BecomE Involved
Interested in becoming a MALT board member or serving on a committee? We’d love to hear from you.
James Cryan, Co-Chair
Before recently moving to Vermont, James was the Founder & CEO of Rocky Mountain Preparatory Schools (RMP), a growing network of high-performing, non-profit, public elementary charter schools in Colorado. Serving ~2,000 students, RMP has been consistently recognized for strong results and as one of Denver’s top workplaces. Currently, James is taking a sabbatical and thinking about his next adventure, while also coaching in the MIT Entrepreneurship Bootcamp program.
James is passionate about helping others achieve their full potential. He has been named one of Colorado’s “Public Education Game-Changers” by A+ Colorado and was named “Leader of the Year” in 2021 by the Colorado League of Charter Schools. Civically, he was a founding board member of Denver Families for Public Schools, a 501c4 advocacy organization, has served as an elected leader to the Denver Public Schools Collaborative Council board and as the Board Treasurerof Reach out and Read Colorado, among others. Before founding RMP, James received his MBA from the University of Denver, was a member of Teach For America, and graduated magna cum laude from Colby College.
In their free time, James, Liz, and their kids Sophia and Caleb love playing outside in all forms, be it hiking the TAM, biking, skiing, or gardening.
Emily Blistein, Co-Chair
Emily lives in Middlebury, steps away from the TAM in a house with many boys and dogs. She grew up in Brattleboro, VT and attended Brown University and Vermont Law School which lead to a career as an attorney and policy advisor on issues that benefits low income families and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. For seven years, Emily owned Clementine, a store on Main Street in the heart of Middlebury where she met and gathered with friends and neighbors. She sees the TAM as a wonderful parallel - an embrace for Middlebury and an invitation for our neighboring towns to join us. Emily currently works for Let's Grow Kids where she elevates business leaders as vocal champions for child care and our economy. She frequently heads out on the TAM with a kid or dog in tow to take a break from work and hear all of the incredible stories and facts her 9 year old son gathered during his time at MALT's camps and afterschool programs.
Ellie de Villiers, Treasurer
Ellie grew up in New Haven and life took her various other places, including as far away as a decade living and working in South Africa. The primary reason that Ellie and her husband decided to move to New Haven, Vermont in 2020 was that they wanted to give their daughter the same opportunities she had – to grow up in a house and on land that has been in the family for generations. Ellie has a deep personal connection to this land and wonderful state. She cares deeply about helping others, doing what’s right for the land, the plants and animals, and, of course, balancing heritage with the needs and desires of current and future generations of people. Ellie is the Executive Director at Maple Broadband and her primary goal for serving on the board is to contribute to a mission which is very dear to her heart.
Caroline McBride, Board Member
Caroline has been a MALT supporter and consumer for some years now. Chipman Hill is in her backyard and so for years she has tramped the TAM trails. Some years ago, Caroline and a friend decided we needed to hike/walk the whole TAM in a day once a year. Her grandkids thoroughly enjoyed several summers of MALT camps. Being city kids, the idea of spending all day in the woods was wonderful. MALT is an incredibly valuable resource and has managed to accomplish a lot with a small team.
Since Caroline became an official VT resident about 18 months ago, and with time available, she has wanted to get more involved in a local organization. She has served on both public and private company boards as well as not-for-profit boards. Caroline knows little about trail maintenance and outdoor education but is steeped in experience in governance, finance, and small organizations. As a retired entrepreneur, Caroline is very comfortable with change and very cognizant of the stages of evolution of organizations. Caroline looks forward to being helpful and is delighted to join this Board.
Lesley Deppman, Board Member
An Addison County native, Lesley is an attorney at Deppman Law in Middlebury. Her practice consists primarily of probate, family, and real estate matters. She brings her real estate experience to MALT’s conservation work, helping to shepherd the process of conserving our local lands. When not at the office, she enjoys exploring MALT’s various lands and trails with her family.
Erik Remsen, Board Member
Erik is not a native Vermonter; he was born in Bangor, Maine (ayuh). However, he has lived in Vermont on and off for the past 25 years. Erik is former high school social studies teacher and nordic ski coach. He now works with the What’s the Story VT program for secondary students and is also the Safe Routes Middlebury Coordinator. He currently serves on several boards including Frost Mountain Nordic Ski Club, the ACSD Community Partnership Council, and the town of Middlebury Planning Commission.
He lives in Middlebury with his wife, Jen, and two daughters, who are both enthusiastic MALT campers. The family are year-round users of the TAM, hiking, running, and biking on the trail.
Holly Fulton, Board Member
Holly grew up in Addison County, then moved to Massachusetts to begin her career in engineering following her graduation from the University of Vermont. After working in industry for a few years and then obtaining her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she moved to Michigan to work for The Dow Chemical Company. Returning to her beloved Green Mountains in 1999 to raise her children, Holly subsequently joined Community Investment Counselors as a financial advisor and later became a co-owner. She is currently stepping back from day-to-day operations and into the role of a consultant to give her more time to be in, learn about, and support our natural world. Holly’s happy place is out in nature hiking, skiing, kayaking, gardening, or walking the TAM (always with an ear and eye out for birds and other wildlife!). She lives with her husband Tom, two of her children, and two cats in Middlebury where she has been converting their yard into a natural habitat. Recently she has been taking the lead to establish a native meadow/pollinator garden as part of the Middlebury Area Garden Club’s Garden by Porter Hospital. Holly is delighted to be on the board to contribute to MALT’s success.
Christy Lynn, Board Member
Christy has generously returned for her 3rd term as a MALT Board Member. She is a Middlebury native, who came home to VT in 2012 after spending around 10 years living in Colorado, New York City, and Vancouver, BC. She is a co-publisher at the Addison Independent, working alongside her sister and father in a quest to maintain a viable, high quality community newspaper. She is an avid outdoorswoman who loves spending time in the woods running, hiking, skiing and observing nature alongside her two kids, dog and husband, Sam Ostrow. Christy is passionate about making connections and helping all people discover the joys and gifts around them in the natural world as well as the communities in which they live. She serves on a variety of other local nonprofit boards, is the race director for the Middlebury Maple Run, and is working hard to raise two small humans with a drive and passion to carry on her love of community.
Committees
Trails Committee: John Derick, Chris Anderson, Jason LaRocque, Alan Moore, Tyler James, and Stephanie Campbell (North Country Trail Association)
Lands Committee: Monica Pryzperhart, Lesley Deppman, Chris Brooks, James Cryan, Paul Gangnon (North Country Trail Association), Conor Stinson
Finance Committee: Ellie de Villiers (Chair & Treasurer), Holly Fulton, Caroline McBride
Education Committee: Emily Blistein (Chair), Erik Remsen, Ellie de Villiers, Christy Lynn
