Meet Lena
Lena was born and raised in Rhode Island by parents who came to the United States from Estonia after World War II. After graduating from Cornell University, she earned a Masters in Public Administration from Indiana University and started her career in environmental policy in Washington, DC, first as a consultant and then at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Over 15 years at EPA, Lena worked on a variety of issues, including 10 years fighting climate change as the Existing Homes Team Lead in the EnergyStar Program. A pivot to a second career as a personal trainer and then a nationally certified Health and Wellness Coach emerged from a life long interest in athletics and allowed her to work one on one with clients to help them reach their health and fitness goals.
When Lena’s daughter went off to college, Lena left her empty nest and moved north to a new nest in Gilford, New Hampshire. As a trainer at Taylor Community and as one of the original Substance Use Recovery Coaches at Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region in Laconia, Lena had the privilege of assisting community members across a wide range of ages and issues. Lena continues her community activity in retirement as the rental support coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul in Laconia and as a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense.