Staff
Laura Cavin Bailey
Climate Economy Program Manager
[email protected]
802-234-1646
Laura strives to continually engage with systems thinking and community-based initiatives to advance collaborative, healthy, energy efficient, and adaptable places. Laura’s diverse work experience includes solar electric system design and installation, biodiesel production, a research fellow at the Energy Studies in Buildings Lab (ESBL) at the University of Oregon, an instructor at Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and as a practicing architect of net-zero energy buildings. Laura serves as the president of the Vermont Green Building Network and can be found exploring the forests and rivers around her home in Fayston by foot, bike, boat or skis with her husband and two young children.
Lauren Brady
Community Engagement & Policy Coordinator
[email protected]
802-227-2673
Lauren’s interest in community engagement started with her first experiences as a farmer connecting with new people and with the land. An alum of College of the Atlantic, they worked with Knoll Farm in Vermont and First Light in Maine, and on farms in both states for 10 years. In 2023 they joined VCRD, and now support the Community Visit program, the Vermont Community Leadership Network, and VCRD’s policy-related work. She lives in Montpelier with her partner, is a member of the Debt Liberation Lab, and loves to garden, read, and knit with friends.
Margaret Gibson
Operations Director
[email protected]
802-223-6091
Margaret joined VCRD in 2008 after 20 years in non-profit office management and communications at River Network and River Watch Network. She grew up and still lives in Central Vermont, has 2 grown boys, and is a graduate of UVM.
Kaziah Haviland
Village Trust Program Director
[email protected]
802-222-6990
Kaziah brings a wealth of experience as a Vermont based designer whose work has explored community driven design processes, social wellbeing, and sustainability. She received her Masters in Architecture from the University of Texas, and has worked in the Field of Architecture, Planning and Development for over 15 years. She most recently worked as a Project Manager with Downstreet Housing and Community Development, managing the design and construction of multi-family affordable housing. Prior to this she worked as the Director of Design and Planning at Thunder Valley CDC on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota managing the conception, design and construction of residential and commercial projects. Kaziah’s work has also explored community asset mapping, creative placemaking, and assistance in Planning and Zoning code revision processes. Kaziah grew up spending every summer in the woods of Plymouth, Vermont and now lives in the Mad River Valley with her husband and two young daughters.
Alyssa Johnson
Community Visit Program Manager
[email protected]
802-222-6896
Prior to joining VCRD in January 2021, Alyssa served as the Economic Development Director for Revitalizing Waterbury. Alyssa graduated from UVM and lives in Waterbury, where she serves as a member of the Selectboard.
Nick Parker
Community Programs Associate
[email protected]
802-227-4059
Prior to joining VCRD in January 2025, Nick worked at the Vermont Center for Independent Living where he provided assistance to Deaf and disabled residents across the state. Nick spent several years in Vermont’s rural communities as a volunteer firefighter/first responder and school mentor after graduating from St. Michael’s. Nick has a passion for making Vermont’s outdoor recreation accessible for all and enjoys birdwatching, biking and genealogy. Nick grew up and lives in Central Vermont, has a grown son and is an uncle to seven nieces/nephews.
Dani Parkins
Technical Assistance Coordinator
[email protected]
802-222-0863
Dani joined VCRD in January 2025 as the Technical Assistance Coordinator for the MTAP program. Having worked in rural development for nearly 5 years, she is delighted to have the opportunity to serve Vermont’s rural communities as a part of VCRD’s team. Dani’s passion for rural development work stems from her time at graduate school, where she received a master’s degree in peacebuilding and conflict transformation, with a concentration in sustainable development. After finishing her graduate work, Dani committed herself to building peace through development wherever she lives and works. She also hosts poetry open mics, loves to play chess, and spend time with her wife, daughter, and two dogs.
Jessica Savage
Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives
[email protected]
802-227-2790
Jessica joined the VCRD staff in 2021 after 15 years in the public sector mainly in the natural resources and recreation management fields. She has an MPA from UVM, is an avid outdoorsperson and a mom to two young children.
Denise Smith
Executive Director
[email protected]
802-222-0263
Denise joined the VCRD team in September 2024. She comes to VCRD with over 20 years of leadership, non-profit management, community development, and business experience. Since 2017, she has served as Director of Population Health Programs and Strategies at Northwestern Medical Center where she worked alongside change makers to improve the health of Vermonters. And before that, she was Executive Director of Friends of Northern Lake Champlain, a non-profit organization focused on improving the water quality of Lake Champlain. Denise also sits on a number of boards serving as Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Lake Champlain, Chair of the St. Albans Planning Commission, and Treasurer of the Vermont Public Health Association. Denise attended the University of Vermont as an undergraduate and served in the Peace Corps in Maui West Africa shortly after graduating. In 2018, she received her Master of Science in Leadership for Sustainability from UVM’s Rubenstein School. Denise lives in St. Albans with her husband, three children, and two dogs.
Board of Directors
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
- John Sinclair, Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forest
State
- Tayt Brooks, Agency of Commerce & Community Development
- Xusana Davis, Racial Equity Director, Agency of Administration
- Julie Moore, Agency of Natural Resources
- Anson Tebbetts, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
Local
- Shannon Barsotti, Town of Bennington (Chair)
- Ted Brady, Vermont League of Cities & Towns
- 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, Vermont Network (Secretary)
- Dan Smith, Vermont Community Foundation
Private
- Eun-Young Denny, Vermont Economic Development Authority
- Emma Marvin, Butternut Mountain Farm
- Rob Miller, EastRise Credit Union (Treasurer)
- Curtiss Reed, CRJ Consulting Group
- Travis Samuels, Zion Growers
Non-Voting Liaisons
- Rebecca Ellis, Senator Welch’s Office
- David Scherr, Congresswoman Balint’s Office
- Kathryn Van Haste, Senator Sander’s Office
If you are interested in serving on the board, or have a recommendation, feel free to email us at [email protected] to be added to the list for future consideration.
