Meet Elizabeth Palchak
Executive Director
elizabeth.palchak@groundworkcenter.org | (231) 941-6584 x: 700
Elizabeth Palchak, Ph.D., joined Traverse City’s Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities as Executive Director in November 2024, returning to her home state of Michigan. She previously served as Director of Sustainability at the University of Vermont, implementing UVM’s first Comprehensive Sustainability Plan to cut greenhouse-gas emissions through partnerships. Earlier, as a clean energy consultant at VEIC, she helped design demand-side energy management programs and helped launch the Energy Equity Project. She’s also led in the field—as a NOLS mountain instructor and as a farm educator with schoolchildren.
“I came to Groundwork because I believe this remarkable organization is uniquely positioned to meet this moment—for the planet, for our communities, and for our children,” Elizabeth says. “Our work has never been more important than it is right now.”
At Groundwork, Elizabeth leads the staff and Groundwork supporters to advance enduring, equitable local solutions that preserve the environment, strengthen the economy, and build healthy, thriving communities. That means work you can implement and measure—projects that give more people access to healthy food while supporting family farms, reduce risk of climate pollution and rising energy costs, and give more people more and better transportation options. These are projects that help communities thrive by making sustainability real and possible in everyday life.
“It’s crucial that Michigan stay focused on building resilient communities and a strong economy, and protecting the natural resources that make this a great place to live, raise a family, and build a career,” Elizabeth says.