Biography

I moved to VT in 1989 after college. I became the Executive Director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) in 2005. The VSJF uses early stage grant funding, technical assistance, and near-equity loans (through its VSJF Flexible Capital Fund, L3C) to accelerate the development of markets for sustainably produced goods and services in VT. We work at the intersection between renewable energy and sustainable agriculture and forest products. The VSJF is the author of the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan, a 10 year road map for strengthening Vermont's farm and food economy. We also coordinate the Farm to Plate Network, a statewide 300+ organizational member effort to implement the F2P Strategic Plan. Prior to joining the VSJF, I was the Executive Director of the Peace & Justice Center in Burlington (1990 to 2002), where we focused on livable wages, racial justice and equity, peace and human rights. I serve on the Boards of Red Tomato, the Working Lands Enterprise Fund and the Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council. I have also served on the Board of Directors of Sustainable Forest Futures (2008-2012), the Clean Energy Development Fund (2009-2011), Vermont Works for Women (2007-2011), the Vermont Community Foundation (2001-2009), the Advisory Board of the VT-Small Business Development Center (2008-2009), on the Vermont Council on Rural Development's Rural Vermont Energy Council (2006-2007) and as a Commissioner on the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (1998-2002).