Biographical Information

 

Jennifer J. Colby

Coordinator for Community Programs

Green Mountain Institute for Environmental Democracy

26 State Street, Suite 10

Montpelier, VT 05602

802-229-6078 phone

802-229-6076 fax

jcolby@gmied.org

 

Education:

Am. Inst. of Prof. Bookkeepers, MD               C.B.     2000   Certified Bookkeeper

University of Vermont, Burlington, VT           B.S.       1994   Animal Science/Env. Studies

 

Research and Professional Experience:

Ms. Colby joined the Green Mountain Institute for Environmental Democracy (GMI) in 1997, after serving in administrative, educational and logistical support roles in and out of the private sector.  At GMI, she has continued to interact with federal, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to organize events; develop marketing, training, and communication materials; coordinate projects; develop funding; and oversee the administrative aspects of the organization.

 

Selected Experience

Direct project coordination

·        2002-present      Randolph Area Family Farms (RAFF), a community-based project to support family farms by connecting farms to consumers and local businesses, offering resources to help farms prosper, and celebrating the diversity of farms in the Randolph (VT) area.

 

·        2001-2003       VT2020 Sustainability Collaborative, a network of organizations and individuals concerned with forwarding the principles of sustainability in Vermont.

 

·        2001 & 2002  US EPA Green Communities Annual Meeting, a gathering of community-based projects and service providers to share stories, learn about the Green Communities program, and undergo professional development. 

 

Additional project experience

·        2002-2003       Watershed case study research in the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary area

·        2002-2003       Evaluation of US EPA Region 1 Performance Track program

·        2000-2002       Environmental assessment research for NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection Comparative Risk Project

·        2000-present      Indicator evaluation for OR Dept. of Environmental Quality

·        2001-2002       Research for management indicators, Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission

 

Design and layout:

·        2002-2004       Randolph Area Family Farms flyers, announcements & local buying guides

·        2001-2002       New Jersey Comparative Risk Project Final Report, NJ DEP

·        1999-2000       Synergy, Green Mountain Institute for Environmental Democracy

·        1999-2000       Setting the PACE, Joint publication between GMI, National Association of County/City Health Officials (NACCHO), and National Center for Environmental Health of the CDC (NCEH/CDC)

·        1998-2003       GMI Annual Reports

 

Logistical management, agenda design, facilitation

·        2003    2nd Annual Family Farm Fest, Randolph Center, VT

·        2002    1st Annual Family Farm Fest, Randolph Center, VT

·        2002    National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project, meetings in Elkridge, MD and Welches, OR

·        2001& 2002   US EPA Region 3 Green Communities Annual Workshops, Shepherdstown, WV

·        2001    VT 2020 Coalition Planning Retreat, Plymouth, VT

·        2000    US EPA EMPACT Project National Meeting, Minneapolis, MN

·        2000    Building an Ecological Economy Conference, Jeffersonville, VT

·        1999    Measuring Progress in Your Watershed Indicators Training, Burlington, VT

·        1999    Community-Based Information and Sustainable Community Development Practitioner’s Symposium, Elkridge, MD

·        1998    National Meeting of Environmental Practitioners, Annapolis, MD

·        1998    Collaborating for Change: Tools for Community Environmental Planning and Action, Montpelier, VT

 

Employment History

Project Coordinator, Green Mountain Institute for Environmental Democracy           2000-present

Office Administrator, Green Mountain Institute for Environmental Democracy         1997-present.

Owner, Howling Wolf Farm                                                                                          1997-present.

Administrative Assistant & Farmer Liaison, The Organic Cow of Vermont,               1994-1997.

Staff Assistant, University of Vermont, Financial Aid Department                              1993

Staff Assistant, University of Vermont, Environmental Studies Department               1992

Research Assistant, University of Vermont, Animal Nutrition Laboratory                  1988

 

Selected Publications

Jones, K., Colby, J., Healthy Communities—Beyond Civic Virtue, National Civic Review, National Civic League and Jossey-Bass, Vol. 90, No. 4, 2001, pp.363-374.

Jones, K., Witten, M., Thomas, S., Colby, J. 2001. A Manual for Developing Environmental Assessments and Comparing Risks: A Supplement to the “Guide to Implementing Local Environmental Action Programs in Central and Eastern Europe”, Green Mountain Institute for Environmental Democracy, Montpelier, VT

Additional Education and Selected Training Opportunities

§         2000-2002       Courses in Microsoft Access, Outlook, and Office (general), and Adobe Illustrator 9.0, PageMaker 6.5/7.0, Photoshop 6.0, and Acrobat 5.0. New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Williston, VT

§         2000    Working with Conflict in Community Groups. Woodbury College, Montpelier, VT

§         2000    Taproot Leadership Program, Center for Sustainable Systems, Berea, KY

 

Personal and Professional Associations

§         2003-present   Secretary, Vermont Agricultural Museum

§         2003                Member, American Planning Association

§         2003-present   Two-Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission, Randolph rep

§         2003                Randolph Singers

§         2001-2002       International Association for Public Participation

§         2000-present   Working member, Randolph Cooperative Market

§         1999-2003       Vermont Grass Farmer’s Association (VGFA)

§         1998-2001       Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)

§         1996-present   Working member, Harmony Coop

 

Extracurricular Activities

 

§         2001-2004       Volunteer, NOFA-VT Winter Conference

§         2003                Volunteer, Annual VGFA Conference

§         2001                Volunteer, Prevent Child Abuse VT (PCAV) Nurturing Program

§         2000 & 2001   Participant, (PCAV) Walk for Kids

§         1998-present   Driver, Manghi’s Bread

§         1992-1994       Student rep, University of Vermont Animal Care and Use Committee