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Meet the VACD Team

Jill Arace

Executive Director

Jill has nearly thirty years of non-profit management and sustainable development experience, mostly overseas. She lived and worked in Thailand and Cambodia for eleven years, managing relief and development programs for several organizations. She returned to the US to attend graduate school, where she earned two masters degrees – one in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, and the other in Economics from Boston University. After graduate school, Jill moved to one of her favorite places – Vermont – where she worked for eleven years at the Institute for Sustainable Communities managing civic participation and sustainable development programs. After traveling the world, Jill began learning more about conservation and community development in Vermont and in the beautiful Mad River Valley, where she lives and facilitates sustainable agriculture initiatives. Jill is particularly interested in supporting local food production and building bridges between different segments of the community.

Jeff Farber

Conservation Programs Manager

Jeff has had a long and varied career of non-profit administration, project management, and conservation activities. He has served on the Middlesex Planning Commission for the past five years, is restoring a forgotten farm apple orchard, raising organic fruits and vegetables and managing the woodlot on his 10 acres. Before coming to VACD in 2008, Jeff served on the staff of UVM's Division of Continuing Education, where he designed and managed distance learning programs for post-graduate professionals. Jeff is also a self-employed media producer developing award-winning documentary films and projects focusing on conservation and social change issues. He brings a wide range of managerial experiences and a strong commitment to conservation work to his position as VACD's Technical Programs Manager.

Carrie Youngblood

Office Manager

The manager and bookkeeper of our virtual office is the current business office manager of Black River Design Architects. Carrie Youngblood is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has lived in Vermont for more than 30 years. Her previous office/financial positions have included the non-profits Downstreet Housing, VPIRG, Heaton Woods Assisted Living Facility, and Turtle Island Children's Center, as well as four years at Solar Works (now Real Good Solar). Carrie lives in Montpelier and is active in the United Church of Christ, currently a member of Bethany Church, Montpelier, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Conference where she was Moderator of the 2011 Annual Meeting. She is also the Treasurer of the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra and sings in the Vermont Philharmonic Chorus.

Joanne Dion

Program Assistant

Joanne Dion is a Program Assistant in the Middlebury NRCS office and also works part-time as the Program Assistant for VACD. She was previously employed as an office manager at Vermont Adult Learning (VAL). Prior to working at VAL, she was a program services clerk at the Vermont Fire Academy in Pittsford. She’s also worked as a hot lunch lady! She left VAL in April 2015 to join her daughter and her family in Greeley, Colorado to assist them with the preparation of having their 2^nd child, selling their house and packing up the moving truck for the road trip to Vermont where her son-in-law secured a teaching/research position at UVM. She is thrilled that her grandchildren are now close by, and she is the proud mother of 4. She is an advocate for recycling, composting and reducing waste of all kinds. She enjoys walking, camping, growing red zinnias in the summertime and quiet time in the morning with a good cup of coffee.

Troy Dare

Rural Fire Protection Program Manager

Born and raised in Rockland, Maine, Troy grew up enjoying life on the ocean as a Rockland High School Tiger dabbling in cross country, track, drama and other theater groups. He also developed a strong passion for guitar and music. After high school he attended Vermont Technical College majoring in Civil Engineering Technology. In the summer months he worked as a Stern-man on a few lobster boats and played guitar in a few professional rock bands. During his senior year at VTC, Troy did work-study for the Vermont Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Councils Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force on the Rural Fire Protection initiative. In the spring of 1998 the VT Legislature started funding the Dry Hydrant Grant Program and Troy has worked as the Engineering Technician for that program for 15 years until the RC&D's closed their doors in 2013. Troy has now moved on to become the Rural Fire Protection Program Manager for the VACD to continue the Dry Hydrant Grant Program and help evolve the Rural Fire Protection Program to another level of service & support for Vermont communities & Fire Departments.

