Meet the Staff

Lee Eastbourne

Executive Director

Lee was born and raised in Bradford, England, approximately four hours north of London. He completed his undergraduate education in the United Kingdom and currently holds a Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) in Sport and Education Studies from Liverpool Hope University.

Lee moved to the United States in late 2004 for what he thought was a short commitment to work and gain valuable experience before returning to England to pursue a career in Education. That plan never came to fruition as Lee met, and is now married to Jennifer, with whom he lives in Gales Ferry, CT with their two children.

During his time in the United States, Lee has held roles in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, serving as Client Services Manager, Account Executive, and Operations and Marketing Manager, and most recently the Jonnycake Center’s Director of Development before being announced as the Center’s Executive Director starting in July 2017.

401.377.8069 ext. 106

leastbourne@jonnycake.org

Bio to come

Sarah Cote

Program Director

401.377.8069 ext. 110

scote@jonnycake.org

Kristin Ells

Admin/HR Assistant

Kristin has lived in Ashaway with her husband and five children, ages 10-22 since 2008, having relocated from Vermont. You may recognize her from her frequent visits to the Thrift Store, her “favorite store”, or from her work as a camp counselor and art camp leader with Hopkinton Recreation. Kristin graduated from Granite State College in NH with a BA in Child & Family Studies and has worked in non-profit and for-profit businesses in recruiting, administration, human resources, and programming.

She is excited to bring all of those experiences together to assist Jonnycake employees and clients in reaching their goals. In her spare time, Kristin creates miniature teacup fairyscapes through her business Crafty Happy Place.

401.377.8069 ext. 103

kells@jonnycake.org

Adrienne Hall
Volunteer Coordinator

Adrienne joined The Jonnycake Center in May 2016.  Currently one of the volunteer coordinators, Adrienne received her Bachelor’s degree from Boston University College of Communication with a concentration in Advertising/Marketing.

Adrienne has held positions in the financial world as well as several non-profit organizations in Boston and Hartford.  While staying home to raise her two daughters, Adrienne remained an active member of the Westerly Community.  She is a former board member of the Ocean Community YMCA, a literacy volunteer, and was an active volunteer at Dunns’ Corners Elementary School.

Adrienne is enthusiastic about the work of The Jonnycake Center and is eager to speak with individuals and groups about volunteering.  She finds most people are surprised to learn all that The Jonnycake Center has to offer the community.

401.377.8069 ext. 114
volunteer@jonnycake.org

Cyndee MacLaren

Volunteer Coordinator & Youth Corps Leader

Cyndee MacLaren is a Westerly local with a passion for volunteer service. After achieving her degree from Atlantic Union College, Cyndee worked in fields including healthcare, sales, office management, finance, and women’s health before coming to the Jonnycake Center in 2013.

In her dual roles with the Jonnycake Center, Cyndee helps schedule and manage the organization’s volunteers and Youth Corps participants. Her specialties encompass logistical support, problem-solving, training, and reporting.

Cyndee is always happy to welcome volunteers of all capacities. When not at Jonnycake, Cyndee enjoys spending time with her family, the outdoors, travel, and her pets.

401.377.8069 ext. 114
volunteer@jonnycake.org

Matt Levy

Social Media & Marketing Manager

Matt Levy is a native of Columbus, Ohio, now living in New London, Connecticut. Matt joined the Jonnycake Center in May 2019 after performing marketing and communications for non-profit organizations in southeastern Connecticut for seven years. His focuses include writing, photography, event planning, public relations, social media promotion, networking, and more.

Matt earned his degree in English Literature from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He worked initially in New York for a theatrical publishing agency, and then came to Waterford, Connecticut to help promote live theater and artists’ developmental programs for a Tony Award-winning non-profit. He then worked for over four years for a regional business and community-oriented organization before starting a new chapter with the Jonnycake Center.

An avid history and arts enthusiast, Matt is always pleased to discuss local history, railroads, steamships, architecture, and visual art. Matt also greatly enjoys literature, performing

arts, cooking, music, pets, and travel.

401.377.8069 ext. 116

MLevy@Jonnycake.org

Bambi Poppick

Development Director

Bambi joined the Jonnycake Center staff in June 2017. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from State University of New York at Cortland and attended Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Bambi is a Board Member of the Eastern Connecticut Community Gardens Association and is a volunteer for the Connecticut Humane Society.

Bambi has held positions in the non-profit sector for her entire career, serving as Community Outreach Director, Membership and Marketing Manager, and Director of Membership before taking on the position of Director of Development with the Jonnycake Center of Westerly.

Bambi and her boyfriend Jon have lived in Mystic for 12 years. They have five daughters between them, three dogs, and three cats. She enjoys organic gardening, kayaking, horseback riding, and Block Island.

401.377.8069 ext. 105

bpoppick@jonnycake.org

Heather Vultee
Store Manager

Heather started in 2014 as the Receiving Manager in the Backroom of the Thrift Store. She loved it so much she decided to take on the front of the store as well! Heather’s thrilled when people are happy to find treasures in the store, but she’s even more excited that every penny of profit goes to Jonnycake’s overhead. While at Colby College in ME she was named one of George Bush Senior’s 1000 Points of Light for her work with Colby Friends, an organization that worked with Student Volunteers and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She finds working with our volunteers very fulfilling and is always happy to welcome new volunteers, young and not as young, to the store. After college, Heather moved around New England as a Store Manager for various retail establishments, and eventually was promoted to a home office to work on special projects. Heather and her husband of almost 20 years live in Ashaway with their four children (two sets of twins), two dogs, two cats, a rabbit and a fish. She is not going to give in to her kids’ requests for a pet pig or a pet cow, but she might be talked into pet chickens.

401.377.8069 ext. 104
hvultee@jonnycake.org

Elizabeth Wyllie

Education Coordinator, Real Jobs Rhode Island

Elizabeth Joined the Jonnycake Center in August 2018.

She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a specialization in developmental disabilities and human services.

Prior to joining the Jonnycake Center, Elizabeth worked in public school systems in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. During summer vacation and school breaks Elizabeth would work at her local YMCA where she would help facilitate programs for individuals with disabilities. Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys hiking with her dog Sammie and spending time with her family.

Elizabeth looks forward to helping individuals of the Jonnycake Center to learn new skills that they can use to advance their careers.

401.377.8069 ext. 115

ewyllie@jonnycake.org