Staff

Ellen Kahler became the Executive Director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) in late 2005. She is a graduate of Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University with a Master of Public Administration.

For her work in promoting Vermont’s food system, Ellen was inducted into the Vermont Agriculture Hall of Fame in August, 2024 in the category of Ag Innovator. Ellen has also received numerous leadership awards including: The Anne & Arthur Berndt Award for her demonstrated vision, leadership, and commitment to creating an energy future for Vermont (2024); The Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial & Community Leadership from the VT Community Foundation (2015); the Arthur Gibb Award for Individual Leadership from the VT Natural Resources Council (2015); and the Jan Eastman Excellence in Leadership Award from the Snelling Center for Government (2010). Ellen was also a recipient of a three year leadership development fellowship through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (1994-1997) and was a member of the Snelling Center for Government’s Vermont Leadership Institute class of 1997.

Ellen currently serves on the Boards of the Working Lands Enterprise Fund and the University of Vermont College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Board of Advisors. She served on the Governor’s Vermont Workforce Development Board (2018-2024) and the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Vermont Agriculture (2021-2023), and on the Board of Directors of the Energy Action Network (2011-2023), Red Tomato (2011-2016), Sustainable Forest Futures (2008-2012), the Clean Energy Development Fund (2009-2011), VWW (2007-2011), the Vermont Community Foundation (2001-2009), the Advisory Board of the VT-Small Business Development Center (2008-2009), on the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s Rural Vermont Energy Council (2006-2007) and Climate Economy Council (2016-2017) and as a Commissioner on the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (1998-2002).

Janice St. Onge is Deputy Director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund and President of the Flexible Capital Fund, L3C (“Flex Fund”). Janice brings economic and business development as well as financial expertise to the organization, having served in the technology, financial services, higher education and state government sectors during her 25+ year career. Early in her career, Janice served ten years at Peoples United Bank in Connecticut in retail management, commercial real estate lending (managing a $21 million portfolio) and organizational development roles.

Prior to joining the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2007, Janice was the Director of the Center for Innovation & Leadership at the University of Vermont and Technology Business Development Director for the Vermont Department of Economic Development. She received the 2001 National Tibbetts Award in recognition for her outreach work with the Small Business Innovation Research program in Vermont. Additionally, Janice was the Director of Human Resources and Senior Manager of Customer Service for Kea Technologies, an e-commerce fulfillment business in Williston.

Janice is a graduate of the University of Utah with a B.A. in Marketing and is an alumnus of the Snelling Center for Government’s Vermont Leadership Institute.

Janice was a 2018-19 Fellow of the RSF Social Finance’s Integrated Capital Institute. She serves on the Vermont Small Business Development Center Advisory Board and the Energy Development Fund Board. She is a founding member of Slow Money Vermont’s Organizing Committee. Janice was co-founder of the Stowe Energy and CAN and is a former International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup Freestyle Skiing Judge.

Christine McGowan came on board as the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund’s Forest Products Program Director in 2016. She’s a graduate of the Ithaca College Roy H. Park School of Communication. She currently serves on the NBRC Forest Economy Program Advisory Board representing Vermont.

Originally from Albany, New York, Christine grew up working in her family’s business, Dorsey Millwork, Inc., a distributor for Andersen Corporation, a major manufacturer of wood window and door products. Dorsey Millwork sold to lumber yards, building supply stores and other home construction retailers throughout New England.

Jake joined the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2012 to support the Farm to Plate website and Farm to Plate Network groups as well as contribute to the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan. In 2017 he was promoted to Farm to Plate Director and is responsible for providing facilitative leadership and strategic coordination for the Farm to Plate Network’s work to implement Vermont’s food system plan. He manages the Farm to Plate team at VSJF and works to align activity among 350 stakeholders and increase collaboration between private sector, nonprofits, and government to strengthen Vermont’s farm and food economy for the benefit of all Vermonters.

Previously he served as an AmeriCorps member with the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC). At VNRC, Jake worked closely with town energy committees across the state.

Jake has an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Fordham University and still enjoys, time permitting, waxing philosophical. He received a Master of Science in environmental policy from Bard College and his thesis focused on the value of ecosystem services from farmland in Vermont. Jake serves on the Hunger Mountain Coop Community Fund Committee, the Sodexo Vermont First Advisory Board, Vermont Fresh Network Board of Directors, Community Harvest of Central Vermont Board of Directors, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Advisory Committee.

Anthony Mennona joined the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2012 and is the Director of Finance & Administration. He is responsible for all financial management and human resources administration and holds a proven track record for clean audits at the organization. Anthony has handled the financial management, grant administration and human resources for several Vermont nonprofit organizations over the past 11 years. From 2009 through 2012 he was the Director of Finance & Administration at the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC). Prior to his work at BERC, Anthony was the Controller at Downstreet Housing & Community Development. In addition to his nonprofit experience, Anthony has worked in finance at various private businesses including PricewaterhouseCoopers and Bolton Valley Ski Resort. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Stockton University. 

