Catherine Cusack (she/her)
Executive Director
Contact Catherine at ccusack@gmfts.org
Catherine joined Green Mountain Farm-to-School in 2013. As Executive Director, Catherine is responsible for overseeing the organization, developing GMFTS long-range strategic plans, raising funds, publicizing its activities, and managing its staff and Board of Directors. Catherine works in partnership with GMFTS program staff in delivering high-quality programming, with an emphasis on improving food access, educating children and community members on the value of Vermont’s rich agricultural landscape, supporting farms, and building relationships to grow the reach of the organization. Since moving to Vermont in 2006, Catherine has advocated for equal access to healthy food and increased opportunities for all Vermonters. While caring for her two young children, she was a freelance health promotion consultant, completing projects focused on obesity prevention. She has a Master of Science degree in health promotion from the University of Montana. Catherine and her family live in Craftsbury, where they love to swim, cross-country ski, and play in the snow.
Rose Lovett (she/her)
Development Manager
Contact Rose at rlovett@gmfts.org
Rose joined the Green Mountain Farm-to-School team in November 2022. As Development Manager, Rose is responsible for fundraising and communications activities. Originally from New Hampshire, Rose attended Keene State College where she graduated with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Environmental Studies in 2017. After college, Rose served as an Americorps VISTA in the City of Boston’s Office of Neighborhood Services. She then spent three years working on the development team of Boston-based nonprofit, Project Place. In 2021, Rose moved to Vermont and worked as a Communications Manager at North Country Animal League before coming to GMFTS. Outside of work, Rose enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time in Nature. Rose is happy to apply her development experience to support the continued growth of GMFTS.
Meggie Patton (she/her)
Food Hub Logistics Manager
Contact Meggie at mpatton@gmfts.org
Meggie joined GMFTS in 2022 as the Food Access & Logistics Coordinator. In her initial role, Meggie helped facilitate the Lunchbox summer meal program and other initiatives aimed at improving food access throughout the Northeast Kingdom. In Spring 2023, Meggie stepped into the role of the Food Hub Logistics Manager. In this position, she supports the operations and communications for Green Mountain Farm Direct. Meggie is also actively involved in the NEK Food Access Network, VT Farm to Plate, and VT Everyone Eats. Meggie graduated from University of South Carolina in 2012 with her master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Following graduation, she served as the Sustainability Coordinator for Brown University until 2016 before pursuing a position as a Wellness Coordinator at Pacific Quest in Hawaii. Having fallen in love with the Northeast Kingdom from prior visits, Meggie finally convinced her fiancé to move to Vermont full-time with their two cats, Betty and Kiko. Meggie brings her background and enthusiasm for sustainability and education with her to the GMFTS team.
Elyse Perambo (she/her)
Farm-to-School Program Manager
Contact Elyse at eperambo@gmfts.org
Elyse Perambo joined GMFTS in December 2021. As the Farm-to-School Manager, Elyse supports the growth of the Farm-to-School program and AmeriCorps team. She graduated from Antioch University New England with a Master’s degree in Environmental Education and received her undergraduate degree from Unity College in Biology. Elyse has been in Vermont since 2013, running a small farm and teaching fiber arts and garden classes to youth. Before moving to Vermont she managed a farm in CA, was the Education Coordinator at Nearby Nature in Eugene, OR and the Youth Education Coordinator at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, CO. In her free time, you can find Elyse in the garden, working with her goats and sheep, or spending time with her family. Elyse is delighted to be connecting youth to their local food systems and the educational opportunities found at the school gardens.
Becca Perrin (she/her)
Food Hub Account Manager
Contact Becca at bperrin@gmfts.org
Becca joined the Green Mountain Farm-to-School team in August 2021. As the Food Hub Account Manager, Becca is responsible for cultivating and maintaining customer relationships for the Green Mountain Farm Direct food hub. Before coming to GMFTS, Becca served two years as a FoodCorps AmeriCorps service member in Chelsea, MA, connecting kids to healthy food in schools. Originally from Connecticut, Becca graduated from University of Oregon where she received a degree in Environmental Studies and Food Studies and also holds a Local Food Leader certificate from Iowa State University. When she’s not working, you can find Becca in the forest, biking, hiking, snowshoeing or at home doing yoga, baking or sewing. She is so excited to be a part of the Vermont food system.
