2024 Vermont Statewide Housing Conference Speakers

Abbie Jefferies works at EastRise Credit Union as a Mortgage Loan Origination Supervisor. 

Abbie has worked at EastRise (formerly NEFCU) for over 15 years, with 12 of those years in various mortgage department roles. She enjoys working with team members, EastRise members, and other partners to help solve the housing needs of our communities. 

Andy Miller serves as the Director of Real Estate Development with Summit Properties. Andy is an affordable housing developer and former Vermont architect, with over 24 years of design and development experience. He has worked as an affordable housing developer in North Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont and has overseen the delivery of over 800 affordable homes. He holds a Master of…

Ari Kisler has served as the Community Services Director for Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity since 2021. In her role she manages the Housing Opportunity Grant Program (HOP) and the Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry Grant (CE), which provide over $40 million in funding to community-based service providers working within the homeless response system. Grants support a wide…

Chad Simmons is the Housing Policy & Engagement Specialist at Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA). Since joining the agency in 2021, Chad supports VHFA's policy priorities and leads the agency's justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts and builds relationships with other housing and community partners. Prior to joining VHFA, Chad spent 15 years as a community…

Charlie Baker has over 30 years of experience in transportation and land use planning and has served as Executive Director of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) since 2008. Under his leadership, CCRPC has expanded from 8 to 21 staff with a $9 million budget, focusing on housing, equity, transportation, economic development, energy, and…

Chris Cochran leads a talented, multi-disciplinary team in the Community Planning + Revitalization Division at the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development. Together, they oversee a $40M budget and take a place-based approach to land-use planning and community development to empower state and local leaders to plan for and build vibrant,…

Dr. Christopher Herbert is Managing Director of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and a Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In his decades of experience studying the U.S. housing market, Dr. Herbert has focused on the financial, social, and demographic aspects of homeownership, the dynamics of the rental market, housing affordability, and…

Cindy is a Mortgage Loan Originator.  She is a native Vermonter and UVM graduate.  Cindy prides herself on providing quality customer service and serving as an advocate for her clients; she keeps clients’ best interests at heart.  As one co-worker stated: “Her passion to help Vermont families become homeowners is second to none.”

Clair Purcell is a first-time multi-family housing developer, focused on the Rutland region, where her husband grew up. Prior to attempting to solve a small part of Vermont's housing crisis, she worked as a strategist for Boston Consulting Group and founded startups in e-commerce and biotech. She continues to consult for startups and accelerators in biotech in the north eastern…

Currie Murphy (she/her) is the Peer Support Team Lead at Healthworks ACT, an assertive community treatment team in Brattleboro. With over 15 years of experience in various peer support roles, including serving as an Intentional Peer Support organizational trainer, she is dedicated to empowering individuals in their journeys. When she's not busy supporting others, …

Dan Baker, Professor Emeritus at the University of Vermont. Dan's research has focused on the well-being of migrant dairy farmworkers for the past 20 years, with a scope that includes research interviewing dairy farmworkers and dairy farmers, following up that work with projects to address needs identified in that research.  For the…

David Riegel is the Director of Housing Policy and Planning for the Agency of Human Services. He is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in customer service, housing policy, and organizational leadership. Currently serving as the Director of Housing Policy and Planning for the State of Vermont’s Agency of Human Services, he oversees the development and…

Devon Chodzin, Zoning Code Analyst at National Zoning Atlas. Devon previously worked with the Hawaii Zoning Atlas as a member of the state's zoning analyst team. Prior to that, he worked for three years in community development in Cleveland, planning large community events, weekly outreach programming, and leading community engagement efforts in partnership with public planners.…

Eric Hoffman is the Manager of Business Development for Homeownership at VHFA. Before joining VHFA, Eric was a Housing Counselor with Champlain Housing Trust where he helped Vermonters gain access to safe and affordable housing. Eric holds a law degree and briefly practiced real estate law in Vermont before entering the affordable housing non-profit sector. Eric also has experience…

Erin Caro Aguayo works for the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) as a coordinator of the Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP), and serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity. She studies preservation carpentry and furniture making, and is the often-reluctant restorer of a 110-year old home in…

Mellisa Cain, founder of Iceberg Consulting, is a Visual Trainer and Facilitator who offers experiential workshops and meeting facilitation that focus on group development, engagement, communication and understanding. With a background in conflict transformation, community organizing and the arts, Mellisa incorporates visuals to provide more inclusive learning opportunities. Based in…

Heather is an author, national political contributor, educator, and public policy leader. For nearly two decades, Heather helped build the "think and do" tank Dēmos, a non-profit public policy organization working to build a just, inclusive, multiracial democracy and economy. She served as the organization’s president for four years.  

