Three new board members were elected by Stowe Land Trust’s (SLT) membership at the 26th Annual Meeting celebration held on Sunday, October 6th. Aaron Black, Jesse Goldfine and Meg Kauffman will join nineteen existing board members responsible for governing the community conservation organization. Each year SLT has a limited number of openings available in its all volunteer board. New members are recruited based on an identified need within the organization. The diversity of the Board is meant to represent the broad perspectives of our community and strengthen SLT’s position as a community asset.
Aaron Black and his wife Kelley have been enjoying all that Stowe has to offer since moving here to become manager of Topnotch Resort and Spa. Born in Montreal, Aaron graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Prince Edward Island. He got into the hotel business in 1991 in Toronto as a front desk agent, and has worked in a variety of places including Maui, Palo Alto, St Louis, and now Stowe. Aaron met his wife Kelley while working together at the Four Seasons in Maui and married 10 years ago.
The Black ‘team’ is rounded out by Buddy, a 16lb, 13 year old Jack Russell Terrier. Aaron likes to spend his outdoor time in Stowe on his road bike. Aaron was instrumental in championing the Forever Stowe Partnership established in 2011 to support Stowe Land Trust’s land conservation work. Among Aaron’s many skills, SLT will benefit from his marketing and managerial expertise as we work to build the on SLT’s successes over the last 26 years.
Jesse Goldfine joined Barr & Associates in 2003 after practicing at Choate, Hall & Stewart, one of Boston's leading law firms. Jesse graduated from Boston University School of Law, with honors, in 2001, and from Franklin and Marshall College in 1997. While working in Boston, Jesse spent his weekends in Stowe and in 2003 decided to leave the hectic pace of city life and relocate to Vermont. Jesse married his wife, Tracy, a native Vermonter who grew up in Waitsfield, in 2008. He lives in the Nebraska Valley area of Stowe with his wife, two children, and herd of animals. In his free time he enjoys skiing, mountain biking, hiking and other outdoor activities. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Stowe Mountain Bike Club. Jesse’s legal expertise will be a tremendous asset to SLT as we consider future land conservation projects in the Stowe community.
Meg relocated to Stowe in 2003 with her husband and two young children. Meg is a realtor with Carlson Real Estate the Coldwell Banker affiliate in Stowe. Meg has been active in the community serving on the boards of the local cooperative nursery school and library. Prior to Stowe, Meg lived in the Boston area and Marin County, California. Meg grew up in Skaneateles, New York and attended St. Lawrence University where she received her B.A. in Art History in 1996. Personally Meg enjoys spending time with her family and friends, utilizing the abundance of outdoor activities in the area, and volunteering in the school system as well as a number of other community groups. Meg’s knowledge of the community and involvement in the local school system will help Stowe Land Trust develop fun and engaging programs to connect people with conserved lands.
Stowe Land Trust is dedicated to the conservation of scenic, recreational, and productive farm and forest lands for the benefit of the greater Stowe community. You can learn more about Stowe Land Trust and its conservation work by becoming a member or renewing your membership today.