Our Team

Abby White

Abby leads the Communications and Development team, which fosters engagement through events, storytelling, and fundraising. She joined VLT in 2019, after 15 years working in the clean energy sector. Abby is the person to call if you are a reporter, lawmaker, or generally inquisitive person who is seeking information about conservation and Vermont lands. She serves as one of the co-chairs of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition, which advocates for strong state investments in housing and conservation. She lives in Montpelier with her husband, two boys, and a very enthusiastic rescue pup.

Adam Piper

Adam is a Project Director in Addison County who primarily supports owners of conserved land. He joined VLT in 2007 after finishing school and returning home to Vermont. Adam is the person to call if you are a conserved landowner with questions about your easement or seeking to improve the health and affordability of your land. He lives on his family’s farm in Huntington where you can find him outdoors in any weather playing with his two boys, doing farm chores, or developing his own businesses. 

Al Karnatz

As the ad-hoc VLT Historian, Al has conserved hundreds of farms in the Champlain Valley and brings decades of experience and relationships in the agricultural community. He works with landowners who are interested in conserving their farms and new farmers who are interested in buying land. Prior to joining VLT in 1994, Al conducted field research of agricultural products in the Midwest, worked for the Vermont Dairy Herd Improvement Association, and spent seven years with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. He is also a member of the Vermont Act 250 Environmental Commission. He and his wife have two sons, who grew up exploring the outdoors on various family adventures.

Allaire Diamond

As a VLT ecologist, Allaire seeks to understand the ecological complexity of Vermont’s land. She leads wetland and stream restoration projects statewide, conducts ecological assessments, and collaborates with landowners and partners to improve water quality, climate resilience, and biodiversity on conserved lands. She joined VLT in 2011, integrating previous experience in science education, research, and writing. Allaire grew up in Springfield and holds a BA from Wellesley College and an MEd and MS from the University of Vermont. To her, it doesn’t get much better than skate-skiing on the frozen surface of Great Hosmer Pond in Craftsbury and Albany.

Annalise Carington

Annalise works with properties under long-term VLT ownership, helping manage public access and recreation, community engagement, partnerships, and working lands. She is also the project manager for VLT’s Conservation Innovation Grant, “Managing Pastures for Healthy Farms and Soils across Vermont,” an on-farm research collaborative with UVM, UVM Extension, and Philo Ridge Farm. She joined VLT in 2022, bringing experience with outdoor education, habitat restoration, and farm viability programs in Vermont. Annalise holds a BS in Biology from Middlebury College. When she’s not working, you might find her out on the trail or at the pottery studio.

Bob Heiser

Bob works with landowners and communities to protect forestland and community lands in northwestern Vermont. Prior to joining VLT in 2005, Bob did ecological field research for NorthWoods Stewardship Center in East Charleston, Vermont and served as a Managing Director at Cambridge Associates in Boston where he advised the boards of non-profit organizations on their endowment investments. He is our internal expert on community conservation, and is the person to contact if you’re a community leader or volunteer looking to protect land in northwestern Vermont. Bob holds a bachelor’s from Amherst College, an MS in Resource Ecology & Management from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He lives in Richmond, where he loves exploring the woods and rivers with his wife and twin daughters.

Brian Townsend

Brian leads the Information Technology team, which works with all staff to enable and improve our work through the strategic implementation of technology and systems. He joined VLT in 2021, after over 18 years of leading information technology activities across state government. On any given day, you can find him supporting technology in our offices, working with colleagues out in the field, or coordinating the efforts of technology partners and vendors.

Britt Haselton

As our Conservation Director, Britt helps lead our easement conservation work in terms of policy, external relations, and support for our internal team. Britt joined VLT in 2012 after working on a variety of conservation science and land protection projects in Vermont and New York. He lives in Bolton with his wife and two kids.

Caitlin Cusack

Caitlin is one of four licensed foresters who manages land owned by VLT and provides technical assistance to conserved landowners.  She joined VLT in 2015 after seven years as a consulting forester and educator with the VT Urban and Community Forestry Program. She holds an MF from Yale University and BA from The College of the Holy Cross. Caitlin is the person to contact if you own conserved land in the Champlain Valley or Mad River Valley and have questions about forest management. She serves on the steering committee for Women Owning Woodlands and owns a sugaring business with her husband and daughter in Bristol.

