Dear People of God in the Diocese of Vermont,
Please join me in welcoming Margaret Schotto and Sophie Kitch-Peck to the diocesan staff. Margaret, our new manager of diocesan operations, begins work on October 1. Sophie begins part-time work as my executive assistant on October 1, then assumes full time duties when they take on the additional role of director of communications on November 1.
Both Sophie and Margaret bring impressive skills, essential experience and a deep knowledge of the Episcopal Church to their work. They will play important roles in implementing the diocese’s new strategic plan, to which many of you have contributed essential feedback, and which we will explore in greater detail at diocesan convention.
Margaret was most recently property portfolio manager for the Diocese of Maryland. As manager of operations, they will shoulder a wide range of responsibilities, serving as the diocese’s project manager, our human resources manager, our Safe Church coordinator and the first point of contact for congregations and diocesan bodies on property matters.
They will coordinate the diocese’s grant seeking; serve as disaster preparedness coordinator, manage IT issues at the diocesan office and oversee planning for diocesan convention. By virtue of their position, Margaret will be a member of the diocesan property committee and an ex officio member of the Trustees of the Diocese of Vermont.
Before beginning their work with the Diocese of Maryland, Margaret had an extensive career in university housing, working most recently at the University of Maryland’s Baltimore campus and at Frostburg State University. They have a bachelor’s degree in education from Potsdam College and a master’s degree in education from the State University of New York at Potsdam. Margaret’s spouse, the Rev. Kathleen Schotto, is the new rector of Holy Trinity, Swanton and vicar of St. John’s, Highgate. They have 20-year-old twin sons.
Sophie is already immersed in the life of our diocese. They have spent the last three years as communications coordinator for Canticle Communications, the firm that currently handles diocesan communications. Canticle will work with Sophie through a transition period that ends November 30.
In their role as my executive assistant, Sophie will manage my correspondence and calendar, including my visitation schedule. They will also process annual licenses; welcome clergy new to the diocese; organize Clergy Days and retreats; prepare Letters Dimissory; manage background screenings; and maintain the Bishop’s Book of Official Acts.
As communications director, they will write and edit The Mountain; update the website; maintain our social media presence; liaise with church and secular media; manage internal communications from the bishop’s office, and manage the online portion of diocesan convention.
The child of a priest, Sophie has been steeped in the life of the Episcopal Church from an early age. They were a deputy to the 2018 General Convention and member of the Task Force to Study Sexism in the Episcopal Church and Develop Anti-Sexism Training from 2018 to 2021.
After serving in Colorado with Episcopal Service Corps, they joined Canticle Communications. At the 2022 General Convention, Sophie co-created the popular HOD News TikTok account, which they reprised at the 2024 convention. Sophie is a 2020 graduate of Mount Holyoke College with a double major in religion and theatre.
The arrival of these two highly-qualified staff members enhances our ability to offer services to our congregations and the people of their diocese, and I look forward to their contributions to the common life of our diocesan household.
Peace and blessings,
