Our Team

Say hello to the founding board of Franklin Gear!

In alphabetical order...

Krystal Alpers

Krystal graduated in 2004 from Roger Williams University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management and a minor in Psychology. After graduation Krystal worked as a substitute teacher in the Newfound Area School District and started an After School Program at the New Hampton Community School. She soon obtained a job with the Town of Bristol as the Executive Assistant to the Town Manager while also holding various positions gaining a wide understanding of Municipal Government.

In November of 2008, Krystal was hired as the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Franklin. Since then she has been a strong advocate to revitalize Parks and Recreation within the City. Through partnerships and committees, four city parks and Paul Smith School have been revitalized with new playgrounds and other amenities. Overall improvements, added programs and activities have been achieved through fundraising, grants, community partners and amazing parks and recreation staff. Krystal was an intricate part in the transformation of the Bessie Rowell Elementary school to a thriving Community Center, and created a flourishing Before and After School program. The Summer Program has also almost doubled in size.

During her career she has raised over 1 million dollars for the betterment of Parks and Recreation.She is a Co-Coordinator of the Healthy Eating Active Living Coalition (HEAL) and a member of the New Hampshire Recreation and Parks Association (NHRPA). Krystal is married with two school-aged children. Her family enjoys their beach days on Newfound lake in the summer, hiking and outdoor recreation in the spring and fall and skiing in the winter. She highly supports a strong educational foundation, family engagement, and has a passion for outdoor recreational activities.

Kathlene Fleckenstein

I’ve been a real estate appraiser since 1989, working in tax appraisal for the Montana Department of Revenue, then opening my own appraisal business in 1993. I moved to Franklin after accepting a position as a review appraiser with the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2003. I still hold that position and am proud to serve our Veterans throughout a thirteen state region, including New Hampshire. I’ve been on the Franklin Zoning Board of Adjustments for the past ten years and am currently the Vice Chairman. I’m also a past board member of The Franklin Studio.

I pursue many craft and art hobbies, including stained glass, beading and weaving. My focus is on the traditional Japanese fiber arts, particularly kumihimo.
I’m excited to be a part of Franklin Gear helping in the development of a space for the passionate to master their skills and the curious to learn and explore.

Jeff Graham

Jeff is the Managing Officer of Graham & Veroff, P.C. There he provides accounting and management consulting services, audits of manufacturing, municipalities, electric utilities, nonprofits and other business entities.
A previous member and past chairman of the Vermont Board of Public Accountancy, Jeff has also served as an Investigator for the New Hampshire Board of Accountancy. He has been an Adjunct Professor at Southern New Hampshire University’s Institute for Forensic Accounting and Forensic Examination.

Jeff’s other memberships include the NH Board of Accountancy, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Vermont Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the New Hampshire Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Jeff grew up in a mechanically inclined family that owned a machine shop in Springfield, Vermont. His love of all things mechanical includes restoration of classic automobiles. Jeff is a great asset to our organization!

Jim Jones

Where to begin with Jim? His bio could fill a website. Jim’s long career in home & commercial building began in the 1970s - working for his father’s company G.J. & Sons. There Jim’s passion for building and making was born. After his dad retired Jim helped two of G.J.’s talented employees start their own successful businesses. Jim is always there for people; his drive is undeniable!

Jim has been a member of the National Building & Remodeling Association. He served on the boards of the Concord, Laconia, Manchester & Nashua Chapters of the NH Building & Remodeling Association - simultaneously! He spent a year as the Concord Chapter’s President.

Jim joined the board of the Webster Lake Fishing Derby for their 36th anniversary. There he acted as liaison between the derby and the Franklin Outing Club - an organization that has provided recreational opportunities in Franklin for over 60 years.

Jim soon joined the Outing Club where he has served as Co-President for the last four years. He has been instrumental in the development of The Outing Club’s Veterans Memorial Recreation Area - Its greatest feature- “The Hill” is where community members can grab the rope tow or ride the T-bars to the top and enjoy The Hill’s 10 trails.

Jim’s service to the community includes work with the Boy Scouts and coaching football & lacrosse at Tilton School. Jim also coached women’s basketball at Tilton for 15 years. Jim is married to his wonderful wife Joy and they have three grown children.

Jim is the owner of J. Jones Building & Remodeling Consulting. He is also a Realtor with Whitewater Realty in Tilton. Jim has a passion for helping homeowners define their vision and work with the right people in the trades to make it reality.

What is Jim’s vision for Franklin Gear? To build a place where kids and adults can go to better themselves, learn some trades, maybe start a business. He envisions the old timers will enjoy their hobbies while sharing their experience with younger generations. Jim is our liaison between possibility and reality.

Jeremy Laucks

Jeremy is the owner, designer, and everything else of Blackfly Canoes, a manufacturer of whitewater canoes; and co-owner of Sugarhouse Skis, a start up boutique ski company.

