Erica Metzger Hare is a non-profit leader with a history of strategic leadership in the healthcare, human services and higher education industries in Vermont and New York. Erica is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (BA) and the Stern School of Business at New York University (MBA).  

Erica began her career in her native New York City at Accenture as a consultant in the strategy practice where she specialized in guiding companies through regulatory changes. Eager to spend her time in mission-driven settings, Erica shifted her focus to academic medical centers and managed financial and administrative operations in a variety of roles for the next decade at Mount Sinai Hospital, NYU Medical Center and Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

Upon moving to Vermont, she worked at Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier for 10 years as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, with a portfolio that included banking, financial reporting, human resources, alumni affairs and fundraising.

In 2019 Erica joined Aspire Living & Learning, a multistate human services agency headquartered in Vermont, as its Chief Financial and Strategy Officer. In 2025 she became the Chief Executive Officer. Aspire is one of the largest nonprofits based in Vermont, and employs 1,200 people in five states serving hundreds of adults and children with disabilities in residential and day-program settings, as well as providing early-intervention and school-based services for children with autism.

Erica is the chair of the Central Vermont Medical Center Board of Directors and when she is not working or volunteering, Erica enjoys spending her time singing jazz music and exploring the many outdoor wonders of Vermont with her family and the myriad animals who share their land and home.

Heidi Mohlman Tringe is a seasoned government affairs strategist and communications leader, with a distinguished record spanning federal and state public service and private sector advocacy. She co-founded Elevate State Solutions after building and running the multistate practice at MMR, LLC for 15 years. Heidi advises a diverse portfolio of clients on policy, strategic communications, political engagement and public sector procurement.

Prior to her private sector consulting career, Heidi served on the Senior Staff for Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, acting as liaison to the National Governors Association, the White House, federal agencies, and Vermont’s congressional delegation. Before moving back to Vermont to raise her family, she spent 10 years in Washington, DC, serving as Director of Legislative Affairs at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Communications Director for the U.S. House Committee on Science and held multiple positions in U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords’ office. Heidi’s work across sectors has been marked by high-impact policy engagement and effective coalition building across political and institutional lines.

In addition to her professional work, Heidi is deeply engaged in community leadership and nonprofit governance. She serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Vermont College of Fine Arts, is on the board of the Vermont Journalism Trust, and is an Honorary Commander in the Vermont National Guard. A graduate of Amherst College, she also volunteers with local schools and community initiatives in Montpelier, and enjoys travel, skiing, hiking, and tennis with her family.

Mentorship Program Coordinator

Kristin Cantu is co-owner and producer at Well Told Films  a Montpelier-based documentary film and video production company. Kristin has been working in journalism for nearly a decade, starting in the print & multimedia fields, eventually transitioning into documentary film production and podcasting. She also has extensive experience managing projects and events for individuals and companies. Kristin is known as a go-to problem solver, who clients rely on to manage multi-faceted projects large and small with the ability to adapt on the fly to changing circumstances. Her strengths as both a taskmaster and storyteller help her collaborate with clients to shepherd projects from concept to completion and through all the steps in between. Kristin is passionate about collaborating with and creating community among entrepreneurial and professional women. A gap year in college taking part in the Americorps program, City Year Boston, instilled in Kristin the importance of community involvement. Since then, Kristin has spent her off hours volunteering for organizations such as Hike It Baby, Girls On The Run, and Art & Science In One—a nature journaling program for elementary school students. 

Graphic Designer

Vicki Kuskowski is an established graphic designer with over 25 years of experience. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University, with a B.A. in English and French studies. Early in her career, Vicki’s love of books led her to the New York publishing industry where she worked on staff as a book designer for St. Martin’s Press and the Perseus Books Group. In 2001 she migrated to California and became a senior artist at the University of California Press.

In 2006 she transitioned to marketing design and became the art director for Juniper Ridge. Thus began her interest in the natural products industry and her love of organic and sustainable goods. After seven years in California, Vicki moved to Vermont to put down roots and work as the senior graphic designer for Zutano.

When a marketing manager position opened for the herbal tincture company Urban Moonshine in 2015, she jumped at the opportunity. Vicki currently works as senior designer for the organic herbal tea company Traditional Medicinals, the second largest producer of bagged tea in the U.S.

Vicki loves the world of herbalism, walking in the woods, laughing with her family, reading, crafting, and visiting new places.