Board of Directors

Shelly Severinghaus is a Project Manager in Sustainable Design Engineering for TrueNorth Collective. A seasoned sustainability professional and life cycle assessment expert, Shelly has more than a decade of experience evaluating the environmental impacts of organizations’ products and processes, leveraging data driven analysis, and collaborating with executive level teams to manifest change. She excels at analyzing granular details, clearly communicating findings, and guiding informed decisions that decrease environmental impacts and build brand value.

Shelly holds a B.A. in environmental studies and government from St. Lawrence University and is a Certified LCA Professional through the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment. Shelly serves on the ACLCA Certification Committee and resides in Morristown, Vermont.

Nate Hausman is an Energy Innovator at Green Mountain Power (GMP) where he ideates and implements cutting-edge energy solutions and works to supply GMP’s commercial and industrial customers with reliable, affordable, and clean power. Prior to GMP, Nate served as a Clean Energy Markets Manager for World Resources Institute (WRI) leading projects to accelerate and clean and just energy transition in the U.S. Nate also worked for over eight years at the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) where he engaged with state energy agencies on their distributed energy policies and programs. Nate serves as Vice Chair of the Board of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund and as Secretary of the Board of the Catamount Trail Association. Nate was selected for Renewable Energy World’s 2018 “Solar 40 Under 40” list for his work “challenging and changing traditional solar business models.” He was recognized in 2020 as a “Rising Star” by Vermont Business Magazine. Nate is a licensed attorney. He holds a J.D. with a certificate in Environmental & Natural Resources Law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a B.A. from Colorado College.  

Noelle currently works as the Chief Operating Officer for the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), a global NGO focusing on energy and climate policy, overseeing efforts to support and enhance the organization’s creative and collaborative culture. Before joining RAP, she worked at the City of Burlington as the Director of the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO) where she encouraged fair and equitable development, supported economic development as well as moved major projects forward. Before CEDO, she served over five years as the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development for the State of Vermont under Governor Peter Shumlin. During her time with the Department, she led community and economic development recovery efforts after Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont; collaborated with policy and funding partners to increase program impact; and directed efforts to update state regulation in order to support development in our downtowns and villages, encourage affordable housing and protect working lands. Prior to her appointment, Noelle served as Executive Director of Smart Growth Vermont and as Deputy Director of the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association in New Jersey. Noelle is passionate about land use and believes that how we protect, steward and develop our land impacts all facets of our lives. She lives in Shelburne.

Tayt Brooks is currently the deputy secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD). Before being appointed to this position in March of 2021 by Governor Phil Scott, he worked for the Governor as director of affordability and economic initiatives, starting in January 2017. He also spent time with the Agency from 2008 to 2011, under the administration of Governor Jim Douglas, serving as both deputy commissioner and commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development. Brooks has a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Lawrence University. He lives in St. Albans with his wife and two daughters. He has served his communities in the past as a select board chair and a school board member.

Andrea Cohen currently serves as Manager of Government Affairs and Member Relations for Vermont Electric Cooperative in Johnson Vermont. Previously she was Public Policy Manager (2006-2010), and then Executive Director (2010-2015), for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. Before joining VBSR, she worked for 16 years at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources in a variety of positions involving pollution prevention, resource conservation, and solid waste management. Andrea holds her M.A. in Environmental Science from Antioch University and her B.A. in Psychology and Economics from Vassar College.

Aditi Datta is a Brand Lead at Breef, a tech startup connecting brands with marketing agencies around the world. She works remotely from Winooski with her husband, Scott, and dog, Cleo. Before joining Breef, Aditi was an account manager at various boutique agencies with clients including Nalgene, Gatorade, Omni Foods and Pepsi. She spent a year with the Vermont Small Business Development Center as a Special Programs Manager helping business owners navigate the pandemic support efforts. Aditi was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Vermont Business Magazine in 2020 and also serves on the board of BTV Ignite. She holds an MBA in Sustainable Innovation from the University of Vermont and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Skidmore College.

