NICK Richardson
Favorite Part of Job? Helping us figure out what comes next.
Most Inspiring Mentor: Stuart Comstock Gay, until recently head of the 
Vermont Community Foundation. Stu taught me how to get out of my head and follow my heart; and to try to find the fun in each day.
Tell us something fun about yourself that few people know: In Vermont few people know that I have an identical twin brother (see photo). He lives in California.
Favorite Vermont Escape: Getting away from it all for me means riding the app gap on my bicycle. It's always a journey.
Favorite Downtime Activity: What's downtime? Honestly, hanging out with my family and watching my kids grow up here.
Favorite Social Media: Instagram- it's just the right level of investment for me; and I love seeing the world through the eyes of my network.
Person you would like to share a Vermont beverage with: Who wouldn't I want to share a Vermont beverage with! Vermont is full of interesting people who love this place for a range of reasons.
What is the best career advice you have received? To try something different, and to keep my perspective open.
Where do you see yourself professionally in ten years? I see myself either leading an organization that has a meaningful role to play in the future of Vermont- and in particular how we strengthen our resilience and economy, or possible starting something new focused on building social capital.
Career Highlights: There are several- I think perhaps my favorite moment was when I was voted commencement speaker by the graduating class at Dorchester High School in Boston, where I worked for four years running a youth organizing project. That was an amazing group of students dealing with a huge set of obstacles that most of us never experience. I'm humbled to this day by their courage, fortitude, and capacity to envision a better future for themselves.
Community Involvement: Through my work on the board of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund I feel like I get to help shape and support a program that is doing so much to change our food system in ways that also strengthen communities. It's an amazing organization, a great group of folks on the Board, and I'm really proud of the work that we do, in many ways behind the scenes, to help move the food system forward.