Sarah Waring is the second Executive Director of the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), a federal-state partnership encompassing Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. NBRC invests across the region, in projects that advance economic and community development, with a particular emphasis on our most distressed communities. Previous to this work, Waring served as the USDA Rural Development State Director for Vermont and New Hampshire, with an investment portfolio in housing, infrastructure and business activities of over $200 million dollars. She has previously served as the Executive Director of the Center for an Agricultural Economy, the Northeast Kingdom's food hub and food business incubator, and worked in philanthropy at the Vermont Community Foundation as the Vice President for Grants and Community Investments. Waring's work over the past decades has included creating public-private partnerships with state and philanthropic dollars as well as interagency agreements between federal agencies, and collaborative funder initiatives, to make it more possible for communities to accomplish their goals. Place-based economic development, driven by community coordination, is one of Waring's passions.

Adam Lalor, Ph.D. serves as Vice President of Neurodiversity Research and Innovation at Landmark College and is a research faculty member within the College’s online, certificate program in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity.  With two decades of experience in higher education, he has served in instructional, research, and administrative capacities.  Dr. Lalor’s research focuses on college success for disabled students, the preparation of educators to serve disabled students, and neurodiversity.  His research has appeared in the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, LD: A multidisciplinary Journal, and the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.  Co-author of the book From Disability to Diversity: College Success for Students with Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder, he is sought after by colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, corporate entities, and the government to serve as a speaker and consultant.  An advocate for neurodivergent and disabled people, he serves in leadership positions within the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) and the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).  Dr. Lalor received his doctoral degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education. 

Annie (they/them) joined the VEOC team in 2022.  Prior to that, Annie helped steward the cooperative conversion at

Alex Farrell is Vermont’s Commissioner of Housing and Community Development; previously, he served the Department as Deputy Commissioner. Prior to public service, Alex worked in data and corporate strategy. Alex serves as Chair of the Board for the Vermont State Housing Authority, and is on the Board of Housing Foundation, Inc, and the Vermont Foundation of Recovery. In the past, Alex served on the Vermont Real Estate Commission on which he served as chair for several years; Alex also served the city of Burlington on the Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Commission, the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board, and the Board for Registration of Voters. Alex attended the University of Vermont for his undergraduate degree, and Clarkson University for his master’s degree; he lives in South Burlington with his wife and son.

Alison Turner is a Senior Economic Development Researcher in the Decision and Infrastructure Sciences Division at Argonne National Laboratory. She brings over ten years of experience to Argonne working inthe realm of economic development, scale, and program impact. She has spent time on the research side at the New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research, on the financial side as a municipal bonds trader for the Bank of New York Mellon, and in practice working for the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District. Prior to working at Argonne, Alison served as the founder and Chief Executive of Metrics Together, a company focused on data empowerment for local government and non-government offices.    

Alison holds Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Anthropology from the University of New Mexico and a Master’s in Statistics from Boston University. She currently sits in an advisory role for the American Statistical Association’s GivesBack group focusing on the empowerment of statistical work in all fields. She loves food and long walks.

Beth Gilles is Executive Director of the Lake Champlain – Lake George Regional Planning Board, a five-county development organization serving the Adirondack region.

Since joining the agency in 2008, she has led initiatives addressing broadband access, workforce housing, downtown revitalization, water quality, and small business financing. She built a comprehensive water quality program supporting projects across the Lake Champlain and Upper Hudson River watersheds. Promoted to Executive Director in 2018, Beth stabilized and repositioned the organization during a period of transition, strengthening partnerships and restoring regional collaboration. She now oversees a $2.5 million annual budget, manages six staff, and works closely with local, state, and federal officials to advance strategic investments.

Beth studied at Paul Smith’s College and the University of Vermont. She serves on the Board of the National Association of Development Organizations and was named a 2024 Woman of Distinction by NYS Assemblyman Matt Simpson.

