Leadership Champlain

09/18/2026

☀️ Leadership Champlain Class of 2027 Opening Retreat at Basin Harbor. ✨ Always a magical experience. And what an intrepid bunch! We really put them to the test this year with a boat building activity. Needless to say, they understood the assignment and performed admirably. Not one, not two, but THREE teams completed a full pool lap with their vessels. 🥇 🥈 🥉

If you're willing to step up to "captain" a cardboard boat built with duct tape and hutzpah by group of relative strangers, you're likely willing to step up to any other leadership or community challenge. Keep an eye on this group over the next nine months. Movers and shakers. 💃 🕺

Huge thanks to LC Advisory Board Chair Jessica Lukas and Vice Chair Michele Karode for their efforts keeping this train on track and all the other board members that were able to make an appearance over the past few days. Many hands light work. 🙌

Appreciation and gratitude to Chad Ahern and Paul Suk-Hyun Yoon for providing such insightful and thought-provoking workshops to kick off our time together.

Next stop, Human Services Day. 🚀

09/15/2026

The future of Vermont leadership starts here! We’re proud to introduce the Leadership Champlain Class of 2027:

Will Fleming, Caregiver Patient Connection
Kelton Bogasky, Casella Waste Management
Natalie Glynn, Cathedral Square
Mike Blow, Champlain Cable
Richard Trahan, Champlain Cable
Kayli Barber, Chittenden Solid Waste District
Libby Learned-Connors, City of South Burlington-Police Department
Erinn Blow (Perry), Community Bank
Hayden Jones, Community Bank
Jocelyn Geiger, CPA, Davis & Hodgdon
Noah Greenstein, Dinse PC
Gina Puls, Downs Rachlin Martin
Jin-yong Breault, Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP
Ryan Lawrence, GlobalFoundries
Mike Springer, Green Mountain Legacy
Dan Belarmino, Green Mountain Power
Liz Ford, Hanson + Doremus
Matthew Roth, Lawson’s Finest Liquids
Erin Perrin, M&T Bank
Robert Smith, PC Construction
Angélina Debeaupuis, Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC
Nina Dinan, PT360
Carlos Aponte, Self-employed
Addie Cusick-Loecher, Sheehey Furlong & Behm
Peter Wright, Spherion
Brittany Nevins, State of Vermont
Charlotte Safran, State of Vermont, Department of Health
Reagan Dufresne, The Turning Point Center of Chittenden County
Megan Zimmerman, University of Vermont
Roland Kielman, UVM Health
Ben Plotzker, VEIC
Christopher Trombly, Vermont Gas Systems, Inc.
Mary Bouchard, Vermont Gas Systems, Inc.
Jillian Scannell, Vermont Works for Women
Maia Hanron, Working Bridges Program, United Way of Northwest Vermont and Green Mountain United Way

Join us in congratulating this exceptional group of 35 leaders as they begin their journey of growth, learning, and impact.

A massive thank you to our presenting sponsor, Community Bank, N.A., for their incredible support in empowering the next generation of leaders.

Read more about the program here: https://lnkd.in/eU69vdZ8

08/26/2026

Hey LC Alums! ➡️ You can now register for the Vermont Council on Rural Development 2026 Vermont Community Leadership Summit: Stories. Skills. Action!

This year’s Summit is grounded in the newly updated Vermont Community Leadership in Action Guide, which will shape workshops, panels, group discussions, and networking throughout the day. Sessions will explore practical tools and strategies for leadership including facilitation skills, community engagement and volunteerism, local economic vitality, advancing community projects, and more.

Register & see the agenda: vtrural.org/summit

06/10/2026

💥 🚀 🎓 Congratulations to the Class of 2026! 💥 🚀 🎓 You did it! We look forward to seeing the impact you'll continue to make in your organizations, communities, and across Vermont. Round of applause for:

David Qian, 802 Group
Gabriella Stevens, Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD)
Elise Genereux, Common Good Vermont
Sue Verro, Community Bank N.A.
Anne Rosenblum, Dinse P.C.
Nick Erly, Dinse P.C.
Beth Dailey, EastRise Credit Union
Ibby Wilson, EastRise Credit Union
Colleen Perron, Freeman French Freeman
Michael Shapiro, Gallagher Flynn & Company. LLP
Michael Coster, GlobalFoundries
Chris Bohórquez, Gravel & Shea PC
Eleanor Moody, Gravel & Shea PC
Karisa Thompson, Lund
Garrett Allen, M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust
Emilie Tetu, SHRM-CP, Mack Molding
Ben Gilbert, Milton Family Community Center
Rachel Conner, NBT Bank
Sasha Kauert, PC Construction Company
Madison Prokott, Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer
Francis DiMora, Sheehey Furlong & Behm
Kim Geyer, Stewart Construction
Lisa Grefe, United Way of Northwest Vermont
Miriam Mukurazita, University of Vermont
Summer Colley, UVM Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships
Shelby McGarry, UVM Medical Center
Julia Spelman, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Katie French, Vermont Mechanical
Jane Wolforth, Wake Robin
Emily Hayes, Westport Hospitality

Appreciation goes to all the graduation speakers who helped us mark the occasion yesterday – Matt Plasse, Jessica Lukas, Catherine Davis – and special thank you to our commencement speaker, Ben Traverse, class of 2017, for the delightfully entertaining and insightful speech.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Community Bank, N.A., for their ongoing support of the program and future leaders in Vermont. Appreciation also goes to our community sponsors, Leonardo's Pizza, Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs, and Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center!

Class of 2027, here we come! 🚀

04/23/2026

Hey all! We're extending the application deadline for Leadership Champlain Class of 2027 to May 7. 🎉

If you’ve been meaning to apply, nominate a colleague, or take one more look at this opportunity, now’s your chance.

Sometimes the best opportunities deserve a little extra time.

If growth, connection, and impact are on your radar for 2027, don’t let this window close twice.

Apply or learn more at leadershipchamplain.org.

04/21/2026

⏰ Today is the final day to apply for the Leadership Champlain Class of 2027.

This is a real, nine-month experience built to stretch perspective, grow confidence, and connect you with people shaping this region from every angle.
You’ll meet leaders, wrestle with real issues, build lasting relationships, and likely surprise yourself somewhere along the way.

Financial assistance is available and the registration fee can be waived. We want this program available to as many as are willing to step up. 🪜

Leadership Champlain is a professional development and community engagement program with a mission to foster growth and leadership in professionals.

04/17/2026

From riding backward bikes to better understand how our brains work, to building chocolate models of Taft’s Corners to visualize future housing dynamics, to engaging regional experts on energy challenges – this year’s Energy and Environment Day was full of creative, hands-on learning.

Photo credit goes to our talented Advisory Board member, Sandra Lucia, of Vermont Gas Systems (VGS)!

Applications for the Class of 2027 are open. Learn more and apply at leadershipchamplain.org.

04/08/2026

Spring is here and Leadership Champlain alumni are invited to join the Class of 2026 for a meaningful day of service in our community.

On May 1, we’ll gather at the Ethan Allen Homestead for a volunteer planting event in partnership with the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District and Winooski Valley Park District. Details and sign up in the link below!

We'll meet at 8:30 a.m. sharp and will plant as many of the 700 native trees and shrubs as we can before noon. Stay longer if you're able!

We hope you’ll join us – both to give back and to engage with the next generation of leaders shaping our region.

https://web.vermont.org/events/Leadership-Champlain-Intervale-Day-and-Alumni-Gathering-5401/details