Learn more about the people who lead and inspire us at Lund.
Ken Schatz
Interim CEO
Ken Schatz, J.D. joined Lund as Interim CEO in June 2024. Ken recently served as Commissioner of the Vermont Department for Children and Families. Prior to serving as DCF Commissioner, Ken was General Counsel to the Vermont Secretary of the Agency of Human Services and served in the City Attorney’s Office for the City of Burlington, Vermont. Ken has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and received a J.D. from Cornell University Law School.
Wanda Audette
Director of Adoption
Wanda began employment at Lund in 1995. She came with an Associate’s Degree in Social Work and 14 years of experience working as the Assistant Director for Residential Treatment Services at Baird Center for Children and Families in Burlington, VT. As Director of Adoption Services at Lund, Wanda manages all aspects of the Adoption program. Wanda’s work and that of her staff have been celebrated and acknowledged with three Congressional “Angel in Adoption” Awards and two Health and Human Services “Adoption Excellence Awards.”
Timothy Keefe
Chief Financial Officer
Tim is a graduate of the University of Vermont and joined Lund in 2019. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Global Management Accountant. During his career he has spent at least ten years each in public accounting, as the chief accounting officer of a Vermont-based SEC-registered bank holding company, and as the chief financial officer of Vermont’s only natural gas utility. As Director of Finance he oversees the overall health of Lund’s finances, accounting, and financial reporting. Tim lives in Shelburne with his daughter. When not working, Tim’s biggest passions are baseball and travel, which he is combining with a goal to see a professional game in all 50 states. He also enjoys reading and cycling.
Kim Laroche
Director of Parent Child Center Services
Kim rejoined Lund in 2023 after an 18-year career dedicated to leadership roles at Howard Center Developmental Services and UVM Medical Center. Her journey with Lund began as a residential counselor in 2003, where she developed a strong foundation in supporting families in need. Kim holds a Master’s in Executive Leadership from Liberty University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from UVM. In her current role, she oversees a comprehensive range of supports and services for parents and caregivers of young children, emphasizing early identification, intervention, and prevention. A native Vermonter, Kim resides in Essex with her husband and two children. Outside of her professional commitments, she cherishes time spent with family and friends, enjoys watching her children participate in competitive athletics, and loves boating on the stunning Lake Champlain.
Sharon Lifschutz
Director of Development & Communications
Sharon joined the team at Lund in 2020, first as the Foundations and Communications Coordinator and then as the Director of Development. In this role, Sharon oversees the agency’s individual, foundation and corporate fundraising as well as Lund’s marketing/communication strategy. Prior to Lund, Sharon was the Associate Director of UVM Hillel where she worked for nine years. Sharon has a Liberal Arts degree from Penn State and her Masters in Educational Leadership from UVM. Sharon lives in Essex with her husband, two sons, and dog. When she’s not working, Sharon can be found spending time with her friends and family, cheering on the Penn State Nittany Lions or listening to music.
Yvonne Lockerby
Director of Operations
Yvonne joined Lund in December 2023. In her role as Director of Operations she oversees Facilities, IT and risk mitigation for the organization. She has over 25 years of leadership and operations experience across diverse industries, including the last 12 years at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, where she served in various executive roles. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Chittenden County. She and her husband live in Colchester with their two beloved dogs. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, hiking with her dogs, and traveling.
Sam Rhoads
Director of Clinical Treatment Services
Sam rejoined Lund in 2021 as a licensed clinical supervisor eventually moving into the role of Director of Clinical Treatment Services. She began her career in human services at Lund many years ago as an intern in Lund’s Early Childcare Program and was excited to come back full circle to Lund to continue to support children and families. Sam is a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with a focus on supporting individuals and families experiencing life challenges related to substance use and mental health. In her role, Sam oversees the Residential and Community Treatment programs offering wraparound support to parents and children throughout the state of Vermont. Sam is a native Vermonter who enjoys reading, photography and spending time outside with her husband and daughter.
Our Board of Trustees
We are fortunate to have a dedicated, talented, and experienced Board of Trustees. They work hard daily on Lund’s behalf and bring their personal testimony and business acumen to their positions at Lund. We are grateful for their contributions.
Darren Springer
Chair
Darren Springer was appointed and confirmed as General Manager of Burlington Electric Department in October 2018. During Darren’s tenure, Burlington has been named the top northeastern city per capita for solar in 2019 and 2020 by Environment America, and launched dozens of new strategic electrification incentive programs and initiatives to help Burlington Electric Department customers switch from fossil fuel to clean electric technologies in the heating and transportation sectors. Formerly, Darren served as Burlington Electric Department’s Chief Operating Officer and led the Center for Innovation team which includes the Policy & Planning, Finance, Information Technology and Energy Services divisions. Prior to joining BED, Darren served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Governor Peter Shumlin; was appointed as Deputy Commissioner at the Vermont Public Service Department, leading the advancement of the 2014 net metering law and 2015 renewable energy standard; and worked for 4 years in the Washington, D.C. Office of U.S. Senator Bernard Sanders as Senior Policy Advisor for Energy & Environment, and later as Chief Counsel. Darren has a B.A. from Florida Atlantic University and earned a J.D. and Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. He is a member of the Vermont Bar, Virginia Bar, and Florida Bar. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Vermont Electric Power Company, the Energy Action Network, and BTV Ignite.