Holden Sparacino

Water Quality Programs Manager

Holden works to develop, manage and support VACD's non-agricultural water quality programs across Vermont including stormwater projects, tree plantings, and more. Holden has an MS in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont where he researched snow removal best management practices and water quality impacts from road salt. Previously, he worked at the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) in Pennsylvania managing a regional volunteer monitoring program assessing surface waters for possible shale gas industry impacts. Holden aims to connect practitioners, communities, and resources towards the protection and enhancement of surface waters with VACD. Holden lives in Burlington and outside of work can usually be found on a bike, on a hike, or trying out an unfamiliar DIY project.

Jess Buckley

Agriculture Programs Manager

Jess believes that if we all courageously follow our heart's calling, we can work together to make the world a better place. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering and minor in Community and International Development. Her adventurous spirit led her to Central America where she co-founded the non-profit Clara Vista. Inevitably she yearned to return to the hiking trails of the Green Mountains and found her way back to the Northeast. Throughout her career she has spent many summers as the resident engineer on construction sites. Previously she worked for the Agency of Agriculture's Best Management Practices Program where she implemented water quality conservation practices on farms. As VACD/NRCC's Agriculture Programs Manager she has the privilege of collaborating with talented conservationists to cultivate environmental stewardship and viable food systems. She is passionate about empowering people to take care of themselves, each other and our planet. Jess lives in central Vermont with her partner, daughter, husky and her aspirations of building a homestead.

Meet the VACD Technical Staff

Tucker Malone

Conservation Programs Technical Coordinator/Conservation Planner

Tucker is an 8th generation Vermonter who grew up on a small dairy farm in Franklin County. His experience dairy farming sparked a passion for agriculture and conservation. He followed this passion to Johnson State College where he majored in Biology. Along the way taking many courses with a conservation focus. While at Johnson, Tucker completed an internship with Cold Hollow to Canada as their Mapping Specialist Intern. After graduating in May 2017 Tucker followed his passion for conservation to VACD as a Cartographic Technician in the Middlebury Field Office, where he assisted Land Treatment Planners in creating maps to aid in the implementation of land treatment plans. In December 2017 Tucker became a Land Treatment Planner in the St. Albans Field office, where he is able to work closely with farmers to implement land treatment plans in the North West Region of the state. Tucker is now the Conservation Programs Technical Coordinator a role which allows him to be more connected with staff and leadership throughout the state, while continuing to help farmers plan and implement conservation practices.

Julia Grey

Conservation & Easement Program Assistant

Julia received her masters degree in historic preservation from UVM, and has a varied background in customer service, insurance, and nonprofit work. With an undergraduate background in cultural anthropology, Julia has spent time abroad researching indigenous Andean cultural practices in northern Chile. She has held internships in conservation easement monitoring and preservation planning, and most recently authored a historic context of village greens throughout Vermont. She hopes to use her position at VACD to further the goal of building sustainable communities in Vermont. While not at work, you may find her hiking and cross country skiing with her husband and their two little girls or in her bee yard.

Izzy Bazluke

Cartographic & Wetland Easement Support Technician

Izzy is a fifth generation Vermonter and grew up in the suburbs of Essex. Half of Izzy’s time is spent assisting staff with GIS concerns, including the creation of maps, on-demand content, templates, and procedures. The remainder of her time is spent working on the ACEP-WRE program to monitor and restore wetlands throughout Vermont; preform onsite and offsite wetland determinations; and help to launch mobile planning tools in the state. Izzy joined VACD shortly after completing an international Master’s program in Environmental Management and Sustainability in the small Mediterranean island-state of Malta. Prior to post-grad, Izzy studied at Syracuse University, earning a degree in Biology with a focus on Environmental Science. In her free time, Izzy enjoys crafting, rugby, backpacking, and running.

Joe Bondi

Wetlands Restoration Technician

Joe Bondi studied in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of Delaware and received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Science with a focus on ecology and organismal biology. Before joining VACD, Joe served two years as an ECO AmeriCorps member serving local communities throughout northwestern Vermont. Joe is currently working to help restore native vegetation on wetland easements throughout the state, delineate wetlands, and helping to create restoration plans as part the NRCS’ Wetland Reserve Easement Program. In his free time, Joe enjoys hiking, hanging by the lake, reading, and playing basketball.

