Representative Ela Chapin was born and raised in Calais, Vermont. Ela now lives in East Montpelier with her husband and children. Her professional background includes a decade working in outdoor education and leadership development, and 15 years supporting entrepreneurs and expanding local and regional food systems. Named a rising star by Vermont Business Magazine in 2014, Ela is founder of the National Farm Viability Conference, co-founder of the Agricultural Viability Alliance, and was director of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board’s Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program from 2006-2021. She holds a master’s degree in policy and planning from Tufts University, a bachelor’s in environmental science from Brown University, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Marlboro College. Ela currently serves on the Northern Forest Center's review committee for workforce housing projects, and has served on a variety of other boards, including Community Capital of Vermont, the Agricultural Viability Alliance, the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, Vermont Farm to Plate, and the Vermont Compost Association. Ela loves to hike, dance, travel and garden.