Abby Lovshin-Smith

Director

Abby Lovshin-Smith (she/her) began her Brown Ledge career as a camper in 1993. She graduated from the JC program in 2000, and went on to spend five summers as a Sailing counselor through the summer of 2006. Abby was born and raised in Vermont, but spent 18 years down South attending Auburn University in Alabama and earning her BS in Interior Design. Her design skills lead her to a 12-year career in visual merchandising and retail management with Anthropologie in Atlanta, GA, and Nashville, TN, culminating in managing 3 stores in the Nashville area.

She returned home to Vermont in 2019 as Brown Ledge’s Director following Bill and Kathy Neilsen’s honorable and cherished 36-year run.

Abby credits Brown Ledge with teaching her to be brave and independent. When not at camp, she and her husband Mitchell, and daughters Dottie and Mabel reside in Middlebury, Vermont. 

Marjorie Isaacs

Assistant Director

Shannon Elford

Operations Director

Shannon Elford(she/her) first came to Brown Ledge as the Head of Swimming in 2018. In 2020, she joined the year-round team as the Operations Coordinator. Shannon and her wife Sam stepped in to lead the BLC Waterfront program in 2021, ensuring the continued safety and quality programming Brown Ledge is known for. Shannon became our Operations Director in 2023, where she oversees all our finances, human resources, program supplies and equipment, and too many other things to list!

Shannon grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated with a BA in Art Studies from Arizona State University in 2016. She was the Head Coach and Program Director for an all-girls rowing team in Arizona for several years. She and her wife, Sam Newbery (senior staff 2015-2022), now live in South Burlington, Vermont.

Mitchell Watson

Facilities Coordinator

Mitchell Watson started with Brown Ledge in 2019, and worked his way into his current role as Facilities Coordinator. Under the tutelage of former director Bill Neilsen, Mitchell has learned the in’s and out’s of the Brown Ledge facility. This includes camp’s intricate water and sewer system, caring for over 70 buildings, and maintaining the grounds. He also is responsible for vendor relations.

When he is not chasing around his two daughters (Dottie and Mabel), Mitchell enjoys watching football, playing pickleball, and hiking when he has the time. Mitchell appreciates the sense of community that comes with working at BLC.

Greg Snedeker

Fundraising Director

Greg Snedeker (he/him) has been connected to Brown Ledge since 1986 when Bill and Kathy Neilsen hired him to be the camp bugler and choral director. He was the camp bugler (86-89), choral director (86), and a counselor in diving (with Hans Nilsson in 1987) and tennis (88-89). He is married to Kathy Roberts-Snedeker (camper/JC, 76-82, water ski/swimming counselor, 85-87, 89-90) and the father of Mia Snedeker (camper/JC, 2015-present). He is grateful for the deep and lasting impact BLC has had on him and his family and is proud that he has attended every BLC Alumni Camp since 1987, has only missed one Work Weekend since it began, and served on the BLC Board of Directors for six years.

He holds a B.A. in Economics from Boston University and a M.M. and D.M.A. in Music from UMass-Amherst and The Hartt School, University of Hartford. He has taught music and economics for twenty-eight years, the past seventeen years at the Stoneleigh-Burnham School (Greenfield, MA), an all-girls gender inclusive school serving grades 7-PG. He also brings with him eighteen years of public sector experience (Selectboard, Town Assessor, Municipal Capital Planning, Grant Administration, Education Regionalization Planning). He loves all things Brown Ledge and looks forward to helping camp reach its fundraising and development goals to perpetuate BLC and its mission far into the future.

Maddie Mandeville

Office Coordinator

Maddie (she/her), maybe more than most, is a product of Brown Ledge Camp. She started the summer of 1997, at 9 months old, with her mom Sally deOliva Mandeville. She returned to camp each year with her mom through 2003, and was a camper, JC, and Riflery senior staff between the years 2006-2015.

Maddie graduated from the University of Vermont in 2018 with BAs in Economics and Political Science. For the past five years, she helped operate and manage three retail stores within one company. Her work was focused on maintaining smooth daily operations, managing a team, and creating and maintaining excellent customer relations. Maddie is excited to bring these skills the Office Coordinator position, and to uphold and expand Brown Ledge’s traditions and values.

Emmie Nilsson

JC Director

Emmie Nilsson is a lifelong Brown Ledger; she started camp at the age of two, arriving at camp with her parents, waterfront counselors Hans and Eva Nilsson. Once she was old enough to move into a camper cabin, Emmie became a camper, junior counselor, and then a senior counselor. Emmie spent most of her time at camp on the waterfront, earning her Sailing Vanguard and becoming the head of the sailing department for multiple summers. Emmie graduated from the European School of Economics with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, specializing in international marketing and event management. After graduation, Emmie worked at Georg Jensen in Copenhagen in a variety of roles utilizing her online marketing and project management skills. Currently, Emmie is living in Hemsedal, Norway, working as Sales and Marketing Director for a boutique mountain hotel. Emmie leads the junior counselors (JCs) with steady and consistent support, unbridled enthusiasm for all things Brown Ledge, and a great sense of fun.

Hilary Strimple Chiang

NEW! Executive Director

Hilary Strimple Chiang is a former Brown Ledge camper (2000-2005), junior counselor (2006-2007), and counselor (2009-2012, 2014). She also served on the Brown Ledge Board of Directors (2020-2024) and was Board President (2021-2023). Her mother, aunt, sister, and three cousins are also Brown Ledge alumni. Her mother, Liz Smith Strimple, also served on the Brown Ledge Board of Directors and was Board President.  Hilary brings a wealth of experience in non-profit management, fundraising, and implementing executive leadership strategies. Her impressive expertise is matched only by her knowledge and love of BLC. Hilary will join us on Malletts Bay with her husband Alex and son Rockwell.

See her job description here.

Brooks Johnson

NEW! Camp Director

Brooks Johnson comes to us after 16 years’ experience teaching, coaching, and serving on the leadership team at Dublin School in Dublin, NH (including the roles of Dean of Students and Athletic Director). He also brings 18 summers of camp experience as a counselor, lifeguard, blacksmith teacher, and senior staff member at Camp Deerwood, a boy’s camp on Squam Lake in Holderness, NH. He has an extensive background working with children, parents, and educators in a variety of experiential learning environments, as well as supporting structural, programmatic, and personnel additions and improvements at Dublin School. Brooks, his wife Kelly, and their five children (ages 2-19) are excited to join the Brown Ledge community. Their three youngest daughters are looking forward to joining Brown Ledge as campers, this summer and in the future!

See his job description here.