Kelly joined the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2018. As the Communications Director, she is responsible for marketing communications, public relations, and social media for VSJF programs. She previously worked as the Senior Copywriter and then Senior Social Content Strategist at Gelia, a marketing communications agency.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in journalism from the University of New York at Buffalo. She started her writing career as the full-time reporter and photographer for the Hardwick Gazette. She has held various marketing, writing and social media positions in New York and Vermont for companies including the Williston Observer, JapanLink Translations, Data Innovations, Quinlan & Company and most recently Gelia. At Gelia, she developed and executed a suite of social media offerings for the agency’s clients.

She currently serves as president on the board of directors of Four Seasons of Early Learning, a non-profit early education organization offering nature-based preschool, infant and toddler care in Greensboro Bend as well as serves on the board of the Buffalo Mountain Food Coop in Hardwick, and the board of The Civic Standard, focused on bringing people together in Hardwick. Previously, she served on the board of the Northeast Kingdom Arts Council (NEKarts), which manages the programming and preservation of the historic Hardwick Town House.

Kurt joined VSJF in 2024 as the Operations and Human Resources Manager. In this position Kurt is responsible for supporting the Executive Director in managing the day-to-day operations of the organization, including core responsibilities of human resources, organizational development, operations, administration, special projects management, and collaborating with program directors to ensure robust internal communications and sharing of knowledge and information among all staff.

A native Vermonter, Kurt comes to VSJF with almost 20 years of business experience. His experiences range from working as a federal regulator in the Port of New York; collaborating with industry, state, and federal resources to protect coastline during the BP Spill of 2010, to overseeing the day-to-day operations at Vermont Compost Company while doubling production and sales over a 5-year period.

Hannah joined the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2024 as the Farm to Plate Network Manager. She is responsible for providing facilitative leadership and project management to the Farm to Plate Network’s Priority Strategy Teams, Communities of Practice, and Topic Exchanges. Previously, she was the Food Access Manager at the Intervale Center in Burlington for 5 years.

Hannah holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Vermont. Originally from the upper valley, she began her career in food systems working at Vermont vegetable farms and restaurants. Serving as an Americorps member with Healthy Roots Collaborative, she built a gleaning program serving Franklin and Grand Isle counties in Vermont.

Jessica joined the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2024 as the Farm to Plate Network Assistant. Jessica supports the Farm to Plate Network team in administering and coordinating Topic Exchanges, Communities of Practice and Priority Strategy teams. This includes outreach, communications, report creation, research, and data tracking and visualization, so that the Network collectively can advance progress on achieving the goals of the Vermont Agriculture and Food System Strategic Plan 2021-2030.

Jessica holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science, Sustainable Development and Climate Change from Antioch University, New England, and a Bachelor’s degree in English from Knox College.

Esther joined the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2022 as the Office Manager and Events Coordinator.

She leads office operations and provides programmatic support to the Farm to Plate Network, the Forestry Products Program, the DeltaClimeVT business accelerator, and VSJF through meeting and conference planning, and special projects.

Esther holds a master’s degree in food studies and was drawn to relocate to Vermont for its strong, decentralized food system. She has worked for farms in administration, growing, and fulfillment positions. Prior to living in Vermont, Esther 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.

Sydney joined the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2022 and is the Grants and Fund Development Manager. She is responsible for applying for and overseeing state, federal, and foundation grants as well as 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 started her career working in international relations for a federal agency in Washington, DC. She was lucky enough to work in seven European countries for several weeks at a time and put her French degree to good use.

Prior to joining VSJF, she worked as a grant manager for a school district in Vermont, where she successfully brought in federal and state funds for students. Before that, she was the Administrator for a busy academic department at Dartmouth College.

Laura joined the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2022 as the Bookkeeper and Contracts Manager. Her role is to support the work of the Finance Director, and is specifically responsible for the bookkeeping and contracts management at VSJF.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Art Conservation from the University of Delaware and dual master’s degrees in Art Conservation and Art History from NYU. She is currently enrolled in the accounting program at CCV, and is a certified Quickbooks Online ProAdvisor. Since moving to Vermont in 2007, Laura has worked for the Shelburne Museum, Cedar Circle Farm, Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center, and New Frameworks Design Build. Her various roles in these organizations including art conservator, office manager, event registration director, and bookkeeper have prepared her for the financial and contractual record keeping work that is essential to support the wide range of programs at VSJF.

Leah joined the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2023. On behalf of the New England State Food System Planners Partnership, she supports collaborative efforts across the 6 states to expand and fortify the region’s food supply and distribution systems so that by 2030, 30% of the food consumed in New England is produced within New England.

Leah worked at America’s Test Kitchen for 9 years running test kitchen operations for all media-related production. After moving to Maine, she spent several years in specialty retail sales at Whole Foods Market, transitioning into grant writing and strategic consulting for several local food businesses. In the past year, she acted as Project Manager for Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative, which oversees the USDA Farm to School program in Maine. Leah is excited to join the partnership and build upon its work thus far in revitalizing the regional food system where she was raised and now lives with her family.

Leah holds a degree in Media & Communications from Muhlenberg College and a publishing certification from the Columbia School of Journalism.