Headquarters Staff Profiles

Thomas Hark, Founding President

Thomas has been with the VYCC since its inception and has led the organization from five Corps Members in 1986 to over two hundred in 2007. A former Crew Leader for the Youth Conservation Corps in Young Harris, Georgia, and Camp Director for the Minnesota Conservation Corps, Thomas is recognized nationally for his vision in making VYCC one of the nation's leading youth leadership, education, and training organizations.

Currently, Thomas serves on the boards for the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), the Vermont Environmental Consortium (VEC), and SerVermont. He also serves as Treasurer for the Richmond Area Business Association. In his home town of Williston he coaches Little League T-Ball and Soccer, and is a Boy Scout Leader for Tiger Den #1.

Thomas holds a Masters of Science Degree in Experiential Education from the University of Mankato. He is the former Vice President of the Board of the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps as well as a past Chair of the Catamount Trail Association, Recycle North Board, Mallets Bay Homeowners Board, and was a founding member of the Vermont Alliance of Non-Profit Organizations (VANPO). Thomas lives in Williston, Vermont, with his wife, Dana Hearn-Hark, and their three children, Eli (10), Zachary (7), and Rosie (5).
(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 100

Paul Schmidt, Vice President of Finance and Operations

Paul Schmidt grew up in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies.  He started working with conservation corps in 1994 as a Crew Leader for the Minnesota Conservation Corps.  He worked three summers in Minnesota and spent the off seasons working with the Northwest Youth Corps in Oregon.  In 1998 he started with the VYCC as a Field Assistant.  Paul grew with the organization, assuming the roles of Trails Coordinator, Conservation Director, Operations Director, and finally Vice President.  In 2004 he took a sabbatical from the VYCC and spent four years living and working in Alaska, building cabins, mushing sled dogs, and coordinating projects for a local Parks and Recreation Department.  He returned to the VYCC in the late summer of 2008 as the Vice President of Finance and Operations, responsible for much of the day-to-day operations at the VYCC including administration, finance, IT, operations, facilities, and lands.  He lives in Starksboro with partner and fellow VYCC alum JJ Boggs, and Daisy and Logan, two Alaska-hardened setters who are happy to be back in the milder climes of Vermont.
(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 121

Harry Frank, Vice President of Programs

Harry Frank joined the VYCC as an internal consultant in the fall of 2006 to facilitate the Strategic Planning Initiative. His currently manages the Agriculture and Natural Resource Internship Program. In the past, he has worked with the VYCC on the design and delivery of Youth Leadership Development Retreat, Crew Leader Training, and Corps Member Orientation. Harry has a Masters Degree in Education from Saint Michaels College. Over the past twenty years he has been a classroom teacher, vocational counselor, and school administrator. He also ran crews for the Student Conservation Association (SCA) in West Virginia, Arkansas, and Montana, and helped SCA start the New Hampshire Conservation Corps as the Education Director. Harry continues to work as the Community Organizer for the Vermont Children's Forum now Voices for Vermont's Children focusing on youth issues, and he is the Managing Director for Camp Exclamation Point, Inc. Harry lives in Huntington, VT with his wife Enid Wonnacott and their two children Lila and Eli, and their three dogs, two horses, four sheep, five rabbits, six chickens and three ducks.
(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 146

Breck Knauft, Director of Development

Breck calls Vermont home after growing up in suburban Connecticut. Following his senior year of high school in Rennes, France, he graduated from Lawrence University in Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and French. He then put his liberal arts education to good use by ski bumming in Telluride, Colorado for three years before saving his pennies to travel the globe for seven months. Breck settled in Vermont in the mid-90’s where he worked as the dean of students and a teacher at the Gailer School for 10 years, with one year off to pursue a Master’s in Education at Saint Michael’s College. In addition to his time in the classroom, Breck worked nine summers at Camp Keewaydin where his responsibilities ranged from being one of four directors to leading month-long canoe trips on the rivers of northern Quebec. Prior to coming to the VYCC, Breck was the Director of Development at Woodbury College. Outside of work, Breck spends his time thinking about the Red Sox, politics, and potential answers to the Sunday crossword. An avid skier and general outdoor enthusiast, he lives in Huntington with his wife, Margaret and his two daughters, Ada and Frances. Teton the cat and dogs, Percy and Clyde, also provide exceptional company.
(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 110
breck.knauft@vycc.org

Keegan Tierney, Lands and Facility Manager

Keegan grew up in Starksboro, Vermont and attended the University of Vermont where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Wildlife Biology. When not focusing on his academic pursuits Keegan also served as the director of the University's Alternative Spring Break program, worked various construction jobs, and re-discovered his love for skiing. But, it was his interest in service that led him to the AmeriCorps NCCC program in Denver, Colorado where he worked on a variety of projects including teaching adaptive skiing and educating elementary school students at a historic farm museum. Keegan began work with the VYCC in May 2005 as the Crew Manager at Elmore State Park. He has since worked at HQ as the Facilities VISTA, Conservation and Community Leadership (CCL) Program Coordinator, the Program Manager for the CCL program, and is now the Lands and Facilities Manager. Keegan lives in Underhill and when he is not at work you can find him on his skis or in the woods...or both. If not at either of those locations, check the local swing dance.

