NENSA is thrilled to welcome Kait Miller back to our team as Community Engagement Director!
Kait brings a lifelong love of skiing, a deep commitment to equity in the outdoors, and extensive experience within the cross-country skiing community and beyond. A NENSA member since childhood, Kait began skiing with friends through Stowe Nordic’s Bill Koch League and attended their first Bill Koch Festival in 1999. As a Junior, they raced for the Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club before going on to ski and study at Bowdoin College, where they earned a degree in Biology and Visual Art. Kait later competed professionally with the Craftsbury Green Racing Project and represented the U.S. at the 2018 Winter Olympics. During their time with the GRP, they also coached youth ski and bike programs and organized a summer trail race series at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, helping to build a vibrant, inclusive community.
From 2020 to 2023, Kait served as NENSA’s Youth & Introductory Program Director, working tirelessly to create welcoming and inclusive opportunities for all, expand access to skiing, and support youth across the Northeast US. NENSA programming developed by Kait is serving the next generation in their journeys on skis and through life. Kait was recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and Team USA Partner Comcast for their work at NENSA as a 2023 Team USA Community Champion.
Most recently, Kait expanded their communications and marketing skills at a mission-driven staffing agency, further deepening their expertise in storytelling and outreach. Simultaneously, Kait channeled their art and design talents into the creation of Star Pudding Design, a graphic design studio. All the while, Kait has remained involved with the ski community in New England as a member of the advisory board for the new Mansfield Pro Nordic Team, a member of NENSA’s Transgender Committee, and a design consultant at NENSA.
Heidi Lange, Executive Director, is thrilled to welcome Kait back to the NENSA team. “Kait returns to NENSA with the creativity and vision for making skiing more accessible and inspiring for all. With years of experience as a skier, program director, artist, and communications specialist, they bring a deep commitment to an inclusive, active ski community and a collaborative and welcoming spirit to our team and the NENSA community. I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome them back to NENSA!”
Kait shares, “After working as the Communications Manager for an equitable staffing agency and further developing my marketing and communication skills, I’m excited to return to NENSA as the Community Engagement Director. NENSA’s work and mission has been personally impactful and I’m looking forward to nurturing and sustaining an active ski community for all and giving back to an organization that has helped shape my life.”
NENSA Board Member and Past-Chair Carol Van Dyke was also Kait’s BKL coach. Considering their many years of connection, she shares, “So excited Kait is back joining the NENSA staff. They are a multi-talented intelligent person with a plethora of experience with all aspects of cross country skiing which I have joyfully witnessed since they were a Lollipopper. NENSA will benefit immensely with Kait’s organizational skills and energetic vision.”
“My favorite ski memory is a 12-hour solstice ski with my sister and our best friends who we met through the Bill Koch League,” Kait recalls. “We had a rule that we couldn’t take off our skis so we took breaks by sitting on a cabin porch with our skis dangling over the edge. And as all good adventures should be, our ski was largely fueled by cookies and hot cocoa.”
Kait reflects, “In collaboration with the staff, I’m looking forward to finding creative ways to better connect with our community members and amplify their stories and successes.”
NENSA Board Chair Ellen Chandler knows firsthand the contributions Kait brings: “Kait’s commitment to cross country skiing knows no bounds; they are always looking for new ways to engage and expand our community. I have enjoyed working with Kait on specific events and know that our organization will benefit from their professional expertise across the range of NENSA programs.”
Please join us in giving Kait a warm welcome back and stay tuned for stories and opportunities to come!
The Community Engagement Director at NENSA leads communications, storytelling, and outreach efforts that deepen community connections, strengthen the organization’s brand, and advance NENSA’s mission. This leadership role involves managing digital content, social media, partnerships, and member engagement while championing inclusion and amplifying visibility across NENSA’s diverse programs and events.
The position has been most recently held by Isabel Caldwell, who remains part of the NENSA team in a part-time role focused on skier development (including, of course, Tuesday Tracks!) while returning to the classroom as a middle school science teacher. We’re celebrating this new chapter with Isabel and are deeply grateful for the passion and creativity she continues to bring to our ski community and beyond.
