Courtney Behnken serves as Slate Valley Trails’  Executive Director and is proud to call Poultney, Vermont home. A passionate advocate for outdoor recreation and community development, Courtney is deeply committed to creating opportunities that connect people to nature and strengthen the Slate Valley region.

Before joining SVT, Courtney worked as a public school teacher, where she developed the leadership, communication, and community-building skills that now serve her well in nonprofit leadership. Through extensive professional development in sustainable trail management, fundraising, organizational development, and nonprofit leadership, she has helped guide SVT through a period of significant growth and transformation.

Today, Courtney leads the organization’s strategic vision, partnerships, fundraising efforts, and staff team, working alongside volunteers, landowners, community members, and supporters to ensure that Slate Valley Trails continues to thrive for generations to come.

Toby is an AmeriCorps member with VHCB and our Youth Programming Coordinator. She grew up hiking and camping in New England. After graduating college, she moved to Wyoming, where she spent time working in public schools, outdoor education, and afterschool programs. She moved to Poultney in 2019, where she began working in conservation and fell in love with Vermont’s plants, rivers, and trails. She is an avid trail user, both as a hiker and mountain biker, and is very excited to pass on her love of Slate Valley Trails to the next generation of trail users.

Ashley lives in Plymouth, VT, but came to love the Slate Valley as a student at VTSU Castleton, where she earned her degree in Environmental Science. She brings a background in watershed science and outdoor education, with over 15 years of experience as a ski instructor and five years as an avalanche educator—a role she continues each winter. She is passionate about creating strong, healthy communities and equitable access to the outdoors, whether it be via bikes, boots, or skis.

Ashley also has a background in graphic design through continuing education at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), which informs her creative approach to storytelling and engagement.

Before joining SVT, Ashley co-founded Chef Challenge, a dinner series focused on promoting sustainable food systems and fostering community connection. The events created welcoming spaces for chefs, farmers, and community members to come together, share ideas, and explore solutions to food access and socioeconomic challenges. This experience strengthened her expertise in brand strategy, event coordination, marketing, and community-driven project development.

Harry first joined SVT in 2018 as a member of the trail building crew. After five years on the trail crew for Sustainable Trailworks Harry moved into the Trail Manager role for SVT where he manages annual trail maintenance plans and creates new builds, as well as trail crew and volunteer direction. Harry is excited by the opportunity to influence the evolution of SVT while continuing to promote biking and outdoor recreation in Poultney.

Jon started working for SVT as a trail builder in 2022 after moving to Vermont from Washington State. He joined the team with eight years of backcountry trail building experience spread out between Oregon and Washington. He has always had a passion for bikes and is grateful to be involved in the SVT program where he can continue to play in the dirt while helping to create trails for the community to enjoy.  Jon and his wife live in Middletown Springs with their kids and like to spend their time being active outside in any way possible. He is looking forward to the day when his kids are ripping around SVT.