One of 40 Councils nationwide, the VCRD is an independent non-profit with a 24 member Board of Directors representing federal, state, local, private, and non-profit partners working together to promote the progress of rural Vermont.

Federal

  • Peter Silva, USDA Rural Development
  • John Sinclair, Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forest
  • Travis Thomason, USDA National Resources Conservation Service

State

  • Tayt Brooks, Agency of Commerce & Community Development
  • Xusana Davis, Racial Equity Director, Agency of Administration
  • Julie Moore, Agency of Natural Resources (Chair)
  • Anson Tebbetts, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Local

  • Shannon Barsotti, Town of Bennington (Chair)
  • Ted Brady, Vermont League of Cities & Towns (Vice Chair)
  • Erika Hoffman-Kiess, Green Mountain Economic Development Corp.
  • David Snedeker, Northeastern Vermont Development Association

Non-Profit

  • Chris Callahan, UVM Extension
  • Harry Chen, The Nature Conservancy
  • Joyce Judy, Community College of Vermont
  • Lisa Ryan, VT Network (Secretary)
  • Dan Smith, Vermont Community Foundation

Private

  • Emma Marvin, Butternut Mountain Farm
  • Rob Miller, Vermont State Employees Credit Union
  • Ryan Nakhleh, Local Maverick
  • Curtiss Reed, Vermont Partnership for Fairness & Diversity
  • Travis Samuels, Zion Growers

Non-Voting Liaisons

  • Rebecca Ellis, Senator Welch’s Office
  • Jessica Nordhaus, Congresswoman Balint’s Office
  • Kathryn Van Haste, Senator Sander’s Office