NCFC Staff

Shanna Ratner is the Principal of Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. "I’ve felt a visceral connection with the land and rural communities since I was a small child. Growing up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., I fulfilled my connection with the land by riding horses, haying, and cleaning out stalls. I watched with horror as acres upon acres of beautiful countryside turned into housing developments and unique small communities began to look like everyplace else. In college, I undertook a study of four small towns, population 2,000, in Kansas, Idaho, Utah, and Oregon trying to understand the relationships between the people, the land, and the values of individuals and communities. As a young adult, I bought land in Fairfield, Vermont and built a house on 57 acres of ledgy pastureland. I’ve been enjoying the benefits of natural succession ever since. My professional work in the field of rural community economic development has taught me the importance of helping people recognize their choices and get excited about what’s possible."

Melissa Levy grew up in suburban New York and New Jersey. "After college and several years in Washington, DC, I was ready to live in a place where I could settle in, appreciate the outdoors, and live and participate in a small community. As a result, I moved to Vermont and eventually settled into the town of Hinesburg. I already feel a great connection to Vermont and Hinesburg and its residents. I am especially interested in planning and conservation in an attempt to retain the rural character and working farms and forests that make Vermont, and Hinesburg, such a beautiful place to live. My previous work in educating and providing technical assistance to rural communities on sustainable community and economic development made me realize the importance of building the capacity of rural communities to make sensible decisions about their futures. This has become an important goal for my professional career."

Mary E. Nieman is Yellow Wood's Office Administrator. "I moved to Vermont from a small town in New York called Holland Patent, where I was the Administrative Assistant for Financial Management for a local nonprofit organization. I have over 12 years experience in the administrative field and I’m currently attending Champlain College, working toward my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management."