Commissioners
Bill Botzow
Pownal, Bennington County
House Member Appointed by Speaker
Bill Botzow is a visual artist who combined a career in the arts with public service. He is a board member and Treasurer of the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont; a former Chair of the Vermont Arts Council; and Treasurer of River Network; a national service organization for watershed protection groups. He has served on the board of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and the New England Foundation for the Arts. He was Vermont’s Art in State Buildings Coordinator from 1996-2002. He received a BA in 1968 from Princeton University, then ran an after-school-tutoring program in East Harlem, NYC, from 1968-1970 before working in rural West Virginia, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, and Vermont. Member of the House: 2003-04, 2005-06.
Staige Davis
Shelburne, Chittenden County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Staige Davis is President and CEO of Lang Associates, a residential and commercial real estate firm with offices in South Burlington, Middlebury and St. Albans, Vermont. He graduated from the University of Vermont, and after college he worked for the University in student activities and privately produced jazz, folk, and reggae concerts and plays in the Flynn Theater and Memorial Auditorium. He has served on numerous committees and boards, including the Vermont Mozart Festival, serving as its President in 1985. He has served on the Management and Program Committees for the Flynn Theater for the Performing Arts, Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s 50th Committee, and Shelburne Farms Capital Campaign Committee. He was Governor’s appointee to the Trustees of the Vermont Council on the Arts and served as Chair. He served as chair for Vermont Public Radio. He currently serves on the boards of Champlain College, Vermont Community Foundation and is chairman of the Vermont Business Roundtable and chair of VIGE (Vermont Institute of Government Effectiveness, Inc.). He is a member of the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors and was chair of Professional Standards. He holds the CRS and CRB professional designations and has participated in technology panels for Sotheby’s and other Realtor events. Over the last seven years, he has been engaged (with two partners) in three redevelopment projects in downtown Burlington. The current projects include the historic Burlington Savings Bank Building, a downtown landmark and an office to apartment conversion on College Street. The partnership also is developing a “green” commercial park in South Burlington. His newest redevelopment project (with two partners) is on the shores of Lake Champlain called Shelburne Cliffs. He has been affiliated with Lang Associates for the last 26 years, serving first in the residential division as a sales associate, then as a commercial associate, Commercial Manager, overall Sales Manager, and General Manager.
Kevin Dorn
Essex Junction, Chittenden County
Appointed Ex-Officio, Office named by Legislation
Kevin Dorn was appointed Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development on January 9, 2003. As Secretary of the Agency, he leads and coordinates the Departments of Economic Development, Housing and Community Affairs, and Tourism and Marketing, as well as Vermont Life Magazine and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. Kevin was born in southern Ohio and raised in Minnesota. He graduated from Springfield (MN) Public School and graduated magna cum laude from Minnesota State University, Mankato. After graduation Kevin served as a staff assistant to Senator David Durenberger (MN) and as Legislative Assistant and Legislative Director of Congressman Frank Horton (NY). Kevin later worked as Manager of Congressional Affairs for Fairchild Industries and as Director of Government Affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Kevin also served as Government Affairs Director for the Vermont Association of REALTORS and, most recently, as the Executive Director of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Northern Vermont for ten years.
A. Jay Kenlan
Wallingford, Rutland County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Jay Kenlan is one of the founders and senior member of Kenlan, Schwiebert, Facey & Goss, P.C., one of Vermont’s leading commercial and land use law firms. His primary practice areas include: Land Use Law; Environmental Law; Business Organizations Law; Real Estate Law, Commercial Transactions; Development Finance Law. He is the Co-Author (with Andrew Hazelton and James Leary) of “Vermont Law,” Chapter 46, Brownfields – A Comprehensive Guide to Redeveloping Contaminated Property. Kenlan has had a long standing involvement in, and commitment to economic development policy in the Rutland region, and throughout the state. Much of his work on economic development policy has occurred during his membership with the Vermont Business Roundtable beginning in 1988. He has served as a member and as Chair of the Vermont Business Roundtable Economic Development Task Force. He participated in the joint project of the Vermont Business Roundtable and the Vermont Forum on Sprawl, evaluating the effectiveness of a broad range of Vermont’s economic development policies, culminating in the joint Roundtable/Forum New Models Project report in October of 2003. Following publication of the New Models report, the Forum and the Roundtable continued their collaboration and, in October of 2004, jointly authored a report entitled Draft Proposal for Growth Center and Master Plan/Master Permitting Legislation. The Report was adopted almost verbatim by the Growth Center’s Commission, chaired by Mark Snelling, and submitted to the Governor in January of 2005. The Report ultimately was the foundation on which the 2007 Growth Centers’ bill was built.
Fred Kenney
Bolton, Chittenden County
Appointed Ex-Officio, Office named by Legislation
Fred Kenney has served as Executive Director of the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) since 2001. VEPC, which consists of a nine-member board appointed by the Governor and 24 regional representatives, reviews applications to Vermont’s business and economic development incentive programs, including the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive and the Tax Increment Financing District programs. Previously, Fred worked for U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy in both Washington, D.C. and Vermont for 13 years. Fred graduated from the University of Vermont, lives in Bolton with his wife Jan and their 3 children, and serves on the local school board.