Lauren Newman

Cartographic Technician

Lauren grew up in Ohio and moved to Vermont to pursue a degree in forestry from the University of Vermont. She spent her summers in Ohio working in a leasing office and helping people find apartments. Lauren discovered her love of working with spatial data and GIS after taking Intro to Geographic Information Systems and decided to pursue a minor in Geospatial Technologies. Her capstone project was working to create a planting prioritization map for the Winooski Tree Board looking at spatial data, inspiring her to continue working with GIS in Vermont.

Michelle Smith

Conservation Planner

Michelle joined VACD in the summer of 2011 as a CREP planner and is now working as a Land Treatment Planner. Prior to her role with VACD, Michelle worked as a Conservation\GIS Technician with USDA Farm Service Agency for more than four years where she gained extensive experience in GIS and conservation programs. Michelle is a MA native but has been living in Vermont for over thirteen years. She earned her undergraduate degree at Green Mountain College in environmental studies with double minors in biology and geology. As a graduate student, Michelle studied environmental sciences with a focus in conservation biology. She attributes her life-long love of the environment largely to her parents, who always encouraged her to explore the outdoors through backpacking, hiking, and family canoe trips.

Cindy Watrous

Conservation Planner

Cindy Watrous grew up in Piermont, NH on a small dairy farm. She attended Becker Junior College earning an Associate of Applied Science for Veterinary Assistant. Cindy was a Dairy Herd Improvement Association Technician for 23 years and enjoyed her work with the farmers in Addison County. Cindy received her training on GIS from FSA and joined VACD in December of 2006 as a Land Treatment Planner covering Addison, Rutland and Bennington Counties. Cindy owns a small sheep farm and is a fiber artist who dyes and processes her own sheep’s wool into felted creations. In her spare time, Cindy enjoys gardening, seeking treasures at yard sales, repurposing items and spending time with her two grand-daughters.

Brittany Cole

Conservation Planner

Brittany, a native to Franklin county in northwestern Vermont, graduated from Plattsburgh State University with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology. During her undergraduate years Brittany focused on wildlife ecosystems and completed two independent research projects; the first focused on white-tail deer behaviors over a season gradient in urban, rural, and agricultural settings and the second examined utilizing beaver baffles for dams and culverts. After graduation Brittany returned to her Franklin county agricultural roots with VACD and since has been furthering her knowledge on water quality and soil health while aiding the small, conserved farms. While not at work Brittany enjoys hiking, nature walking, or simply relaxing outside with her dogs.

Justin Michaud

Conservation Planner

Justin Michaud is a native Vermonter who grew up on a family dairy farm. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Sierra Nevada College and a Master of Science degree in Biology from Eastern Kentucky University. Justin joined the VACD team in 2015 and currently works as a Land Treatment Planner and Conservation Planner in the Newport field office. He loves playing with his two children, working on a diversified farm, fishing, gardening, and snowboarding.

Aaron Thomas

Conservation Planner

Aaron grew up on a small fiber farm in Morrisville, New York where his family raised sheep and goats for their fiber to be used in hand crafted woolen goods. This is where he cultivated a passion for advocating for small farms. He graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a B.S. in Environmental Science and participated in the Applied Environmental Science Program through William H. Miner Agricultural Institute. Aaron joined VACD in November 2018 as a Land Treatment Planner in the St. Albans office. In his spare time, Aaron enjoys going to concerts, traveling to see friends, and relaxing by Lake Champlain with his dog.

Henry Webb

Conservation Planner

Henry grew up in Monkton Vermont and was introduced to agriculture and a love for the land early on. He graduated from the University of Vermont Honor’s College having taken many classes that reflected his interest in natural resources, ecology, and Vermont’s landscape history. After college Henry worked for several different farms gaining practical skills and experience in different systems and scales of agriculture. He has continued to educate himself on soil science and nutrient management and their practical application. The resources offered by VACD and NRCS have been helpful to Henry on his own vegetable farm, so he sees his conservation planner position as an opportunity to help others navigate the system to access those resources and to use the knowledge he has gained from self-directed learning and hands-on experience.