He resides out in the woods in New Hampton with his wife, son, and two dogs. An avid whitewater paddler, he currently serves as President of the board of Mill City Park, a non-profit working to build New England’s first whitewater park in Franklin.

Jeremy is always seeking to expand his skills for “making things”and is driven by curiosity to learn how he can do a better job of making things. He has recently developed an affinity for hobby machining and might be starting a collection of 1940’s era machine tools, and as he describes it, “making things to make other things.” Jeremy can also be occasionally spotted cruising the backroads of the Lakes Region on his vintage mopeds at a blistering 30mph.

Colby Morrill

Colby Morrill is one unique individual who has no one set of skills . A gentleman he met in a bar while on worldly travels once said “Colby you strike me as a man who knows a little bit about a lot“
Colby‘s work experience is quite extensive; spending over two decades working in and around the outdoor recreation field. Colby has enjoyed a lifetime of gardening and volunteering In and around the community.

Colby has degrees in Natural Resources Conservation, Parks And Recreational Management, Ski Area Technology and has many technical certifications ranging in taxidermy, welding, compost and horticulture

Colby is attempting to live a sustainable farm life style with a family farm stand and maple syrup and working in outdoor rec and still tries to give himself more free time to invest in Franklin and the surrounding community. He truly wants to make where we lives a better place for all of us to live and play.

Colby's making experience is extensive. A few projects of note: As Colby became an Eagle Scout his capstone project was Welcome to Franklin signs - which are strategically placed at Franklin's borders. The sunflower that he built in Marceau Park is spectacular. And Kayak Man welcomes people to Franklin Falls and Mill City Park. Colby is the definition of a maker.

Don St. Gelais

Don is the owner of two Transportation Companies - Lakes Region Airport Shuttle & Lakes Region Student Transport. These companies have served the area for over 20 years and employ more than 50 employees.

Don is also a Majority Partner in Mirador Partners Financial consultancy. Don has been a Certified Retirement Plan Consultant for 40 years. Don has served on the Board of Directors of Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce for the past 3 years.

Don lives in Meredith with his wife Sandra. He is an avid golfer. Don is a craftsman when it comes to woodworking. He brings his skill and enthusiasm to our board. We are lucky to have Don on our team!

Bill Yacopucci

Like many, my maker life began with Legos. I would follow the instructions to learn but would soon “off-road” and make my own stuff. I’ve been doing so ever since. From general home repairs and improvements - to building a Murphy bed from scratch - I’m not afraid to dive in. If something of mine stops working, I like to take it apart and see if I can fix it.

My first career was in law enforcement as a police officer in the City of Franklin. I then moved into corporate security & safety management. I've worked for companies in a wide variety of industries - retail, manufacturing & distribution, high tech, transportation, and property management.

Partnering with maintenance staff to solve the safety problems of front line workers honed my making ability further. On, of all days, September 11, 2001, I became a Certified Protection Professional through the American Society of Industrial Security.

With inadequate opportunities in education for many NH communities, I became interested in makerspaces as a means of leveling the playing field. If everyone had the same opportunities to create and learn we could solve the world’s problems. Makerspaces can have life-changing implications for young and old alike.

I created Franklin Gear, initially, as an apparel & accessories line celebrating the City of Franklin, NH and its citizens. The goal was to be able to donate to area STEM programs. I determined my time would be better spent building a makerspace for the people of the Greater Franklin Area.

My board experience includes the Boston Chapter of the American Society of Industrial Security. While living in the Midwest, I was on the Greater Columbus (Indiana) Safety Council. In California I was a member of the Western States Cargo Theft Association (tricky name - we were definitely anti- cargo theft). Locally, I was on the Juvenile Diversion Board for Merrimack County, and the boards of the Franklin Opera House and the Franklin Outing Club. With such a diverse portfolio of board service, I've seen the good, the bad & the ugly. I set out to bring a "Dream Team" board to Franklin Gear - and I have!

Coming attractions...

In the fall of 2021 our board with be joined by another great Colby - Colby-Sawyer College! C.S. students have been valued volunteers and interns in the many nonprofits that serve the Franklin area. Their fresh perspectives, coupled with their education and drive, have benefited the Franklin Outing Club, Perma City Life and Mill City Park.

Internship opportunities will be available to their diverse student body. But we wanted to take it up a notch... Every two years a sophomore will be selected to serve a two-year term on our board of directors. This is an exciting opportunity for us as well as the students of Colby Sawyer. The student selected will have their picture and bio alongside their fellow board members. We can't wait for this to begin!

How about you? Do you want to join a dynamic volunteer board for this fantastic venture? Help guide the organization and shape its future.

Previous board experience is nice, but not required. What is required is drive, good nature and the desire to help make a bright future in this terrific community!

Beyond the board of directors, we are on the lookout for motivated volunteers who may manage one of our many specialty shops, help maintain our facilities, teach a class - whatever your skillset we could us you. Interested? Click- the- Brick!