Jean Hamilton is the Director of Mission and Impact for Skinny Pancake, where she manages mission related programming for staff, guests, and community partners. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Jean helped launch ShiftMeals, Skinny Pancake’s local food response to COVID, and served as the Statewide Coordinator for VT Everyone Eats, a statewide program contracting VT restaurants to provide emergency meals to Vermonters experiencing food insecurity and hunger. Jean has dedicated her career to building sustainable food systems and resilient communities, with a focus on farm and food business viability, fundraising and grants management, and weaving community connections. Jean lives in central Vermont where she enjoys sharing time with her family and neighbors, eating delicious local foods, and exploring this beautiful earth.

Maureen Hebert is the current Interim Director of Strategic Initiatives and Employer Partnerships for PACE at UVM. Prior to joining PACE, she was the former Associate Dean of Continuing Education & Workforce Development Division of Vermont Tech. Maureen has worked in higher education, focusing on workforce and professional development, for over 27 years to support business and industry in realizing strategic and organizational goals through well-planned and implemented training programs. Before joining Vermont Tech, Maureen worked with the University of Vermont Division of Continuing Education as the Regional Director of the UVM Center in Montpelier where she coordinated both credit and non-credit programming utilizing, in part, distance learning technologies. Maureen has a B.A. and an M.P.A. from UVM. She received a certificate in Workforce Development from the University of Virginia and is a DDI certified trainer. She is a board member of CVHHH,CVEDC, and was appointed by the Governor to the GWEDC board. Maureen has been a long-time member of UPCEA and former Commissioner and a member of NERHRT, EAN, ASTD and Rotary. In 2019, Maureen received the Above and Beyond award from the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Above and Beyond Awards is given to individuals who have taken that extra step in their profession, industry, or community work, thus contributing to a more vibrant state for Vermonters to live, work and play.

Laura Sibilia, a Dover resident, is an elected Member of the Vermont House of Representatives for the Windham/Bennington District. She serves as Vice Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee and is Co-Chair of both the House Rural Caucus and the Vermont National Guard & Veterans Affairs Caucus.

Laura is also employed as the Director of Regional Strategies for the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation where she has led regional efforts to help businesses recover from the flooding of T.S. Irene in 2011. She is the point of contact for Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) which has completed a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the Windham Region in 2013 and for the Southern Vermont Zone in 2019. Laura has also served on the Dover School Board since 2003 and co-founded the 501(c)(3) Deerfield Valley Troop Support Group in 2002. She lives with her spouse on the site of an old goose down factory in an old village place named Goose City.

Anson Tebbetts was appointed Vermont’s Secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets by Governor Phil Scott in January 2017. Prior to his appointment, Tebbetts spent more than twenty years as part of the WCAX news team, serving as the station’s news director since 2009. From 2007-2009, Tebbetts was the Deputy Secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, under the Douglas Administration. An avid bird enthusiast, he co-hosts “For the Birds” on WDEV & WLVB radio. Tebbetts, a graduate of Emerson College, is a native Vermonter with deep agricultural roots. He was born and raised on his family’s farm in Cabot, where he continues to reside with his wife Vicky and their two children. In 2001, the Vermont Farm Bureau honored him with their Friend of the Farmer Award. In 2015, Tebbetts was awarded the SMART award: Social Media in Arts, Recreation and Tourism. The prize was given by the Vermont Tourism Industry Conference highlighting Vermont’s critical fall tourism season.

Amanda Wheeler is the Interim Executive Director of the Vermont Workforce Development Board, which is charged with advising the Governor and Commissioner of Labor on the development and implementation of a comprehensive, coordinated, and responsive workforce education and training system. Prior to serving in this role, she worked as a Special Assistant to the Governor in Governor Scott’s Office as well as at the Department of Labor managing their legislative portfolio. Amanda currently resides in Bradford and enjoys spending time with her dog, Stella.