Cara Robechek is the Deputy Director and Network Manager for EAN, working with our network members and partners to expand our collective impact on clean energy action and emissions reduction in Vermont.  Cara came to EAN from Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP) where she was the Executive Director from 2014 – 2021. Prior to her work at VEEP, she spent eight years teaching courses such as Environmental Communication, Environmental Economics, Current Environmental Issues, and Children, Health and Environment for Community College of Vermont, Johnson State College, and the University of Vermont.

Cara currently is chair of the Clean Energy Development Board, Vice Chair of the Board for Community Rides Vermont, and on the advisory board for Vermont Clean Communities Coalition.  She has also served as an elected Parks Commissioner for the City of Montpelier, and as a member of the Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee. Cara has a BA in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College, and an MS in Renewable Natural Resources and Development from the University of East Anglia.

She lives in Montpelier with her husband and two children, and enjoys playing on or in water, walking and cross-country skiing in the woods, and listening to her children playing music.

David Bond is a cultural anthropologist whose ethnographic research and public engagements aim to dismantle the imperial, epistemic, and altogether catastrophic reign of petro-capitalism. In historical excavations of the environmental racism that exempts oil refineries from pollution controls by dint of their colonial location in the American Caribbean, in fieldwork on how environmental protections often encase fossil fuel infrastructure in impenetrable ethics, and in collaborative campaigns with frontline communities to publicize corporate maleficence and prosecute polluters, Bond’s work strives to hold the empire of oil accountable for its profitable destruction of our planet while making room for radical alternatives inside the classroom and impacted communities. Our world is entering a new epoch of induced upheaval. So many communities battered by the poisonous reach of petrochemicals and climactic fallout of fossil fuels are eager for bold explanations of what is happening, who is responsible, and what alternatives are within reach. In response, Bond’s scholarship insists on the relevance of anthropology to: 1) craft cogent accounts of environmental disruptions that exceed disciplined knowledge and institutional jurisdiction; 2) recognize unhinged catastrophe without giving up on justice in the here and now, and 3) insist on the ability of ethnography to build common ground in an age of ecological upheaval and economic decline. In 2022, Bond was awarded the “New Directions Prize for Public Anthropology” by the American Anthropological Association.

Bond has taught at Bennington College since 2013. He is also the Associate Director of the Center for the Advancement of Public Action. Bond helped found the Prison Education Initiative (PEI) at Bennington College in 2015 with Annabel Davis-Goff. Many of his students have secured jobs with leading environmental justice organizations or gained admissions to top graduate anthropology programs in the United States and Europe.

Drew leads the mapping and data analytics team in developing data tools to define and execute analytics for the organization.

Before joining CORI, Drew worked as a pricing analyst for an aerospace manufacturing company. Drew was encouraged to pursue business improvement projects using data analytics. This led to the design and implementation of processes to generate high-quality data for decision-makers and stakeholders.

Growing up in the White Mountains, Drew developed an understanding and appreciation for rural communities. He holds a B.S. from Portland State University and an M.S. in resource economics and policy, and a Graduate Certificate in geographic information systems from the University of Maine. Drew currently lives in New Hampshire with his wife and animals.

Emma Spett is a graduate student at the University of Vermont. In 2020, she completed an MS in community development and applied economics, and began doctoral studies in sustainable development policy, economics, and governance in 2021. As a MS student, Emma was a member of the International Joint Commission’s Social, Political, and Economic technical working group, which explored the acceptability and feasibility of transboundary flood mitigation options in the transboundary Lake Champlain Richelieu River basin. She is a member of UVM's Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security's Transboundary Water In-Cooperation Network, and recently completed a graduate certificate in Community Resilience and Planning. Prior to arriving at UVM, Emma worked as a farm-based educator at Shelburne Farms, and as a community organizer for Environment Colorado. She graduated with a BA in environmental policy from New York University in 2016. In her current role, Emma carries out research on community resilience and economic development in Vermont, on behalf of the Office of Engagement.