Abigail Mendenhall, Administration and Finance Manager

Abigail grew up in Middlebury and returned to her native home of Vermont in the fall of 2008. She joined the VYCC shortly after as the Youth Development and LEAP Program Coordinator. Prior to the VYCC, Abigail was a Staffing Coordinator for a firm in Oregon and a Wilderness Therapy Guide for youth and adults at RedCliff Ascent in Southern Utah. Abigail was also a collegiate athlete at Bentley College where she received her Bachelor of Science in Information Design and Corporate Communication. Currently she lives in Burlington with her husband Chris and is thrilled to be continuing her love of outdoor education and leadership development here at the VYCC.

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 134
abigail.mendenhall@vycc.org

Cailie Burns, Development Coordinator

Cailie grew up in the small town of Chepachet, RI and lived there until making the move to Colchester, VT in the fall of 2003 to attend Saint Michael College. At SMC, Cailie was a collegiate athlete and heavily involved with the volunteer office and student government. She graduated in 2007 with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Religious Studies. Cailie’s interest in youth development and leadership led her to the VYCC, where she enthusiastically joined as the Development Coordinator in July of 2009. Prior to the VYCC, Cailie spent two years as the Vermont Network Coordinator with The DREAM Program in Winooski, VT. Currently, she lives in Burlington where you can find her running on the bike path, sitting with a cup of coffee and a good book, or enjoying all the seasonal activities Vermont has to offer.

Justin Kenney, Operations Coordinator

Justin Kenney grew up in the town of Somerset, Massachusetts. He first came to Vermont in 1999 as a student at the University of Vermont and quickly fell in love with the state's unique natural resources. During the summer following his junior year, he worked as a VYCC Corps Member on the 2002 Burlington Community Crew. A year later, he graduated from UVM with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a concentration in Ecological Design. In 2004, he decided to come back to the VYCC and worked in the office as both a recruitment and administrative assistant. He later accepted a yearlong position as our Operations AmeriCorps VISTA, after which he became a full-time Program Coordinator for the Wilderness and Roving programs. Thanks to Justin, the VYCC has a great new leadership model, which premiered in the summer of 2008. Justin became the VYCC's Operations Coordinator in 2009. We look forward to all of his logistical planning and iniatives in 2010!
(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 140

Katherine Buell, Program Manager

Katherine hails from western Massachusetts and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wheaton College in Massachusetts. She came to the VYCC in 2004 after a semester with NOLS and a season at Mass Audubon’s Wildwood summer camp. Katherine was a Roving Crew Leader for two seasons, including a session as the USFS Parks Roving Crew Leader at Moosalamoo, and was a member of the first Fall Leadership Crew in 2005. Katherine then took some time away from the VYCC and moved to Seattle to continue her path of crew supervision at EarthCorps and the Washington Conservation Corps, through the Mountains-To-Sound-Greenway Trust. In 2008, she returned to the VYCC to take on the challenges of the Operations Field Assistant AmeriCorps VISTA and is now transitioning into her new role as a full-time Program Coordinator. In this role, she will support the summer Wilderness, Roving, and Community crews through curriculum development, staff hiring, and training. She also has a passion for leadership, as she helped develop the first Leadership Development Crew in 2008 and was the brains behind the All-Female Leadership Development Crew, set to premiere in the 2009 summer season. Katherine loves to be outdoors and completed the 300-mile Long Trail in 2004, but you can also find her knitting, baking, and playing with her kitten, Bridget.

Kristin Smith, Communications Coordinator

Kris grew up in the small town of Jackson, MO on the banks of the Mississippi River. Although fond of the Missouri heat and humidity, she became hooked on Vermont while attending and working at her aunt’s summer camp, Camp Betsey Cox, in Pittsford, VT. She graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A. in Film and Media Culture Studies and a focus in African film. In addition to this niche interest, she is also passionate about environmental justice and conservation issues, which led her to the VYCC in the Fall of 2008 as the Administrative Coordinator. In 2010, she transitioned into a new role as Communications Coordinator. At the office, she keeps up the VYCC website, works on various printed communication projects, writes grants, and drinks endless cups of coffee. When not at the VYCC, she can be found running along the Burlington waterfront, attempting to xc ski, and hiking anywhere and everywhere.

