Meet the VACD Team
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.
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. To date, Troy has helped install nearly 1200 dry hydrants in 235 towns and communities across the state. In 2017, Troy’s daughter Joule Loretta Dare was born and, in the Fall of 2018, he bought a house in Sumner Maine.
Emily was born and raised in Michigan, and took advantage of the state’s natural beauty as soon as she could crawl. She participated in her first citizen science conservation project in 3rd grade, when she went on daily hikes to identify frog and toad calls. While studying at the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Emily discovered her passion for agroecology. This passion grew while she worked as a farmhand on a Certified Naturally Grown vegetable CSA farm. In her previous role as Director of Education at BaySail, Emily worked with conservation districts to deliver water quality outreach and education programs onboard tall ships sailing the Great Lakes. A lover of interdisciplinary learning, Emily’s background in sociology and psychology complements her M.S. in natural resource management, allowing her to effectively connect with and support land stewards. Emily lives with her partner, two dogs, three cats, and countless houseplants. She loves swing dancing and quilting, and is venturing into the world of roller derby. She enjoys all outdoor activities, but feels particularly at home on a sailboat or kayak.
Molly received a B.S. in Marketing Management from Syracuse University in 2008 and is currently one course from completing her Master's in Environmental Science and Policy at Johns Hopkins University. Molly joined the Grand Isle County Natural Resource Conservation District as Project Manager in March and has been combining her business acumen with recent training in conservation to expand the role of the district within the community. Inspired by the unique landscape and culture of the Champlain Islands, Molly hopes to bring new energy and light to issues challenging the county, such as water quality, and aquatic and terrestrial invasives. Her fellow Vermont districts, VACD, and NRCC have guided her through the state's conservation landscape, helping her to now support each in the role of Communications Coordinator. She's looking forward to reinventing her marketing skills to serve an eco-conscious audience. In her short time in Vermont, she's developed a deep connection to the Green Mountain State, spending her free time hiking, discovering new swimming holes, and enjoying the local culture. She is committed to enhancing the vitality of Vermont through both positions.
After graduating from Beloit College with Bachelor of Arts degrees in philosophy and political science, Clare spent four years with an AmeriCorps program as a conservation crew leader and wildland firefighter in Missouri and Montana. During this time, she also acted as an emergency response coordinator, providing leadership in volunteer and data management in the wake of natural disasters across the United States. In 2015, Clare joined the L-A-D Foundation where she managed human resources, finances, and outreach initiatives for one of Missouri’s largest conservation nonprofits. Despite her field-based background, she is, in fact, a “numbers person” who loves the problem-solving power of a beautifully designed spreadsheet. A St. Louis native, Clare married a New Englander in 2017, and both she and her husband are excited to be brand new Vermonters. Outside of work, Clare enjoys hiking, wood working, gardening, and playing old-time fiddle.
Meet the VACD Technical Staff
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 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 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.
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.
Kelley grew up in New York and spent most of her childhood outside exploring. She went to school at Saint Michael’s College where she got a degree in biology and minored in Chemistry and Environmental Studies. After graduation, she moved to the West Coast to work for the Bureau of Land Management on geomorphic stream surveys throughout Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. Between field seasons, she came back to Vermont to thru-hike The Long Trail, then moved to Colorado to work at Breckenridge Ski Resort and enjoy a winter skiing in the Rocky Mountains. She is very excited to be back on the East Coast helping to conserve the natural lands of Vermont!
Meryl grew up in Lynnfield, MA, just north of Boston. She attended UVM and graduated this past May with an Environmental Sciences degree and minors in French and Chemistry. Meryl now lives in Burlington, VT. She was a research assistant in Dr. Eric Roy's Nutrient Cycling and Ecological Design Lab, and joined UVM's first Soil Judging team. Last summer, she received a fellowship from UVM to conduct independent research on the social dimensions of river conservation efforts in Vermont’s Upper Missisquoi Watershed. Through her collaboration with the Vermont Land Trust, and work with landowners and farmers, Meryl became familiar with the social, economic, and environmental benefits (and challenges) to conservation initiatives and water quality. She is very excited to apply her knowledge in the conservation planning process through hands-on field work and engaging with customers.
As for a few fun facts: Meryl enjoys staying active and getting outdoors—whether that’s by playing Ultimate Frisbee, gardening, hiking, or biking. She also likes to get creative in the kitchen and try new recipes. In normal (non-Covid) times, she’d be following the local music and art scene. In colder times, reading some poetry or fiction—in English or in French!
A third-generation Vermonter, Holly is a 2020 graduate of the University of Vermont Environmental Studies program. During her time at UVM, Holly had a specific interest in sustainable food systems and conducted qualitative research on food insecurity in the North Country region of New York. She was also an assistant in a pilot study analyzing the links between mental health and the environment. Holly is currently in a graduate program at Unity College, looking to earn her Master’s of Professional Science in Wildlife Conservation & Management. When Holly isn’t working or studying, she likes to go birding, knit socks, and play any board game she can get her hands on.