Marge Garneau
President: 2024-2025 / Director Term: 2023-2026
My husband, Norm, and I retired to Green Valley in 2006 from Colorado. Prior to retiring I was in business management and finance, spending the last 6 years of my career teaching business at a high school in Grand Junction. I have a Master’s degree in Business Administration and currently own a small company here in Green Valley called Komputer Whiz Kid doing web design/maintenance, bookkeeping services and small business/HOA assistance. We built a “cabin” in the Colorado mountains but found that isolation and snow was not our cup of tea and began to research retirement communities. Stumbling on Green Valley on our way from Quail Creek to Saint George, Utah we played tennis, met some wonderful people and fell in love with this area. In less than 3 weeks we purchased our current home here and returned to Colorado to sell our mountain home. We moved here in March of 2006 permanently and are year-round residents. Our retirement career started with tennis and after injuring my shoulder it has now moved to ceramics and glass arts. We use the fitness center at Santa Rita Springs and when the weather warm you may find me at the Madera Vista pool. I love GVR and am excited to serve on the GVR Board to represent the GVR members. Please feel free to contact me with your questions and comments, that is why you elected me and that is what I plan to do.
Bart Hillyer
Vice President: 2024-2025 / Director Term: 2024-2027
I was born in South Carolina in a log cabin I built with my own hands. I grew up in South Carolina, American Samoa (briefly), and Toledo, Ohio. After receiving a BBA from the University of Toledo (major: Labor Relations), I graduated from the University of Texas (Austin) law school and then practiced law in Ohio for a couple of years before joining the Air Force. I was an Air Force JAG officer for 21 years before retiring from active duty. Then I rehabbed old houses intermittently in southwest Illinois for a number of years. My wife, Georgia, and I came to Green Valley in December 2018, and have lived here full time, in the Springs, since the summer of 2019. I enjoy tennis, racquetball, swimming, and glass arts. Georgia enjoys pickleball, swimming, photography, glass arts, and various volunteer activities. We love living here and we love the value that GVR delivers for its true owners, the dues-paying members of GVR. My goal is to serve my fellow GVR members by keeping a sharp eye on how and why GVR spends their money. Anyone can reach me at bghillyer@gmail.com.
Jim Carden
Secretary: 2024-2025 / Director Term: 2022-2025
I was born and raised in Butte, Montana. I graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington with a BA in philosophy and teaching certification in Language Arts and Social Studies. I married, raised my children, and spent my entire career in K-12 education in Alaska – mostly rural Alaska. I enjoyed living in and learning about the cultures in Yupik, Inupiaq and Aleut communities. While living in these communities I was involved in many activities such as native dancing, fishing, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling. After teaching 7th – 12th grades for 14 years, I served as principal for 8 years then became the personnel director of a large district. I left that position to become a District Superintendent of a remote district for 6 years before retiring from the state school system. After retirement I spent 4 years as a principal in a private k-6 school in Anchorage. Finished with my career, I spent a few years snowbirding with my wife, dog in Green Valley and moved here permanently at the end of 2014. I continue to enjoy membership in the lapidary and wood clubs and spend a lot of time biking, hiking, rafting and towing my trailer accompanied by grandchildren and/or friends.
Candy English
Assistant Secretary: 2024-2025 / Director Term: 2024-2027
Early in our marriage, my husband Barry and I decided that we would retire to Arizona. We were drawn to the quiet beauty of the desert, the majestic mountain ranges, and the glorious year-round sunshine, but we did not have friends here. We were familiar with GVR as Barry’s father had retired to Green Valley in 1988, but we did not understand the true value of what GVR brings to a community until we started researching other retirement communities in the United States. Retirement is not a sedentary time for us, but a time to learn new things, meet new people, and continue “to grow” as individuals. Green Valley and GVR offered us the opportunity to build friendships while we continued to pursue new passions (gardening, painting, drawing, glass arts, ceramics,) and become more physically and mentally fit (swimming, fitness, yoga, line dancing, Spanish). With a master’s and Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Georgia State University, I have the knowledge to effectively manage committees, projects, and people. With over 27 years of experience as a high school English teacher and middle school assistant principal, I know how to listen to others, resolve conflicts, and create a positive environment in which everyone wins. After retiring from education, I completed a paralegal program from Emory University in Atlanta and worked for the Department of Juvenile Justice for 2 years. I am organized, research oriented, and passionate about serving Green Valley. As a recent full-time retiree to Green Valley (2022), I offer new ideas and creative input to decision making. I am confident that through the teamwork of the Board, we can continue to improve upon the enriching opportunities already offered through GVR. Thank you GVR members for electing me to serve on the Board!
