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.

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.

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 Prime Real Estate Co., based in Williston, VT. She also owns a property management business that caters to short-term rentals: Lake Champlain Properties. 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.

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.

Highlyann was born in Newport Vermont and has split her time between her family’s farm in the North East Kingdom of Vermont and New York City. She is one of the original founders of MNS Real Estate NYC. Drawing on a wealth of experience and expertise, she has successfully landed, marketed, and rented/sold over $10 Billion worth of residential developments throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn & Queens. She has subsequently opened The Design High in 2014, a full-service interior design firm that specializes in new development, capital improvement, and repositioning of development assets throughout NYC. Design High has completed some of the largest developments in NYC including the redesign of Peter Cooper Stuyvesant Town,  as well as the redesign of 63 Wall Street an 800+ unit rental development in the Financial District & the Ohm in Hudson Yards. In addition, The Design High has completed some of the most notable new construction jobs on Brooklyn’s Waterfront including 1nth4th place, and Level, both 500+ unit rental developments in Williamsburg. In 2016 along with her husband, Highlyann restored an original 1840’s farmhouse in Sutton Vermont and turned it into a short-term vacation rental, featuring 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and 35 acres of long-range views. In 2024 Highlyann and her husband purchased 50 acres in Newark, VT and are in the process of turning it into multiple STR tree homes with views of Willoughby Gap. Highlyann now lives in Barton on her family’s farm land with her husband, 2 daughters,  2 dogs, 3 cats and 5 horses.

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.”

Jenny has owned and operated her STR, Karin’s Place, in Pownal, VT since 2015. Originally slept 30 but now only rents a part of the house and sleeps 12. She has managed Quarry Hill Farm, also in Pownal, since 2019. Jenny moved to Vermont in 2006 after growing up and living in NYC for her first 40 years, An event manager by trade, she worked as a stage manager on Broadway and National Tours for 10 years. She managed events at Williams College and large festivals for downtown Bennington as the Executive Director of the Better Bennington Corporation. Now she is 100% focused on her own business and happier than ever. Jenny is thrilled to join the board of VTSTRA and looks forward to helping to advocate for this very legitimate business and career.  

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.

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.

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 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.