Staff & Board

Shared Leadership Team

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Walker joined the Smokey House team in the winter of 2022 as the first Program Director for the Living Lab and now serves as a member of the Leadership Team as the organization’s Program Director.  He received his BA in botany and environmental studies from Connecticut College before receiving his MF from the Yale School of the Environment. His research and work has focused on multi-use forestry, sustainable development of non-timber forest product industries, implementation of agroforestry systems, and place-based education. He is passionate about fostering a deeper connection between people and place and loves to support youth to develop into the leaders our world so badly needs. 

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802-293-2300

walker@smokeyhouse.org

Shared Leadership Team

 

Mara joined the Smokey House team as the Office Administrator and Bookkeeper and now serves as a member of the Leadership Team in the role of the Finance Director.  She has a BS in Diversified Agricultural Sciences with a focus on entrepreneurial finance management from the University of Vermont. She has worked as an independent bookkeeper for local businesses since 2017. She loves helping small businesses succeed in their own passions.  She grew up in Southern Vermont. Mara and her partner also operate their own farm, Levy Lamb, raising grass-fed lamb. She is committed to farming as a climate solution.

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802-293-2300 ext 3

mara@smokeyhouse.org

Shared Leadership Team

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Danielle joined Smokey House as Communications Director in 2022 and now serves as a member of the Leadership Team as the Development and Communications Director. She has a BS in Communications from Ohio University and a certificate in Digital Media Marketing and Nonprofit Management from UVM. She has a diverse background in communications and marketing that includes nonprofit consulting. She is passionate about sharing Smokey House Center's story and connecting people to making a meaningful impact. 

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802-293-2300

danielle@smokeyhouse.org

Nat first came to Smokey House Center in 2024 while studying agroforestry at the Yale School of the Environment, where he earned a Master’s degree in Forestry. Prior to joining the Smokey House team in 2026, Nat managed programs and research for the Northeast Forest Farmers Coalition. Nat got his BA in History and Environmental Law & Policy at the University of Michigan in 2019 and has since worked in environmental justice litigation, urban and rural food systems, forest conservation, and outdoor education. Nat’s research has used population genetics and historical ecology to understand how legacies of land stewardship shape the movement and structure of plant and human communities across landscapes. His work is grounded in the relationships between people, plants, and place. He loves learning, reading, teaching, cooking, and being on the land.

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802-293-2300

nat@smokeyhouse.org

Ben Holmes joined Smokey House in the spring of 2022 to lead the transition to the next phase of Smokey House Center’s planning and operations as the Interim Executive Director and now serves as an Advisor to the organization.

 

Ben spent over 30 years founding and elevating The Farm School, a vibrant non-profit that has connected tens of thousands of people to the land. During his tenure, Ben fostered the development of new perspectives and leadership, turning the organization over completely to the next generation in the fall of 2021.

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802-293-2300 ext. 1

ben@smokeyhouse.org

Lauren joins the Smokey House team after serving the community as a Kindergarten teacher at the Mettawee Community School in nearby Pawlet, VT.  She earned her BA in Early Childhood Education in 1998 and has been an educator ever since. After many dedicated years working in the public school system and an inspired field trip to the Smokey House Center, Lauren’s career path has pivoted toward place-based / outdoor education. She is deeply connected to the natural world and is passionate about sharing that love with her students. 

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802-293-2300

lauren@smokeyhouse.org

Tripp joined Smokey House Center in spring of 2025 as the Local Wood Use Fellow, and is now the Wood Use and Carbon Research Coordinator at Smokey House Center. He has a BS in biology from Tufts University and a Master's degree in Natural Resources specializing in Forest Science from The University of Vermont. His MS work focused primarily on tree physiology, resilience to climate change, and how these can be impacted by forest management. Tripp is passionate about forests both scientifically and recreationally, and loves hiking, germinating plants from grocery store fruit, and carving spoons from locally foraged wood. 

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802-293-2300

tripp@smokeyhouse.org

Lewie comes to Smokey House Center after a career with the US Forest Service and time working for the Vermont Forests, Parks, and Recreation. He has a B.A. in Plant Biology from Ohio University and has spent the last few decades working in the woods, talking to landowners, and connecting deeply to the natural world. He is passionate about rural landscapes and livelihoods and enjoys contributing to Smokey House Center's mission. 

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802-293-2300

lewie@smokeyhouse.org