Our Staff

My oldest daughter Christin likes to refer to Calvin Coolidge as my spirit animal, whatever that means.

I grew up on Coolidge Ave in White Plains, NY and when I went to UVM, I lived in the Coolidge dormitory. So naturally, when I decided to buy an Inn I serendipitously fell in love with one located in the city where President Coolidge was born, and where the man stayed a time or two in the early 1900s. Many of the best parts of my life are somehow associated with Calvin Coolidge as well as the Green Mountain State.

Both of my parents are native Vermonters and I grew up spending summers at the farm my mother grew up on in Poultney, as well as my dad’s family home in Proctor. My dad was the son of a marble cutter in Proctor, Vermont, and my mom earned her Medical degree at UVM. They both valued education and my dad also studied at UVM before going on to Dartmouth and Columbia.

I spent my college years in Burlington at UVM, and in Boston at Northeastern earning my MBA. I have three wonderful children and I brought them to Vermont on many vacations to share my love of the green mountains and to make more fantastic memories with my family.

I spent the last 30 years working in corporate America first in Massachusetts and then in Washington State. For a guy like me, that’s a lot of time in the corporate world, and when I left my last job I felt a need to change and get back to my roots. While I grew up in New York, Vermont was still the place that always felt the most like home; my best memories are here. I wanted to put my business expertise into something different and an Inn felt like the right fit. I was always enamored by their inner workings as well as the history behind the Classic Inns of Vermont that always makes for some great stories.

When I found Echo Lake Inn, it felt like the perfect fit. I am incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to run Echo Lake Inn. My predecessor, Mr. Laurence Jeffery continues to teach me more than a lifetime’s worth of knowledge about how to be a seasoned innkeeper, and this place came with a more-than-excellent staff who know exactly how this place runs and how to make guests feel right at home. I am very optimistic about this new adventure and I am very excited to meet all the present and future Echo Lake guests and to learn all of your stories and maybe share a few of my own if you just so happen to enjoy the ramblings of a guy who is enjoying this new life adventure.

Many of you have interacted with Rachel, Jaclyn, and George over the past years either over the phone, at the front desk or when visiting our dining room or pub. We wanted to share with you a little about their backgrounds and prior experience. They play a key role in making the Inn work well, and will be on hand to greet you and your family on your next visit to the Echo Lake Inn.

Rachel LeClair

Rachel LeClair has been with us for just over five years now in the position of Innkeeper. Rachel grew up over the hills in Cavendish and was a student at Okemo Mountain School. The Okemo Valley has always held a special place in her heart. Studying Resort and Leisure Management at Green Mountain College and Killington Resort she has always had a love for the hospitality industry. Shortly after college she moved to the Burlington area to work as a wedding planner and conference service manager for Bolton Valley Resort. She worked for Bolton Valley and Topnotch Resort as a wedding planner for close to 10 years before her and her husband decided to relocate to Worcester MA, where Rachel worked for a small semi-private country club as their Banquet/Restaurant Manager. She enjoyed working for a smaller company that had a commodore that she hadn’t experienced before.

Yearning to return home to be closer to their families Rachel and her husband Paul decided to return to Cavendish and build their home. Rachel took a position at The Equinox and after two years was missing the family feel and values of a smaller property. The Echo Lake Inn has become a perfect fit. She brings with her an extensive background in events, restaurant services, and hospitality. She is loving every minute of her job whether it’s bookkeeping, painting, interacting with the guests, or helping out with housekeeping; the diversity of the position makes everyday a different adventure.
When she is not at work or working on the never ending to do list (ahh the joy of home ownership). Rachel enjoys just being outside no matter what season it is, making memories with her husband and their two fur babies Chancho, and Hoyt.

Jaclyn Olmstead

Jaclyn Olmstead has been with The Echo Lake Inn periodically over the past 9 years, but has joined us as a full-time innkeeper as of July 2022. Jaclyn grew up just a mile up the road in her hometown of Tyson, Vermont. She has a love for the outdoors and Tyson is a great location for just that with its lakes and mountains right in her back yard. Jaclyn, her husband, and her three children love to spend their time outside exploring nature. She studied business at The Community College of Vermont after finishing her Photography Degree at The Hallmark Institute of Photography.
Jaclyn worked at Okemo Mountain Resort as one of the captains of the banquet department for about 6 years. She has done many different jobs over the years for waste water, water assistant operator, and even landscaping and gardening. Here at The Echo Lake Inn, she feels right at home and will do any task thrown her way. With her knowledge of the area growing up here, she is the perfect person to give direction to local attractions and amenities for all to enjoy

George Maguire

George Maguire is a Vermont native who grew up in the neighboring town of Bridgewater Corners, home of Long Trail Brewery and the historic Bridgewater Woolen Mill Mall. George has years of experience working in the restaurant business, even managing his family owned pizzeria for six years. Alongside managing a restaurant, he has been gardening in the Woodstock VT area for the past fifteen years. His passion for gardening led him to create his own landscaping business ten years ago. After three years of horticulture classes, he went on to complete the UVM Extension Master Gardener course as well as the Master Composter course. His education and real world experience is showcased in his meticulous garden designs and services, which can be admired here at The Echo Lake Inn.

George started with us around four years ago as a full time housekeeper during the winter months, and has worked his way up to the innkeeper position he is in today. George’s experience managing, bartending, and operating his own business makes him a perfect fit here at the Inn and he is enjoying every minute of it!

When he is not working at either of his jobs, George enjoys working on his recently purchased house with his husband Sijan, kayaking on the multiple lakes surrounding the Inn, putting together floral arrangements, or relaxing with his two cats January and Nutmeg.