Meet VBSR's Board of Directors

President, Gordon’s Window Decor (2024)

Kelly Clements is the second-generation president of Gordon’s Window Decor, founded by her father Gordon Clements in 1986. Ms. Clements graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communication with a degree in film and started her own film company upon graduation through which she had the opportunity to travel the world. Through her extensive travel she discovered how much roots mattered to her- specifically her Vermont roots.

She joined Gordon’s Window Decor in 2003 and assumed presidency in February of 2015. She is passionate about manufacturing, family business, and the role a business plays in its community. As the exclusive manufacturer of EcoSmart Insulating Window Shades, Gordon’s Window Decor is a pioneer in manufacturing high-quality window treatments that benefit both the client and the environment.

Gordon’s Window Decor was named the Vermont Family Business of the year by the Small Business Administration and Clements was recognized by Family Business Magazine in the “25 Under 35”. She has been honored to speak on panels at various conferences including Transitions West and the SBA.

Ms. Clements is proud to call Vermont home and even more proud to be able to provide high-quality Vermont made products to clients all over the world.

Director of Sustainability, Cabot Creamery Cooperative (2015-2025)

Jed Davis is Director of Sustainability for Cabot Creamery Co-operative, a long-time VBSR member. Born and raised on a six-generation family dairy and fruit farm, Jed came to Vermont and joined Cabot Creamery in 1991 and has held a variety of marketing, sales and operations positions.

In 2008, Jed was named Cabot’s first Director of Sustainability and his efforts now center on helping Cabot achieve its own understanding of “Sustainability”: Living within our means and ensuring the means to live. Cabot Creamery is owned by the dairy farm families of the Agri-Mark cooperative, and is proud to be a certified B Corporation and a recipient of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award.

Chief Executive Officer of Lawson’s Finest Liquids (VBSR Board Vice Chair (2019-2025)

Adeline Druart, Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning, B Corp-certified Vermont craft brewery Lawson’s Finest Liquids, is a visionary leader with a strong craft food, beer and wine heritage. With a commitment to people, purpose, and growth, Adeline is recognized in the food and beverage industry for her CPG expertise, growth-minded leadership, deep people connections, and humbling career story.

From cheesemaker-intern to company president of Vermont Creamery, Adeline’s 20 years of experience include business scaling and positioning the Creamery for successful acquisition and transition from founder-owned to Fortune 250 company Land O’Lakes. Adeline led the Creamery’s growth from a regional to national brand, earning #1 market position, and achieved B Corp certification highlighting a vibrant company culture and impactful purpose. Adeline also served as vice president and corporate officer of the farmer-owned cooperative in Land O’Lakes’ Dairy Foods Division.

She is passionate about business ecosystems where inclusive culture, team empowerment, product with integrity, and authentic brand stories can be the catalyst for growth, driving meaningful impact. Adeline lives in Montpelier, Vermont with her husband and two children Hugo and Matisse.

CEO & Founder, Sugarsnap (2022-2024)

After an indirect career path (including work as a field biologist, a journalist and a content marketer), Abbey founded Sugarsnap in 2003 in Burlington as a prepared foods store with a farm in the Intervale. She has spent the last 18 years growing and adapting Sugarsnap to become the largest off-premise caterer in Chittenden County. She has focused on partnerships with other businesses and non profits. This includes creating Cookies for Good with COTS and Cabot, which has raised over $110,000 for homeless prevention programs over 11 years and being the exclusive catering partner at 4 venues, including ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.

You can find her gardening, playing tennis and cross country skiing. She lives in Burlington (where she is on the Parks Commission) with her spouse and two daughters ages 11 and 13.

Founder and co-CEO, Encore Renewable Energy (2024)

Chad is the Founder and co-CEO of Encore Renewable Energy, a leader in community scale renewable energy project development services. He has over 25 years of professional experience in the fields of brownfields redevelopment and renewable energy project finance, development, and construction.

