Jane Lazorchak – Climate Action Office Director

Jane.lazorchak@vermont.gov

802-505-0561

With a Master of Science from the Ecological Planning Program at UVM, Jane began her career in public service with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Throughout her 15 years with the Department, Jane served in various roles, most recently as the Public Land Section Chief, where she conserved more than 10,000 acres of public land and oversaw public land management for the Department. In early 2020, Jane stepped into a new role working as the Director of the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA). As the Director, Jane worked closely with the Climate Council to stand up Vermont’s Initial Climate Action Plan in December of 2021. The plan speaks to how the state will cut our emissions while investing in our rural communities to adapt to climate change, build resilience and enhance the sequestration of our working and natural lands. As Vermont now stands up a Climate Action Office, Jane works with staff to coordinate and provide expertise and capacity on state-led climate initiatives, as well as the monitoring, assessment and tracking of climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience activities necessary to evaluate progress over time in achieving the requirements of the GWSA through implementation of the Plan. Jane lives in Waitsfield with her husband, twin boys, and daughter and loves all things active and outside.

 

Brian Woods – Climate Change Mitigation and Modeling Coordinator

brian.woods@vermont.gov

802-272-4496

Brian is the Climate Office Mitigation and Economic Modeling Analyst. He has over 30 years of experience in state government, with the last 14 years increasingly devoted to state and regional climate policy and analysis. He has represented Vermont in regional discussions and negotiations on various climate policy proposals, including a standard for low-carbon fuels and a cap-and-invest program for the transportation sector. He is the agency's staff lead on Vermont's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative which limits carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in environmental management. When not at work he tries to run as many errands as possible on his vintage mountain bike.

 

Marian Wolz – Resilience and Adaptation Coordinator

Marian.wolz@vermont.gov

802-636-7667

Marian is the Resilience and Adaptation Coordinator in the Climate Action Office where she works closely with state and local partners to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. Marian’s work focuses on supporting and building capacity in communities to implement adaptation actions and coordinating with other state agencies on resilience and adaptation policy. Marian joined the Climate Action Office in 2022, after serving as the Global Warming Solutions Act Coordinator working with the Vermont Climate Council to write Vermont's Initial Climate Action Plan. Marian has experience in statewide emergency response and recovery, and community planning for affordability and multi-modal transportation. She holds a bachelor's degree in public and urban affairs. Marian lives in Berlin and enjoys biking, hiking, and eating baked goods.

 

 

Sophi Veltrop – Community Engagement & Communications Coordinator

sophi.veltrop@vermont.gov

802-522-9555

Sophi joined the Climate Action Office in 2023 to support community engagement and communications efforts. In this role she collects and shares public input about climate action and climate-related policy with decision-makers and implementers. Her role also includes making State of Vermont climate information meaningful and accessible to Vermonters. Sophi comes to the Agency of Natural Resources with communications experience working for natural and working lands non-profits, as well as engagement work through extracurricular education programs. She lives in a mountain hollow flanked by Winooski River headwaters in Woodbury.

 

 

Liz Amler – Climate Planning Administrator

elizabeth.amler@vermont.gov

802-636-7556

Liz is the Climate Planning Administrator in the Climate Action Office. In her role, Liz serves as the administrative lead to the Climate Action Plan and its 2025 update, and works closely with state agencies on implementation of the Plan. Her work also focuses on administering federal funds. Liz joined the Climate Action Office in 2024, after serving as a Policy Fellow at the Office of Sustainability at the University of Vermont where she also received her Master’s of Public Administration. Liz lives in Colchester and in her free time enjoys sailing, hiking and cross country skiing.

 

 

Evan Horne – Resilient Lands Coordinator 

evan.horne@vermont.gov

802-636-7925

Evan works to enhance ecological resilience and climate adaptation across Vermont’s natural and working lands. In this role, he collaborates with other state departments, agencies, and community organizations to build strategic partnerships that foster a coordinated approach to sustainable land stewardship, supporting state and regional climate goals. His work also supports the development of the natural and working lands sections of the Climate Action Plan and the Resilience Implementation Strategy. Evan joined the Climate Action Office in 2024 after graduating with a master’s in plant biology from the Field Naturalist Program at the University of Vermont. He lives in Burlington, enjoys botanizing, and is an avid backpacker, having thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.

 

Vacant – Climate Change Mitigation Program Lead

Vacant – Climate Change Data and Progress Analyst