Charles G. Lief
Principal, The Hartland Group
Colchester, Vermont
Elected 1986 (Trustee)
JD, University of Colorado
BA, Brandeis University

Charles G. Lief is a principal in the Hartland Group, Community Developers and Consultants of Burlington, Vermont, which creates stimulating living and workplaces in existing downtowns and emerging New Urbanist neighborhoods. He is the strategic planning consultant to VidaCare, a nonprofit Special Needs HMO serving low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS in New York City.

Lief served as a managing partner of a Colorado law firm (1977–83); built, owned and operated an award-winning historic hotel and restaurant in Halifax, Nova Scotia; and wrote two best-selling cookbooks. He was the chief operating officer of Maritime Capital Management, a Halifax-based real estate development, property management and general contracting company (1984–92).

He is a board member and treasurer of the Intervale Foundation, which develops farm-and land-based enterprises that generate economic and social opportunity while protecting natural resources. He is vice-chair of the board of the Vermont Community Loan Fund and is on the Center for Cartoon Studies board. He was a board member and past chair of Shambhala International.

He and his wife, Judith, have two daughters, both Naropa University graduates, and two grandchildren.