Board of Directors

  • Erica Reynolds, President

    Born and raised in southern Vermont, Erica has always been passionate about housing in its many forms. After graduating from Smith College with a degree in Sociology she pursued a law degree where she specialized in public interest law with a focus on housing issues. After graduating with her law degree and working for many years in affordable housing she pursued a real estate license where she fell in love with real estate investment and more specifically short-term rentals. She and her husband purchased an investment property in Marlboro where they are currently renovating and turning it into a short-term rental and a primary home for themselves. They are also converting their current primary home in the town of Stratton into a short-term rental as it is in a prime vacation rental spot 2 miles from Mount Snow Ski Resort. Being a lifelong Vermonter Erica is passionate about making sure both locals and investors alike can continue to make a life in Vermont that is economically viable.

  • Dave McComb, Secretary

    Dave McComb, President of Simple Vacation Rentals, applies his 30-plus years of tech and startup know-how to the short-term rental industry. A University of Michigan alumnus with a Computer Engineering degree, Dave combines his tech and entrepreneurial expertise with his passion for hospitality. Residing with his family in Killington, Vermont, he maintains strong connections with Michigan, New York City, and Buenos Aires. Dave, a versatile professional, is not just a company president but also a Vermont innkeeper, tech guru, family man, and outdoor enthusiast, adept in blending advanced technology with personalized rental management strategies. Dave was instrumental in giving rental owners a voice in the crafting of local short-term rental regulations and has been actively involved in various short-term rental organizations.

  • Jon Myerow, Treasurer

    Jon is the founder and owner of Tria, Philadelphia’s original casual wine bar concept, which started in 2004. Tria currently operates two restaurants in Center City, Philadelphia and employs 45 team members. Jon has extensive marketing, operations, and financial management experience, and has served on the Board of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association where he gained advocacy experience. After three decades in the restaurant industry, Jon is partially transitioning his career to the STR space in Vermont. As a passionate hospitality professional, he is eager to utilize his skills in a different sphere. Jon has dreamed of becoming a part-time “Vermonter” (not a real Vermonter, of course!) since attending graduate school at Dartmouth College and living in Norwich. Jon and his family (wife Jodie, three children, and a Siberian Husky who adores Vermont) recently purchased a property in Quechee and they are excited about their new journey into the STR world. Jon looks forward to being a part of this important industry in the magical state of Vermont.

  • Rob Chittenden

    Rob Chittenden is a native Vermonter with deep family roots in the Chittenden County community. Rob successfully ran Next Gen Auto car shop in South Burlington for 17 years. He built the business from the ground up and quickly learned the challenge of navigating the local regulatory boards. With a mechanical background along with the knowledge he gained growing up in the family business (The Chittenden Cider Mill), he decided to try his hand at renovating the Mill and successfully revitalized the space into several commercial rentals. He quickly learned how passionate he was about renovating and dove in, converting his primary and secondary residences into short-term rental properties. After selling his business in 2021 he focused his time on other renovation work and expanding the rental portfolio. Rob decided to get involved with VTSTRA when the mounting regulations became overwhelming and threatened his business, wanting to protect his investments and have his voice heard.

  • Palmer Lintz

    Palmer Lintz is the co-founder and CEO of Stayclass, Vermont’s only by-owner local short-term rental listing website. After settling in Vermont with his wife and daughter, Palmer began looking for alternatives to the “Big Tech” rental listing companies for his own short-term rental. With the assistance of his team members, Palmer began creating Stayclass with the intent of making it the go-to resource for Vermont short-term vacation rentals. With a background in transportation, logistics, and safety, and a knack for all things tech, Palmer is focused on making the Green Mountain State the best it can be for locals and visitors alike.

  • Sibylle Kim

    In the mid 90s Sibylle, a native from southern Germany, arrived in the USA for postgraduate breast cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. After earning another M.Sc. degree in Health Communication from Tufts Medical School, Sibylle switched careers into healthcare marketing communications. Meeting her future American husband meant yet another life change when Sibylle became a stay-at-home mom to raise two fluently bi-lingual children while taking over the remodel and property management of a fleet of privately owned long-term rental properties in her home town Cambridge, MA. But it was the purchase of Villa Ausblick – a luxury short-term rental home in Waterbury, Vermont – and being a professional hospitality service provider that became the true calling for Sibylle. Since 2005 she has welcomed more than 4,000 discerning guests hosting family reunions and group get-aways, while providing them with their dream Vermont vacation. Listen to her podcast interview with Matt Landau on “How Vacation Rentals Helped Me Buy My Dream Family Home.”