Karen Vastine
Vice Chair
Karen is the Senior Community Relations Officer for the UVM Health Network. Previously, she served as Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families and ran the Burlington Community Justice Center. Karen has a strong record of advocacy for juvenile justice and for underserved populations and has extensive volunteer experience. Karen lives in Burlington.
Lucy Abair
Secretary
Lucy had worked with Lund for many years in her role at the Department for Children and Families, where she worked for over 40 years. She is pleased to now have the opportunity to become directly involved by joining the board. Having lived in Burlington all her life, Lucy sees Lund as “contributing enormously to the fabric of the town.” In her free time, she enjoys walking, gardening, tai chi, boating on the lake, and spending time with her four grandchildren.
Cyndee Cochrane Sturtevant
Treasurer
Cyndee holds a BA from Penn State and an MBA from the University of Vermont. She has worked as an auditor and accountant for a Burlington CPA firm, as an instructor of business courses at Community College of Vermont, as a business/human resource manager for Salzburg Seminar in Middlebury, Vermont, and as a high school German teacher in rural Maine. Cyndee serves as secretary on the Howard Center Board of Trustees and on the finance and audit committees. She is a Trustee for the Vermont Foundation of Children and Families. Cyndee serves on the Lund Board of Trustees as treasurer, and on Lund’s finance and executive committees. Cyndee is a mother of six and enjoys tennis, skiing, traveling and using her skills and interests to help others.
Julio Thompson
Compliance Officer
Julio is an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Vermont and Director of the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Unit, which enforces Vermont’s laws regarding employment discrimination, fair employment practices, and hate crimes. Julio has also worked on police reform and is an expert for the U.S. Department of Justice on suicide. He teaches about hate crimes at the Vermont Police Academy.
Maurine Gilbert
Immediate Past Chair
A native Vermonter, Maurine first learned of Lund through the young mothers who shared their experiences with students at her middle school. Years later, as a member of the archives committee, she discovered personal stories of Lund’s impact stretch back over a century. Inspired by these experiences, she jumped into Lund’s 2012 rebranding project. She’s enormously proud of the outcome of that work and the team that saw it through. Maurine’s professional background is in advertising, brand strategy, and research, working both in agencies and with clients. Today she designs and conducts qualitative research for the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program at the UVM College of Medicine. She’s also a flower farmer and floral designer – her business Tigri Flowers creates wild, organic arrangement for weddings and events. In her free time, she enjoys running with her hound and mentoring with the King Street Center’s Junior-Senior Buddy program.
Thomas Cheney
Tom is the Executive Director of Advance Vermont, a statewide initiative aimed at meeting the state goal that 70 percent of working age Vermonters will hold a post-high school credential by 2025. Previously, he served as the Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Human Resources, as a Washington D.C. based Legislative Assistant to Congressman Peter Welch, and as Chief of Staff to Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith. Tom has long been engaged in community and civic service and currently serves as a school board member and justice of the peace in Jericho, where he lives with his family.
Paige Church
Paige Terrien Church is a physician, certified in Neonatal Perinatal Medicine and Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics. She grew up in Vermont and graduated from medical school at UVM College of Medicine and went on to train in Pediatrics at the University of Chicago. She then did a dual fellowship in both Neonatal Perinatal Medicine and Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at Tufts University. This unique combination brought Paige to Canada where she was an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto and then to Harvard Medical School, working at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital. She specializes in newborn intensive care and the outpatient follow-up of the children who were cared for in the intensive care nursery. Paige volunteers on medical advisory boards, including the Spina Bifida Association and the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. As a Vermonter, she has long known Lund through her medical training, family roots, and work and is proud to be joining the board.
Hal Cohen
Hal is the Executive Director of Vermont Adult Learning (VAL), providing basic education, high school credentialing, English language learning and workforce development for Vermonters 16 years and older. He served as Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services under Governor Peter Shumlin and previously was the Executive Director for Capstone Community Action in central Vermont for over 18 years. Hal’s professional and civic involvement has included sitting on several local and state boards such as the Vermont Council on Rural Development, the Central Vermont Workforce Investment Board, the Vermont Workforce Development Council, Food Works, EarthWalk Vermont, Central Vermont Hunger Taskforce and the Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity. He has an M.A. in counseling psychology from Antioch New England Graduate School and an M.S. in nonprofit management from the New School for Social Research. Hal resides with his wife in Middlesex, Vermont and has three grown children and two young grandchildren.
