Our Team
Charen Fegard: Public Relations & Outreach Coordinator, ext. 106, Outreach @cvswmd.org
Charen Fegard came to CVSWMD from 20 years working in the non-profit world, where she has worn many hats. Her professional introduction to chemical safety was in the Haz-mat/Environmental Health in the Civil Service on USMC Camp Butler in Okinawa decades ago. She served in the VT Legislature in the 2019-20 session and has worked in the non-profit sector as an environmental consultant/employee over the years with foci spanning youth programming, forest ecology, waste diversion, as well as childcare and K-12 Indoor Air Quality and Infection Control. Charen grew up an Air Force brat living in many states and countries. She has also owned and operated registered in-home childcare and landscaping and cleaning businesses, which filled in gaps and had flexible schedules when her children were young. She had no idea this would be her path when she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology.
Kathie Felch: Finance and Human Resources Administrator, ext. 104, finance @cvswmd.org
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Kathie worked in Municipal Government for 20 years. She was a prior Treasurer for the District for nearly six years, then worked in an accounting firm for four years and has happily returned to the District in May of 2024 as the Finance & HR Administrator. When she is not working, she enjoys gardening, cooking, spending time with family and visiting lighthouses in Maine any chance she gets.
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Bob Freeman: Field Assistant/Driver
Bob Freeman is our longest standing staff member, having worked here since 1998. In addition to staffing the ARCC, Bob helps keep all field operations and the District’s vehicles running smoothly. Bob is a native Vermonter and likes being helpful to the community. Away from work, he enjoys working on model cars and watching sports, especially hockey.
John Jose: School Zero Waste Coordinator, ext 111, SZWCoordinator @cvswmd.org
John joined the District in September 2016. He holds a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from East Stroudsburg University. His background includes work in wildlife conservation, water resource protection, environmental education, and now solid waste management. Combining his diverse environmental program experience with his experience working in various capacities with public schools, John is excited to be collaborating with CVSWMD schools to create opportunities for students, adults and broader school communities to most effectively manage their solid waste. As an avid naturalist and wildlife photographer, John can often be found hiking and documenting central Vermont’s flora and fauna, particularly birds, mammals, amphibians, and moths, via iNaturalist.
Theron Lay-Sleeper: General Manager, ext 108, GeneralManager @cvswmd.org
Theron joined the CVSWMD team in September 2018, serving for a year as an ECO AmeriCorps member. Since then, he has immersed himself in trash, recycling, food scraps, and hazardous waste management. He studied international relations, focusing on environmental and energy policy, and graduated from Tufts University in Boston in 2015. He is passionate about working to make Vermont a leader in environmental stewardship and sustainability. He is an avid outdoorsman, craftsman, musician, and cook.
J.C. Myers: Operations Manager, ext 102, operations @cvswmd.org
J.C. Myers was born and raised in Vermont and now lives in Maple Corner, Calais. J.C. is a graduate of Vassar College and has over 15 years of experience in the administration of non-profit organizations including management positions at Downstreet Housing and Community Development, Elevate Youth Services, the Champlain Housing Trust, and Goddard College. J.C. is a carpenter who operated his own small design/build business completing repairs, additions, and new construction. He loves skiing, music, and literature. He is a fiction writer and published a novel “Junkyard at No Town” in 2019. J.C. is also a musician who plays guitar and sings in a local band, “Broken String.” He is very happy to work for the District, doing the important work of recycling and diverting harmful materials from polluting our soils and water.
Coming Soon: Hazardous Waste Operator
Mona Lutz, Administrative Coordinator, ext 100, administration @cvswmd.org
Mona joined CVSWMD in January 2025 after transitioning from elementary school office administration. She earned a Bachelor's in Chemistry from Duke University and a Master's in Environmental Engineering from Georgia Tech. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Mona has lived in Calais, Vermont for 18 years with her family, dogs, cats, chickens, goats and sometimes pigs. Before moving to Vermont, she worked as a consulting environmental engineer on underground petroleum storage tank remediation sites in Virginia. She has a passion for creative solid waste management and ridding the world of single-use plastic and styrofoam. She enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, skiing, running, paddleboarding and being on local ponds or far-away sunny beaches.
Terry Reilly, Solid Waste Administrator and Enforcement officer, ext 105, enforcement @cvswmd.org
Terry joined the CVSWMD team in January of 2025 bringing with him a diverse background in both the public and private sectors. His experience managing large scale commercial development projects coupled with his work at the University of Vermont and the Vermont Agency of Education, makes him ideally suited in the role of the Solid Waste Administrator and Enforcement Officer. While not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, their three grown children, being outside, museums, and supporting his favorite soccer team, Tottenham Hotspur.
Alexandra Oles: Program Coordinator, ext 110, RECCoordinator @cvswmd.org
Alexandra joined the CVSWMD in November of 2023. She is a Massachusetts transplant, having moved to the Kingdom a decade ago to pursue education with Sterling College. Her ecological education and professional background wove through the agricultural sector with experience spanning from field work, to food service, as well as teaching kids about food and nutrient cycles. In her personal time, Alexandra is dedicated to the livelihood of her dozens of houseplants, playing with her hound/lab mix puppy, cooking from scratch, and pursuing happiness. She’s thrilled to uphold environmental stewardship and join Vermont’s crusade of responsible consumption and safe disposal of various products.
