Vermont Independent Media
Steve Mundahl, President
Steve is the former CEO of Goodwill Industries of Western Massachusetts having served for 13 years and retiring in 2017 and moved to Brattleboro. He is the former publisher/owner of Mature Lifestyles, a monthly news magazine with eight editions throughout Florida which he published for eight years. He is a journalist (Orlando Sentinel) and author of several books. Upon moving to Brattleboro, he planted an orchard and lives with his wife Sharon and cat, Kito.
Stuart Strothman, Vice President
Stuart has taught in Windham 27 years, managing community newspapers with middle schoolers in Putney, Guilford, and Bellows Falls; he edits The Howler at BF high school at present. President of the Putney Historical Society through acquisition of the General Store and the current Next Stage, he served on the board of the Southeast Vermont Watershed Alliance. His books range from local history and historical fiction to the education of college students with learning disabilities.
Michael Bosworth, Treasurer
Michael has held various information technology and management positions in the public, nonprofit, and private worlds: Telecom Business Manager for the University of Massachusetts; Executive Director and Business Manager for The Brick House Community Resource Center in Turners Falls, Massachusetts; and Business Manager for Ironwood Brand in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Barry Aleshnick, Secretary
Barry has been a stay-at-home dad to his three home schooled daughters and a committed cyclist. He is co-founder of several local community initiatives, including Friends of Algiers Village, Guilford Preservation Inc., Brattleboro Biofuels Cooperative, and Vermont Independent Media. As founding member of VIM, he recognizes the essential role of the free press as a bulwark of democracy and lifeblood of community. He lives with his wife, Martina, in Guilford. He is often seen lugging bundles of papers on his bicycle.
Lynn S. Barrett, At Large
Former director of communications for CBS Sports, Lynn Barrett is founder and president of Primetime Concepts, Inc., a specialty public relations and publishing company. Named one of 23 VIPs in Windham County by the Brattleboro Reformer, Barrett is citizen's commissioner for tourism, Windham Regional Commission; Board member of BCTV and Editor of Okemo Valley Magazine.
Don Lloyd Cook, At Large
Don is currently an independent privacy and legal consultant living in Brattleboro. He obtained a JD degree from the University of Arkansas and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech and has taught at universities in Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia and New Mexico. He has also worked across financial services, entertainment, retail and online advertising domains in a variety of capacities. He is an active supporter of efforts to support independent journalism as well as the neurodivergent community.
Jonathan Lhowe, At Large
Jonathan Lhowe has spent his entire career in publishing. After working in advertising sales in New England and New York City, Lhowe served as owner and publisher of weekly newspapers in North Carolina and Connecticut. He was also publisher and CEO of a daily newspaper in Rhode Island. In 1995 Lhowe founded VisitNewEngland.com that became the largest independent digital travel guide for the region. Lhowe served as publisher of VNE until July 2024.
Julie Ros, At Large
Julie is a media professional and entrepreneur with 20+ years’ experience building companies, writing and editing, event production, marketing, and communications in the financial markets, fintech, and digital asset sectors. Originally from Oregon, Julie moved to New York City to study Journalism and Political Science at NYU. She later moved to London for work, but soon needed to exercise her entrepreneurial spirit and started a global publishing and events company. After 10 years in the UK, she returned to New York to raise her young twins. Now an empty nester working remotely, Julie moved to Vermont and is enjoying fully immersing herself into her new community.