VNRC Names Brian Shupe Executive Director

Brian Shupe recently took over as the executive director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council.
Shupe, of Waitsfield, steps into the position that is being vacated by Elizabeth Courtney who is taking on another role at VNRC.

Shupe, who has served most recently as VNRC’s Deputy Director and Sustainable Communities Program Director, has 25 years of professional planning experience.  Since moving to Vermont in 1988, he has served as executive director of the Mad River Valley Planning District, director of planning and zoning for the town of Stowe, and as program director at Smart Growth Vermont. He also was a partner with Burnt Rock Inc., Associates in Community Planning, a consulting firm.

“I am humbled and honored to take over as the new executive director,” said Shupe. He credited Courtney for her years of work on behalf of Vermont’s natural resources, communities, and VNRC itself.
“Elizabeth has been for many years Vermont’s environmental conscience,” Shupe said. “She has played that role with grace, civility, and deep determination for over two decades,” he said.

Courtney will not be leaving VNRC. She will be heading up the year-long Legacy Project, which will culminate next summer when VNRC celebrates its 50th year.  The Legacy Project includes a focused fundraising campaign to assure that VNRC remains on strong fiscal ground for the next 50 years, and beyond. Courtney also, along with Board Member Eric Zencey and VNRC Advisor, Bill McKibben will be writing a book, Toward a Sustainable State, 50 years of the Environmental Movement in Vermont.

Courtney had high praise for Shupe and the staff at VNRC. “VNRC would not be the trusted and respected organization it is today without this incredible staff. It has been an honor to serve with these dedicated and talented individuals,” said Courtney.

The Vermont Natural Resources Council is an independent, nonprofit, research, education, and advocacy organization founded in 1963 to protect Vermont’s environment, economy, and quality of life. Nearly 6,000 households, businesses and organizations have joined VNRC in support of our mission to establish an approach to development that strengthens communities, enhances economic opportunity, and protects Vermont’s irreplaceable natural resources.
 
Biographical Information
 
Brian Shupe
Brian has 25 years of professional planning experience.  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 technical 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.  In that capacity he was instrumental in the enactment of Vermont’s growth centers legislation and launching the organization’s community planning assistance program.

Throughout his career, Brian’s professional focus has been natural resource protection, growth management and sustainable development. Brian received an M.S. in Urban & Regional Planning from Florida State University.  He lives in Waitsfield with his wife, Valerie, where he is involved with several community organizations

Elizabeth Courtney

Elizabeth has been Executive Director of VNRC since 1997.

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.