Innovators in Rural Community Economic Development

State Agency

Yellow Wood brings a special combination of content and process expertise to our work.

We invite you to explore our work.  Recent projects and presentations are listed below.  You can explore additional work using the various tags in the right hand column.

Forestry Industry Systems Analysis for the State of Vermont

Yellow Wood, in consultation with the Working Lands Enterprise Board Forestry subcommittee of the State of Vermont, is working to provide a systems analysis of the forest and wood products industry.  This work will engage a variety of stakeholders…

New England Beef to Institution Steering Committee Facilitation

Yellow Wood served as a strategic partner and facilitator for eight monthly calls with the New England Beef to Institution Steering Committee. The purpose of the group is to cultivate a Community of Practice that enables participants to discuss challenges…

State of Vermont Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Targeted Strengthening of Municipal Hazard Mitigation Planning

Under the direction of Peg Elmer of Community-Resilience.org, Yellow Wood engaged in targeted strengthening of municipal hazard mitigation planning in the state of Vermont. Yellow Wood assisted in guiding and augmenting national research related to…

Maine Community Forest Workshops

Shanna Ratner of Yellow Wood Associates facilitated two daylong participatory workshops for communities that owned and managed forestland and for communities that were interested in acquiring forestland, using Yellow Wood’s See the Forest® interactive…

Vermont Department of Education Secondary Team You Get What You Measure® In Use

Yellow Wood provided a two day You Get What You Measure® In Use workshop to the Secondary Team of the Division of Lifelong Learning, Vermont Department of Education. The purpose of the workshop was to identify priority areas for team focus, create a…

Connecticut Climate Change Workshop: Measuring Progress in Climate Change Action Plan Implementation, Measurement Presentation

Shanna Ratner presented "The Power of Measurement and Developing Measurement Plans" at the Connecticut Climate Change Workshop: Measuring Progress in Climate Change Action Plan Implementation held in Waterford, CT on October 24-26, 2006. The purpose…

Deep Root Organic Cooperative Market Analysis

Yellow Wood Associates conducted market research on behalf of Deep Root Organic Cooperative with current buyers, supermarket chains, food coops and natural food stores, institutions, wholesalers/distributors, and organic processors to learn about the…

2005 Vermont Planning Celebration, “Building Healthy Communities” Session, Presentation on Green Community Technologies

Melissa Levy presented on Green Community Technologies® as part of the "Building Health Communities" session at the 2005 Vermont Planning Celebration.  The presentation discussed identifying new technologies and sustainable approaches to managing community…

Becoming a Measurement Guide Training, November 2004

Members of the November 2004 Becoming a Measurement Guide class included Monica Stone, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Samin Dadelahi, Wyoming Community Foundation. Since 2002, Yellow Wood has been offering professionals with facilitation…

Study of Geographical and Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Towns of Hartford, Norwich relative to the ULSRPC, TRORC and SWCRPC

Collected and geo-referenced data on the socio-economic characteristics of the Towns of Hartford, Norwich, and Hartland, Vermont in relation to three regional planning commission districts to assist the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development…

Becoming a Measurement Guide Training, February 2002

Members of the first Becoming a Measurement Guide class included Sunny Walker, SunWalker Enterprises, Colorado; Suzanne Hughes, ACT Missouri; Jon Zeltsman, Zeltsman Associates, New York; and Michaela Stickney, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Since…

Missouri Tri-Agency Facilitation and Measurement Training

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. trained 26 people from the Missouri Departments of Economic Development, Health, and Mental Health, in You Get What You Measure®, Yellow Wood’s unique approach to measuring progress toward goals. Participants applied You…

Missouri Conference Keynote and Training

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. facilitated a training and presented a keynote at “Seeing Beyond the Symptoms: A Conference of Community Change Agents,” sponsored by the Missouri Association of Community Task Forces in conjunction with the Missouri Department…

Vermont Department of Personnel Cyprian Learning Center Measurement Workshops

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. delivered its interactive workshop, You Get What You Measure®, for state government employees at Vermont’s Cyprian Learning Center, a state personnel training center. Follow-up from the initial workshop included working…

Vermont Department of Agriculture Strategic Plan for Marketing & Development

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. worked with industry groups, staff and legislators on a three-phase strategic planning process with the Agriculture Development Division of the Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

Tug Hill Eastern Core Forest

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. used telephone interviews and literature reviews to prepare a case study based on the collaborative efforts of the East Branch of Fish Creek Working Group to conserve and protect the Tug Hill Eastern Core Forest

Rural Community Capacity Building

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. delivered a two-day training program in collaboration with Vicki Creed of Learning Partners on community capacity building for the Massachusetts Rural Development Council (MRDC) and the Agency of Community Development.…

New York State Governor's Council on Forest Resources

Shanna Ratner, Principal of Yellow Wood Associates, Inc., served on a statewide council to improve industry - government communications, and to strengthen the forest products industry of New York State. Ms. Ratner served as the Chair of the Public…

Four State Produce Marketing Implementation - Year Two

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. co-organized a regional wholesale produce marketing workshop for growers and buyers, developed a detailed organizational plan for the New England Produce Program, and prepared a guidebook for direct and traditional wholesale…

Hay Marketing Cooperative Feasibility Study

With input from an advisory group of farmers, Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. performed market research and a producer survey to determine the feasibility of starting a hay marketing cooperative in central Vermont. Results included the preparation of…

Linking Biological Diversity and Sustainable Economic Development in the Adirondacks

Presented “Perspectives On Sustaining Economic Development In The Park In Balance With Nature - What’s Needed Here” at the Adirondack Park Centennial Forum

Four State Produce Marketing Study - Year One

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. identified the potential for regional wholesale marketing of locally grown produce in the Connecticut River Valley including Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Funding was received through a Federal/State…

Market Research for Holstein Beef

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. conducted market research to determine the demand and production requirements for Holstein beef at various stages of production, from birth to finish weight. The study involved the integration of production and marketing…