Laurie Palagyi (She\Her) | Executive Director

WEHGC is led by Executive Director Laurie Palagyi who joined the camp in April 2013. As a former educator, Laurie earned a Master’s degree in Experiential Education from Wheaton College, and later turned her focus to mental health earning a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Laurie has extensive experience working with youth, children, and families in multiple settings including outpatient and in-home therapy, residential therapeutic homes, wilderness trip leading, adventure challenge programs, and summer camps. Laurie is passionate about creating innovative outdoor experiences where girls can flourish and be empowered.

Betsy Brown (She/Her) | Camp Director

Betsy Brown joined WEHGC in 2013 managing our Food Service and her role increased over the years encompassing every area of the WEHGC program.  She returned in 2023 as our Camp Director.  Betsy has a degree in Education with a minor in Native American art from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Betsy is a Wilderness First Responder and holds an American Red Cross Lifeguarding and Serve Safe Manager certification. She has worked with children and youth for most of her career as an educator, 4H leader, camp counselor, and camp director. Betsy has a heart for campers and families and has earned the nickname “Camp Mommager”.  Betsy was born and raised in Maine and strongly believes that the woods and waters of Maine are a place every child should be able to experience and explore.

Isabel Snyder (She/Her) | Program Director

Isabel Snyder is WEHGC’s Program Manager. Deeply committed to camp, Isabel has deep roots to West End House and is a fourth generation West Ender: her great-grandfather grew up in the West End of Boston; he, his brothers, and their boys attended the boys’ camp, as did Isabel’s father and uncle. Growing up as a camper and counselor in Maine for ten years, Isabel came to West End House Girls Camp in 2017, taking a year off in 2019. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in American Sign Language - English Interpretation from Rochester Institute of Technology. Professionally, in addition to her camp work, she is an Interpreter in Education in the Worcester Public Schools, working with K-12 students. Isabel believes that summer camp can change people’s lives and is passionate about ensuring that any child who wants to go to camp is afforded the opportunity to do so.

Laurie Kaplan (She\Her) | President

Retired, IBM

The WEHGC founding was spear-headed by Laurie Kaplan.  She brought together a committee that created the camp, found the site, helped build the facility and determined its values and direction.  She served as WEHGC Board President for the first years of its establishment.

Laurie grew up in the Boston area and her family was very involved in the WEH Boys and Girls Club and the WEH Camp for Boys.  Laurie, herself attended camp as both a camper and counselor for 10 years and found it a life-changing experience.  Given Laurie’s focus on women’s and young women’s causes, and this camping experience, Laurie would say the WEH and camping is in her “DNA”.

Laurie spent 35 years working for IBM in various technical and management positions. Since her retirement she has been on not-for profit boards, continued her education, and has tutored reading- with the WEHGC as her major focus.

Kara LaRochelle (She/Her) | Vice President

Director of Programs, Freeport Community Services

Kara is currently the Director of Programs at Freeport Community Services in Freeport, ME. In this role she oversees the organization's assistance programs including a significant Summer Camp Scholarship Fund for children in Freeport and Pownal. She started her career as an Ed Tech and Teacher in the Portland Public Schools and then transitioned to Ketcha Outdoors as the Director of Youth Development where she ran summer camp, after school care, vacation camps, and adventure challenge programming. Kara also volunteered as an American Camp Association accreditation visitor and was involved with the Maine Summer Camps organization. In her spare time she enjoys volunteer coaching with Girls on the Run, being outside as much as possible, and hanging out with her dog, Casco and cat, Appleton! 

Guhan Mohan (He\Him) | Treasurer & Strategic Planning

Head of Strategy, MassMutual Financial Advisors

Guhan Mohan joined WEHGC Board in April 2022 as our Treasurer and Strategic Planning leader.  Guhan began his career at Bain & Company as a management consultant, serving clients across Asia, Middle East, Africa, and the U.S.  He is currently the Head of Strategy for MassMutual Financial Advisors, where he leads a team of strategy, finance, and analytics professionals.  Guhan’s prior volunteering experiences include Horizons for Homeless Children, and Board positions at South Asian LGBTQIA organizations (SATRANG in Los Angeles, and MASALA in Boston).

Guhan’s beliefs around the power of intentionally-curated experiences in developing one’s self-confidence and self-empowerment stem from his personal experiences around navigating challenges as a first generation college goer and as a new immigrant.

In addition to his electronics engineering and business degrees, Guhan also holds the professional designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Chartered Life Underwriter®.

Kathy Jonas (She/Her) | Programming & Fundraising

Retired

Camp has always been the place where Kathy is happiest and can be her best self. Her lifelong passion for summer camping began in the New York Adirondacks at Camp Whippoorwill, where she grew up as both a camper and staff member, forming lifelong friendships, challenging herself to do hard things and creating some of her fondest memories. After an initial career in higher education as a Student Affairs professional across three colleges, Kathy returned to her true calling in camp leadership, serving as Director of both Camp Kingswood and Camp Walden in Maine. Throughout her career, the most rewarding part of her work has been mentoring staff and forming deep, meaningful connections with campers.

To support and elevate the broader summer camp community, Kathy also served on the Board of Directors for both the American Camp Association New England and Maine Summer Camps. In this next chapter of her life, she is excited to bring her extensive experience as a camp leader and youth educator to the West End House Girls Camp Board to continue making a difference in the lives of young people. Outside of her board work, Kathy enjoys spending quality time with her granddaughters, staying connected with friends, taking long walks with her doodle Roxie and riding her bike.

Danielle E. Klainberg (She\Her) | Fundraising

Founder and CEO, DEK Associates Consulting

Danielle is passionate about empowering girls and women and strengthening the nonprofit sector. From her daughter’s and her own experience, she has great appreciation for the transformational power of inclusive and educational programs like WEHGC that are committed to inspiring personal growth and joy.  She is an experienced nonprofit strategist and leader with a proven record of success enhancing organizational capacity and fund development. Her leadership roles include positions with Amnesty International, Arava Institute, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, IBA Boston, Oxfam, WGBH Foundation, and World Education. In 2008, she founded DEK Associates Consulting, Inc, a comprehensive fundraising and strategy firm providing tailored support to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. Danielle has also served on several boards, committees, and regularly as a pro bono consultant. She has been invited to speak at a wide variety of conference and training programs. She holds a master’s from the Columbia University School of International & Public Affairs and a B.A. from Brandeis University.