Hilary Rosa (she/her)
Food Access & Logistics Coordinator
Contact Hilary at hrosa@gmfts.org
Hilary joined GMFTS in May 2023. As the Food Access Coordinator, she helps to connect the dots between our programs and the charitable food system, overseeing various food access initiatives including The Lunchbox (our summer meals program), community workshops, and youth cooking programs. She also supports the daily operations of our food hub, Green Mountain Farm Direct. Hilary’s background is in culinary arts, food security, and housing advocacy. While living in Montana, Hilary volunteered with the Fork & Spoon Community Kitchen and later interned with Gallatin Valley Food Bank. After college, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the University of Montana Food Pantry in Missoula, where she became involved in the local volunteer Housing Advocate Network. Prior to joining GMFTS, Hilary worked as a Housing Support Specialist at Northeast Kingdom Community Action. Hilary is actively involved in the Essex-Caledonia-Orleans (ECO) Food Security Network, as well as an initiative to start a community-owned food co-op in Newport. She is very passionate about building community and all the ways in which food can enrich our lives. When she’s not working, you can find her on the trails, hiking, biking and cross-country skiing, or at home cooking, reading, and snuggling with her cats.
Piper Toth (she/her)
Finance Director
Contact Piper at ptoth@gmfts.org
Piper joined the Green Mountain Farm-to-School team in September 2023. As Finance Director, Piper is responsible for the fiscal oversight of the organization, reviewing the organization financials, providing strategic financial direction, helping to develop and maintain the annual budget and working with GMFTS staff to provide financial reports and information. Piper graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio with a Bachelor of Business Administration and has worked in finance for the past 20+ years serving non-profits, small businesses and universities. Originally from Cleveland, Piper now lives in Athens, Ohio and teaches yoga locally. Outside of work, Piper enjoys hiking, swimming, painting, reading & traveling with her husband & dog. Piper is excited to be a part of the local food to school mission!
AmeriCorps Members
Ella Grzybowski (she/her)
AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinator
Contact Ella at egrzybowski@gmfts.org
Ella joined the GMFTS team in September 2025 as an AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinator. Ella teaches K-8 students about gardening, cooking, and the food system as a whole through hands-on experiences in school gardens, local farms, and in-school programming. Ella graduated in 2024 from University of Iowa with a BA in Political Science and Environmental Policy and Planning, where she worked for the Office of Sustainability to expand pollinator gardens on campus. Prior to serving with AmeriCorps, Ella spent the last 6 summers working at Camp Olson YMCA in northern Minnesota as Nature Director and led outdoor canoeing and backpacking trips. Her time at camp and in college led her to follow a passion for outdoor education and stewardship. She believes that everyone should experience the joys of a garden (nothing better than a garden tomato!) and that every kid should learn the importance and joys of spending time in nature! When she’s not hanging with worms in the garden, Ella enjoys sewing, creating, reading, exploring the outdoors, and lounging around with her cat, Frankie June. As a Minnesota transplant, she’s excited to explore Vermont and eat lots of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream!
Kristen Thompson (they/she)
AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinator
Contact Kristen at kthompson@gmfts.org
Kristen joined GMFTS in 2025. As an AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinator, Kristen plans and delivers programs for students K-8, including gardening, cooking, taste tests, farm field trips, and local food systems education. They are excited to connect kids and their communities with local food and nature. Kristen received their M.S. in Resource Management and Administration from Antioch University New England, where they focused their studies on the intersections of climate change, food systems, and community resilience. Before that, they studied agroforestry for their B.A. in Environmental Studies from Marlboro College. Before beginning their service term, Kristen worked for Community Garden Connections to provide technical support and education to community gardens, empowered youth to take action on climate change through the Alliance for Youth Climate Leadership, and coordinated marketing for Food Connects’ farm-to-school program and food hub. Kristen’s experience also includes outdoor programming for youth and young adults. More recently, Kristen expanded their knowledge of agriculture through the Rodale Institute Farmer Training program. In their spare time, Kristen is writing a series of fantasy novels and loves to paint, draw, sing, and explore the Green Mountains.
