Tom Gilbert
Tom is Executive Director of the Highfields Center for Composting, a Vermont-based non-profit focused on advancing sustainable food and agricultural systems through municipal and on-farm composting programs. In addition to overseeing Highfields’ operations, Tom leads workshops and provides technical services for farmers and municipalities in composting systems. Tom’s work is largely focused in Vermont and New England, but also includes projects and clients further a field, including the Municipio de Cotacachi, Ecuador. Tom is a Certified Compost Specialist and has a BA with emphasis on composting and sustainable agriculture from Evergreen State College. He has 14 years experience in agriculture and composting and 8 years experience providing technical services to farmers.
Tom is on the board of the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) and is adjunct lecturer at the University of Vermont in the Plant and Soil Science Department. In 2009 he received the Vermont Council on Rural Development Community Leadership Award for his work at CAE. In 2010, he was an recognized as a " Rising Star" by Vermont Business Magazine. Tom lives in Hardwick, VT with his wife and two daughters.
James McSweeney - Assistant Compost Specialist and Site Operator
James received a BA in Agroecology from Prescott College’s Environmental Studies Program. He spent two years in Hawaii working on a research program in sustainable agriculture development, with a focus on soil microbiology and plant health in the tropics. James’ is committed to studying and teaching about applying ecological integrity to agricultural systems throughout a wide range of climates including the tropics, drylands and his native temperate northeast. His work at Highfields includes providing technical assistance and systems design to composters as well as operating our Compost Demonstration and Research Site.
Tyler Buswell – Outreach Coordinator
Tyler Buswell is recent University of Vermont graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in Studio Art and Environmental Studies with a focus on sculpture and environmental art. He grew up in Milton, Vermont. Tyler interned with Highfields in 2010, helping to move forward community leaf drop and compost volunteer programs and then assumed the role of Outreach Coordinator in early 2011. Tyler is a self-proclaimed aggressive recycler and biophiliac making his eventual transition into compost infrastructure building with Highfields a logical move. Recent work by Tyler outside of Highfields includes a mobile, energy-independent tiny house made from 90% post-consumer found materials in which he plans to make a home. Tyler works in a number of capacities for Highfields, primarily through its Close the Loop Vermont! campaign, but draws special meaning from his work with schools and their roles as hotbeds for social change through composting.
Karen Wiseman – General Manager
Karen has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is certified by the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional. Karen has worked for 19 years in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry in research, design, construction and operations, most recently as the Engineering Manager at a large contract manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals. She is excited to apply her project and lean operations management skills to utilize every dollar donated to Highfields in the most effective and efficient way. She is passionate about the health of the earth, enjoys gardening, cooking, playing golf and spending time with her husband and three kids. Karen is honored to have a part to play in reshaping how we feed ourselves and care for the earth. As General Manager, Karen ensures the office runs smoothly, staff and customers are happy and our work gets accomplished on time and on budget.
Noah Fishman - Project Manager "Close the Loop!"
Noah comes to Highfields with a diverse range of experience in sustainable community development in Vermont and internationally. Most recently, at the Institute for Sustainable Communities, Noah helped to establish a national coalition of Serbian environmental organizations and organized a study program in the US on the topic of waste management. Prior to this, Noah managed the Brownfields program at Northwest Regional Planning Commission in Vermont, implemented international development programs with the Urban Institute in Washington, DC and performed field work and research with the microfinance organization FINCA International in D.R Congo and Tanzania.
Noah has a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from College of Wooster in Ohio and a Graduate Certificate in Social Science Research from American University in Washington, DC. In his “free” hours Noah can be found developing a community-supported homestead on his property in Waterbury, playing around with his drum collection and hanging out with his family. Noah is responsible for the planning and execution of each Close the Loop! Community project as well as the visioning, development and management of Highfield’s statewide Close the Loop! VT initiative.
June Van Houten - Grant Writer
Degree from the University of Vermont in Environmental Studies and Anthropology, teaching license through the Masters of Education program at Vermont College of Norwich University. Over 17 years experience in education and non-profit work including: teaching Social Studies at Cabot School in Cabot Vermont, coordinating in-school youth employment programs, Assistant Director to Central Vermont School-to-Work, and grant writing. Over 20 years experience in Vermont agriculture including milking cows at Shelburne Farms, and an internship in sustainable agriculture at the Intervale Community Supported Agriculture farm in Burlington, VT |