Nellie Johnson
Assistant Treasurer: 2024-2025 / Director Term: 2024-2027
I have lived with my husband Walt in Green Valley since 2011; first as a seasonal resident and then permanently in 2020. We raised our two children in St. Paul MN and I spent most of my professional career in Minnesota. I have over 30+ years of executive leadership experience in senior services, which included operating senior housing, assisted living and nursing homes, as well as serving as CEO of several managed care organizations for seniors. I have a strong background in budgeting and financial management having served 6 years as Minnesota State Budget Director and 8 years in the Wisconsin governor's budget office. I enjoy traveling, arts, and theater as well as taking classes and learning new activities such as jewelry making and playing shuffleboard. I have used the GVR gyms and swimming pool in the past, and need to return to use them more consistently! I have served on 3 GVR committees over the past 3 years (Fiscal Affairs, Investments, and Board Affairs); and I believe these committee experiences, as well as my professional experiences, should help make me a more effective Board member. I am passionate about GVR being a ‘gem” for its members and look forward to serving you as a new Board member. Please feel free to contact me at njohnson@gvrec.org or johnsonnellie@comcast.net.
Nancy Austin
Director Term: 2022-2025
I’m a native Oregonian who moved to Green Valley in 2014. I live here year around with my husband, Gary, and our 2 bird dogs. My favorite hobbies are tennis, pickleball, hiking, fitness classes and swimming. I have served as Secretary on the Board of Directors at our church for the past 6 years. My working career was in medical office management for 15 years and then I joined my husband in the custom home building business for 20 years. We built a very successful business winning many home builder awards. My duties included working with banks to secure construction loans, meeting with custom home clients throughout the process, managing the budgets for each job, paying the subcontractors and suppliers, and, my favorite, a little interior design work also. I look forward to working with every Director on the Board to serve my fellow GVR members—to keep costs down and members happy.
Kathi Bachelor
Director Term: 2023-2026
I was born and raised in the California Bay Area. My background was in School Business Management for 17 years, first as a Business Manager for a small school district, then as a Director of Fiscal Services for four other school districts. I was responsible for planning, organizing and supervising the work of the Fiscal Services office, which included developing annual budgets, preparation of all fiscal reports, overseeing payroll, accounts payable and receivables, purchasing and special projects. When my husband and I moved to the Sierra foothills, I went into Real Estate for 23 years, having a Brokers license for 18 years, owning a R. E. Business for 16 of those years with two partners. I was responsible for all financial aspects of the business, retiring in 2012. I moved to Green Valley in 2015 and began getting involved in GVR. I was on the Fiscal Affairs Committee in 2019 then ran for the Board of Directors for 2020. I enjoy working as a Director and being involved with the various Committees. I have been involved with the GVR Singles Club, have taken a number of various classes, and enjoy the Las Campanas fitness center. I am looking forward to continuing my involvement with GVR.
Dave Barker
Director Term: 2024-2027
My wife and I love living in Green Valley. Before moving here, we raised five children in Alabama, where I served on the Board of Directors for Indian Lake Townhomes and was a Deacon at Five Points Baptist Church. I’ve also worked in the oil and gas industry as an inspector and supervisor. At GVR, I enjoy the amenities, playing tennis four to five times a week and using the hot tubs and sauna. GVR is the best value in active adult communities, and as a Board Director, I want to ensure it stays that way. My experience helps me take a practical, sensible approach to evaluating issues, and I’m committed to keeping GVR a vibrant community with excellent facilities. Understanding the diverse needs and income levels of our members is key to making the best decisions for everyone.