Cara Montgomery

Cara serves as a stewardship leader within VLT, developing policies to govern the ongoing protection of conserved land and overseeing more complex landowner requests. Since joining VLT in 2007, Cara has held many roles within the organization and seen first-hand the import of conservation in securing the future of Vermont agriculture. She grew up on a fruit and vegetable farm and remains passionate about farming and food systems. When not at work, she is out skiing, hiking, biking, and gardening, exploring Vermont’s mountains and lakes with her husband and son, or playing a game of pick-up soccer with friends.

Chris Moore

As one of the longest tenured employees, Chris has seen and experienced VLT’s evolution first-hand. He joined in 1999 as a summer intern and served in six roles since then. Today, he makes maps, manages databases, and makes sure all of VLT’s data sources connect with one another. His favorite conservation project is the next one we complete. Outside of work, Chris is an amateur gardener and even more amateur carpenter.

Christa Kemp

Christa serves as our Director of Donor Relations, responsible for major gifts and planned giving. She joined VLT in 2011, after working in Burlington as an investment advisor and retirement planner. A native Vermonter, she brings 30 years of experience working or volunteering on behalf of land and wildlife conservation. Christa especially loves connecting with people about VLT’s work and our impact on farming, forestry, climate, and recreation. She is the person to contact if you’re interested in making a donation to protect the Vermont you love—either an immediate gift, a gift of land, or a planned gift. When not on the phone or on the road, she is horseback riding, running, or skiing through her favorite town of Richmond.

Christine McShea

Christy is our Legal Director who manages land transactions and oversees our team of legal professionals. She graduated from Vermont Law School in 2014, and brings to VLT expertise in land title research. Christy is the person to call if you are a legal professional or landowner working on an active real estate transaction with VLT. Outside of the office, you can find Christy on the soccer pitch, coaching for Capital Soccer Club, and spending time with her quirky cat, George.

Clarice Cutler

As a Project Director in central Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom, Clarice works with farmers on new conservation projects and helps to steward lands that have already been conserved. She joined VLT in 2023 after working on water quality projects for a number of organizations in Vermont. She is the person to call if you own farmland in these regions and would like to explore whether conservation is right for you. In her spare time, she can be found walking, running, and biking the dirt roads in and around East Montpelier, where she lives with her partner Jonnie. 

Dan Kilborn

As our Lands Director, Dan helps to manage land we own throughout the state. For many years, Dan served as a VLT forester in northern Vermont. Prior to joining VLT in 2007, Dan was a consulting forester in northern Vermont and New Hampshire. He enjoys exploring the connections between people and land, especially people’s relationship with our forests and how it influences the decisions we make. Off the job, Dan enjoys canoeing, hiking, hunting, birding, and helping to manage his family’s woodland.

David McMath

David is one of four licensed foresters who provides technical assistance to owners of conserved land. Prior to joining VLT in 2018, he was a consulting forester for over 23 years providing natural resource management services for clients throughout New England. In this role he was responsible for the day-to-day management of the former Atlas Timberlands in Northeast Vermont. David is the person to contact if you own conserved land in western and central Vermont and have questions about sustainable forest management. When not at his desk or in the woods, David enjoys being active outside, trying to slow down the aging process.

Don Campbell

Don is a Project Director in southwest Vermont, working with landowners and communities on new conservation projects, and helping to ensure the protection of lands that have already been conserved. He joined VLT in 2002, after working at Shelburne Farms, Butternut Mountain Farm, The Land Concern, and the U.S. Forest Service. Committed to both community planning and conservation, Don has been part of Bennington’s select board, planning commission, regional commission, and local non-profits focusing on food systems, outdoor recreation and education. With his wife and daughters, Don chases a few sheep around his historic family farmstead in Bennington and plays the banjo in his spare time.

