Staff, Board, Volunteers

MISHA GOLFMAN
Executive Director

Prior to joining MRPA in April 2023, Misha served as co-founder and executive director of Kroka Expeditions for 28 years. Together, with his partner Lynne, he has raised four children on a nature-connected homestead and guided over one hundred wilderness expeditions in remote areas of the world. For many years, Misha led Vermont Semester students the length of the state on skis following the Catamount Trail, passing through, and falling in love with, the Mad River Valley. He believes that a footpath connecting communities and designed in harmony with nature serves as a powerful tool for social transformation and is excited to contribute his skills and experience to the expansion and completion of the Mad River Path.
Email Misha: misha@madriverpath.org

Sarah Johnson
communications specialist

Sarah Johnson joined the Mad River Path Association as Communication Specialist in October 2024. Sarah is a Montpelier resident with connections in the Mad River Valley through her work at Yestermorrow Design/Build School. Sarah works in marketing, communications, and outreach for nonprofits, and in her free time can be found running, hiking, or knitting. 
Email Sarah: sarah@madriverpath.org

abby bell
community engagement and trail steward

Abby joined us in 2026 as an AmeriCorps Service Member and Community Engagement and Trail Operations Steward. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Abby came to Vermont in 2021 to attend the University of Vermont, where she earned her degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology. She fell in love with Vermont’s landscape, spending time in several towns before settling in East Montpelier. Abby is passionate about conservation and equitable access to nature, with previous experience in nature-based childcare and park and trail maintenance. In her free time, Abby enjoys skiing, birding, hiking, and gardening.

 

Board Members

The Path’s Board is currently filled by dedicated and caring people from the Mad River Valley.

ADVISORY BOARD

  • Liza Walker

  • Will Flender

  • Laura Brines

  • Betsy Jondro

Volunteers

We depend on dozens of volunteers to help us build new trails, construct boardwalks and bridges, maintain benches and gazebos, clear fallen trees, and keep an eye on trail sections. Check out the volunteer page for more info.

VOLUNTEER PATH STEWARDS:

 Warren Path North: Jon Rickard

Warren Path South: Richard Czaplinski

Kingsbury Bridge Greenway: Jeff Dolittle

Cloud Water Farm Path: Needs a steward!

Yestermorrow Loop: Chris Lucchesi

Austin Walk: David Hodgson

Fiddlers Walk: Ronald Sands

Heart of the Valley (Taste Place - Maclay): Steward MRV

Heart of the Valley (Maclay - Bridge St): Lani Wharton

Heart of the Valley (Bridge St - Wait House): Sparky Potter

Wait’s Way: Needs a steward!

Millbrook Trail: Bob McNeish

Spaulding Greenway: Richard Kendrick

West Greenway: Holly Zanes

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