Leadership

Chad Butt (he/him)

Executive Director

Chad has dedicated his professional career to advancing the youth mentoring field. While in college, Chad co-founded a school-based mentoring program at a local middle school for youth with learning differences, and was a student leader and mentor in a community-based mentoring program. After college, he worked as the Program Director of The DREAM Program, a village mentoring program that matches youth from local affordable housing communities and mentors from neighboring colleges, providing year-round wraparound services. Chad joined MENTOR Vermont in 2013 as the executive director to lead the organization’s expansion into a statewide mentoring partnership. Chad lives in Burlington with his wife and two kids. Chad tries his best to emulate living life like his grandfather, who got older but never grew up. He loves taking on projects around his house, biking, basketball, spending time with friends, snacks, and checking things off to-do lists.

Liz Ewan (she/her)

Associate Director

[email protected]

Liz has committed over 15 years to the youth mentoring and youth international exchange fields. She is passionate about experiential education and cultivating supportive and enriching relationships where youth have the support they need to explore and grow. Liz began her work in mentoring with the DREAM Program in Vermont, where she focused on staff training, program outcomes and strategic planning. After moving to Washington, D.C., Liz worked as a school coordinator for Everybody Wins! DC, while earning a M.A. in Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs. She finished her time in Washington, D.C. as a Program Officer with World Learning, working on U.S. Department of State sponsored exchange programs. More recently, Liz provided project management services to a global network of international exchange providers, designing and implementing a quality certification for international exchange organizations. Liz currently serves as the MENTOR Vermont TA Lead and liaison with MENTOR National for the NMRC and overseas MENTOR Vermont’s long-term evaluation strategy and goals. She provides operational and project management support to the MENTOR Vermont team and ensures organizational strategy is in alignment with MENTOR Vermont’s guiding principles. Liz is the mom of two spirited young boys who keep her on her toes – skiing, constructing Legos, and building forts. Liz loves the mountains, traveling new places, state fairs, waterskiing, and hot pretzels.

Sarah DeBouter (she/her)

Training & Support Director

[email protected] | (802) 277-2418

Sarah comes to MENTOR Vermont with 10+ years of nonprofit, training, and coaching experience. Working with multiple populations ranging from children, homeless veterans, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and active duty distance-learners in higher education, she is excited to bring her energy and enthusiasm to her new role providing training and support to youth programs in the State of Vermont. With a Master of Science in Leadership and Change Management/Consulting, Sarah believes firmly in building positive and inclusive spaces that welcome diversity and foster an environment of autonomy, respect, and shared values. A native Vermonter, she enjoys spending her spare time doing multiple winter activities, playing music, lounging/reading with her cat, and performing in local theater productions and Renaissance Faires.

Mary Rockwell Thon (she/her)

Development Director

[email protected] | (802) 277-2417

Mary joins MENTOR Vermont with over 20 years of nonprofit development and communication experience, most recently with the Alzheimer’s Association Vermont Chapter and Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. She is a networker and relationship builder, connecting partners and their desire to advance change with the mission of an organization. Always working to use ethical, best practices in fundraising, and clear, relatable communications, she is excited to tell the story of MENTOR Vermont and mentoring across Vermont in order to strengthen the quality and broaden the reach of mentoring relationships in our communities. She is a creator, and enjoys painting, fiber arts, sewing, and gardening. Mary lives in Richmond with her husband, and they have 3 grown children and two grandchildren.

Kim Gleason (she/her)

Partnership & Outreach Specialist

[email protected] | (802) 277-2419

Kim has a deep appreciation for the value of meaningful connections between our communities, our schools and our youth. She has been a mentor since 2013 and served on the advisory council for the school-based mentoring program. Kim also served with MENTOR Vermont as the Mentoring Recruitment Manager for Grand Isle and Franklin Counties in 2025, making connections between schools and community partners in those counties.

Kim has been involved in education leadership since 2007, serving first on the Essex and Essex Westford School District boards for nearly 15 years. And has served in statewide roles to include the Vermont School Boards Association board, Vermont State Board of Education, and the School District Redistricting Task Force. Kim continues to serve on the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network (VSARN) board, supporting this youth-led organization in its mission to “achieve education without racism through education about racism,” while ensuring that youth voice is centered in this work through grassroots organizing, book projects and legislative outreach. Kim also serves on the Vermont Municipal Employees Retirement System board, the Vermont Pension Investment Commission, and the Friends of Vermont Public Education board.

Kim looks forward to bringing her passion for mentoring and her relationships within the Vermont education communities together in her role as Partnership & Outreach Specialist. Kim lives in Grand Isle with her husband and two pups, and enjoys visits from their four adult children to enjoy Lake Champlain and our beautiful Vermont mountains.