Vermont Land Trust

“Throughout my nearly 15 years working in partnership with Elise at the Vermont Land Trust, I admired the passion and skill she brought to our work together. She shaped VLT’s communications tools and strategies in ways that authentically expressed Vermonters’ values using both images and personal stories. Elise developed strong relationships with community groups across Vermont, building off citizen energy for land protection to create effective, successful public policy and fundraising campaigns. As a strong systems thinker and mentor, Elise helped build VLT as a well-managed, impactful organization. Perhaps most importantly, I enjoyed working with Elise given her commitment, enthusiasm and creativity.” 

Gil Livingston, Former President

Cradle to Grave Arts

“Since 2010 when Emily and I started working together she has assisted in many ways. She took on significant roles in fundraising, media, and photography for the Dear Pina project and was instrumental in resolving issues with our 501(c)3 status and accounting. Most recently her support for The Quarry Project has been multi-faceted and invaluable. When COVID hit Vermont she was part of the decision-making team to determine the path forward for the project and is leading the fundraising efforts and the media team. She knows how to listen, identify difficulties, see a solution, articulate clearly, and bring people together to work on that goal. She has an even keel, is competent, positive and energetic.

What can I say? Emily is sterling.”

Hannah Dennison, Director and Founder

The Nature Conservancy

"When Emily and I worked together as colleagues I witnessed first-hand her keen ability to listen, consider input, investigate issues, and reach a desired outcome. These skills were critical in positioning our chapter around a range of sensitive issues. Her ability to find common ground in charged community situations, for example playing a key role in coalition-building with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board take a special set of skills that stems from being open, authentic and clear-eyed."

Jennifer Kramer, Former Major Gifts Office

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps

“Elise came to VYCC at a critical moment for our organization. We had assembled a terrific team, and we had no shortage of creative and exciting ideas about how to move forward. What we needed was someone to create a process and provide structure so we could do our best thinking. In each conversation, I felt like she was both present and able to draw on deep experience as a leader and student of nonprofits. Elise’s skillset is varied and effective, as a listener, as an Executive coach, and as a systems thinker. #grateful.”

Breck Knauft, Executive Director

The High Meadows Fund

“Elise designed and conducted interviews and surveys with key partners of the High Meadows Fund to determine where our communications work derives its value. She understood our limited staff capacity for communications work, provided practical recommendations to move our work forward, and has contributed concise and compassionate writing and editing for our blog and reports about grant initiatives.”  

Gaye Symington, President 

Vermont Parks Forever

“Emily is a charismatic, thoughtful, and strategic leader and has shown a keen understanding of what it takes to achieve the goals of a project or initiative. Her optimism and vision have helped lead our organization from a small start up to a growing nonprofit. We’ve leaned on her for her fundraising expertise as well as her marketing background. She is a joy to work with!”  

Sarah Alberghini Winters, Executive Director