Brown and Heintz join NFCT board

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail welcomed two new board members at its December 2017 meeting. Below are their bios.

Dan Brown, Middlebury, VT

In his first career, Dan served as a US Navy aviator. In his second career, he decided to become an innkeeper and is currently owner of the Swift House Inn in Middlebury, Vermont.  However, Dan is also driven by community service, and he has a deep affinity for outdoor adventure.

Last year, when we sent out a call inviting members to consider joining the Northern Forest Canoe Trail Board of Directors, he responded: “I am passionate about giving back, enjoy serving on boards, and have been impressed with every aspect of the NFCT organization. I have a desire to be more involved with outdoor/adventure activity.”

Dan first learned about the Trail from a presentation by thru-paddler Peter McFarlane. He left the show compelled to thru-paddle himself, which he did in 2014.

“We are pleased to have Dan’s board experience, organizational leadership skills, talent for motivating and coordinating volunteers and his real passion for the Trail on our team,” said NFCT Board President Don Hudson.

 

Paul Heintz, Hinesburg, VT

Paul HeintzHeintz read Paul Schneider’s September 2006 New York Times piece, “The Magnificent Obsession of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail,” and as a result became obsessed with the NFCT himself. In May 2008, he set out from Old Forge with one of his closest friends and paddled for the next 51 days to Fort Kent, Maine. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of his life, he said.

When asked why he wanted to join the board Paul replied, “Serving on NFCT’s board would provide an opportunity to give back to a trail that has given me so much. I am excited to help ensure that this resource is available for many more generations of paddlers.”

Paul is the political editor of Vermont’s Seven Days newspaper. He got his start in journalism at PBS’s “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer,” served as Congressman Peter Welch’s (D-Vt.) communications director in Washington, D.C., and has written for several Vermont publications. In addition to his NFCT thru-paddle, Heintz paddled the Connecticut River from source to sea in 2005 and thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2011. He lives in Hinesburg, Vt., with his wife, son and mutt.

“Paul’s, passion for paddling and the outdoors will boost our mission and support our members,” said Executive Director Karrie Thomas.

NFCT Board

The Board of Directors of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail reviews applications from new directors throughout the year for consideration in December. NFCT’s board provides strategic direction, fiduciary oversight and governance to America’s best water trail. It complements an exceptional staff and many energetic volunteers. Service on the NFCT board involves hard work, a lot of fun, and the satisfaction of service to the paddlers and communities of the northern forest region. A full list of expectations and responsibilities can be found on our Employment page.

 

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