She also co-owns an inn and restaurant (river and rye) with her partner in Jamaica, Vermont. 

Erik began his professional career by working for nearly two decades with large corporations in sales, marketing and project management roles. In 2014, Erik took a leap of faith by completely changing course to redirect his energy and passion into a meaningful career in the solar industry. Following a short stint managing a small solar company in central NH, Erik co-founded, managed and operated two successful solar companies which still operate today. Having sold his stake in both of those companies, Erik joined Southern Vermont Solar in September of 2024. Erik oversees the day-to-day operations of Southern Vermont Solar and wears many hats as he interacts with clients, and the team to help realize the company’s mission of delivering the best-in-class customer experience that Southern Vermont Solar is known for.

Gabriel co-founded We Clean Heat Pumps in Southern Vermont in 2018 to address an essential gap within his family’s Solar/HVAC business. Recognizing the need for regular maintenance of ductless mini-split heat pumps, he took on the responsibility, allowing his family to focus on installations and service calls. Gabriel’s meticulous work and commitment to quality quickly earned We Clean Heat Pumps a strong reputation, enabling the company’s growth throughout New England. Today, Gabriel is devoted to building a company that not only supports his family but also fosters a supportive work environment for employees, helping everyone build a sustainable future for the next generation.

Gretchen Havreluk is a municipal consultant with Ingram & May, working with Vermont communities on economic and community development projects. She has written and managed more than $3 million in grants and has partnered with the Town of Wilmington since 2011 on initiatives ranging from infrastructure projects to business incentive programs. Gretchen is also currently contracted with the Town of Readsboro and the Vermont Council on Rural Development working with the Town of Athens. She is actively involved in regional and statewide planning organizations.

Gretchen has supported small businesses and communities recovering from Tropical Storm Irene and regularly shares her experience in community revitalization and economic resilience. Outside of work, Gretchen enjoys time with her family, skiing, and gathering with friends.

Jarod Waite is the Associate Academic Dean for Science and Allied Health at the Community College of Vermont (CCV). Jarod’s career has focused on engaging students from the elementary level through graduate school in authentic experiences through placed-based educational pedagogy. Jarod’s work currently focuses on the intersection of higher education and workforce needs within healthcare and advanced manufacturing. Through collaboration with industry, secondary and higher education institutions, Jarod is building affordable and accessible pathways for students. Jarod holds a B.A. from West Virginia University and an M.S. from the University of Wyoming.

John is a community-minded, small-scale developer, housing provider, planning commissioner, and select board member in Rockingham, Vermont. John co-owns and manages Whitaker Properties, Inc. with his twin brother, Jeff, whose passion has been improving the housing stock within their community, enhancing landlord-tenant relations, and refining the local multi-unit housing narrative. ‘Doing well by doing good’ in their community has been their mantra. John holds a B.A. from Colby College and lives in Saxtons River, VT (a village within the Town of Rockingham) with his wife and three children. A former elite Ironman triathlete, John enjoys running or biking many of Vermont’s beautiful backroads.

Julia Opel is a dual Master’s candidate in Sustainability Sciences and Regional Planning. With a background in food systems and craft beer, she has an interest in climate resiliency planning with a focus on public engagement and equity

 Kate is a creative, collaborative, and innovative leader with international experience and training in promoting positive social change through arts and education. She began her career as a museum educator in Philadelphia and later worked at a botanical garden developing youth programs. After attending the School of International Training in Brattleboro, Kate became an instructor and staff member at The Greenwood School, World Learning, Marlboro College, and Smith College. Her time in higher education led to a role in employer relations and career development where she focused on strength-based coaching. Kate believes life is bigger than a series of jobs. She said, "I’m so grateful for the opportunity to serve as the executive director of the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance. Seeing Brattleboro grow and thrive, and contributing what I can in a meaningful way feels like the perfect combination of passion and purpose."