At Encore, Chad has led the team’s innovative and collaborative efforts to design, permit, finance, and construct nearly 90 different commercial scale solar PV projects throughout the State of Vermont and beyond. These projects represent more than $130M in total investment value. Many of these projects involve reclaiming undervalued real estate for clean energy generation and storage, helping to revitalize communities and create a cleaner, brighter future for all.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University and earned a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Vermont. Chad served on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Natural Resources Council and Renewable Energy Vermont. Following his appointment by the Vermont Senate to represent the clean energy sector, he also served on the Vermont Climate Council.

He currently serves on the Leadership Council for the Northeast Clean Energy Council.

Co-founder and CEO, Global Village Foods (2024)

Mel Hall, co-founder and CEO of Global Village Foods, has lived in the Upper Valley of VT/NH since 1987. Originally from Memphis, Tn., and a Dartmouth c/o ’91 graduate, he has been a Vermont resident for decades. Currently, he focuses on the strategic direction for the Global Village Foods brand, both in food service and in the CPG space.

Prior to co-founding Global Village Foods, Mel and his wife ran a successful African restaurant in White River Junction, VT. Mel is passionate about growing sustainable food systems and community-based action in the good-food-space, locally, nationally, and abroad. His vision is to build a national brand that sources Vermont and regionally grown agricultural produce to the greatest extent possible, aiming to spur local economic activity and create career paths with living wage employment.

When not working, Mel can be found biking, walking the dog, enjoying time with his family, or tinkering on the next potential innovation.

Executive Director, Hunger Free Vermont (2022-2024)

Anore Horton leads Hunger Free Vermont, a statewide advocacy, education, and technical assistance nonprofit dedicated to ending the injustice of hunger and malnutrition for all Vermonters. Before becoming the Executive Director, Anore spent 7 years managing Hunger Free Vermont’s nutrition initiatives. Anore spearheads the organization’s campaign for universal school meals, key collaborations with many Vermont and national organizations to protect and expand the right to food, and new partnerships with the Abenaki nation and other groups most impacted by hunger and its health consequences in Vermont.

Before joining Hunger Free Vermont in 2011, Anore worked in higher education for over fifteen years teaching the history of social movements and public policy in the U.S. and Latin America, and as a consultant to faculty and academic programs on course and curriculum design and assessment. She has also directed volunteer literacy and ESL programs for children and immigrants in California and New York.

Anore received her Masters in Teaching from the University of San Diego and her Masters in History from Princeton University. She lives in Williston with her spouse Felicia Kornbluh.

Executive Director, Outright Vermont (2022-2024)

Outright Vermont is on a mission to build celebratory, affirming realities for young people of all gender and sexualities. Formed in 1989 by a handful of community members who had the heart, grit, and gumption to see to it that LGBTQ+ youth could always find their people, the statewide non-profit remains true to that vision today.

Dana got to know Outright as a volunteer facilitator fresh out of college in the early 2000’s, and well over a decade later, joined the staff as Director of Education. In 2017 he took the helm, and it’s been non-stop hope, equity, and power ever since!

Dana received a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and a Masters in Mediation & Applied Conflict Studies, and that lens of question-asker, relationship-builder, and justice-seeker informs his way in the world.

He is the co-author of Trans objects: materializing queer time in US transmasculine homes, and plays in the local indie pop band, The Smittens. When not working, Dana can be found people watching, searching for the next best chocolate chip cookie recipe, and hanging out with his spouse and their two kids in and around Burlington. Born and raised in Manhattan, he’ll forever be a city kid at heart.

Graduate Programs Career Advisor, University of Vermont Grossman School of Business (2023-2024)

Over his career, John Kim has worked at community-based nonprofits, large international NGOs, and spent 10 years at The Walt Disney Company and Herman Miller driving positive social and environmental change. He has consulted with VC-backed start-ups, foundations, nonprofits, and US government agencies to scale-up purpose-driven ventures. In his move into higher education he is now supporting the next generation of change makers that the world so desperately needs.

As a person-of-color working in the world of sustainability, which is woefully lacking diversity, Kim brings lived-experience, perspective, and representation to the VBSR board. His new role working at the intersection of higher ed and sustainable business continues the strong relationship between VBSR and the Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) program.

