Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) announced today the appointment of Jenny Patterson as its new Executive Director. During the summer and fall of 2024, the LCC Board conducted a comprehensive search for a new Executive Director to carry on the legacy of Lori Fisher, who retired on December 31, 2024, after an exemplary career spanning nearly four decades with LCC. Jenny assumed the Executive Director role on January 1, 2025, and will lead the organization’s mission to protect Lake Champlain’s environmental integrity and recreational resources.
"We are excited to welcome Jenny Patterson as our new Executive Director. Jenny brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to our mission, and a passion for preserving Lake Champlain’s health,” stated LCC Board Chair Gary Kjelleren. “Her direction will be instrumental in carrying forward the extraordinary legacy of Lori Fisher, whose dedication and visionary leadership have made a lasting impact on the lake and the community. We are confident that under Jenny's guidance, our efforts to protect and restore Lake Champlain will continue to thrive."
“Serving as a cyanobacteria and invasive species monitor for LCC helped me see the threats the lake and its ecosystems face – and to meet the people working tirelessly in Vermont, New York, and Quebec to address these challenges. I am grateful to Lori Fisher and LCC for supporting me as a community science monitor and helping me understand the science and history behind LCC’s longstanding and successful efforts to protect the lake and expand access and recreational opportunities for all,” said Jenny Patterson.
Jenny comes to LCC with a deep and lifelong connection to Lake Champlain, coupled with extensive experience in environmental law and state government. Her family has multigenerational ties to both the New York and Vermont sides of the lake, fostering her interests in history, geology, biology, and public policy. This led her to major in environmental studies and government at Oberlin College, and to work or intern for environmental groups including Clean Water Action, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Adirondack Mountain Club prior to going to law school.
After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, Jenny has dedicated her career to environmental protection and public service. She worked for eight years with a focus on wetlands and water law at the Environmental Protection Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, followed by a position at the Conservation Law Foundation in New Hampshire. She then returned to the Attorney General’s Office to serve as Environmental Bureau Chief for five and a half years. Jenny has over ten years of management experience in New Hampshire and Maine state governments, most recently in the realm of health policy.
Jenny is an avid observer of Lake Champlain, frequently walking its shores in Chazy, at Point Au Roche State Park, and on the Burlington waterfront. She enjoys watching the lake’s daily changes and is eager to explore the watershed by foot, bike, and kayak.
“Jenny is a smart, experienced leader with the skills necessary to maintain LCC’s momentum in expanding our presence and programs to protect Lake Champlain’s health and foster stewardship,” said retiring LCC Executive Director Lori Fisher. "She has a proven track record of bringing people together, developing innovative solutions, and navigating complex challenges. I am confident that under her leadership, LCC will continue to grow and thrive, advancing our mission and strengthening our impact on the lake and the communities that rely on it. I am excited to see the continued success of the organization in her capable hands."
“Lori’s retirement leaves huge shoes to fill,” said Jenny. “I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to work with LCC’s wonderful staff, committed board, and amazing network of volunteers to engage in effective and collaborative science-based advocacy on behalf of Lake Champlain and the many communities and people who care about the lake.”
The Lake Champlain Committee is a non-profit organization that has worked to protect and restore Lake Champlain’s health for over 60 years. LCC uses science-based advocacy, education, and collaborative action to improve water quality, safeguard habitat, provide access, and foster stewardship.
January 13, 2025 (Burlington, Vermont) – Lake Champlain Committee
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