Heather is the author…

Jacob Hemmerick, AICP, is a community planning & policy manager at the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development in the Division of Community Planning + Revitalization –- a team that uses a place-based approach to land-use planning and community development to empower state and local leaders to plan for and build vibrant, inclusive, and…

Jared Duval is the Executive Director of Energy Action Network (EAN). He has served as EAN’s Executive Director since March of 2017. Before leading EAN, Jared served as Economic Development Director at the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, where he was responsible for providing support to working lands and green economy businesses. Jared also serves as an…

Jayme Bauer is a Community Development Specialist II with the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) Housing Division. She helps oversee the Vermont Housing Improvement Program along with other programs and initiatives for the Housing Division.  She has over 20 years of community development experience at the municipal, nonprofit, and state levels and…

Jess Graff, Program Director of Franklin Grand Isle Community Action. Champlain Vally Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). As Program Director, Jess oversees several programs and services within Franklin Grand Isle including NorthWest Family Foods as well as a Crisis Fuel program, and programs and services that provide funding and support to…

Jess Hyman is the Associate Director of Statewide Housing Advocacy Programs and manager of the Fair Housing Project for Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). She focuses on resources for renters, assistance for people experiencing housing discrimination, and trainings for housing and service providers, municipal officials, and the general public. She has a…

Jessica Guardado, LICSW, LADC. Healthworks ACT Steer Committee Member; Director of Supportive Services at Groundworks Collaborative. Jessica became passionate about serving individuals struggling with homelessness when volunteering at a large shelter in college. Despite earning her undergraduate degree in Economics from Boston College…

John Adams is the Director of the Vermont Center for Geographic Information, focused on democratizing data and cultivating a culture of openness within government. He has over a decade of experience in land use planning, both in Vermont and internationally. Previously, John served as Planning and Policy Manager at the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and is the…

Julie Curtin has been the Director of Homeownership with Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) since 2021. She was most recently the Chief Operating Officer and interim Chief Executive Officer of Downstreet Housing and Community Development in Barre and before that was Director of Legal Services at the Vermont Land Trust. She has also worked for Legal Aid of Los Angeles and the Nature…

Kahlia Livingston, Fair Housing Project Education & Outreach Coordinator at Champlain Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). She is a Burlington native and has worked and volunteered in the social justice and social services field throughout her lifetime in Vermont. She graduated from UVM with a degree in Political Science and Sociology where she expanded her interest in law…

Kate Paarlberg-Kvam (she/they) is the Executive Director at Milk with Dignity Standards Council (MDSC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the monitoring and enforcement of labor rights on farms in the Milk with Dignity Program. MDSC also works to connect participating farms to funding and support from housing partners, making it possible to build new…

Kathy Beyer is Senior Vice President Real Estate Development. Over the past 30 years, Ms. Beyer has been directly involved in affordable housing and community development. She directs the real estate development activities at Evernorth, a nonprofit development corporation working to serve communities in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.  Kathy holds a Master’s degree in Public…

Kelly Hamshaw is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics at the University of Vermont (UVM), teaching courses focused on housing, resilience, and rural communities. She also holds an appointment as a Research Specialist in the UVM Center for Rural Studies where she contributes to a variety of research and evaluation projects in Vermont and…

Kelly Lucci is the Senior Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, where she focuses on developing new partnerships and initiatives for Efficiency Vermont, most recently on providing support to flood-impacted Vermonters and making it easier for more customers to weatherize their homes. She is also a co-author of the 2019 and 2023 Vermont…

Kendall Fortney is the Program Director of the Vermont Research Open Source Program Office (VERSO) at the University of Vermont, where he works with faculty, staff, students, and the local community to advance the open-source ecosystem. Through the Open Research Community Accelerator (ORCA) program, Kendall leads efforts to foster innovation, research, and community engagement via…

Kevin Shortell, Attorney and Managing Partner at Peet Law Group. 

Kevin is one of two managing partners of Peet Law Group, a law firm with offices in Williston and White River Junction, which focuses on residential and commercial real estate transactions throughout the entire State of Vermont. A graduate of the University of Vermont and Boston University…

Krystal Sanchez (she/her) is the Director of Operations at the Vermont Professional of Color Network (VT PoC). She’s making waves in Vermont by blending her background in curriculum development and restorative practices with her project management skills to drive real change. She has been with VT PoC since 2022 and has been committed to higher education since 2017. 

