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Supervisors/Staff

Supervisors

Edward Lewis, Chair. Ed is a retired dairy farmer from Poultney. He serves many leadership positions locally, including Select Board for the town of Poultney, Director on the Co-op Insurance Board, and Chair of the Natural Resources Conservation Council (NRCC).

Philip Ackerman-Leist, M.S., Secretary. Philip is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Director of the Food and Farm Project at Green Mountain College. He and his wife run a small homesteading farm in Pawlet.

Rebecca Purdom, J.D., Treasurer. Rebecca is an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Law and Policy; and the Director of the College Honors Program and the Pre-law Advising Program at Green Mountain College. Rebecca is also a trustee for The Nature Conservancy. She consults part-time for nonprofits, specializing in water quality issues.

Kenneth Leach, Supervisor. Ken is a 7th generation dairy farmer from Pawlet. Prior to farming full-time, Ken was an Educator with the UVM Extension Service.

Christopher Smid, M.F., Supervisor. Chris is part-owner of the New England Slate Company and a part-time forest resources manager in Middletown Springs. He is formerly a Regeneration Forester with Mead-Westvaco in Ohio.

Staff:

Marli Rupe, Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District Manager.
pmnrcd@sover.net

Marli has a Bachelor of Science degree from UVM in Animal Sciences and is currently working on a Master's in Environmental Studies. She previously worked as a Dairy Specialist with UVM Extension.

Hilary Solomon, M.E.M., Watershed Coordinator for the Poultney Mettowee Watershed Partnership.
poultneymettowee@yahoo.com

Hilary has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science (Chemistry) from the University of Puget Sound and a Master’s in Environmental Management, Water Resources, from Duke University. Hilary has previous watershed planning experience in Washington and Ohio.

Jen Durham, Educator with the Southern Vermont Nutrient Management Program.
jad0403@vermontel.net

Jennifer grew up on a small dairy farm in Hampton NY. She graduated from Castleton State with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Natural Science and a minor in Business. She has 15 years experience in customer service and 8 yrs experience in the horticultural industry. Jennifer has also worked for the Agency of Natural Resources in the Water Quality Department. She has been working with people engaged in agricultural pursuits since 2005 and is working toward raising beef on the family farm with her sister and brother.

Bruce Howlett, Ph.D., Nutrient Management Planner for the Southern Vermont Nutrient Management Program.
behowlet@sover.net

Bruce grew up on a farm in the Champlain Valley of VT. He has degrees in botany and ecology, and taught biology and environmental studies for several years. Since returning to Vermont, Bruce has been working with his family to improve a diversified farm south of Middlebury. He has been consulting with farmers on nutrient management issues since 2005.

Sylvia Harris, M.S., Agricultural Resource Specialist for Bennington, Rutland, Windham, Windsor Counties.
sylvia.harris@vt.nacdnet.net

Sylvia graduated with a Master's of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She was previously employed by the Arizona Game & Fish Department, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Vermont Institute of Natural Science, and Vermont Technical College.

Cindy Watrous, Land Treatment Planner.
cindy.watrous@vt.nacdnet.net

Cindy has an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science as a Veterinary Assistant from Becker Junior College in Leicester, MA. She worked for 23 years for DHIA as a milk tester. In addition, she has worked for six years at the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Addison County as a GIS Program Technician.