Donna Foster

Donna is a project director for south central Vermont, based out of the King Farm office in Woodstock. As a 20-year veteran of VLT, she has helped hundreds of landowners care for their conserved land. She is the person to contact if you are interested in conserving land in her region or have questions about conservation easements or land management. Donna graduated from The University of New Hampshire’s environmental science program, walked with her husband from Georgia to Maine, and helped to build and now rebuild their home. She spends her time keeping track of three young adult daughters, and growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers in her greenhouse and gardens.

Evan Foster

Evan works closely with others on our Land Activation Team to create and maintain systems for managing lands VLT owns, many of which are open to the public, as well as our restoration and forest management programs. He joined VLT as Lands Coordinator in 2023, with a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Vermont and several years’ experience at environmental and conservation organizations in the state. When Evan is not working, you can find him skiing in the mountains in winter and rock climbing throughout Vermont in the summer.

Hunter Wilson

Hunter joined VLT in 2024 after earning a Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy from the Vermont Law and Graduate School, and brings valuable experience as a former environmental consultant and farmworker. She collaborates with landowners, community groups, and other VLT staff on the legal aspects of land conservation and stewardship. Outside of work, Hunter enjoys growing flowers and food, hiking with her dog, and paddle boarding the White River.

Jack Minich

As a Project Director, Jack works with landowners on stewarding conserved lands and on new conservation projects in the central-southeast region of Vermont. He joined VLT in 2024 after serving as a Vermont Housing & Conservation Board AmeriCorps volunteer with us from 2019 to 2021, and then working on stewardship at a land trust in New Hampshire. Jack lives with his wife and daughter in Gilsum, NH, but can often be found biking and running on trails throughout the region.

Jane Boudreau

Jane works with the development and communications team to facilitate fundraising appeals and manage donations. She joined VLT in 2002 after spending 4 years at the Green Mountain Club working with members and volunteers. Jane is the person to contact if you would like to donate or have a question about your membership. On any given day, you can find her running and hiking the trails of Vermont and the mountains of New England.

Jennifer Garrett

As a Project Director, Jennifer leads VLT’s land protection and easement stewardship work in southeastern Vermont. On a given day, you may find her walking in the woods with landowners, meeting with conservation partners to discuss a new community project, or documenting natural communities in the field. Jennifer is the person to contact in the southeast region if you have questions about your conserved land or want to explore a new conservation project. She joined VLT in 2015, with a background in conservation biology.

Jessie Estes

Jessie joined VLT in January of 2022 as the Executive Assistant to the President and Corporate Secretary for the Board of Trustees. Before coming onboard at VLT, Jessie worked as Director of Operations for a small meadery in St. Albans, and previously as Manager of Youth & Family Initiatives at the Vermont Foodbank. She earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development from Prescott College in the Fall of 2021. In her spare time, Jessie is an enthusiastic home baker who is always planning her next baking project.

Kerry O’Brien

Kerry serves as a Project Director for the Northeast Kingdom covering stewardship and new conservation projects in the area. She joined VLT in 2021 after 17 years of working with landowners and communities in the water quality sector. Kerry is a key contact for conserved landowners in the NEK and for those interested in conserving community lands, forestland, or river corridors. She holds a BA in Sociology and a MA in Conservation Policy. Outside of work, she loves to get out on the water and enjoy the garden and trails at home with her family.

Krista Battles

Krista creates maps and assists in data management for our work. A graduate of Johnson State University’s Environmental Science program, she joined VLT in 2024 after working on GIS, data management, as a field naturalist, and on water quality projects in both the state and nonprofit sectors. Krista is an enthusiastic and solution-minded problem-solver at her desk. When out of the office, she is exploring the natural world on feet, bikes, and boards with her family and friends.

Kyle Birrer

Kyle serves as the Riparian Forest Coordinator through ECO AmeriCorps, a role focused on enhancing water quality, flood resilience, and ecological health on conserved lands through tree plantings along critical waterways. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Environmental Studies and recently completed a GIS Certificate through Penn State University. When not in the field or at the office, Kyle can be found riding his bike or cooking elaborate meals.