Kim serves on Montpelier’s Complete Streets Committee, volunteer with Pedals for Progress (collecting bikes and sewing machines for delivery to countries/individuals in need), and volunteers for refugee resettlement in his community. He received his master’s in public policy (MPP) from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and his bachelor’s from Cornell University.

Co-Owner and Chief Impact Officer, Lawson's Finest Liquids (2023-2024)

Karen had a 20-year career in Vermont state government before taking on various roles at Lawson’s Finest Liquids full time. The majority of her time working in government were with the Department of Corrections as their Housing Coordinator, which provided oversight to transitional housing programs statewide. Lawson also managed the Serious and Violent Reentry grant and the annual Facts and Figures data publication. She also worked at the Secretary of State’s office for three years to independently launch the Safe at Home program which provides address confidentiality to victims of violence.

Lawson worked part time for a number of years with Lawson’s Finest Liquids before joining full time in 2017. She was initially responsible for wholesale distribution logistics, a role that transformed into Chief Creative Officer in 2018 upon the launch of the Waitsfield brewery, taproom and retail store. Lawson currently oversees the company’s values-based Social Impact Program which works to support thriving communities.

Karen Lawson is a graduate of the University of Vermont, with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Psychology was obtained at Franklin Pierce University in NH. 

In her spare time, Karen enjoys doing Pilates, reading, relishing the Vermont summer and enjoying adventures with her two daughters and husband.

Chief Experience Officer & Co-Founder, Mamava (2019-2024)

Sascha Mayer is the Co-Founder, Chief Brand Officer and a Chairperson of Mamava, Inc. in Burlington, Vermont. Mamava designs solutions for nursing mamas on the go, and since 2015 has placed over 550 lactation suites in locations as diverse as airports, sports stadiums, automobile factories, and military bases.

Mission driven, women-owned, and a Certified B-Corp, Mamava created a category and is the leading expert in lactation spaces. Mamava’s smartlock enabled lactation suites and mobile app are designed with consideration of the biological, physical, and emotional needs of nursing mamas (and babies) on the go.

Sascha started with Solidarity of Unbridled Labour (Mamava’s birthplace) in 1995. She helped to develop the Living Brand®, Solidarity’s philosophy on brands and brand creation. As Strategy Director, Sascha participated in the creation of many brands, including HP, Levi’s, Lululemon, Merrell Apparel, Nike Women. Before joining Solidarity, Sascha worked for the office of Congressman (now Senator) Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), where she served as staff assistant and assistant press secretary. In 2018 Sascha and her Mamava co-founder, Christine Dodson, were the SBA’s Small Business Persons of the Year from Vermont.

Beyond her work life, Sascha was a founding board member of Mobius Mentors, and she sits on the marketing committee for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and loves to spend time outside with her husband, two children, nine chickens, and her rescue dog Cletus.

Co-Founder & Chief Advisory Officer, Rho Impact (2022-2024)

Noah Miller has over a decade of ESG consulting experience, working with organizations across industries, missions, and geographies. From global companies like Bloomberg, Hyatt, and Beyond Meat, to tech start-ups like Rho AI and Lob, Noah brings a wealth of experience in ESG strategic planning, implementation, and reporting.

Noah is the Co-Founder & Chief Advisory Officer of Rho Impact, which combines ESG advisory with proprietary software and technology tools to address the key barriers to ESG performance.

Before launching Rho Impact, Noah held multiple leadership roles in the ESG space – including serving as the Senior Director of Summit Strategy Group’s ESG Consulting Practice and serving as an interim ESG Director for several public and private companies. Noah has also been influential in ESG capacity-building at the industry level, leading the curriculum development for several industry-specific ESG certification programs, including collaborations with the Corporate Finance Institute, the Green Building Initiative, and Regennabis. Internationally, Noah serves as an advisor and liaison to North America for Net Zero Israel, an initiative launched by the Israeli business community in 2021.

