Stewards & Advisors

PRESIDENT

Dan Goossenstarted at Intervale Compost in 2003 and has been managing the compost operation (now called the CSWD Organics Diversion Facility) starting in 2008. Dan spends a lot of time with people and working with numbers, but is most happy at work on those occasions when he gets to climb a mountain of compost, or spend a day screening a finished pile. When not at work, Dan enjoys beekeeping, growing food, and spending time with his family.

VICE PRESIDENT

Brian Jerose has been President of Agrilab Technologies Inc. (AGT) since 2012, working on a range of composting, watershed protection and sustainable development projects. Brian's education includes MS Environmental and Resource Engineering from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and BA Political Science from SUNY Geneseo. He is Board VP for the Composting Association of VT and a Board member for the Missisquoi River Basin Association. He lives in Fairfield, VT with his wife Joanna and daughters Maya and Lucy.

TREASURER

Wendy Sue Harper Ph.D. 30 years of experience in ecological agriculture education. She taught the concepts of ecological agriculture, biodiversity conservation in agriculture, food systems, food system value chains, soil science, and composting for Prescott College, Green Mountain College, Hogback Community College, the University of Vermont, and Dartmouth College. Wendy Sue teaches soil science and garden planning for the UVM Extension Master Gardener, and basic composting and soil science for Master Composter programs; and basic soils and composting for gardening groups upon request. Wendy Sue has conducted farm, processing, and compost audits for the Vermont Organic Farmers since 1998.

SECRETARY

Sarah Lillibridge is an MS student in Business Analytics and is the Climate Action Plan 1.2 Administrator at Boston University. She previously served as the Outreach and Education Coordinator with the Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Management District (LRSWMD), where she worked with schools, businesses, and residents to encourage composting and recycling. She is passionate about reducing waste, farming, and building more sustainable, healthier food systems. She has a BA in Russian Studies and spent several years working with civil society organizations in the former Soviet Union on governance and civic engagement projects. Sarah enjoys reading, creating art with recycled materials, and hiking and cross-country skiing with her dog.  

Bob Spencer has over 20 years of experience in the development and operation of composting facilities. He is a consultant to communities and companies throughout the country, provides technical assistance to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and he assisted the City of Beijing, China in evaluating composting for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Bob is a Contributing Editor for BioCycle Magazine, a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners, and is the Director of the Windham Solid Waste Management District. He has a B.S. in Biology, and a M.S. in Resource Management and Policy.

Matt Montgomery is a founding owner of Vermont Compliance Monitoring, a VT-based consulting company that provides environmental services to the heavy civil construction industry. He also owns and manages a small commercial maple sugaring operation. Matt earned a M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Maine in 2000 and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Montana in 1996. His Masters research focused on Phosphorus availability from land-applied organic residuals, including compost. He is a graduate of the Maine composting school. Matt enjoys spending time with his family, bike tours, snow adventures, and growing things whenever he can.

Alex Lacy is a passionate advocate for environmental leadership, striving to be a bridge to better understanding of natural systems while employing empathy, creativity and humor. Since managing Antioch University New England’s (AUNE) onsite composting program, she has connected skills gained with projects involving hauling and promoting alternatives to landfilling food waste, regenerative agriculture and permaculture principles. A lifelong learner, Alex is looking to deepen her experience in effecting positive change for climate resilience within her community. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a M.S. in Environmental Education from AUNE.

Sarah Hobson is an environmental engineer (M.S., E.I.T.) and SoilCycleBTV co-founder and community composter, and waste practitioner with an international background. They currently work as an Environmental Analyst at Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation and lead various waste recovery programs there, from mercury and electronics recycling to Vermont’s Master Composter program. Previously, they worked as a compost researcher and investigated microplastic contamination in food and manure-derived composts across Vermont. Their research experience spans from soil microbiology and biogeochemistry to urban climate resilience. They are passionate about waste reduction, sustainable and local food systems, ecology, and community-scale composting. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys food recovering, community organizing, science educating, and habitat restoring.