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 122
kristin.smith@vycc.org

Eliza Kenigsberg, Program Coordinator

Eliza returns to the VYCC after graduating with a B.A. in Environmental Studies from NYU in December and traveling through India for nearly 3 months. In between summer programs and college semesters, Eliza worked at Clear Brook Organic Farm, interned at the Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education, and volunteered as a Farm Educator at Added Value in Brooklyn, NY. As a previous VYCC Corps Member on a Roving Crew in 2003 and a Crew Leader in 2007, she is excited to transition into a role at VYCC Headquarters as a WRC Field Assistant. Aside from donning her VYCC duds, Eliza loves bicycling, rollerblading, exploring ethnic eateries, and is looking forward to getting more involved in Vermont’s food justice movement.

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 130
eliza.kenigsberg@vycc.org

Ry Parcell, Program Coordinator

Ry comes to the VYCC from Franklin County, Virginia and received his Bachelor of Science in Parks & Recreation Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. He started at the VYCC in 2008 as a CCL Crew Leader at North Hero State Park. As a Crew Leader, Ry practiced his trail work and leadership development skills he earned from Mile High Youth Corps in Denver, Colorado, where he served as a Corps Member and Assistant Crew Leader in 2006. As a Trails Technician with Jefferson County Open Space in Golden, Colorado in 2007/2008, Ry was able to further hone is technical abilities. These experiences served him well when he came back to the VYCC in early spring of 2009 as a Field Assistant with the Wilderness, Roving, and Community Program. In September of 2009, Ry made the transition from Field Assistant to Program Coordinator with VYCC’s Conservation Program. When Ry isn’t working, he enjoys reading, canning, gardening, cooking, hunting, and having some real outdoor fun with his three cats Percy, Lula, and the slightly more insane but still awesome Bridget.

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 131
ry.parcell@vycc.org

Kat Coons, VYCC - MBRNHP Partnership Coordinator / Woodstock School Instructor

Kathleen has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Saint Michael's College in Vermont. Before arriving at VYCC headquarters, she worked as a Science Teacher with the Mount Mansfield Winter Academy and an Outdoor Educator with YMCA Camps Chingachgook and Widjiwagan. Kathleen has also worked for the Smithsonian National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center as both an Environmental Education Intern and an Ecology Field Crew Intern. She has crew leading experience from the Steamboat Springs Community Youth Corps in Colorado, the Northwest Youth Corps in Oregon, and most recently from the VYCC. In 2006 Kathleen led the VYCC's Montpelier Community Crew and a Wilderness Crew before joining the VYCC Program Staff as a Field Assistant in the winter of 2007. Kathleen was also a Corps Member with the VYCC in 2001. For the 2009-10 school year, she co-managed the School Program. She is excited to be taking this experience to her new position as Partnership Coordinator between the VYCC and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, where she will be leading the school crew and working to connect high school teachers with service learning projects. When not working hard at VYCC, you might be able to find her tromping around the Vermont woods oin mud boots or on cross country skis with her trusty pup, Max!

(802) 457 - 3368 Ext. 55
kat.coons@vycc.org

Timothy Birmingham, School Program Manager

Tim is a born and raised Vermonter. He graduated from Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont, with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and has just finished his Master of Arts in Education with a self-designed focus in Adventure Learning from Plymouth State University. Tim has experience working with the public school system and has also taught and run programs for private schools and at the college level. Tim has a passion for the outdoors and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School, the Tom Brown Jr. Wilderness Survival School, and is also a recognized Long Trail thru hiker. Tim began at the VYCC as a Crew Leader for Mount Mansfield and then transition into Headquarters as a School Program Coordinator at Headquarters. For 2010 he is beginning a new role as School Program Manager. When not at the VYCC, Tim spends his time fly fishing, skiing, hunting, hiking or playing with his dog, Otter.

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 133
tim.birmingham@vycc.org

Amanda Payne, Farm Coordinator

Amanda grew up in suburban Connecticut where she knew absolutely nothing about growing her own food. It wasn’t until she lived in a rural village in Moldova as a Peace Corps volunteer that she experienced the joy of growing food in community. Ever since, she has been on a tandem path of education and farming. Amanda received her Masters in Teaching from the School for International Training in Brattleboro and has taught English-language learners from almost every continent throughout schools in New England. She moved to central Vermont to explore her interest in farming and has since worked on a number of organic farms in the area, including Wellspring CSA in Marshfield and Dog River Farm in Montpelier. Most recently Amanda coordinated a gleaning program for the Vermont Foodbank, salvaging excess produce from local farms to distribute to food-insecure Vermonters. She is thrilled to be joining the VYCC Farm Program to increase young adults’ knowledge of food production in sustainable and socially conscious ways.

