in Ecopsychology and Musical Empowerment through the California Institute of Integral Studies. He teaches joy-based music and outdoor education both privately and with various organizations and schools in the Upper Valley. Emerson offers Music Theory & Composition at The Sharon Academy as well as violin/fiddle and piano lessons for Upper Valley Waldorf School students. He also gives ukulele, cello and percussion instruction through the Seven Stars Arts Center, where he serves on the Board of Directors. Emerson also performs Scottish and Québécois fiddling for local private and public events.
He previously served as the Camp Director of Camp Greenwoods in Hangzhou, China, which he co-founded as one of the first international youth camps in that country. Emerson has also facilitated for The Experiment In International Living, City Year London, Bay Area Wilderness Training, and Raven’s Wood Outdoor School. He currently serves as the Chair of the Upper Valley Young Professionals. You can also find him hiking, speaking Mandarin Chinese, and playing with the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra. To learn more, visit: https://www.emersongale.com/
Chelsea Paige
Vice Chair / Strategic Initiatives & Professional Development Chair
Ullas Krishnan
Secretary
Sid Babla
Community Outreach & Sponsorship Chair
Rachael Thomeer
Events Chair
Rachael Thomeer works for The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice as a Research Assistant. She is a graduate of Skidmore College and, before she started working at Dartmouth, she spent three years working in New Hampshire politics. She is passionate about making the region more welcoming to young people. In her free time, Rachael loves spending time outside and doing art projects such as quilting, lampworking (working with hot glass on a torch), woodburning, and any other craft she can get her hands on.
She cares about building community, particularly through events. She started planning events in high school when she helped organize a local arts festival and never stopped. As a relative newcomer to the Upper Valley herself, Rachael wants all young people to feel included and connected in the region. If you have any ideas for events you would like to attend, let her know on Discord!
Abhi Nayar
Treasurer
Just a dude who builds, writes and thinks stuff on the internet. Co-founder & head of product at tonebase. Building and investing in SaaS, eComm, crypto, and real estate. Hit me at abhi@tonebase.co
Kelly Mesler
Volunteerism Chair
Kelly has a unique professional background that naturally led her to a career in leadership and business. She worked at a number of jobs and volunteer opportunities throughout her three years of college that helped her jumpstart her career immediately upon graduation. After graduating with a degree in Psychological Science and Certificate in Civic Engagement, she began working at Maximize Your Talent (MYT), a coaching and consulting firm based out of NYC that specializes in organizational development and emotional intelligence training. She is currently MYT’s of Director of Operations, where she executes her strategic planning skills while also serving as a coach and consultant for numerous clients. She is a certified Kolbe Consultant and Success Coach, with extensive knowledge in several emotional intelligence and wellness assessments and practices. Outside of MYT, Kelly’s ‘life’s work’ is focused on bringing mental health curriculum into K-12 schools. Her background in developmental psychology from university mixed with her knack for business operations led her to start a non-profit that is currently in it’s early research and development stages. She currently resides in Vermont year-round but spends much of her time in the winter traveling to warmer climates and also travels regularly for work. She enjoys spending time with loved ones and partaking in outdoor activities throughout the year like snowshoeing, gardening, hiking, golfing, and kayaking. You’ll likely see her with her 3-year old dog, Rocky, who likes to tag along with most of her adventures.
Upper Valley Young Professionals
PO Box 699 • Hanover, NH • 03755
Network • Develop • Impact