MANCHESTER, VT – The Board of Trustees of the Orton Family Foundation has unanimously appointed Bill Roper President and CEO, succeeding William Shutkin in this role.

Over an eight year period, Roper has played an integral role in developing the Foundation's strategies and delivering its programs to communities. Beginning in 1998 Roper was responsible for the launch and development of the Foundation's former Community Mapping, Community Video and Citizen Planner programs. He soon transitioned into the position of Director of Programs and in 2002 served as Interim President and CEO. Roper served from 2003 to present as the Foundation's Director of Planning Action, overseeing on-the-ground projects and program activities. Prior to his tenure at the Foundation, he worked for 14 years as a lawyer, promoting sound local and statewide land use decisions in Vermont.

"Bill Roper has been key to the successful work of the Foundation for the past eight years," says Lyman Orton, Founder and Board Chair. "Bill really gets it about the issues facing small cities and towns as their citizens struggle to retain a community's character while economic expansion and growth occurs. He knows these things from experience living in the small town of Middlebury, Vermont, and from his study of the human and legal issues involved as towns fight to hang onto their soul."

The Foundation remains committed to bringing its unique combination of staff expertise, innovative and effective planning tools, and communication and dissemination capabilities to communities and other partners seeking to steer the course of change.

"I look forward to working with the Foundation's excellent staff and its committed partners in this new capacity to educate, engage and enable citizens and their communities to imagine, understand and plan their land-use futures," says Bill Roper.

About the Orton Family Foundation

The Orton Family Foundation seeks to transform the land use planning system as a pathway to vibrant and sustainable communities. In partnership with non-profit organizations, local and regional planning agencies and others, the Foundation helps engage and empower people to make land use decisions inspired by their community's heart and soul. The Foundation embraces the poet Gary Snyder's belief that "People who can agree they share a commitment to the landscape - even if they are otherwise locked in struggle with each other - have at least one deep thing to share."

Related Link: Orton Family Foundation website

For more information contact:

John Fox
Orton Family Foundation
PO Box 295
Manchester Village
Vermont 05161
USA

Phone: 802-367-6336
Email: [email protected]