Teo Žagar, President
Teo moved to Barnard in 1985 at the age of seven and spent the first five years living in the house that also serves as the Post Office. He attended the two-classroom Barnard Central School under the tutelage of Gina Holden, and later the Woodstock elementary and high schools before leaving the state for college and work. He moved back to Barnard in the early 2000s to produce independent film and media, and has served as a town constable and vice-chair of the town Energy Committee. He was a founding member of the Barnard Community Trust and is also a member of the Development Review Board, Sustainable Woodstock, and the Carol Hurley Memorial Scholarship Fund. Teo served in the Vermont House of Representatives between 2011 and 2016 representing the towns of Barnard, Pomfret, Quechee, and West Hartford. In between semesters of college, he was a “sandwich artist” at the Barnard General Store.
Tom Platner, Founding/Former President
Tom moved to Vermont from Cape Cod in 1971 following four years of service in the U. S. Coast Guard. After working and living in and around Killington for ten years, Tom and his wife, Julia Watson, moved to Barnard in 1982 with a dog named Oscar, where they built a shop to house his cabinet making business. The three of them lived in the shop during the summer and fall while they built a house and have been in the process of finishing it for the past 30 years. Tom is chairman of the Barnard Conservation Commission, a founding member of the Chateauguay NoTown Conservation Committee, and now the President of the Barnard Community Trust. In his own words, “I got involved with the BCT because I believe we need to keep the store a vital and successful part of the community, this is the heart of the village, and we need to get it back up and running.”
Lee Resseguie, Vice President
Lee W. Resseguie earned an AB in Sociology, a JD and an LL.M. (Masters of Law in Taxation). He is admitted to the Vermont, New Hampshire and California bars. He was Managing Director in New York and London for Salomon Brothers, Citigroup, and HSBC providing tax, regulatory and accounting benefits through structured finance. Since retiring from investment banking in 2006, he has practiced law in Vermont focusing on tax, estate planning and corporate matters.
Leah Stewart, Secretary
Leah Stewart, co-owner of Locust Creek Outfitters in Bethel, lives in Barnard with her husband Don and their two young boys. Her family’s roots run deep here, her grandfather Bill Davis having owned and operated Davis Radio & Television in town. Leah grew up in Connecticut, and moved to Barnard in 2008 after receiving her AS degree in Psychology. As far back as she can remember, Leah recalls many fond family memories spent in Barnard, from family visits on weekends, to summer camping trips at Silver Lake State Park. A familiar face to many, Leah began volunteering with the BCT in 2012, first helping out with early fundraising events, then working the morning shifts while the Barnard General Store was temporarily in-between business owners. In her own words, “I am so thankful that I have been able to work along side a wonderful group of trustees, both past and present. Being a part of the BCT means a lot to me, I am proud to be a part of an organization that works hard to enrich the lives of those around us in our community.”
Boyd Bishop, Treasurer
Boyd Bishop has a BA degree in International Relations. He served in the U.S. Air Force and as a senior Foreign Service officer in Washington, DC, and American embassies abroad. After retiring from government, he started a company to create new business partnerships between the U.S. and Europe and the countries emerging from the Soviet Union. He has been a board member of several international start-up companies that resulted from these partnerships. Boyd came to Barnard in 2005, discovered the special place that it was, and is committed to restoring the centerpiece of this town.