  • Brett Ralph

    Brett has charted a unique and impactful career path that synergizes the principles of business administration, finance, product management, and real estate development. An alumnus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of Business, where he completed an MBA, Brett laid the groundwork for a multifaceted career that seamlessly blends various sectors. With a decade-long tenure in the insurance industry, Brett excelled in product management and finance roles. Brett entered the realm of real estate development 15 years ago. In 2021, Brett formed Field & Farm Group and acquired Quechee Lakes Rentals. This venture marked not just an expansion of his real estate portfolio but also a redefinition of the short-term rental market. Under Brett's leadership, Field & Farm has been at the forefront of redefining the short-term rental experience. Their vision is to redefine the industry standards, ensuring that guests receive unparalleled service and comfort, akin to a luxurious hotel stay.

  • Helena Woodruff

    Helena is an impact-driven marketing and communications strategist with a breadth of experience in driving customer acquisition and retention. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Writing and a Master’s degree in Strategic Communication Management. In addition, she is well adept at managing large-scale divisions and teams while leveraging data to enhance campaign performance. She is both skilled and enjoys supervising, training, and developing teammates through a servant leadership approach that includes leading by example. She has a strong foundation in real estate investing, staging and managing STRs. She is also a licensed real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Vermont Realty Group. As an owner of short-term rentals, she has amassed numerous 5-star reviews by consistently going above and beyond for her guests. She also drives repeat business by nurturing long-term relationships with guests while spearheading and resolving issues proactively. When she is not busy working with guests or clients, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, kayaking and traveling.

  • Mary Skelton Altadonna

    Ten years ago, I inherited my childhood home in the village of Stowe, and after my parents and first husband died, I opened a B&B, The Hobble Inn. I enjoyed hosting guests from around the world. About 6 years ago, I built “the Loft”, a one-bedroom condo over the attached carriage barn, which is available to veterans and active military at no charge for up to a week. It is also available as a short-term and seasonal rental. When Covid came along and everything closed, I fell in love, got married, moved to my new husband's home, and changed the business model for Hobble Inn to a vacation rental when tourism was allowed again. I enjoy the flexibility of closing the reservation calendar when family and friends plan a visit, or when lengthy maintenance is required. My three grown children and three grandchildren spent many fond hours with my parents here, and they all still love coming to this house. I hope to pass it along to them and that they will continue to enjoy it for decades to come. I’m serving on the VTSTRA Board to ensure that all Vermont property owners' right to rent their places as short-term rentals is preserved.

  • Emily Schneider

    Emily has lived and worked all over the world: from New York to D.C., then to India, Israel, and finally, Germany. After marrying a Vermonter, Emily moved to Colchester where she enjoys living the lake life with her husband, their two children, and a multitude of pets. Emily worked as an attorney but now uses her knowledge of contracts (and bureaucracy) to help her clients as a realtor with Ridgeline Real Estate, based in Williston, VT. Her favorite clients are investors or owners who want to use their property for passive income, like short term rentals! She owns two STRs, one in Swanton, VT and another in Lake Como, Italy.

Staff

  • Julie Marks

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (part-time)

    Born and raised in Hinesburg, Julie has always called Vermont home. After graduating from CVU High School in 2004, Julie moved to Australia to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from James Cook University. She later worked for several years in Seventh Generation’s Research & Development Department, before completing a Master’s Degree in Environmental Health from the University of Washington in Seattle in 2015. Julie returned to Vermont in 2018 to fulfill her dream of homesteading. She became a Certified Master Gardener through the University of Vermont Extension Program in 2020 and has built a self-sustaining homestead in Jericho, VT that now offers two short-term rental accommodations and is home to her, her partner, and their lovable cat, Maiden. She now manages a mixed portfolio of rental properties in Burlington, Bolton, and Stowe, and takes pride in providing both housing and hospitality. Julie founded VTSTRA in February 2021 upon mounting regulatory threats to her self-built business. In 2022, Julie was invited to serve on the Government Affairs Committee for the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA). In April 2023, Julie transitioned from the volunteer Board President to a part-time employee of VTSTRA.

  • Desha Peacock

    MARKETNG DIRECTOR (part-time)

    International Retreat Leader, Small Business Coach and Founder of Sweet Spot Style, Desha Peacock helps small businesses with marketing strategy. She is also passionate about creating beautiful spaces. She’s the author of two home decor books: Create the Style You Crave and Your Creative Work Space. She acquired her first investment property in 2021, a small 1920’s bungalow, and is looking to grow her portfolio. Peacock holds a master’s degree from The School for International Training, is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator, and has led workshops & retreats across the globe. HuffPost called her first book the book to gift your girlfriend. She’s also been featured in Origins Mag, The Jungalow, Where Women Create, ABC News, US News Money and many more. She is on the board of directors at the River Gallery Art School in Brattleboro, where she lives with her husband, daughter and cuddly kitty- Luvbug.