First woman to serve in role
Following a six-month stint as Interim President, Zschau has been named the permanent President & CEO of the Vermont Land Trust. Taking the reins alongside Vice Presidents Abby White, Lynn Ellen Schimoler, and Tyler Miller, Zschau is the first woman to hold the role of President & CEO.
“I’m humbled by this opportunity to lead VLT in collaboration with my peers and colleagues,” said Zschau. “The team brings deep expertise, long-standing relationships, and dedication to our mission. Together, we’re ready to meet this moment as Vermont looks to expand conservation and ensure the future of agriculture.”
Zschau began her career at VLT in 1998, first as the conservation lead in the Northeast Kingdom and then statewide in 2014. Most recently she served as the Vice President for Land Protection, overseeing the organization’s efforts to expand conservation and steward the 635,000 acres VLT has already protected.
“The Board of Trustees and I are delighted to name Tracy as our permanent President & CEO,” said Cheryl Morse, Chair of VLT’s Board of Trustees. “A 25-year expert in conservation, Tracy is the first woman to hold this role at VLT—a milestone for us to celebrate. Alongside our Vice Presidents, she brings dedication, transparency, and expertise to leading our organization at a time when urgent issues—climate change, the affordability crisis, and development pressures—are calling us to act.”
Zschau lives with her husband, Kurt, in St. Johnsbury, where they have raised two children and explored the mountains, lakes, and forests of the region. There, she serves on the St. Johnsbury Selectboard and on the Board of Passumpsic Savings Bank. She is a graduate of the Vermont Leadership Institute at the Snelling Center for Government and recipient of the 2019 Vermont Housing and Conservation Board Community Catalyst Award for her leadership in advancing community-based conservation in the Northeast Kingdom. She holds undergraduate degrees from Sterling College and Colby College, and a master’s degree in forestry from the University of Maine, Orono.
