Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the Carousel organization and ensuring its success. We are a group of active and committed volunteers, who work together to implement and further develop the Carousel’s mission.

If you are interested in getting involved, please send email about your areas of interest and experience to [email protected]. We welcome new members each October to serve two-year terms.

Meet Our Current Board

Charles Wood (President): Charles has worn a number of different hats at the Carousel of Happiness. He first joined the organization in 2014 as a Carousel Operator, a part-time position he enjoys in his retirement. He and his wife Edith are active in the Nederland community. He was elected to a Carousel Board position in 2016 and served on the Board until 2019, including 2 years as President. After a three-year break, during which he served a short stint as Interim Director, he was re-elected to the Board in 2022 as Treasurer, and elected as Board President in early 2024.

David Packer (Vice President): Dave is the national sales manager for Illes Foods. He has 30 years of business experience in the the food industry, and a passion for assisting nonprofits in areas such as strategic planning, sales and marketing. Dave and his wife, Patty, moved to the Nederland area in 2017 to take advantage of mountain living and all the great things the area has to offer. He was elected to the Carousel Board in 2019, named Vice President in 2023, and currently chairs the Fundraising Committee.

Lucy Strouse (Treasurer): Lucy has lived in the Nederland area since 1978. Her two sons attended and graduated from the nederland schools. She was employed by boulder valley school district for 16 years as the office assistant and registrar at Nederland elementary. She and her husband Hans are volunteers at the carousel of happiness.

Caleb Melamed (Secretary): Caleb is the proud principal of Nederland Elementary School. He was raised just outside of Nederland and attended Nederland schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. He has been a teacher and school administrator for more than 15 years. He started his career in education, teaching for five years at Lafayette Elementary School. He then spent 10 years teaching and working as an assistant principal in Denver Public Schools. He is thrilled to be back home in Nederland with his wife, Sierra, and 7-year-old son. Caleb was first elected to the Carousel Board in 2020, and named Secretary in 2021.

Scott Harrison: Scott Harrison is the Founder and Carver of the Carousel. He and his wife Ellen have been integral volunteers to the organization since opening. Scott managed the Boulder office of Amnesty International for several decades before studying carousel animal carving. Scott has lived in the Nederland area since the 1980s.

Scott served on the Carousel Board from 2005 to 2012, and from 2017 to 2019. Scott was re-elected to the Board in 2023, and currently serves on the maintenance committee.

Diana Underhill: Diana is the owner of Tadasana Mountain Yoga, established in 2011, located near the carousel. She has a diverse background in corporate responsibility and philanthropy, sustainability, yoga and holistic wellness. She has lived in the Boulder area since graduation from CU Boulder, and moved to Nederland in the early 2000s. Diana was elected to the Carousel Board in 2023.

Board Terms (end of current Term)

Lucy Strouse (10/25), David Packer (10/25), Caleb Melamed (10/24), Charles Wood (10/24), Audrey Gebhardt (10/24), Scott Harrison (10/25), Diana Underhill (10/25)

Board Committees

Executive: Charles Wood (chair), David Packer, Lucy Strouse, Caleb Melamed

Finance: Charles Wood (chair), Lucy Strouse

Fundraising: David Packer (chair), Audrey Gebhardt, Executive Director

Maintenance: Maintenance Manager (chair), Executive Director, Scott Harrison

Executive Director

Melody Baumhover joined the Carousel team in 2021. Melody has lived in Nederland since 2010, has enjoyed riding the carousel with her own child, nieces, and nephews. She is passionate about hiking and spending time outside, sustainability, and community agriculture, volunteering as the Town of Nederland Sustainability Advisory Board Chair (since 2015) and serving as a founding member, and then Market Manager of the Nederland Farmers Market (2016-2021). Melody has a dual-focused degree in Environmental Policy and Environmental Education, a pre-law certificate, and several years of experience in nonprofit administration and event planning.