Maggie Donin

Maggie leads our support of successful farmland transfers and helps the next generation of farmers get a farm of their own. She joined VLT in 2019 with expertise in farm business planning and years of experience working on farms. Maggie is the person to contact if you are a beginning farmer seeking land, or you are a farm service provider interested in partnering with us. When not out on the land for VLT, Maggie can be found exploring the Green Mountains with her husband and their red heeler named Hosmer.

Maggie Herrick

Maggie is responsible for a variety of accounting, operational, and human resources-related activities. She joined VLT in 2023 after a decade in operations roles at forward-thinking organizations within the food sector. Maggie is the person to contact if you have general accounting or human resource questions. When she’s not managing internal accounting processes, or building strong relationships with our vendors, you can find her tending to her homestead garden, cooking family meals, or learning about and practicing herbal medicine making.

Manon-Francine Pudvah

Manon-Francine Pudvah joined VLT in March 2024 after serving as HR Administrator at Goddard College for three years and as an Executive Assistant and Learning & Development Coordinator at National Life for five years before that. She graduated from UVM in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in English and Environmental Studies. Manon is of Swiss heritage, enjoys cooking, and explores the open road every chance she can in her campervan with her two dogs.

Maria Brosseau

Maria focuses her time on Orleans, Essex, Caledonia, Orange, and Bennington counties, where she collaborates with landowners, communities, and VLT staff on the legal aspects of land conservation. She joined VLT in 2023 after several years in the political and legal fields. Born and raised in the Northeast Kingdom, Maria enjoys spending time exploring the beautiful state and working on her creative endeavors.

Mead Binhammer

As a Project Director, Mead works to steward and conserve lands throughout central Vermont. Mead has a background in land stewardship and wildlife biology, and joined VLT in 2023 after working with The Trustees of Reservations in Massachusetts where he led a region-wide team focused on land management, ecological monitoring, and the continued protection of conserved lands. He enjoys exploring wild places in all seasons, whether hiking and running in summer, backcountry skiing in winter, or sitting quietly in spring to appreciate the cacophony of warbler migration.

Morgan Klimmek

Pamela Burlingame

Pam assists landowners in the Taconic and the southern Lake Champlain regions with their conservation easements and land stewardship. She joined VLT in 2012 after serving in various technical and educational roles for farm and forest organizations in southern Vermont. She has a degree in biology from the University of Oregon and an MS in Ecological Planning from UVM. Pam is the person to call with any questions regarding VLT-conserved land in Rutland County or southern Addison County. Outside of work, she plays the fiddle in a bluegrass band and explores the hills and hollows of Poultney, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.

Pieter van Loon

Pieter leads our forest program, providing a forestry perspective for conservation project design, advising on forest management of conserved lands, helping to manage lands we own, and contributing to education and outreach efforts about Vermont’s woods and how we can care for them. Before starting with VLT in 2000, Pieter was a consulting forester in southern VT. He most enjoys being out in the woods with people and helping them see and understand their surroundings in new ways. Pieter enjoys photography, birding, and biking around the home he and his wife, Rachel, built in Marlboro and takes every chance he can get to visit his kids and grandkids in Philadelphia and northern California.

Rachel Mullis

As communications director, Rachel guides efforts to expand VLT’s audience and deepen engagement. She has spent over a decade leading communications strategy and campaigns for sustainability-focused organizations. Rachel holds a BA in English from UC Berkeley and an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is also a member of the Vermont Master Naturalist program’s 2024-2025 Lower Winooski River cohort. Her backyard has been visited on at least one occasion by an exceedingly rare-in-Vermont Skillet Clubtail dragonfly.

Rasna Dhillon

Rasna works on the Communications and Development team, bringing stories from the land to our members and supporters through emails, publications, the press, and our website. She joined VLT in 2018 after 20 years as an editor and project manager in India, the UK, and the US. Rasna is the person to contact with general inquiries about VLT or storytelling opportunities. One of her favorite trails in Vermont winds around Osmore Pond, where the loons on the water and the mosses on the path command equal attention.

Rebecca Roman

Rebecca is a Project Director for VLT conserved lands in Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties and parts of Lamoille County. She has been at VLT since 2017, starting as the AmeriCorps Land Management Coordinator after graduating from University of Vermont in Environmental Sciences. Rebecca joined VLT full-time in 2019. Rebecca is the person to call if you have questions about your conservation easement, or need to share your improvement plans or sell your conserved land. If you are a Conservation Commission or Town creating your town’s conserved land management plan, she has many resources she can share with you to support your efforts.

