The 2023 Board of Directors
At the December 14th Board Meeting, the Board of Directors elected the 2023 Officers. Read more about them below and congratulations to our new officers!
Mace Carpenter, President
We have an incredible organization—it is a joy to be a member. I believe in NOTICe and fully support. We have challenges to address and wonderful members to do it. As a retired Air Force Colonel with 34 active years in the Air Force, I work with the Office of the Secretary of Defense with a focus in energy innovation, the environment, and space. In the Air Force I commanded at the flight, squadron, and group levels. I have four master’s degrees that include ones on public administration and political science and am a member of the Alexandria Presbyterian Church.
I have current civic experience that includes being Chaplain for the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie 871, President of the North Old Town Independent Civic Association, and a board member for the RiverRenew Stakeholder Advisory Group. Some of my other past civic efforts include AIDS Outreach, Boy Scouts, Fairfax Little League Baseball, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the City of Fairfax Parks & Recreation Committee. My wife Andi is always there to provide support.
I thank the members who serve on the NOTICe board and within our membership. Please contact me if you have questions for me.
Kathryn Condello, Vice President
Kathryn works for a major telecommunications provider as an Industry advisor to the Federal Government on the means to jointly mitigate emerging and systemic security risks to the nation's networks. While the topics she addresses have no immediate relevance to NOTice (!), Kathryn operates in a public/private environment where core tasks include characterizing the problem, finding solutions, building consensus, and then driving towards implementation. She hope these skills can be leveraged to support NOTice’s objectives.
A long-term resident within the DMV, Kathryn has been an Alexandria House (AH) homeowner for five years, where she serves as co-chair of the Community Relations Committee. This Committee apprises homeowners of upcoming changes in OTN, and provides the information needed for individuals to provide input on these developments. She believes this steady dissemination of NOTice initiatives to Alexandria House residents will be of value to this organization and looks forward to working with everyone.
Mary Harris, Treasurer
Mary lives in Marina Towers. She has been a resident of North Old Town since 1994 and a member of NOTICe since 1999. She has served on its Board of Directors and as Treasurer.
Mary also was Treasurer and Board member of the Marina Towers Condominium Association and appointed by the City of Alexandria to the Mirant Community Monitoring Group (now known as the GenOn/Pepco power plant) to provide an information loop between the City, company and residents on clean-up of the plant site. After power plant closure, she participated in the planning sessions to design the new Old Town North Small Area Plan adopted by City Council in 2017.
She currently is Director of the annual Immigration Film Fest. Recently retired from Winrock International and volunteer leadership of the National Wildlife Federation, Mary brings experience from a long career in the field of sustainable development, focused mainly on climate and the social & environmental impact of the energy and transport sectors. She has an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and a BS (which is always useful). Mary is an avid sailor and walker on our Potomac riverfront. She is passionate about preserving history, increasing green space and fostering community spirit in Old Town North as it develops.
Melissa B. Kuennen, Secretary
Melissa has 40 years of design experience as an architect for Federal, State and civic agencies and higher education institutions, with an ongoing interest and many years of experience in Smart Growth and Transportation Oriented Development (TOD). She has served as a volunteer on multiple Professional Association and client boards, public agency Designer Selection committees, and as a founder of urban design community groups for public transportation projects. Melissa actively participated in the Small Area Plan Update for Old Town North and wants to help ensure its principles are followed by the city. She currently sits on the Potomac Yard Design Advisory committee, and joined the Board of NOTICe in 2022. She believes in the importance of providing affordable housing throughout Old Town in order to expand the diversity of its population, as walkable neighborhoods should be available for everyone. In addition, Melissa is passionate about the importance of communication and is spear-heading the completion of a neighborhood contact list to help the OTN citizens stay more aware of the planning process in our neighborhood. She and her husband Bruce Kuennen are residents at the Gables in Old Town North.
Sumrien Ali, Member at Large
Agnès Artemel, Member at Large
Agnès has lived in Old Town North for more than 20 years (at the Rivergate townhouses) and in Alexandria neighborhoods for a total of more than 40 years. She has served on the NOTICe Board for 5 years. Her professional work focuses on urban planning, real estate, and economic development. She heads Artemel & Associates, Inc., an economic analysis consulting firm, where she does market studies and provides consulting services to local governments and non-profits seeking to revitalize older commercial districts – most recently along Route 1 south of Alexandria and in Baileys Crossroads and Seven Corners. As an Alexandria resident she was appointed by City Council to Boards and Commissions, including the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Eisenhower West Small Area Plan Advisory Group. She represents the neighborhood on Alexandria's Waterfront Commission. She has been active with local civic groups and business associations, including the Eisenhower Partnership and the Old Town North Alliance. A past president of the Old Town North Community Partnership, she was instrumental in forging a partnership with the City to improve Montgomery Park with a gazebo, pathways, and a redesigned dog park. Ms. Artemel has a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the George Washington University.
Steve Kruetter, Member at Large
Steve and his wife Holly moved to Alexandria in 2019 after spending 30 years living and working in several different countries in Asia. He continues to work part time as a supply chain consultant for a private equity firm. Since moving to Alexandria, Steve has been a member of the board of the HOA where they lived and volunteered with the MRC during the pandemic helping with vaccination PODs.
Steve was an active volunteer in civic and community organizations while living abroad but this is his first membership in a civic organization in the States. He look forward to working with the other board members and the community to contribute to the well-being of Alexandria. It’s a great place to live.
Margaret Townsend, Member at Large
Margaret is the owner of River’s Edge Yoga and Movement Studio in Old Town North.
Margaret is President of the Board of Directors of the Old Town North Community Partnership,Executive Director of Yogis for Positive Change is a member of the Hunger Free Alexandria Committee and is the manager of the Old Town North Thursday Farmer’s Market.
Margaret returned to her childhood home of Alexandria after spending several years in New York City working in the theatre, teaching at SUNY Purchase and consulting in Arts / Not for Profit Management and Special Events.
She is pleased to be serving as a member of the NOTICe Board and looks forward to using her experience in not for profit management and special events to benefit the Old Town North Community.
Trevor A. Riley will serve as the Communications and Event Manager for this term.