Dan Kurzman
Derby, Orleans County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Daniel Kurzman is the Northeast Regional Manager of Operations for Ethan Allen, overseeing four manufacturing and sawmill facilities in three states. Daniel received a Bachelor’s Degree from Boston University and obtained his Master’s from Plymouth State College. Prior to Ethan Allen he was a public school educator and administrator. Before Mr. Kurzman’s present responsibilities in Operations he was the Corporate Director of Human Resources. Daniel has served on a number of community, regional and state advisory positions which include the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital Board of Directors, Derby Elementary School Board, North Country Union High School Vocation Technical Advisory Board, Human Resource Investment Council and the State of Vermont Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board and is currently on the Associated Industries of Vermont Board of Directors and the Vermont State Workforce Development Council.
Mary Lintermann
Stowe, Lamoille County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Mary is Vice President of DEW Construction, a $75 million construction firm in Williston, VT. Mary graduated from Bucknell University with a B.S. in civil engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer. She began her engineering career with a Top 50 International Engineering Firm. Mary eventually transitioned to providing Strategic Planning services for the parent company. Mary’s professional experience includes engineering, economic development, project management, business development, and strategic planning, providing these services to various engineering and construction businesses. Mary moved to Vermont in 1988. She lives in Stowe with her husband, Chris, and 12-yr old daughter, Kate. Mary is very active in the community, currently serving on Vermont Health Foundation Board, YMCA Board, GBIC Board, and VEPC. Mary recently concluded being on the Pine Ridge School Board, and Lake Champlain Regional Chamber Board, as a result of Chairing its Regional Affairs Committee & previously by Chairing Leadership Champlain. Mary was recognized for her contributions to the community by being awarded the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce’s “Rising Star Award” in 2000.
Susan (Sam) Matthews
East Montpelier, Washington County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Sam Matthews became Executive Vice President of the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) in July of 2006. Prior to her current position, Sam was the Vice President of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation (GBIC) and was also the Industrial Expansion and Regional Support Coordinator for the Vermont Department of Economic Development. She has a background in real estate and was appointed by Governor Dean and re-appointed by Governor Douglas to the Vermont Real Estate Commission where she currently serves as Chair. She was President of the Franklin County Board of Realtors, Member of the Vermont Association of Realtors Board of Directors and Realtor of the Year in FranklinCounty. In 2004, Sam was appointed by Governor Douglas to the Commission on Wind Energy Regulatory Policy. Sam was appointed by the Governor of Kentucky as a Colonel in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for her volunteer contributions to the people of Kentucky during the years she resided in Lexington. Sam received her Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude from Ithaca College and resides with her husband, Kip in East Montpelier.
Hinda Miller
Burlington, Chittenden County
Senate Member Appointed by the Committee on Committees
Hinda Miller is a self-employed business consultant / yoga teacher. She is a state Senator from Chittenden County. Her public service has also included the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce (former Chair); Burlington Airport Commissioner; Board of Directors of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters; New England Culinary Institute; Trustee of Champlain College; Co-chair, Council of Educational Governance. Member of the Senate: 2003-2004, Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs and Education committee, 2005-2006.
David Mount
Burlington, Chittenden County
Appointed by Governor Douglas
Education: B.S. in Accounting from Golden Gate University in San Francisco (1967); M.B.A. in Accounting (1972). David Mount has worked as a financial executive in multi-national firms, including Mattel Toy Company and Hunter Douglas. He was Vice President of Finance at Hunter Douglas from 1975 to 1981. Mr. Mount started a personnel services firm in Burlington in 1982, which affiliated with Westaff, an international staffing service, in 1990. Since affiliating with Westaff, the company has opened a total of 7 offices – two in Vermont, two in New York and three in New Hampshire. Westaff invoices more than $20,000,000 in temporary and permanent personnel each year. Mr. Mount has lived in Burlington over 25 years and is active in a number of civic, professional and charitable organizations, including the Burlington Rotary Club (past President), the Vermont Association of Staffing Services, Joseph’s House and St. Anne’s Shrine. He is married with 5 grown children and 11 grandchildren, all of whom presently reside in Vermont.
Mary R. Niebling
Plainfield, Washington County
Appointed by the Vermont Association of Non-Profit Organizations
Mary R. Niebling is Director of Community Economic Development for Central Vermont Community Action, a 41 year old community based non profit organization serving 56 towns in rural north central Vermont. At Community Action, Niebling directs the 16 member Community Economic Development effort with initiatives in Micro Business Development, asset building through its Tangible Assets Program-a matched savings program, sector-based economic development, and child care nutrition and business development. Her efforts in the mid 1990’s led to the formation of the Central Vermont Revolving Loan Fund, an alternative lender for businesses in central Vermont that is now expanding statewide as Community Capital of Vermont. Prior to joining Community Action in 1992, Niebling directed a neighborhood based housing rehabilitation and affordable homeownership development program, state and local energy conservation and management programs, and local government community development and neighborhood planning efforts. Niebling holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois in Urbana and board memberships and responsibilities in a number of state and local organizations. She completed the Snelling Center for Government’s Vermont Leadership Institute in 2001. In 1996, Niebling was nominated by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and awarded the US Small Business Administration’s Women in Business Advocate of the Year for Vermont and New England.
Will Patten
Hinesburg, Chittenden County
Appointed by House Speaker and Senate President Pro-Tempore
Will Patten began an entrepreneurial career in Rutland, Vermont in 1971 and, 20 years later, a corporate career with Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc. He retired from Ben & Jerry’s in April of 2007 as Director of Retail Operations and is currently serving as Executive Director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. He also serves on the Board of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Will is a native of Shrewsbury, Vermont and received a BA from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He lives in Hinesburg with his wife, Kathleen.
A member appointed by the Vermont Labor Council (pending)
A member appointed by the House Speaker and Senate President Pro-Tempore (pending)