Rebecca Heintz
Rebecca has worked as an attorney in the field of health care for the past 15 years. She is currently general counsel at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and also serves on the Medicaid and Exchange Advisory Board. Rebecca’s other work experience includes being Assistant General Counsel for the State of Vermont working at what was then called the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration and serving as Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Mental Health. She served for 10 years as a school board member. Rebecca lives in Worcester, Vermont. (Photo courtesy of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont)
John Hollar
John practiced law in Vermont for thirty years, most recently as a partner with the law firm Downs Rachlin Martin. Originally from Oklahoma, he graduated from Georgetown University Law Center. He has been active in Montpelier community life throughout his career. He served as chair of the Montpelier School Board from 2002-2010 and was mayor of Montpelier from 2012-2018. John also serves on the board of Let’s Grow Kids Action Network, the Montpelier Foundation, and the Montpelier Area Mountain Bike Association. He is a member of the Capitol Complex Commission, which oversees the architectural and aesthetic integrity of the capitol complex.
Valerie Nikel
Valerie has known about and been interested in Lund since moving to Burlington to study at the University of Vermont. Spending time as a volunteer led her to join the Finance Committee and later transition to the Development Committee. Her professional experience includes marketing, research, and event planning, with the past 12 years of her career focused on Human Resources. Valerie spent several years working for the State of Vermont, has spent time in consulting, and is currently the Director of Human Resources at PedsOne. She lives in Williston with her family.
Meg O’Brien
Meg has been part of the client service team at Champlain Investment Partners, LLC in Burlington, VT since 2010. Prior to joining Champlain, Meg worked in operations management and customer service with Destination Hotels and Resorts. She also held positions in the nonprofit and development field, including Laraway Youth and Family Services. Meg graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Past board involvement and volunteer experiences includes the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and Girls on the Run Vermont.
Kimberlee Phelps
Kimberlee is a Burlington native who returned to VT after some time living on the West Coast. Kim spent her entire career in the banking industry, retiring after more than 30 years with People’s United Bank as an SVP in Commercial Banking. She currently serves on the United Way of Northwestern Vermont’s Partner Funding Team and previously served on the board of the Burlington Chamber Orchestra. Kim has been aware of the important work that Lund provides to our community for decades and is grateful to have the opportunity to be part of this team.
Hayden Pochop
Hayden Pochop has been an active supporter of Lund for years, beginning his involvement with a role on the Development Committee. A seasoned marketing professional, Hayden is a Senior SEO Manager at HawkSEM, specializing in helping organizations build online presence. With expertise in branding and communication strategies, Hayden has also consulted with nonprofits to expand their digital reach. As an adoptee himself, and with family members who have pursued adoption through Lund, Hayden brings a deeply personal connection to Lund’s mission. This lived experience drives his dedication to supporting Vermont families and children, regardless of circumstance.
Maribeth Spellman
Maribeth Spellman is currently the Chief People Officer & General Counsel at Vermont Federal Credit Union. Prior to joining the Credit Union, Maribeth was the former Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer at Hickok & Boardman HR Intelligence. Maribeth began her career as a military officer and attorney, serving within the Department of the Army for over 15 years in numerous assignments both overseas and throughout the United States. She returned to Vermont in 2013, and was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources. Maribeth holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from The Catholic University of America. Maribeth serves as the Board Chair for Vermont Federal Foundation, which focuses on helping Vermonters prosper through building healthy communities. Maribeth lives in Burlington with her family.
Laura Taylor
Laura is the advisor to Private Health Management and has significant executive experience in change management, risk analysis, and strategic planning. Previously, Laura was Global Head of Client Delivery and Managing Director of Aon Inpoint. Laura was involved in Aon’s fundraising events supporting New Orleans post Katrina and NYC post 9/11. Laura is looking to give to the Vermont community by supporting the Lund board.
Lisa Tiffin
Lisa Tiffin is the Assistant Vice President of Government, Corporate & Foundation Relations for Champlain College, where she connects internal projects with external funding. She grew up in Rochester, NY, has lived in five states and two countries, and is focused on making an impact wherever she lands. Living in Vermont since 2021, she is pleased to align with Lund to serve the community. Lisa is Grants Professionally Certified (GPC), holds an MA from SUNY Brockport, and a Doctorate of Executive Leadership (DEL) from the University of Charleston, WV. She lives in South Burlington with her husband, Daryl, and together they have adult twins.
Anna Walls
Giving back through human services has long been Anna’s passion. As a senior in high school, she interned with the lead prosecuting attorney for the Department of Children and Families and since then has continually amplified her voice as an advocate for children. Anna has 15-plus years of experience in banking and finance, and in her current role oversees the customer experience at community-focused Mascoma Bank, a B Corp. This expertise informs her volunteer service, which includes supporting Lund’s development initiatives. Lund is dear to her heart, Anna says, as the organization helped shape her own family through adoption. She lives in Waterbury, Vt., with her husband, two children, and two cattle dogs.
