Julia is a native Vermonter who spends much of her time around trees. When she is not splitting or stacking firewood, she is weaving through the trees while mountain biking or split boarding. Her professional background includes leadership roles for several technology companies along with a short but exciting career in the music industry. Julia and her husband Jeff own Dark Star Cabin and Crow’s Nest Yurt – affectionately known as “Yurtville” – and live in Huntington with their dog Nikki. Julia is excited to bring her unique skill set and perspective as a hut owner to the Vermont Huts Association board.

Berne Broudy is a writer, editor, and photographer who reports on environmental issues, gear, and travel. She’s developed and guided hiking and cycling trips all over the U.S. and South America. She has guided groups of students in Ghana and Peru and has biked across the U.S. She’s herded llamas to a Bolivian mountaintop corral, she’s had fat biking first descents in Alaska, she helped establish the first sport climbing in East Greenland, she was on the first female team to complete the Jordan Trail. Before writing and photographing professionally, Broudy worked in the sustainable forestry industry, where she was involved in establishing wood and paper products certification. Broudy sits on the boards of Richmond Mountain Trails, VMBA, and Vermont Huts. She is a co-founder of ConservationNext and has served on the boards of Conservation Alliance, Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition, Fellowship of the Wheel, CragVT, and the Catamount Trail Association. She is passionate about adaptive access to the outdoors.

Jamey Fidel is General Counsel & Forest and Wildlife Program Director at Vermont Natural Resources Council. In his capacity at VNRC, he oversees forest and wildlife programs, advocates for environmental policy at the Vermont State House, and leads the Forest Roundtable, a gathering of diverse stakeholders focused on forest policy, management and conservation issues. Jamey also works with communities across Vermont promoting strategies for forest and wildlife habitat conservation. When he is not working on keeping our forests healthy, he enjoys skiing and recreating in them. 

 Since 2019, Liz has brought her enthusiasm for adventurous trails, land stewardship, and toddler-friendly camping to the VT Huts Association Board. She works for the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, where she supports farmers and community-based economic development. Liz fills her free time trail running, making pottery, and baking cookies with her kids.

A firm believer that outdoor recreation will lead to a love and appreciation for the natural world, Carolyn has dedicated her career to increasing opportunities for folks to play outside. Currently the Executive Director of Stowe Trails Partnership, she is also the Secretary of the Vermont Trails & Greenways Council and is thrilled to help advance Vermont Huts’ mission as a new board member. An avid mountain biker, skier, hiker, and canoe camper, she uses those activities as excuses to forage for mushrooms and admire native forest plants with her friends, partner, and dog.

Jason grew up in Western Massachusetts, did a stint in New York City, and ended up in Vermont permanently when he got tired of driving 12 hours each weekend to go skiing. While he wishes it could be ski season permanently, Jason also does enjoy slightly warmer weather – particularly when it leads to biking, hiking, boats, or really any other nature-based activity. By day Jason is a partner at MVP Ventures, a Venture Capital firm investing in tech companies across the country. Jason’s newest hobby is his daughter Nora, and he looks forward to instilling in her a love of all things outdoorsy.

Cate loves exploring the outdoors with her husband and two kids, whether it’s up the street at Hunger Mountain or on a New Zealand hut trip. It’s hard for her to choose which invigorating and challenging season in Vermont is her favorite. She is a sustainability and marketing professional who has always thrives when connecting people with new adventures that inspire a positive change in our world.