In addition to his experiences as a corporate consultant, Noah is a former social entrepreneur in Israel and nonprofit advisor. Leading coexistence community development efforts between Israelis and Palestinians, Noah has deep experience in multi-cultural stakeholder engagement, consensus building, and program implementation.

Beyond his experience in the boardroom, Noah was an Israeli National team lacrosse player and commander in the Israeli army. In honor of Israel’s 66^th Independence Day, Noah was recognized as one of “sixty-six heroes of Israel” for his contributions to Israeli society. Noah has been a speaker and project manager for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, the United Nations, and various international cross-sector initiatives.

Noah’s formal education includes an MBA in Sustainable Innovation and a BA in Community Development & Applied Economics and English from the University of Vermont. Noah also holds an MS in Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies from Champlain College and has received graduate certifications from The Centre for Inclusive Leadership in London and NGO Catalyst in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more on Noah’s background, visit his LinkedIn profile. 

President & COO, EastRise Credit Union (VBSR Board Treasurer) (2022-2024)

Rob is the President and Chief Operating Officer of EastRise Credit Union, a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution serving more than 160,000 members with over $3 billion in assets and 460 employees. I have over 25 years of experience in various leadership roles across different industries and organizations, including banking, investment management, government, insurance, and cooperative finance.

Rob graduated from the University of Vermont and started a career in financial services with Citibank in New York and Chicago. He relocated back to Vermont as a public servant working for the Vermont Department of Economic Development where he ultimately served as Commissioner. Prior to joining VSECU, Rob spent over a decade in executive roles in the institutional investment management industry with Dwight Asset Management and Conning.

He serves on the Board of Directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, Union Mutual Insurance Company, and several non-profit organizations focusing on community development and the environment. Rob and his wife Karyn live in Shelburne and have 2 college-age daughters.

Principal Consultant, Fringe Impact (2024)

Ruchi is a Social Impact Management Professional with Fringe Impact. She is based in Vermont and committed to the underestimated stakeholders of the state. She holds a Masters in Business Administration from UVM, and a Masters in Politics from the University of Mumbai. Her work centers the amplification of opportunities for BIPOC and minority communities in VT, which she was led to through a long career in nonprofit management in India, effective philanthropy in NY and systemic social impact across the US through large corporate foundations and Fortune 500 companies.

She is an immigrant, mother and woman of color dedicated to using her experiences and reliance on deep empathy and rigorous research in her projects to catalyze an inclusive VT through targeted systemic changes. She believes in moving her stakeholders through individual connections and empathy while telling stories that inform a larger impact systemically. She believes that art is the essence of life, and endeavors to integrate it into her work.

She finds deep comfort in exploring deep spirituality, connecting with animals and spending time with her toddler son and partner exploring and connecting with her community of Colchester, VT. She is deeply influenced by her Indian roots and loves integrating those unique experiences with her life in VT.

Head of People and Culture, Chroma Technology Corp.
Vermont State Council Director, Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) (VBSR Board Chair) (2022-2024)

Mara is an executive people and culture leader and human resources strategist with a deep passion for helping organizations build best workplace cultures. She currently serves as Head of People and Culture at Chroma Technology Corp., a global, high-tech manufacturer of optics for the scientific and biomedical industries. Headquartered in Bellows Falls, VT, Chroma is 100% employee-owned and a Certified B Corporation.

Chroma has been awarded the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Business of the Year, the Vermont Business Growth Award, and has been recognized over several years as a Best Places to Work in Vermont and Best for Workers by B Labs. Additionally, Mara currently serves as Board Chair of VBSR and as the Vermont State Council Director of SHRM.

She holds an MS in Human Resources Management from the New School University and a BA in Communications from Queens College, City University of New York. Mara is also a graduate of Leadership Upper Valley. She is a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) through SHRM and was named Vermont’s Human Resources Professional of the Year in 2020.

Head of Advocacy and Movement Building, Seventh Generation (2023-2024)

As Head of Advocacy and Movement Building at Seventh Generation, Ogden leads the company’s advocacy work in the US and globally through partnership with movement-leading NGOs. She leads Seventh Generation’s engagement in organizing spaces dedicated to the business community’s advocacy for climate justice, democracy, reproductive freedom, and other issues.

