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The Vermont Land Trust Leadership Transition Montpelier, VT, June 22nd -- The Vermont Land Trust announced today that there is an impending transition of leadership. Darby Bradley will step into a new role as of February 2007 and Gil Livingston, who has been VLT’s Vice President for Land Conservation for the past fifteen years, will assume the reins as President at that time. Darby Bradley will become a Special Assistant for Donor and Government Relations. Darby has served the Vermont Land Trust for 25 years as a staff member and before that, he worked with VLT’s founder Rick Carbin to set up the organization and complete some of its early conservation projects. In the words of VLT’s Board Chair and owner of the conserved Butternut Mountain Farm David Marvin, "when future generations look back at the early history of VLT they will understand how their legacy of conserved land is also one of people and communities connected to the land. Their gratitude will join ours to Darby Bradley’s leadership for shaping that legacy with passion, commitment and humility." Darby will continue to focus on major gift cultivation, planned giving, and gifts of land. He will also continue to work with the Legislature and the Administration on policies and programs that affect Vermont’s landscape and quality of life. Darby offered that, "because of the experience, expertise, resources and relationships VLT has built over the past 29 years, I believe that it is positioned to make even greater contributions to the public good in the coming years, not only in land conservation, but in partnerships for affordable housing, economic development, and community revitalization. We have an extraordinary opportunity. To take full advantage of that opportunity requires new vision, new energy and new leadership. I believe Gil will provide all three in great measure. For me, I have no intention of departing the Vermont Land Trust anytime soon. I want to be around to assist in its progress and development." Gil Livingston has provided the leadership for a number of important new initiatives that VLT has undertaken. Gil’s vision has helped define VLT’s broader range of values that include strengthening local economies, protecting ecologically significant resources, serving all Vermonters and engaging communities. Board Chair-elect and Enosburg Forester Nancy Patch recently remarked that, "Gil’s strengths are not only helping VLT to conserve farms and forests for the future of Vermont, but he has also focused on social justice, protecting biodiversity and community economic development – critical areas which will help Vermont maintain its sense of place." Gil Livingston graduated from the University of Vermont (B.A. 1975, Political Science) and received his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law (J.D. magna cum laude 1978). He was admitted to the practice of law in California (1978) and Vermont (1979). He worked for the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission as an undergraduate, and served a legal internship with the California Supreme Court during law school. After law school he worked for two years for a small Burlington law firm specializing in municipal planning and zoning and environmental work, followed by a stint at Vermont Legal Aid and then at the Vermont Attorney General's Office doing environmental work. He was Executive Officer to the Vermont Environmental Board for three years and then worked as a staff attorney for the Chittenden County Public Defender. Gil became vice president and counsel for the Land Trust in December 1990. He is a past member and chair of the ACLU/Vermont Board of Directors; past Chair of the District #4 Environmental (Act 250) Commission; and past Burlington Housing Authority Commissioner. Gil was a member of the national Land Trust Alliance board of directors and board member of the Richmond Land Trust. He remains on the board of the Center for Whole Communities in Waitsfield and the Black Family Land Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting landownership and promoting economic growth in African American communities. His interests include cross-country skiing, hiking, fly-fishing, wilderness canoe trips, gardening and cooking. He and wife Amy Wright have a daughter, Addie. Gil offered some reflection about his new role: "Vermonters are deeply anchored to the land that produces our food, hosts rich natural habitat, supports our forest and farm economy, provides recreational opportunities, and is the foundation of our culture and our communities. I look forward to exploring how VLT’s land conservation work can deepen and strengthen our relationships with the land and with each other." The leadership transition is effective on February 1, 2007.
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