Ryan Diehl

As our Land Acquisition Specialist, Ryan manages a variety of real estate projects to support VLT’s mission. This includes gifts of land, the acquisition and transfer of forest and community focused parcels, as well as assisting partner organizations to advance their land ownership, access, and conservation goals. Before joining VLT in 2024, Ryan started and ran a small business in the Mad River Valley, where he lives with his wife, two children, and two dogs. Outside of work, he can be found skiing, boating, climbing and biking throughout the Green Mountains with family and friends. 

Sam Graulty

As Events Manager, Sam helps plan and execute VLT’s events on the land as well as online. He is the person to contact if you have questions about any events or sponsorships. Before coming to VLT, Sam organized classes and trainings for non-profits, led outdoor programs, and taught at an independent school. Whenever possible, Sam heads outside — on bikes, boats, skates, and skis; or (if it’s rainy) he might stay in to make greeting cards out of old magazines.

Samantha Pierce

Sam is excited to be serving at the Vermont Land Trust for 2024-25 as the VHCB AmeriCorps Land Management Coordinator. She will be focused on invasive species management and forest road inventory, among other projects. She previously worked as an experiential educator for middle schoolers in Maine, challenging students to think about environmental stewardship. She loves to be outdoors doing any sort of adventure and is looking forward to exploring Vermont.

Sasha Vaut

Sasha raises the funds needed to fulfill our mission. She’s responsible for membership, our annual fund, and works with community members to raise money for local projects. She enjoys lending her talents to the missions of organizations who better the lives of her community. Sasha joined VLT in 2023 after many years fundraising for arts in Vermont and healthcare in Boston. Contact Sasha if you would like to make a gift or learn more about your giving options. When she’s not raising money for a good cause, you can find her teaching horseback riding, listening to music, or hiking. She lives in Milton with her husband, her rescue dog, rescue cat, and rescue horse. 

Sumana Serchan

Sumana joined VLT in 2016, after managing tree plantings for New York City and working on urban renewal projects in New Haven, CT. At VLT, she serves on the Land Protection team, supporting effective project management and ensuring that all grant requirements are met. When not at work, Sumana enjoys hiking, biking and playing with her daughter Oshin.

Tracy Zschau

Tracy became our President & CEO in October 2023, in her 26th year of service with our organization. She first came to love Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom as a student at Sterling College, where she received a degree in Natural Resource Management. Tracy went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Science from Colby College and a master’s degree in Forestry from the University of Maine, Orono. Tracy joined VLT in 1997 and served as the Northeast Kingdom Regional Director prior to becoming the Conservation Director, and later Vice President for Land Protection. Tracy and her husband, Kurt, live in Johnsbury where they have raised two children. Tracy serves on the board of Passumpsic Savings Bank and is also a member of the St. Johnsbury Selectboard. Exploring the fields, forests, rivers and lakes of Vermont, in every season, brings her great joy.

Tucker Malone

Tucker is a Project Director for northwestern Vermont, where he helps ensure the protection nearly 300 conserved properties in the area. He is an 8th-generation Vermonter who grew up on a small dairy farm in Franklin County. Tucker joined VLT in 2022 and is excited to serve the community he calls home. Contact him if you have questions about your conserved land in northwestern Vermont. Tucker is a sugarmaker and a horseman who raises and shows Belgian draft horses.

Tyler Miller

Tyler is the Vice President of Land Activation, overseeing our efforts to strengthen communities and the health of our land. He joined VLT in 2006, first working directly with landowners, then later leading staff who ensure the ongoing protection of conserved land. He grew up in Grand Isle County, spending his childhood swimming and fishing in Lake Champlain. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and holds a master’s degree in resource management and administration from Antioch University. During his tenure, he has visited just about every nook and cranny of the state, meeting a lot of great people along the way. In his free time, Tyler is an avid gardener, woodworker, hiker, and cross-country skier.

Vanessa Wedlund