Kathleen Ramsay was born and raised in Addison County, Vermont, earned her BA in Political Science from UVM, and has spent most of her career as a Town Administrator or Town Manager – four years in Massachusetts and the rest in Vermont.  Kathleen enjoyed serving the Vermont towns of Hinesburg, Pittsford, Killington and, most recently, Middlebury, until September 2024. Kathleen is now on the Vermont League of Cities & Towns team, serving as its Municipal Support Specialist, providing tailored, one-on-one support to governing bodies and local officials.

Kevin is a labor market economist and the Assistant Director of Economic & Labor Market Information at the Vermont Department of Labor. In this role he oversees a variety of labor market data programs, analyzes economic trends, and travels the state to discuss the Vermont economy. In addition to his work with VDoL, he is a faculty member at The University of Vermont where he teaches economics and international development.

Kevin holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and an MS in Applied Economics from the University of Vermont. When he’s not working you can find Kevin riding his bike, running in the woods or sitting in ice-cold arenas watching his 13-year-old daughter play hockey. 

Kevin’s penchant for economics started in the fifth grade when he forgot his lunch money.

Liana Rice holds a BS in Sustainable Community Development from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is continuing her academic career at UMass as a Master's candidate in Regional Planning. Her work focuses on cultural and historic preservation, exploring how community identity can be protected and celebrated. Her approach to planning is guided by the belief that when people feel a strong sense of belonging to a place and with each other, communities become more resilient. 

Matt is the founder and executive director of the Center on Rural Innovation, which he launched in 2017 to reverse the nation’s growing rural opportunity gap and create economic prosperity for small town residents across the country.

Prior to founding CORI, Matt began his career by serving 11 years in the Vermont House and Senate, enacting the state’s first broadband grants, brownfields revitalization funding, and downtown redevelopment program. He helped grow a Vermont-based software company to over 100 people and was Associate Director of the Rockefeller Center on Public Policy at Dartmouth College.

In 1999, Matt was appointed director of AmeriCorps*VISTA under President Clinton, where he led PowerUp — one of the first national efforts to bridge the digital divide — and launched an Entrepreneur Corps to focus on micro-finance in high-need communities.

In 2007, he started Google’s Community Affairs division out of a former bread factory in White River Junction, Vermont, where he led all local US philanthropy and engagement, including the Google Fiber rollout and orchestrating educational and development initiatives in Google’s data center communities across rural America. Matt has also held an appointment at the MIT Media Lab.

Matt holds a B.A. from Brown University, and is a lifelong Vermonter who lives on the 100 acre farm where he was raised.

Morgan Casella brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of sustainable energy and agriculture, with a focus on building practical, climate-ready systems across New England. His work spans the design and construction of solar energy systems and more than 30 commercial greenhouses, helping expand energy efficiency and year-round access to local food.

Morgan also managed a $3 million project integrating agricultural operations into Brattleboro’s landfill gas-to-energy system, improving methane capture and demonstrating how waste, energy, and food systems can work together in a more circular economy.

In addition, Morgan has supported both large companies and small businesses with renewable energy and agricultural investment strategy, bringing a systems-level approach to strengthening a resilient regional economy.

Mose Cassaro is a Program Partner at gener8tor, a global accelerator and venture capital firm that supports high-growth startups through mentorship, investment, and network access. He is also the Founder and General Partner of RDF Ventures, an early-stage venture fund that partners with founders at the earliest stages and supports their path from Seed to Series A.

Rebecca Sameroff was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Taxes in December 2020.

Deputy Sameroff is responsible for legislative initiatives, policy development, and analytical work for the Department. Ms. Sameroff previously served the Department as Chief Fiscal Analyst, supervising policy analysis, revenue forecasting, and analysis of the administrative impact and revenue implications of proposed policy changes, including distributional impact on Vermont taxpayers. Ms. Sameroff  also served the City of Burlington as Special Advisor for Finance and Technology.