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 145
amanda.payne@vycc.org

Kristin Freeman, Administrative Coordinator

Kristin moved to Vermont in 2006 to live in a rural community and educate herself about the production of locally grown food. In addition to working on two vegetable farms, she hiked the Long Trail, assisted in an elementary classroom, and apprenticed for an eco-conscious fashion designer. Kristin most recently managed the office for a youth wilderness program. She brings additional experience from New York City where she managed a large music studio, worked at a concert hall, and earned a Bachelor of Music Business from New York University. Although she thoroughly appreciated the culture, architecture, and diverse food of the urban environment, she now prefers to live on a dirt road. Kristin is enthusiastic about promoting conservation and skill-based learning through the VYCC.

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 123
kristin.freeman@vycc.org

Jason Rhoades, Park Educator Field Assistant

Jason Rhoades hails from Connecticut originally but is a rugged Vermonter at heart. He began his journey with the VYCC as a Park Educator at Hapgood Pond during the 2009 Field Season. Before that, he spent two years as an Environmental Educator for the US Peace Corps in Hrazdan, Armenia. Jason completed his undergraduate studies with Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. He then earned his Masters of Science degree in forestry from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. In February 2010, Jason returned to the VYCC to work as a Park Educator Field Assistant. He is very happy to continue living in the beautiful state of Vermont and working in the field of environmental education and conservation.

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 132
jason.rhoades@vycc.org

Mary T. McQuiggan, Field Assistant

Mary originally hails from Montpelier, Vermont. Growing up, she was a VYCC Corps Member for five years and then transitioned into a Roving Crew Leader in 2006. In 2008, Mary co-led the pilot Leadership Development Crew and was an integral part of making the rigorous curriculum both applicable and engaging for her Corps Members. She returned in 2009 to co-lead the Leadership Development Crew again. Afterwards, she spent the year working with the professional trail company, Timber and Stone, LLC on trail and restoration projects throughout the North East. Mary holds a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She also worked for the Urban Ecology Institute in Boston as a City Forester. For 2010, Mary is excited to return to the VYCC as a Field Assistant!

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 142
mary.mcquiggan@vycc.org

Tiffany Soukup, Field Assistant

Tiffany originates from western New York state and earned a B.A. in Art from Buffalo State College. She then ventured west living in Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. During that time she worked at Mile High Youth Corps, an AmeriCorps Program in Denver and Second Nature Wilderness Therapy Program in Duchesne, UT. After a year of tramping around New Zealand and Fiji, she first came to the VYCC as a Crew Leader at Elmore State Park for the 2009 field season. Afterwards, she adventured throughout Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the Florida Everglades. For 2010, Tiffany is back at the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps as a Field Assistant. She is passionate about wildlife, environment, art, travel, horses, and sustainable living. While not working, she and her husband Chris can be found planning their next - near or far - thrilling adventure.

(802) 434 – 3969 Ext. 143
tiffany.soukup@vycc.org

Lauren Abrami, Youth Development Coordinator

Profile coming soon!

(802) 434 - 3969 x138

lauren.abrami@vycc.org

Lisa Nelson, Conservation Program Specialist

Profile coming soon!

Kate Hilfiker, Operations Field Assistant

Kate Hilfiker first joined the VYCC as a Wilderness Crew Leader in the summer of 2009. She brings a wealth of trail-building and Crew Leading experience from her work with the National Park Service in Yosemite and her time at Big Bend National Park in Texas. She has also served as an environmental educator with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and worked at the Student Conservation Association at Long Lake in the Adirondacks. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology from Unity College and an Associate’s Degree in Natural Resources Conservation from Finger Lakes Community College. For the 2009-2010 school year, Kate co-led the U32 / Montpelier School Crew. For the second half of 2010, she has transitioned into VYCC Headquarters as the Operations Field Assistant.

(802) 434 - 3969 x148
kate.hilfiker@vycc.org

Don Bicknell, Volunteer Extraordinaire

Don Bicknell is a retired Waterbury senior with 5 years of volunteer work for the VYCC. Don grew up in Bellows Falls, VT and worked for IBM, the VT Sheltered Workshop from 1957-1971, and the State of Vermont's Waterbury offices from 1972-1995. Don is truly invaluable to the organization. He takes on projects that enable numerous outreach and communications efforts. Don is also essential to office conservation allowing the reuse of numerous supplies. He volunteers whenever asked and is known for staying until the job is done! Don has one of the best attitudes in the world; he keeps us all smiling. Outside of the VYCC Don is very involved in the community. He volunteers at the State Hospital library three days a week, is active in the Waterbury Grange, the Waterbury Historical Society, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and the Council on Aging in the town of Waterbury. When you come to our headquarters office make sure to meet the man who deserves the title Volunteer Extraordinaire.