Board and Committees

Jane co-owns Clifford Farm LLC in Starksboro, Vermont, where she and her husband manage over 500 acres of crop and forest land, recently transitioning from dairy. She also runs ejc consulting,advising businesses and nonprofits on legislative matters. Jane has held leadership roles with ECHO Lake Aquarium, Champlain Valley Exposition, VDIA, and Lake Iroquois Association.

Judith lives on the combined Clover Hill Tree Farm/Lucky Dog Sheep Farm with her husband David Paganelli, their working sheep dogs, and a small flock of Dorper sheep. There is no place that she’d rather be than at home in the woods.

She loves the communities associated with Vermont's forests: both the natural communities of flora and fauna, and the community that comprises the Vermont Woodlands Association. To have the opportunity to help steward both the land and Vermont's forests as a whole is a great privilege.

Chris is a public affairs professional with Weyerhaeuser in Maine, bringing expertise in forestry, land management, and stakeholder engagement. He offers a regional perspective on sustainable forest policy and works to strengthen the relationship between working forests and local communities.

Bill, an educator for over 30 years, is the president of Churchill Tree Farm in Strafford and Vershire, a family-owned business. He has worked internationally in conservation and development, including with Save the Children and Conservation International. Bill enjoys gardening, bird watching, trail running, and backcountry skiing.

Paul, a forestry expert with degrees from Paul Smith's College and UVM, worked for the VT Dept. of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and later ran Harwood Forestry Services. He was VP of VT Woodlands Assoc. and received the National Tree Farm Inspector of the Year award in 2014. Paul is now retired in Strafford.

Andy McGovern is a licensed forester who owns and operates Tamarack Forestry, LLC. He was born and raised in Thetford, VT where he now lives with his wife and three teenage sons. He attended the University of Vermont, graduating in 2005.

Andy loves Vermont for its rural working landscape and the people who perform the work. He appreciates VWA for the educational opportunities they offer landowners and their commitment to the stewardship of Vermont's forests.

Tim and his wife Betsy manage a 150-acre tree farm in Peacham, where they raise Christmas trees, run a small nursery, and harvest hardwood for furniture. Retired from NRCS in 2010, Tim now focuses on land management. He also owns a 208-acre woodlot in Guildhall, enrolled in the Family Forest Carbon Program.

As a biologist and educator who has spent time on six of the seven continents, Ron has always been drawn to Vermont’s forests and waters. His family’s Vermont sustainably managed, carbon-sequestering forestland in Granville supports wildlife and clean, cool waters.

David is a man of many hats! A longtime teacher, past legislator and a longtime VT Tree Farmer, he operates his 204-year-old family farm in Clarendon, VT. The farm produces both hardwood and softwood timber along with agricultural products for sale into local markets.

When asked why he supports the Vermont Woodlands Association, David says “Because it provides a common place for forest landowners and professionals to share knowledge and experience for improving their holdings in multiple ways.”

Catie is a co-owner of Foxglove Farm in Leicester (VT Tree Farm of the Year 2024), where she manages cut flower production and handles marketing and sales. With a BA in philosophy from Green Mountain College, she has 20 years of experience in experiential and alternative education, focusing on prisons, homeless shelters, and farms. Catie loves engaging kids with the outdoors and fostering curiosity.

Al, a retired Air Force Colonel and professional engineer, has held assignments in Germany, Maryland, and as Chief of Engineering at Pease Air National Guard Base. He has been a member of VWA and the Tree Farm Program since 1986 and has served on the board since 2003.

Harris is a Vermont Licensed Forester and founder of Long Meadow Resource Management, which he started over 30 years ago. He manages properties for private landowners in northern Vermont, offering services such as forest management, wildlife management, and Tree Farm certification. Harris holds a BS in Forestry from UVM and an MS in Resource Management from Antioch/New England.

Bill, a landowner and advocate for Vermont’s working forests, is a former Federal Reserve economist and past chairman of Associated Industries of Vermont. He brings expertise in economic policy and rural development.

Jas transitioned to forestry at age 50, earning an M.S. in Forestry from UMass Amherst in 2012. His background includes work in financial management and forestry in Vermont, including with the Green Mountain/Finger Lakes National Forest and the VT Youth Conservation Corps, where he developed the Youth Forestry Program. Jas has served as New England Policy Chair for NESAF and as a member of the Committee on Forest Policy.

Allan Thompson lives on his Tree Farm in Waterbury, VT with his lovely wife, two boys and his bird dog. This is also where he runs his consulting wildlife and forestry business, serving clients throughout Vermont.

Allan finds great purpose in helping Vermonters observe, appreciate and steward Vermont's forest resources and developing a sense of community stewardship. Allan believes that the mission of VWA is imperative to the well-being of our forests, our community and Vermont.

If he's not working, helping VWA, hunting, fishing, or working in the woods, he's probably watching baseball, enjoying a beer or ice cream, or better yet, sleeping.

Steve is a longtime forest landowner with a deep commitment to sustainable woodland management. A practicing attorney, Steve brings legal expertise and a strong understanding of land use, conservation, and property issues to his work with the Vermont Woodlands Association. His dedication to thoughtful stewardship is rooted in decades of experience caring for his family's forestland through central Vermont.

Dave Wilcox lives in Berlin and has been on the board of directors of VWA since 2011. Dave is a licensed Forester with the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation. He is the Watershed Forester, working with loggers and land managers to help protect water quality on Vermont’s forestlands. On the weekends, Dave spends as much time as he can on his family's tree farm cutting wood, maintaining wildlife habitat, and practicing what he preaches at work. He enjoys helping folks understand their woodlands better while promoting a working landscape. When he's not thinking about trees, he enjoys family trips to the ocean and mountains with his wife and two daughters, as well as skiing, riding horses, hunting, and target shooting.