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Robert M. Ferris, Executive Director
MA Zoology, San Jose State University
BA Biology and Environmental Studies, University of California Santa Cruz
Bob's professional journey has taken him from wildlife conservation and habitat restoration to making seminal contributions in the fields of environmental quality and sustainability. During his pre-Yestermorrow days Bob helped restore the gray wolf to Yellowstone National Park and oyster bars in the Chesapeake Bay . He championed the cause of family farmers and pushed for conservation practices on agricultural lands. And, more recently, he launched the Fossil Free by '33 movement in Southern California . He is an accomplished writer, educator and strategic thinker who has held senior positions with the Wildlife Habitat Council, Defenders of Wildlife, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Community Environmental Council. He has served on numerous boards and advisory panels dealing with thorny issues ranging from alien invasive species control and sewage abatement to freeway widening and airport redesign. Bob's current interests include green building, urban redevelopment, transportation planning, relocalization, renewable energy, and water systems. Bob lives in Waitsfield , VT where he hikes, kayaks, fishes, paints and writes bad poetry in his spare time and is learning to love winter with his wife, Carlene Marie Ramus, a green architect and landscape designer. bob (at) yestermorrow.org |
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Heidi Benjamin, Whole Foods Chef
Heidi Benjamin has been catering Yestermorrow's welcome dinners for the last 4-5 years. We affectionately call her our "favorite lunch lady" as she also did a spell of said job at a local elementary school. During her time as a lunch lady, she helped change the palates of most of the kids to appreciate local and organic whole foods. Before that, she did the same for glider pilots and ride takers alike up at the Dinersoar Deli at Sugarbush Glider Airport. She has worked in cooking for the past 22 years since she finished up at UVM in Burlington, Vermont, majoring in social gerontology and French. Heidi is the mom of a delightful plethora of 5 step kids and 2 "out of body experiences", and married to her male-nurse-to-be, John. She also has two young grandchildren. She enjoys being with her family while either skiing, fishing, camping, cooking, just hanging out and more. An Ipswich, MA native, she now lives in Warren, VT. heidi (at) yestermorrow.org |
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Monica DiGiovanni, Student Services Manager
BFA, Studio for Interrelated Media, Massachusetts College of Art
Monica studied fine art and ceramics at Pacific Northwest College of Art and the Oregon College of Art and Craft before shifting to Media Studies at the Massachusetts College of Art. She also has a background in community organizing, teaching, business management and as a theatrical technician. She is currently enrolled in an herbal apprenticeship at Sage Mountain Herbs and enjoys hiking, cooking, and creating works of art. monica (at) yestermorrow.org
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Dan Eckstein, Curriculum Director
BA Literature and Rhetoric, Binghamton University
Dan came to Yestermorrow after a decade working in high schools as a teacher of literature, journalism, and creative writing. He has also worked as a journalist, been involved in the promotion of arts events and festivals, and enjoyed a brief stint as a carpenter. His love for music prompts him to moonlight as a DJ on the Mad River Valley’s community radio station. He lives in Warren with his wife and son. dan (at) yestermorrow.org |
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Courtney Jenkins, Kitchen Assistant and Housekeeper
Bio coming soon... |
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Austin Ricketts, Kitchen Assistant
Austin grew up in the Mad River Valley and has worked in a variety of local restaurants and inns. He also works with his father in his landscaping and plowing business. |
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Erin Russell-Story, Community Relations Director
MS, Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England
BFA, Theatre Arts, Ohio University
Erin joins Yestermorrow after spending the last ten years working to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. She has worked as a consultant and contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy, the Vermont Biofuels Association, and on a hydrogen-fueled transit bus development project for the City of New Haven, CT. Most recently she served as the Communications Director for a gubernatorial campaign in Vermont, and later as the coordinator for a capital campaign in Winooski. Erin lives in Warren (and also serves on the Select Board) with her husband (a life-long Valley resident) where they are working on a green renovation of their vintage 1960's home. Erin(at)yestermorrow.org. |
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Kate Stephenson, Director of Operations
MS, Management, Antioch University New England
BA, Anthropology and Environmental Science, Haverford College
Kate brings to Yestermorrow her experience planning and facilitating workshops on sustainability education, restoring historic gardens, researching bioenergy projects in developing countries, and promoting land conservation. Her interests include intentional communities, local foods, preserving rural landscapes, baking, historic preservation and frolicking in the snow. She is a co-founder of the Mad River Valley Localvore Project. kate (at) yestermorrow.org |
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Carol Thompson, Bookkeeper
Carol moved to the Mad River Valley in the spring of 1972, bought her first post and beam home on four acres for $25,000, had fun raising her two daughters (now living in Boston and Ventura, CA) and loves to snowshoe, kayak, garden and plan future projects. Her favorite vacation was a three week trip to Scotland visiting Findhorn, the Isle of Iona and the Fountain of Youth. Currently she is building a super-insulated, solar-oriented home with a frost-protected radiant slab and hopes to be all settled in by Christmas, 2007. When she is not being the Bookkeeper at Yestermorrow, she is the ED of the Mad River Path Association, a network of pedestrian-friendly trails and greenways that will some day (hopefully) run the length of the Valley and connect the towns of Warren, Waitsfield, Fayston and Moretown. carol (at) yestermorrow.org |
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Dave Warren, Facilities Manager
With a firm belief in the importance of a creative collaborative relationship between design and building, Dave has found a home at Yestermorrow. He has over 35 years experience in residential and light commercial construction in Oregon as owner/operator of a custom building company and most recently in Vermont as carpenter to project manager for a couple of local contractors. In addition to the use of hand tools and the employment of responsible building practices, Dave enjoys making music, sailing, and politics. He looks forward to sharing this with the folks at Yestermorrow. dave (at) yestermorrow.org |
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