Linda Oskam
CHAIR
Linda Oskam built a home in Manchester Vermont in 1986. Her husband John’s job took them all over the world. They lived in Hong Kong, England and spent 11 years in Santa Barbara California before retiring to Manchester in 2006. Since moving back to Manchester, Linda has devoted much of her time working on causes that are passionate to her. Linda focuses on local non-profits in Southern Vermont supporting efforts around education, health and the arts.
Linda served on the Southern Vermont Arts Center Board and is still an active supporter. She currently serves on the Manchester Community Library Board as Vice Chair and also serves as a trustee on the Weston Theater Company Board.
Linda is a member of Ekwanok Country Club and Dorset Field Club.
Dr. Rebecca Breslow
Dr. Rebecca Breslow is a Sport and Exercise Medicine physician, researcher, writer and endurance sport enthusiast living and working in Southern Vermont. After practicing for many years in Boston, she now treats athletes and active individuals of all ages and abilities at Taconic Spine in Manchester. She trained at Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital, and is Board-Certified in Primary Care Sports Medicine and Internal Medicine. She has been a team physician at both national and international competitions for USA Track & Field and the US Figure Skating Association and a sideline physician for numerous teams and mass participation sporting events. She has authored multiple scholarly articles and book chapters on sports injuries and medical conditions, and is the owner of Bryant View Health Communications, a freelance healthcare writing company. She also coaches runners, both locally and around the country, through her run-coaching practice, Running Health VT.
Chris Howe
Chris Howe is a former US Navy SEAL. Beginning in 2004, Chris volunteered for and completed several of the U.S. military’s most challenging training courses, to include Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/s), SEAL Qualification Training (SQT), and Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCM) training at Fort Bragg, NC. Chris then spent 4 years assigned to SEAL Team Five, Alpha Platoon, and graduated from several advanced training courses including Range Safety Officer, Diving Supervisor, and Naval Special Warfare SEAL Sniper School. He completed two overseas combat deployments in 2008 and 2010 to Fallujah and Baghdad, Iraq where he served as the Lead Sniper and Senior Medic for his 40-man Task Unit. Chris took part in 66 direct action combat missions and received multiple awards for bravery while under enemy fire, including the Joint Services Achievement Medal and Navy Commendation Medal, both with valor distinguishing devices.
After leaving the SEAL Teams in 2012, Chris worked as a private security contractor in Baghdad, Iraq, an international security and medical evacuation specialist, and a security attaché to the US Ski & Snowboard Foundation at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
Over the past 6 years Chris has been teaching leadership development and team building training to the country’s top business professionals, academic institutions, and professional and collegiate sports teams and athletes across our nation and is one of the most sought after leadership specialists in the country.
Chris has spoken to and worked with teams from the NFL, NHL, MLS, multiple Olympic athletes as well as major NCAA athletic programs and their coaching staffs like the University of Texas, Notre Dame, Florida State, Oregon, Arizona State and Harvard where he’s helped teams win two NCAA national championships. Chris has collaborated and worked with high performance corporate teams like Citi Group, AIG, T. Rowe Price, BISA, Citizens Bank, Hancock Whitney, Hilltop Securities, General Electric, Franklin Templeton, JP Morgan Chase and dozens of other high performance organizations.
Chris Robbins
Soul Degree LLC has been transforming men’s lives since 2017 through its wilderness-based retreats and coaching programs. Founded by Christopher Robbins, Soul Degree offers a unique blend of deep inner work, experiential learning, and somatic adventures that empower men to gain clarity, agency, and a sense of brotherhood. His own journey through the challenges of career, addiction, financial struggles, mental health, marriage, and fatherhood fuels his passion for helping men live with greater purpose and authenticity.
Chris approaches healing and personal development holistically, drawing on his expertise as a meditation guide, yoga teacher, and breathwork facilitator. His insatiable curiosity about the human spirit led him to volunteer with hospice, become a certified End of Life/Death Doula, and pursue a master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology. Today, Chris integrates these disciplines to support individuals and families in navigating the emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges of living and dying with dignity.
Before founding Soul Degree, Chris spent 25 years as an entrepreneur, restaurant owner, corporate executive, and commodity trader. Between 1990 and 2000, he studied with and served on the advisory board of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and earned his MBA from Babson College.
Chris is a devoted husband to his wife, Mel Robbins, with whom he has shared 29 years of marriage. He is also a proud father to their three children. When he’s not working with other men or spending quality time with his family, you’ll find Chris skiing, hiking, or cycling through the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Advisory Committee
Bill Drunsic, Right Track Foundation
Mary Noyes, Aircast Foundation
Leadership
Abigail Martin
Executive Director
A proud graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Abigail balanced pursuing her degree in political science and philosophy while playing field hockey for UNC and the United States. She was a three-time All-American field hockey player and represented her country as a member of the U.S. National & Olympic Field Hockey Team. Following her athletic pursuits, she began her career on Capitol Hill working as a legislative assistant to Senator John Edwards and then later an advisor for his presidential campaign. From there she transitioned to government affairs, public relations, and brand management work for many of the world’s top brands and executives, managing their reputations and navigating them through them through the political landscape in Washington D.C. and in states all across the country.