Barbara Blake
Director Term: 2023-2026
Graduated from University of Washington BS in Nursing 1962; City University Master’s in Business Administration 1982. Worked in Cardiac Research and involved with the research and development of the Automatic External Defibrillator. Owner Blake and Associates, Benefit Planning and Design, Real Estate Agent in Seattle, WA and Chelan WA. Retired for 20 years volunteering as a court mediator, small claims hearing officer for Green Valley Justice Court. Civil Rights Discrimination Officer for AZ Attorney General, President of County Club Estates POA for 5 years, currently President of Desert Ridge HOA. Also a volunteer for Court Appointed Child Advocate in Seattle, WA and Navajo County, served in Slow Low Justice Court as Small Claims Hearing Officer as a volunteer.
Beth Dingman
Director Term: 2022-2025
Grew up in a small town outside of Boston. Went to college at Univ of Chicago, was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines, spent nine months traveling overland back to the states and went to graduate school of social work also at the U of C. After a short career as a social worker in California, I moved to Vermont where I founded and ran (with a small group of women) a feminist publishing company for over thirty years. I have been with my partner, Claudia, for over forty years. I helped raise her four children, and we are proud grandmas of nine grandchildren. Over the years we have traveled extensively and been involved in local community organizing. My passions are scuba diving and sailing, neither of which I do enough of. We have lived in Green Valley as snow birds since 2005.
Bev Lawless
Director Term: 2023-2026
I grew up in small town central Iowa on a farm. After graduating business school I married and we moved around the country a bit with corporate transfers: OKC, Detroit, OKC again, Dallas, eastern Iowa, Syracuse and finally Apple Valley, MN where we raised our two children. I spent many years working for a school district as a special education secretary and the last nearly 20 years of my working career as Vice President, Series 7 licensed Sales Associate for an Investment Firm. I was widowed fairly young but luckily found someone wonderful again to share my life with. We share seven grandchildren between us. When John and I retired we decided to sell our city homes and retire to our cabin in north central Minnesota where we thought we were going to live year round. I soon decided I wanted to live someplace I could go for long walks in the winter without fear of falling on ice, thus began our search for a second home someplace warmer. John and I searched around the country before we finally settled on Green Valley when we were lucky enough to rent a friends new home because they were willing to let us bring our big beautiful German Shepard, Boomer. We bought a home here in 2017. Our choice was strongly influenced by everything GVR had to offer, especially the woodshop. I enjoy spending time reading, puzzling, playing cards, biking, hiking especially with John, friends & Boomer. I just discovered I have the ability to paddle board, what fun! Maybe I can even do that here in AZ. I have joined Amigas & hope to join or experience many other clubs. I decided to run for the Board of Directors because I thought everything GVR has to offer is too important to our lifestyle here to lose. We must do everything we can to keep GVR exceptional and affordable.
Joe Magliola
Director Term: 2023-2025
As a young lad, I had the opportunity to grow up in Brazil. It was a remarkable experience for my family and me. It also helped me gain a much different perspective of the world. My wife, Tammy, and I moved to Green Valley in July of 2022. We hail from the Sacramento, CA area and decided that southern Arizona is where we wanted to retire. We love it here and have already made many friends. As property owners and GVR members, Tammy and I utilize many of the amenities that are available to us. I am an avid tennis player and utilize all of the different tennis facilities in the GVR system. I have a BA in Economics and was an executive in the California rice industry for 38 years. During that time, I spent over 25 years on various industry, State and Federal boards. Looking at both sides of an issue is key when making sound decisions in any situation. I have always prided myself on having integrity and have never deviated from that premise. In the end, both sides should benefit from any fair deal that is made. I look forward to serving on the GVR Board and putting my previous board experience to good use. Improving facilities and assuring cost-effective spending of GVR monies is my goal.