Elizabeth Courtney Executive Director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Elizabeth has been Executive Director of VNRC for over a decade.  She is a licensed landscape architect who received her Master of Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  Elizabeth served as a Trustee of the Vermont Law School from 1995 to 2004.  She was a member of the Vermont Environmental Board from 1985 to 1994 and was its Chair from 1991-1994.  During her nine years on the Board, she participated in many precedent setting decisions on key Act 250 cases.  In 1995, Elizabeth was awarded a Loeb Fellowship in Advanced Environmental Studies at Harvard University and used the fellowship to conduct research at the Kennedy School of Government.  Elizabeth recently served as one of six members of the Governor's Climate Change Commission. ecourtney@vnrc.org

Stephen J. Holmes Deputy Director. Steve has been with VNRC since 1991. He has served as Sustainable Communities Program Director, Deputy Director for Policy, Director of VNRC’s Southern Vermont Office and Acting Executive Director. He is the former Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs (1988-1991). He served as Executive Director of two Vermont regional planning commissions: the Windham Regional Commission in Brattleboro (1983-1987); and the Upper Valley-Lake Sunapee Council, a bi-state commission with communities in Vermont and New Hampshire (1987-1988). From 1972-1983, he was with the Midstate (Ct.) Regional Planning Agency as Regional Planner and Assistant Director. Steve is a graduate of the Harvard, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. He holds a Master of Regional Planning degree from the University of Massachusetts, and a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University. Steve is married to Heidemarie Holmes Heiss, and they have four children. sholmes@vnrc.org

Jake Brown Communications Director/Legislative Liaison.  Jake is a former reporter with some 18 years of print media experience. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1987 with a double major in History/Spanish, and he holds a Masters of Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. Jake was an early participant in the creation of The Montpelier Bridge, a community newspaper serving Montpelier. At different times, he served as reporter, managing editor, and owner of The Bridge. Early in his career, he reported on climate change and ozone depletion for BNA’s Daily Environment Report in Washington DC, and more recently covered news developments from the Vermont State House, the Agency of Natural Resources, the Environmental Court, and other arms of state government, for a variety of news outlets. He was elected to the Montpelier Cemetery Commission in 2008 and is member of the Montpelier Rotary Club. He competes in the occasional sprint triathlon, manages his current-use-enrolled woodland property, fly fishes for trout, striped bass and bluefish, and is gaining skill in raising vegetables in Montpelier’s challenging soil. Jake lives in Montpelier with his wife Milly Archer and son Nelson. jbrown@vnrc.org

Brian Shupe Sustainable Communities Program Director and Energy Program Co-Director.  Brian has over twenty years of professional planning experience.  He began his career in Florida, where he received an M.S, in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University.  Since moving to Vermont in 1988, he has served as Executive Director of the Mad River Valley Planning District and Director of Planning and Zoning for the Town of Stowe.  For nearly ten years he was a partner with Burnt Rock Inc., Associates in Community Planning.  Burnt Rock provided an extensive range of services to local governments, state and regional agencies, non-profit organizations and citizen groups. Brian came to VNRC from Smart Growth Vermont, where he served as Director of Programs.  Throughout his career, Brian’s professional focus has been natural resource protection, growth management and sustainable development. Brian lives in Waitsfield with his wife, Valerie, where he is involved with several community organizations. bshupe@vnrc.org

Jamey Fidel Forest and Biodiversity Program Director and Legal Counsel. Jamey has a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a Minor in Wildlife Biology from University of Vermont's School of Natural Resources, and a J.D. and M.S. in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. Jamey was previously Conservation Director of the Aspen Wilderness Workshop, Project Director of Public Counsel of the Rockies, and Biological Inventory Coordinator of Pitkin County, Colorado. He has served on various boards including the Executive Committee of the Northern Forest Alliance, the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Board, and the Waitsfield Planning Commission and Development Review Board. He and his wife Rachel live in Waitsfield with their daughter Ayla and son Jude. jfidel@vnrc.org

James Sharp Office Manager/Administrative Assistant.  James has been an active letter-writer, demonstrator, and campaign supporter for environmental sustainability and democracy issues for many years.  In addition to consulting with many non-profits as a website designer, he worked at the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse as webmaster and communications director, and as National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology coordinator for the Northeast/Mid-atlantic region.  He lives in Montpelier with his partner Megan, and step-son Aodhan.  jsharp@vnrc.org

Jon Groveman Water Program Co-Director and Legal Counsel. Jon received a B.A. in Psychology from SUNY Binghamton in 1988 and his J.D. from Quinnipiac College School of Law in 1991. Jon has served as legal counsel to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, as Land Use Attorney for the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, as Director of the Law Center for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and most recently as the Executive Officer of the Vermont Water Resources Board. Jon lives in Marshfield with his wife Nancy and his son Gabriel. jgroveman@vnrc.org

Johanna Miller Outreach Director and Energy Program Co-Director. Johanna is an organizer, writer, editor and coalition builder at VNRC. Johanna works with organizations, local officials, and citizens across Vermont to empower them to get involved in the energy, climate change, land use and community development issues VNRC engages. Johanna works closely with partners in the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network to start and support town energy committees and to help build support for a more efficient and renewable energy future in Vermont. Before joining VNRC in January 2005, Johanna spent five years as an organizer, editor, and policy specialist for the Michigan Land Use Institute — a planning and smart growth policy organization. Johanna has served on numerous boards of directors and currently serves on the boards of Local First Vermont, the national nonprofit SEEDS and on the Montpelier Energy Team. Johanna was educated at the University of Vermont, where she received a B.A. in English and Environmental Studies. She lives in Montpelier and enjoys skiing, kayaking, running, and hiking. jmiller@vnrc.org

Stephanie Mueller Director of Development. As a VNRC staff member for over ten years, Stephanie brings a broad, diverse knowledge of VNRC's history, foundation contacts and donors to the table. Her previous positions include fundraising work for the Jackson Hole Land Trust, the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance and the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative. Stephanie completed a double major in environmental studies and creative writing from St. Lawrence University. She lives in Burlington with her husband, son Owen and daughter Sadie. smueller@vnrc.org

Kim Greenwood Water Program Co-Director and Staff Scientist. Kim is the resident water scientist and expert witness at VNRC and has worked on water issues in Vermont for over 15 years.  Her work at VNRC focuses promoting science-based policy positions to ensure that scientific information is brought to statewide environmental policy making processes.  Kim worked in both the private sector and state government before joining VNRC.  She is a graduate of the Changing Faces Women's Environmental Leadership Program at the East-West Center in Hawaii.  Kim is active in many community forums and boards including the Vermont River Conservancy and the Vermont Beekeepers Association and holds a bachelor's degree in aquatic resources from University of Vermont and an associate in mechanical engineering from Vermont Technical College.   Kim lives in Duxbury with her husband Ian. kgreenwood@vnrc.org

John Odum Associate Director of Membership and Development. John is a longtime political activist. A Kentucky native, John has been an Organizer for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon Fair Share and the “No On 13” Campaign (Save Our Communities PAC), and did membership and development work for organizations such as the Oregon Health Action Campaign. Since moving to Vermont, John has been an Organizer for Bernie Sanders’ congressional campaign and Field Director for the Clavelle for Governor campaign. He has also been an IT administrator for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and the Vermont Democratic Party. He is a former Chair of the Washington County Democratic Party. John lives in Montpelier with his wife, Cary Brown, and his sons Tucker, 9, and Zane, 4. jodum@vnrc.org