Board of Directors

Len is the founding president of Books in the Borough, Inc. During his lengthy academic medical career he led a pediatric hematology/oncology program with responsibilities in patient care, clinical research, and teaching. He subsequently transitioned to pharmaceutical drug development as a corporate executive and consultant. For many years Len volunteered with the American Cancer Society, serving in leadership roles on the Great Lakes Division Board of Directors and as medical director of state and world-wide children's cancer camps, receiving the St. George National Award in 2002. His lifelong passion for creative writing culminated in the publication of his debut novel in 2019. Len is dedicated to the organization's mission of elevating the literary arts, fostering excellence in the written word, engendering interest in reading, and promoting youth literacy.

Marilyn serves as vice president of Books in the Borough, Inc. With several decades of a media career in creative writing, she has also been a host-producer on radio and television, and owner of both an advertising agency and a business & marketing consulting company. Today, she is an author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books. Marilyn brings her expertise in business planning and operations, event planning, and strategic growth to the Board. Active in many community nonprofit organizations and women business networking organizations, she has served on several boards over the years. Marilyn is driven by entrepreneurial experience and authorship and is passionate about the organization’s mission of helping other authors become more visible, elevating interest in reading, and promoting youth literacy.

Originally trained in fisheries biology and conservation management, Colleen has dedicated her professional career to strengthening New England’s seafood industry and coastal communities through international market development. In her decades of executive-level nonprofit experience, she earned President Clinton’s “E” Award for outstanding contribution to USA export expansion, and was awarded a personal citation by the Rhode Island Senate in recognition of her efforts to bolster the state's economy. She continues to shape agricultural and trade policy as a national trade advisor to the USDA and USTR. Colleen is an award-winning author of thriller novels. Passionate for literature and creative storytelling, she brings executive leadership, organizational strategy, and grant writing expertise to her role as treasurer for Books in the Borough, Inc.

In July 2026, Peggy became secretary of Books in the Borough, Inc. Her career began at Fox Photo in San Antonio Texas where she managed the corporate training team. She subsequently joined the management team at Mystic Color Lab in Mystic CT. Throughout her life, Peggy has participated in many nonprofit endeavors ranging from fundraising to marketing, serving on boards to upheld the mission of various organizations. She credits her parents for a lifelong love and appreciation of reading. She has started and facilitated numerous book clubs over the years. Transporting herself into a novel has helped her manage stress and work through life’s challenges, disappointments, and heartbreaks. Peggy is committed to Books in the Borough as a vehicle to celebrate authors and help others discover or rekindle the priceless value of reading and writing.

Elissa is a retired journalist who spent more than 30 years at newspapers in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. She remains active as an adjunct faculty member in the University of Connecticut's journalism department. Elissa has published two novels. She continues to freelance for various nonprofits and organizations. Elissa is an active volunteer with Food for the People, a pantry in New London CT run by The Place for Community Well Being, a regional nonprofit. She volunteers for the Town of Stonington during elections, and served as the Democratic Registrar of Voters for four years. Elissa is a mentor for college students through RIHub, a tech incubator in Rhode Island, as well as locally for high school students. She has served on the Books in the Borough, Inc., Board of Directors since 2026 and resides in Stonington.

Becki is a founding member of Books in the Borough, Inc. During her 15-year legal career as a trial attorney and solo practitioner, she represented clients from over 50 countries, contributed to legislative reform in Washington, D.C., and was Vice President of the Greater Newburyport Bar Association. She is an author and publisher, and as founder of Becki Originals Publishing LLC she creates purpose-driven children’s books that inspire curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of reading. Becki serves as a Staff Attorney with the CT Office of the Healthcare Advocate, and has a lifelong commitment to public service through the American Red Cross, Rotary International, pro bono legal advocacy, and as a Corporator of Norwich Free Academy. Becki believes books educate, inspire, and ignite curiosity, and proudly embraces the organization's mission of celebrating literature  and promoting literacy.