PATHWAYS VERMONT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Professor of Law and Values at the University of Toledo College of Law
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
Deborah is a culinary enthusiast and entrepreneur whose career has included roles in publishing, communications, education and philanthropy. As the founding and former editor and publisher of Edible Green Mountains, Deborah had the pleasure and privilege of working with talented members of Vermont's food and artisan community, and sharing their stories. A dedicated cookbook collector and home cook, Deborah is active with the International Association of Culinary Professionals and other non-profit organizations. Deborah received her Health Coach certification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Her company, Full Circle Communications, provides consulting, coaching and leadership guidance to individuals and organizations eager to achieve their full potential.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Director of Training and Advocacy
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
Jake Harrelson is a committed advocate for social justice, mental health, and the eradication of homelessness. As a Health Sciences student, he combines academic rigor with compassionate activism, offering a unique and informed perspective to the board of Pathways Vermont. Specializing in psychedelic medicine, he aspires to revolutionize mental health treatments by providing trauma-informed solutions.
Since childhood, Jake has been actively involved in various volunteer roles aimed at alleviating homelessness. His experience ranges from serving food in soup kitchens to volunteering as a grant writer for homelessness nonprofits in Massachusetts, and acting as an overnight host for the Interfaith Hospitality Network. This long-standing commitment enriches his contributions to the Housing First Standing Committee and the Zoning Amendment Subcommittee in Bellows Falls, where he works to create impactful policy changes.
In addition to his academic and activist roles, Jake is a trained percussionist and serves as the Treasurer of the Board for the Thurston Consort, a classical music ensemble in central Massachusetts. His musical background complements his holistic approach to well-being and activism. Jake is also a regular attendee of Burning Man, embracing its principles of radical self-expression and community.
Since 2020, Jake has been a client of Pathways Vermont, deepening his understanding of the organization's mission and the challenges faced by those it serves.
Jake's multifaceted commitment to freedom, equality, and well-being makes him a valuable asset to Pathways Vermont. He is excited to contribute his diverse skills and passions to the organization, working collaboratively to innovate mental health solutions and make strides in ending homelessness. Jake firmly believes that everyone deserves a chance at healing and a safe place to call home.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Director
- Owner of Noonmark Services
Jane Van Buren is the owner of Noonmark Services where she consults with nonprofit boards and staff on roles, strategic planning, executive transitions, and management and governance structures. She applies her extensive knowledge of nonprofit management issues developed through more than 30 years of experience working and volunteering in the nonprofit sector.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
Janet A. Sisson is a graduate of Siena College in Loudonville, New York with a B.B.A. in Accounting. Upon graduation, she worked as a Certified Public Accountant in both the audit and tax departments of KPMG LLP in Albany, New York for many years. Janet has previously served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors for several not-for-profit organizations.
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Director of Property Development
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
John moved to Arlington, VT in 2000 and currently resides there with Anne, his wife of 30+ years, and his dog Doolin. John and Anne have two adult children of whom they are very proud.
John transitioned from a 30 year marketing and e-commerce career working in companies you would recognize in 2014 to serve in organizations focused on liberating the disenfranchised from suffering and toil while providing pathways to salvation. Since leaving corporate America, John has served as:
the Executive Director of the Eugene Bell Foundation, a medical mission organization serving the people of North Korea,
VP Marketing at World Help, Consultant for Day Spring and Lifeway and
most recently was the Executive Pastor at Mission City Church Rutland/Bennington Vermont.
John has a B.S. in Marketing from Quinnipiac University and a M.B.A. from Northeastern University. As someone who has made it into long-term recovery and a leader of a Christ-centered 12-step recovery program (Celebrate Recovery) in Bennington, VT John knows first-hand the importance of having a safe and supportive place to call home for an extended period of time as one does the self-work necessary to get right with God, themselves and others.
Job Titles:
- Health Care Policy Analyst
Katherine S. (Kay) Van Woert has worked as a health care policy analyst for non-profit or government organizations for over 45 years. She received her B.A. from Union College (American Studies) and earned a Masters in Public Administration (M.P.A.) from the Rockefeller School of Public Affairs at the State University of New York at Albany.
Kay worked for the New York State Legislature in several capacities, then gained specific expertise on Medicaid at the New York State Division of the Budget. She turned to non-profit work after moving to Vermont in 1996. At Vermont Family Network, Kay supported children with special needs or disabilities and their families in accessing health care and other services. She also worked with policymakers in the Vermont Legislature and Agency of Human Services and at the national level to advocate for those served by public health care programs. Since 2005, Kay has been a member of Vermont's Medicaid Advisory / Medicaid and Exchange Advisory Board, chairing that body for eight years.
Other than board service, Kay is now "retired." She and her husband Ned enjoy spending time with their two adult daughters and their Vermont families, including five grandchildren. Kay sings in a community chorus and among many other activities enjoys backcountry skiing, hiking, road and mountain biking, and communing with nature.
