Kelly Dolan, Esther Erbe, and Sydney Lucia join VSJF
September 21, 2022
The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) announces the hire of Kelly Dolan as Farm to Plate Network Manager, Esther Erbe as Office Manager and Events Coordinator, and Sydney Lucia as Grant and Fund Development Manager. VSJF is a nonprofit organization focused on sustainable economic development in the agriculture and food system, forest product, waste management, renewable energy and environmental technology sectors.
As the Farm to Plate Network Manager, Dolan provides leadership and support to the Farm to Plate Network’s Communities of Practice, Topic Exchanges, and Priority Strategy Teams. Her role includes collaborating with food systems organizations to incorporate the goals and strategies contained in the Vermont Agriculture and Food System Strategic Plan 2021-2030 to their organization, or local or regional community. Prior to VSJF, Dolan led the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension’s Migrant Education Program overseeing a statewide effort to ensure migrant farmworkers and their families have equitable access to educational and community-based resources. She became interested in community development during her time as a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Guatemala and Panama. Following her time as a Peace Corps Volunteer, she worked as a Peace Corps Recruiter while pursuing a master’s degree in Community Development and Applied Economics at UVM. She is currently working towards her second master’s degree from UVM in Educational Leadership with a focus on policy, and the educational rights of undocumented students and English Learners. Kelly came to Vermont to attend Saint Michael’s College, attaining bachelor’s degrees in both Spanish and Anthropology.
Esther Erbe joins VSJF as the Office Manager and Events Coordinator. She leads office operations and provides programmatic support through meeting and conference planning, along with special projects. Before her time with VSJF, she worked for diversified and livestock farms in administration, growing, and fulfillment positions. Prior to living in Vermont, Erbe worked as a volunteer coordinator at the San Antonio Food Bank where she led educational tours and projects for thousands of visitors on the food bank’s 40-acre fruit and vegetable farm. She holds a master’s degree in food studies and was drawn to Vermont because of its strong, decentralized food system.
Sydney Lucia joins VSJF as the Grant and Fund Development Manager. In this position she applies for and oversees federal, state, and foundation grants, along with VSJF’s fundraising efforts. She holds a master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University and a bachelor’s degree in French and European Studies from the University of Vermont. She began her professional career working in international relations for a federal agency in Washington, D.C., where she was able to travel internationally and put her degree in French to good use. Before joining VSJF, she worked as the grant manager for a school district in Vermont, where she successfully brought in federal and state funds for students experiencing homelessness and managed millions of dollars in COVID-19 grants. Before that, she was the Administrator for an academic department at Dartmouth College.
To learn more about VSJF and the organization’s mission, visit www.vsjf.org.
About The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) is a nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the sustainable development of Vermont’s economy. VSJF provides business assistance, network development, strategic planning, and value chain facilitation in agriculture and food system, forest product, waste management, renewable energy, and environmental technology sectors. The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1995 to partner with state government, private sector businesses, and nonprofits to build a thriving economic, social, and ecological future for Vermont.
