Katherine Sims, director of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative, was guest speaker during St. Johnsbury Rotary Club's weekly meeting Dec. 2. NKC brings together local, state and federal partners to advance economic development in communities across the Northeast Kingdom. Prior to her work at NKC, Sims was founder and executive director of Green Mountain Farm-to-School, a nonprofit working to improve childhood nutrition and support Vermont farms by connecting schools and farms through food and education. She also worked as an independent consultant to nonprofits helping to build their organizations through fundraising plans, leadership development, and succession planning. Sims spoke to Rotarians about advancing economic development around the strength of food; and about launching the NEK Leadership Institute, starting Jan. 15 with 20 chosen applicants. Sims graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in History. She serves on the board of the Vermont Land Trust and Craftsbury Saplings, and is a member of the Vermont Community Foundation. She lives in Craftsbury with her husband and two sons. St. Johnsbury Rotary honors guest speakers by donating a book to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum with the speaker's name inside. Above, Sims is shown with the book, "Pan's Labyrinth," presented by Rotarian Martha Hill.