Job Titles:
- Director of Development and Communications
Job Titles:
- Director
- Treasurer
- Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency
Maura Collins became Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) in January 2019. She has worked at VHFA since 2002 in many roles, including oversight of homeownership lending, real estate development, asset management and compliance, information technology, human resources, research, communications, and political affairs.
Collins has her Master's in Public Administration from the University of Vermont and has served on UVM's faculty, teaching graduate-level housing policy courses. In her spare time, Collins is Chair of the Board of Pathways Vermont, a homeless service agency pioneering a rural version of the Housing First model, as well as the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP) Advisory Board.
In her role at VHFA, Collins sits on the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB)'s board, the Vermont Council on Homelessness, the Vermont Housing Council, the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) Board, and Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLB) Advisory Council.
In 2012, Maura was named as one of the top 40 professionals under 40 years old by Vermont Business Magazine. Prior to joining VHFA, Maura worked at the Technical Assistance Collaborative in Boston, MA, as a housing consultant focused on housing for people with disabilities and/or who did not have homes.
Job Titles:
- Rapid Rehousing and Community Services Manager
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
- Network Director
Paul Dickin is the Network Director, Organizational Development, for The University of Vermont Health Network. Paul has expertise in change management, facilitation of systems change initiatives, executive coaching, strategic planning, board development, professional development systems, and programmatic services development. Prior to joining UVMHN, Paul was CEO and Senior Consultant with Cope & Associates, Inc., a Vermont-based Organizational Development and Training organization. Paul gained extensive leadership experience in social services and 7-16 education, including the development and mobilization of Vermont Act 176 that created alternate pathways for high school students to earn a high school credential. Paul also has experience leading significant change management processes in for-profit and non-profit organizations, including as Executive Director of a developmental and dual-diagnosis specialized service agency in Vermont.
Paul earned a Master of Education through Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont; he earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Development and Economics through University College, Cardiff, in Wales (UK). He is certified in change management through ProSci and a range of assessment tools. Paul resides in Williston, Vermont with his wife, Susie, and their five children.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
- Data Scientist at Biocogniv
Peter is a data scientist at Biocogniv, a Burlington-based startup developing AI models to support frontline healthcare workers. He was most recently a data scientist at Cox Automotive and has non-invasive brain stimulation research/startup experience having worked for Soterix Medical, thync, City College of New York in collaboration with other academic/clinical labs around the world. He holds a bachelor's in mathematics from Princeton University and recently began to fence competitively again.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
- Visiting Professor of Law at Vermont Law School
Rebecca E. Zietlow is a visiting professor of law at Vermont Law School and Charles W. Fornoff Professor of Law and Values at the University of Toledo College of Law. Her areas of specialty are Constitutional Law, Federal Courts, Constitutional Litigation and women and the law. She received her B.A. from Barnard College, and her J.D. from Yale Law School. Prior to entering academia, she worked for four years at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago.
Rebecca moved to Burlington in 2015 from Toledo Ohio, where she was Secretary on the Board of the Children's Theatre Workshop. She and her husband David have two teen age daughters. Rebecca loves music, yoga, reading and good movies.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
Rebeka brings her 13 years of experience, from our founding in 2009 to 2022, as a staff member with Pathways Vermont to her role on the board of directors. She is committed to human rights, opportunities for all, and individual choice. Prior to her work with Pathways she taught as a Peace Corps volunteer in Batangas, Philippines and worked with Disability Rights Vermont. "Beyond my professional experience I identify strongly with the work of Pathways Vermont from a personal perspective. As a family member of individuals who have experienced mental health struggles, incarceration, homelessness and marginalization, I understand the critical need for
Pathways' services and the importance of Pathways' peer-approach. I am committed to Pathways Vermont's work and believe I can make a valuable contribution to the organization."
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Director
- Member of the Board
Sara Mahon is a Class Coordinator at the Biofield Tuning Institute, a sound therapy approach to wellness. She worked at Pathways Vermont previously for three years, working in administrative and development roles. Sara formerly was on the board of the Pink House Foundation and held various roles including President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Sara has an M.Ed in Education in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Vermont. She focuses on nonprofit administrative and alternatives to wellness, two fields about which she feels strongly and which drew her to Pathways Vermont. In her free time, Sara enjoys reading, walking, making people laugh, spending time with her dog Zola, and playing pickleball.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board
Steven is a Lamoille County based Mental Health Counselor at a non-profit alternative school. He has worked in mental health and Social Work for 8 years which includes his role as Service Coordinator for Pathways Vermont Housing First in Chittenden County. Steven has MA in Transperson Counseling Psychology and Wilderness Therapy from Naropa University and is passionate about connection with land and its implications in personal and social wholeness. In his free time Steven enjoys being with his family, gardening, foraging, and backcountry skiing.
Tim Wall is an accomplished digital media entrepreneur, start-up advisor, and environmentalist. His experience ranges from AdTech to eCommerce. Tim and his wife moved to Vermont in 2016 and started Three Chimney Farm. Living in Vermont allows him to pursue not only his life passions, but other business opportunities as well. An avid outdoorsman, tech guy, and musician, Tim is always looking to invest his time both in business and in life.