Deputy Sameroff holds a Master of Public Administration from The Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Northwestern University.

Ms. Sameroff is an enthusiastic hiker, biker, and birder, and a former member of the Audubon Vermont Board of Directors.

Rob Gaiotti was born in Rutland Vermont and attended Burr & Burton Academy (class of 2000). He received his bachelor's from Huntingdon College (Montgomery, Alabama, 2004) and his master's in public administration from University of New Hampshire (2006). He was fortunate to return to Vermont in 2008 after being hired as Town Manager of Dorset.

He has served as Town Manager for over 17 years, and as a manager in a small community he has worked on everything from the building of the Raptor Lane hiking/biking trail networks, land conservation, large scale highway and water system improvements, the construction of a new net zero energy municipal office, to the current effort for housing at Raptor Lane.

Rob is the President of Manchester Youth Baseball and a Middle School baseball coach. Rob's wife, Kelly, operates a private physical therapy practice, Dorset Physio, with 3 employees that supports the Dorset community. Rob & Kelly have two sons, Ryan and Eli ages 15 and 13. Rob, Kelly, and the boys live in the hills of East Dorset with two golden retrievers. 

Samantha Page is a regional planner with the Bennington County Regional Commission. At the BCRC, Samantha supports seventeen municipalities with land use planning, GIS analysis and mapping, community engagement, and transportation planning, among other things. Recent projects that she is especially excited about include the update to the Bennington Regional Plan, updates to municipal plans in Old Bennington Village and Rupert, community advocacy for the Western New England Greenway, and mapping for Pownal's Town Forest. Samantha graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Design with a master's in urban planning in May 2023. Prior to going to graduate school, Samantha worked at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where she still lives.

Sarah is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, earning a Masters in Regional Planning and Masters of Science in Sustainability Sciences. Her work history includes the UMass Center for Economic Development, Make-It Springfield Maker Space, St. Clair-Superior Community Development Corporation in Cleveland, and the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation. Sarah currently works as the Capacity Coordinator at Northern Border Regional Commission, a federal-state partnership which puts federal funds on the ground in rural communities. Sarah is from Cleveland, Ohio but now calls New England her home. She currently lives in Brattleboro, VT with her partner, son and Old English Sheepdog, and enjoys doing her part in lowering the median age of the region.

Seth Price is a Master’s candidate in Regional Planning at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he focuses on economic development initiatives in rural areas. With an extensive background in agricultural preservation, public food assistance policy, and the Main Street economy, Seth brings a deep commitment to equity and sustainability into every planning conversation. Whether working on small-scale grassroots campaigns or shaping comprehensive long-term plans, he’s driven by a passion for helping communities imagine bold futures and craft resilient, inclusive plans that thrive in any context.

Chair of the Putney Planning Commission since March 2023, Sue Coakley directed the  development of Putney’s 2023 Town Plan and follow-up projects including a 2026  Comprehensive Village Plan now underway, 2025 Housing Study and Action Plan, 2025  Putney Zoning Bylaws and Subdivision Regulations Modernization (underway), and 2024  Putney Landing Walkway Feasibility Study and follow-up grant funding to design and  construct a signaled crosswalk in Putney Village (now in development). She is assisting the  renovation of Putney’s Historic Town Hall, and leading implementation of Housing Study  recommendations to increase affordable housing for Putney’s low-, moderate and middle income households. A champion of community engagement, she facilitates active public participation in Planning Commission projects, and contributes to related community  initiatives including Discover Putney, and the Putney Housing Solutions Task Force.  

Prior to that, in 1995 she founded Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) and  served as Executive Director until 2020 and served on the Board of Director of Vermont  Energy Investment Corp. for 27 years. Earlier she was an Economist in the Electric Power  Division of the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Utilities. She earned a bachelor’s degree in  environmental science from Windham College in 1978 and a master’s degree in resource  management and administration from Antioch New England University in 1984.