General banner

Board of Directors

One of 40 Councils nationwide, the VCRD is an independent non-profit with a 23 member Board of Directors representing federal, state, local, private, and non-profit partners working together to promote the progress of rural Vermont.

VCRD board and staff
VCRD Board and Staff, 2011 (left to right): Margaret Gibson McCoy, Helen Labun Jordan, Monty Fischer, Thomas Hark, Greg Brown, Philip Petty, Bob Ackland, Catherine Dimitruk, Steve Patterson, Marie Houghton, Chuck Ross, Chip Evans (Emeritus), Paul Bruhn, Robert Paquin, Tricia Coates, Jolinda LaClair (Emeritus), Tom Leavitt, Jenny Nelson, Molly Lambert, Ruth Wallman, Lawrence Miller, Paul Costello, Doug Racine, Hal Cohen (Emeritus), Joe Fusco, and Sean Sheehan. Missing: Alex Aldrich (Emeritus), Megan Camp, Michael Dupee, Jeff Francis (Emeritus), Colleen Madrid, Deb Markowitz, and John Tracy.

Federal

  • Molly Lambert, USDA Rural Development
  • Colleen Madrid, Green Mountain & Finger Lake National Forests
  • Robert Paquin, Farm Services Agency

Non-Profit

  • Paul Bruhn, Preservation Trust of Vermont
  • Megan Camp, Shelburne Farms
  • Thomas Hark, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (Secretary)
  • Monty Fischer, Center for an Agricultural Economy

State

  • Deb Markowitz, Agency of Natural Resources
  • Lawrence Miller, Agency of Commerce and Community Development
  • Doug Racine, Agency of Human Services
  • Chuck Ross, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Local

  • Greg Brown
  • Catherine Dimitruk, NW Reg. Plan. Comm. (Chair)
  • Steve Patterson, Northeastern VT Dev. Assn.
  • Ruth Wallman, Lake Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce

Private

  • Bob Ackland, Consultant (Treasurer)
  • Michael Dupee, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
  • Joe Fusco, Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
  • Marie Houghton, IBM (Vice Chair)
  • Tom Leavitt, Merchants Bank

Non-Voting Liaisons

  • Tricia Coates, Congressman Welch's Office
  • Jenny Nelson, Senator Sander's Office
  • John Tracy, Senator Leahy's Office

Board Emeritus Members

  • Alex Aldrich, Vermont Arts Council
  • Hal Cohen, Central Vermont Community Action Council
  • Chip Evans, Workforce Development Council
  • Jeff Francis, VT Superintendents Assn.
  • Jolinda LaClair, Agency of Agriculture