Prior to Seventh Generation, Ogden spent 12 years at the global environmental organization Greenpeace, most recently as Deputy Director of the Grassroots Department. She is passionate about climate and energy justice, but has also developed and implemented advocacy campaigns on toxics regulation, deforestation, protecting our oceans, and protecting the right to protest.

Ogden lives in Richmond, VT, with her husband, John, and two elementary school-aged sons, Eli and Leo. She graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and South Asian Studies.

Retired (2015-2025)

Duane has a varied background as a social entrepreneur, currently in his 7th career with stints as a medic, police officer, non-profit manager, political campaigner, justice department official, legislative director, and values-led business practitioner. The common thread through all his roles has been organizing people to take meaningful action towards positive change.

He moved to Vermont in 1996 to help Ben use Ben & Jerry’s as a force for social change. After 12 years there as Ben’s Chief of Stuff, Duane left to launch his latest venture — SunCommon — to make it easy and affordable for homeowners to help repower Vermont with clean, safe, in-state energy. SunCommon, a Benefit Corporation and a Certified BCorp, has grown to become Vermont’s largest provider of residential, community, and commercial solar business, employing over 100 people.

Duane has been an active member of the VBSR community since 1996, and his wife Laura served as VBSR’s Program Manager in the past. He’s a member of the Social Venture Network and serves on the Board of Trustees at VPIRG. In 2015, he was recognized by VBSR with the Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement in values-led business.

Head of Community Relations, National Life Group (VBSR Board Past Chair) (2021-2024)

Beth Rusnock is the Head of Corporate Communications and Community Relations for National Life Group as well as the President of the National Life Group Foundation. In these roles, she drives employee and community engagement by building a culture based on the company’s values of do good, be good, make good.

Beth co-founded Do Good Fest, a benefit music concert series with annual events held in Montpelier, VT and Arlington, TX. She established ending childhood hunger as National Life’s corporate cause, and created and managed the Main Street Grant program to support struggling Vermont communities. She also leads many initiatives that bring recognition and support to local nonprofits and the community from the distribution of free Thanksgiving meals to on-site puppy adoption days and hosting exhibits of hospice caregivers.

In addition to her current VBSR board commitment, Beth serves on the Working Communities Challenge Steering Committee led by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. She has served on the boards of the Vermont Foodbank and Preservation Trust of Vermont as well as on the Vermont Community Foundation’s Covid-19 Response Fund Steering Committee.

In her spare time, Beth enjoys traveling with her husband and two daughters.

Founder, Adventure Dinner (VBSR Board Secretary) (2018-2024)

Sas Stewart is an entrepreneur passionate about creating products, spaces, and events that engage and activate community. She co-founded Stonecutter Spirits, an award-winning craft spirits distillery in Middlebury, Vermont, and later launched the activist cocktail bar Highball Social in Burlington, Vermont. Sas is also the creator of Adventure Dinners, the sought after pop-up cocktail dinner series in secret locations around Vermont, now in its fifth year.

In 2019 Sas was named one of the top 50 entrepreneurs to watch in the US, and currently consults in brand and business strategy with a specialization in food, beverage, and hospitality.

Sas and her projects have been featured in Martha Stewart Living, Food and Wine, Outside Magazine, Sift, Bloomberg, Imbibe, Better Homes and Gardens and other publications.

She is a graduate of the SBA Emerging Leaders program, and holds a B.A in English from the University of Michigan and a M.S. in Sustainable Planning and Development from Pratt Institute.

Founder, Working Fields (2019-2024)

Mickey Wiles is the CEO and Founder of Working Fields, a mission-based staffing agency focused on second chance hires, predominately people in recovery from substance use addictions.

Mickey leads a staff of Account Managers and Recovery Coaches that provides a supportive model of employment and recovery. This innovative employment solution meets the needs of both those in early recovery as well as Vermont Employers seeking dedicated and reliable employees.