Meet Our Board 

Telia Rooks distinguishes herself as an exemplary leader, recognized for her progressive and innovative ideologies that consistently challenge conventional norms. She exemplifies a spirit of innovation, perpetually transcending the status quo to develop and enact transformative resolutions. Ms. Rooks is appropriately characterized as an unconventional and detail-oriented individual with a strong initiative. Her proactive disposition and meticulous methodologies ensure that her visionary concepts are not only formulated but also implemented with precision and comprehensive rigor.

In addition to her innovative aptitude, Telia Rooks is a dedicated community leader. She acts as a resolute champion for those within Middletown who have been historically disadvantaged by systemic disparities. Her unwavering dedication to social equity motivates her endeavors to amplify the voices of the marginalized and work persistently towards the establishment of a more equitable and inclusive community for all residents. Her leadership is defined by both her pioneering ideas and her profound dedication to the resolution of social inequities.

Rooted in a venerable agricultural legacy, Haley holds the esteemed position of a fifth-generation farmer in scenic Oxford, Connecticut. It is noteworthy that she is also the progenitor of artisanal cheesemaking within her family lineage. Their ancestral narrative is deeply intertwined with the annals of American immigration, commencing with their emigration from the bucolic Isle of Jersey in 1895. Upon their settlement, they established a farm on land that has been continuously held within the family for over a century. Remarkably, this very parcel, replete with generations of agrarian stewardship, now constitutes the bedrock of Haley's artisanal cheese enterprise, a testament to her unwavering commitment and profound connection to her family's enduring heritage.