Board | MainStreet Warner, Inc.

Something Wonderful is Happening in Warner

Jim Mitchell

Our Mission

MainStreet Warner, Inc. identifies and addresses community needs in ways that build connections between education, the arts, food security and ecological living practices. Through supporting local organizations, businesses, artists, musicians, educators and farms MainStreet Warner, Inc. supports the greater Warner community by creating partnerships and places to come together for entertainment, relaxation, learning and service.

In keeping with our mission, our current programs include:

Jim Mitchell Community Park, MainStreet Warner Stage & Amphitheater, and Children's Park
Restoration of The Lodge, the future home of Music & Performances and the Community Kitchen
Warner Farms and Food Security Project
MainStreet Warner Annual Literacy Project at Simonds School
Jim Mitchell Annual Scholarship
Jim Mitchell Local Hero Book Award at Simonds School

MainStreet Warner, Inc. Board and Staff

Neil Nevins - President

Retired Professor of Sociology after 45 years, University of Connecticut, New England College in Henniker, and NH Technical Institute, Concord’s Community College. A long-time community organizer, active in worker self-management and community land trust movements. Co-owner of MainStreet BookEnds of Warner, a 100% solar-powered independent bookstore. Serves on Warner’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, Energy Committee and Community Power Committee, accomplishing conversion of all town buildings and properties to 100% solar energy. Former member of Warner Planning Board. Serves on Board of Warner’s Kawasiwajo Community Land Trust. Co-founder of MSW since 2000.

Charles Austin - Treasurer

Works TD Bank in a Credit Risk role working on regulatory submissions for US and Canadian Bank regulators. 25 years of experience in corporate finance primarily in regulatory reporting and compliance roles. MSW Board member since 2016.

Katharine Mitchell Nevins - Secretary

Registered nurse for 35 years working in community and public health. Former Warner library trustee and served on the Warner Fall Foliage Festival Board. Co-owner/manager of MainStreet BookEnds, a bookstore and gallery started in 1998 on Warner’s Main Street. Co-founder of MSW since 2000.

Jane Coplan

Thirty year career at the NH Department of Corrections, 15 years as the Warden of all four institutions. Board of Directors, Bach With Verse. MSW Board member since 2019.

Karinne Heise

Thirty years teaching high school English. A practicing poet and photographer, volunteers for various Warner-connected organizations. Monitors conservation easements and writes articles for Five Rivers Conservation Trust. Redesigned an educational nature trail in Warner’s Chandler Reservation for the Conservation Commission’s Taking Action for Wildlife initiative. MSW Board member since 2023.

Tom Heise

History teacher, coach, and administrator at the high school level for over thirty years. Since moving to Warner in 2019 has served as a Pillsbury Free Library trustee, a soccer coach in the Warner Youth Sports Association, an election day volunteer, and a MSW Board member since 2023.

Charles Huckins

President and owner of CherryWind Technologies since 1994, a consulting firm based in Pembroke, NH devoted to helping small businesses and individuals get the most from their personal computer systems. MSW Board member since 2016.

Rachel Allen Parsons - Administrative Assistant

Paid, part-time administrative assistant, and founding Board member of MSW. Responsibilities include general administrative, correspondence and acknowledgments, creation and maintenance of reports/spreadsheets, utilization of donor management software, and proofreader. Retired executive assistant to the president of Colby Sawyer College, responsible for specialized and professional communication, calendar maintenance and scheduling, preparation of reports and budgets, organization of meetings, primary liaison to internal and external constituents and board of trustees.

Bret Ingold - Advisor to the Board

Born and raised in Warner, a sculptor by trade. Many years of experience in property management and hospitality. Focused on putting permaculture training to work on his family's land and in the community. Helped to start multiple service focused organizations including RISE Now inc, a founding member of Warner Public Market, and a Board member of Kawasiwajo Community Land Trust. Volunteers on the Warner’s Housing Advisory Committee and Economic Development Committee.

Current and past town and area organization affiliations as a board member include MainStreet Warner, Inc.; Pillsbury Free Library; Sunapee-Kearsarge Intercommunity Theatre; Unitarian Universalist Church of Concord, NH; Warner Cooperative Kindergarten; Warner Fall Foliage Festival; and Warner Historical Society.