Our Team

Lyssa Schmidt

Executive Director

Schmidt brings a decade of experience working with mission-driven organizations, including leadership roles in media, marketing, and nonprofit development. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Print Journalism from UW-Eau Claire, an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology and a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership Management. She is the founder of a small business that provides grant writing services to small and early stage nonprofits, with more than a decade serving these organizations. As Executive Director, she will lead efforts to expand environmental education partnerships, deepen community engagement, and secure sustainable funding for VDBA’s restoration and programming initiatives.