Greater Bedford Womenade

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Debby Fedder, President

Sometimes it takes a newcomer to get things rolling. Our fearless leader and President, Debby and her husband Michael moved to Bedford in 2011 from her native suburban Philadelphia home where she raised her two sons and enjoyed a 26 year career in independent education.  She was a founding member of Impact100 Philadelphia, a collective women's giving circle, and served as Education Chair and on its Board as Membership Chair.  Eager to find a way to bring a charitable giving group to the Bedford area, and inspired by the success of other Womenades, Debby founded GBW in summer 2013. Debby is a self-driven go-getter who keeps the Board on track and focused. Debby works at The Derryfield School in Manchester, NH, and enjoys tennis, winter sports, hiking, reading, traveling and, sadly, playing games on her iPad!


"I love how the Womenade model engages community. Monies are raised by the community to serve the needs within it.  It's simple,  powerful, and we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others."

Karen Allard, Vice President

As Vice President of the Board, Karen comes to Womenade fully loaded with charisma and a bold approach to life. Combining these attributes with her keen sense of compassion, Karen is a key player in the successful launch of GBW. Originally from San Francisco, Karen lives in Goffstown, NH, with her husband John and their three children.  She has a marketing degree from Pepperdine University and has spent the last 25 years raising her family.  In addition, Karen has been active in various local organizations, which include The Derryfield School, the Greater Manchester YMCA as a former Board of Trustee member, and as a Spouse Forum member for the YPO Boston chapter. Her interests include tennis, running, travel and most recently, golf.


"I am thrilled to be a part of an organization like Womenade which gives back to the community I love and call home".

Erica Benton

Erica is thrilled to join the Greater Bedford Womenade family as it blends perfectly with her passion to support our community and those in need. Born and raised in Bedford, she graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing. Following her studies, Erica moved to Boston to work as a Merchandise Manager for online retailer Rue La La, providing designer goods for rotating premium brands. She returned to Bedford six years ago to raise her two young children with her husband, Justin. Erica currently manages VIVA Boutique, a clothing and accessory shop located inside the Executive Health & Sports Center in Manchester.

Erica is also a proud board member for the Seeds of Hope Foundation which raises funds for patient services and research for the Dartmouth Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor family activities (especially on the water!), cooking, barre, pilates, and spin.

Courtney Calkins

Courtney is a natural fit for Greater Bedford Womenade! Courtney's passion is helping others. She enjoyed a fulfilling 12-year career in social services where she worked at Waypoint (formerly Child and Family Services) and Easterseals. She left the social work field a few years ago to pursue a career in real estate. Though she loves being a realtor, Courtney missed helping those in need so she joined the Greater Bedford Womenade board where she can continue to make an impact in our community.

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Courtney is a lifelong resident of Bedford and has three children. When Courtney is not assisting her real estate clients, she can often be found at a sporting event for one of her three boys. Courtney also enjoys being active, spending time with family and friends and chasing around her dog Kobe. 

Olivia Carnevale
Olivia lives in Bedford with her husband Jon and three children and is a graduate of Emmanuel College. Olivia has worked and supported family in the hospitality industry for over 15 years, most notably at The Bedford Village Inn. She has many years of experience fundraising and event planning and worked with the NH Granite State Children’s Alliance Child Advocacy Centers on their Annual Gala Committee. She volunteers at the Bedford Schools and is the Hospitality Chair at Peter Woodbury.

Olivia’s desire to give back and serve has landed her at GBW where she is excited to enjoy the company of women friends while raising money to help local people, whether they are in crisis or are facing a small stumbling block in their everyday life.

Olivia's interests include tennis, skiing, reading, traveling and exploring the great outdoors and you can often find her on the sidelines cheering on her children in their sports. 

Kathleen Edwards

Kathleen grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended St. Joseph's University. She started in the commercial real estate industry shortly after school. Kathleen worked for a large commercial real estate company in the Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC area and currently works as a REALTOR in southern NH with Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan.


Kathleen moved to Bedford, New Hampshire about 28 years ago and has volunteered in many community positions while raising her children. Kathleen is passionate about helping people in our local community. Having lost her husband of 25 years, she understands first-hand, the value of a community coming together to help those in need.


She is thrilled to be a part of Greater Bedford Womenade that assists those who may not have anywhere else to turn. She brings sound intuition coupled with integrity and commitment in all she does interspersed with a sense of fun and adventure.

Kathleen likes skiing, fitness, skydiving and motorcycling around the great state of New Hampshire.


Julie Muir
A native of Amherst, New York, Julie serves as Secretary for GBW. A proud graduate of Colgate University, she started her career in editing at Random House while she pursued her Masters in English at NYU. After a brief stint in academia, she threw caution to the wind and embarked on a series of adventures with her husband Gavin in Colorado and landed in private elementary education where she was able to marry her passion for learning and teaching with outdoor pursuits. Julie has happily spent the last 20+ years raising her two daughters, is a freelance writer, and enjoys working at The Bedford Public Library. Julie loves to travel, kayak and play pickle ball and is happiest when she is outside with her family and puppy Murphy.

“I was drawn to GBW’s mission, and I am in awe of this nimble and impactful powerhouse group of ladies. Like so many of my fellow board members, I welcome and am humbled by the opportunity to make a difference for families in our community. One of my favorite quotes from Winston Churchill rings very true:  "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Stephanie Nichols
Stephanie's passion for serving her community is what first attracted her to the Greater Bedford Womenade and she is excited for the opportunity to be joining the board and contribute to their incredible work. Stephanie grew up in Bedford, attended West High School, and graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in History and an ME.d in Secondary Education. Stephanie has been teaching High School History for 12 years and is currently a teacher at Bedford High School. 

The opportunity to work with amazing women serving their community in times of great need aligns perfectly with the values she strives to instill in her students.

Stephanie and her husband Matt live in Bedford with their two energetic toddlers. When not teaching or chasing toddlers, she loves to read, ski, and spend time with her friends and family.

Heather Noonan
Heather grew up in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Growing up on a small island laid the foundation of her sense of community and helping others. From a very early age she knew teaching was her passion and pursued a BA in Elementary Education from Plymouth State College and a Masters from Lesley University. Heather taught 12 years in Andover MA as a third grade teacher before relocating to Bedford with her husband Ryan and their 2 children. She continued her love of teaching in Bedford at Memorial Elementary where she spent 7 years as a Title One Reading Tutor.

In her free time she loves traveling, playing golf and tennis, catching up on her stack of books and spending time with family and friends. 

Heather is excited to join the board  of Greater Bedford Womenade and looks forward to making a difference in the community.
We think she's a perfect addition as volunteering and supporting people in times of need are two values she holds near and dear to her heart. 

Gail Weeks

GBW is so excited to welcome Gail as our treasurer. A native of Connecticut and long-time resident of Bedford, NH, Gail brings various professional and personal experience to her role. Her work at Fidelity Investments in Boston, her many volunteer experiences within the Bedford Schools, and board roles for the Pats Peak ski team and Bedford Bluffs Swim and Tennis Club make her a tremendous asset to the GBW Board! Gail is a new empty-nester and keeps herself very busy with tennis, skiing, traveling, yoga and her work at a local garden center.  


"I am  happy to give some of my new found free time to such a great organization."