Kurt L. White, LICSW, LADC, CGP, MAC, AGPA-F (he/him) is the Vice President of Community Partnerships at Brattleboro Retreat, and is a clinician and social worker by training, who continues to practice with individuals, families, and groups in addition to other work. He is a longtime adjunct professor of…

Liz Gleason is the Director of the Farm & Forest Viability Program at the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB). She focuses on programming that enhances the long-term viability of Vermont’s working lands businesses, connects these businesses with grants to grow and improve, and works with a statewide network of partners focused on sustainability in the ag sector. She…

Madeleine McCullough serves as Program Coordinator and Analyst for the National Housing Trust's Sustainability Policy team. In this role, she works to advance clean energy policy, namely focused on ensuring the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) benefits multifamily affordable housing providers and residents, increasing their access to clean energy solutions. She is also project lead for…

Marita Canedo is originally from Bolivia and has been part of Migrant Justice for over ten years. Her role is to Coordinate the Milk with Dignity Program and its expansion. She also coordinates the emergency line for workers outside the MD Program, connecting them with field organizers, service providers, and other support groups.

Maura Collins became Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency in January 2019. She joined VHFA in 2002, and through progressively increased responsibilities she worked in all but one department prior to becoming the Agency’s director. Collins has her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Vermont and Bachelors from the University at Buffalo. She served on…

Meghan Wayland is the Co-Chair/President of the Kingdom United Resilience & Recovery Effort (KURRVE) & Lead Organizer with Northeast Kingdom Organizing (NEKO). KURRVE is a long-term disaster recovery group and collaboration of partners and neighbor-to-neighbor networks serving the NEK.NEKO is a coalition of individuals, families, faith and community-based…

Mia Watson (she/her) is the Special Programs Manager for Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA). She oversees VHFA's Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP) and other new energy finance initiatives, as well as supporting new capital formation for the Agency's Housing Investments for Vermont Fund. 

Nate Lantieri is the Housing Research Coordinator at Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) and a community organizer in Burlington, Vermont. Since moving to Vermont in 2015, he has embraced the state’s culture of community-mindedness and done what he can to create "freedom & unity" for all Vermonters. After graduating from UVM from the department of Community Development &…

Olivia LaVecchia (she/her) works as a Community Development Underwriter at the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA). She works with developers of subsidized affordable and middle-income housing to access financing, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations, VHFA loans, and new VHFA lending programs. Before VHFA, Olivia’s work spanned local government, public policy…

Pete Gill, Esq. serves as Executive Director of Vermont’s Natural Resources Board (NRB), the state agency responsible for administering Act 250, Vermont's comprehensive land use law. Under recent statutory changes from Act 181, the NRB will transition to the Land Use Review Board, implementing a new location-based jurisdiction model. Gill, alongside a skilled…

Peter Kahn, owner of Sienna Construction, has worked in the Vermont housing sector for over 25 years as a real estate broker, builder, and developer. His efforts recently expanded to multi-household dwelling design, construction, and management, serving people of moderate income. Peter’s focus is the creation of durable, high-quality, energy-efficient buildings that are cost-…

Raechel McLeod is the Regulatory Program Coordinator at EastRise Credit Union. Raechel has worked in the mortgage department for over 20 years. She’s worked in various roles such as Mortgage Processor, Underwriter, and Operations Supervisor. 

Rebecca Burns, RN. Healthworks ACT Steering Committee Chair/Acting Program Manager; Director of Community Initiatives at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Rebecca is the Director of Community Initiatives at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.  In that role she serves as the Blueprint Program Manager implementing programs such as the…

Rebecca Lewis is the Housing and Homelessness Program Manager for Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA). She has been a part of NEKCA for the last 5 years supporting families and individuals in the Northeast Kingdom facing housing insecurities. Being part of NEKCA's mission, Rebecca has been able to help the community stand up multiple shelters and housing support programs.…

Richard Donnelly is the Director for Energy Innovation for VGS (Vermont Gas Systems), overseeing the creation of a new product portfolio focused on decarbonization and efficiency. 

Ryan Gerrity is the Senior Resident Organizer for the Champlain Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) Mobile Home Program. He is a University of Vermont CALS alum with a Bachelor of Science in Community and International Development. With over five years of experience working with manufactured housing communities, including two years serving through AmeriCorps state program, Ryan has…

Sarah Henshaw is a Coordinator with Lamoille Area Recovery Network (LeARN). She is a nonprofit professional with over 20 years of partnering with communities, nonprofits, and individuals to build prosperous and inclusive communities.  In this work, Sarah has responded to multiple international and domestic disasters, including Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Mitch in…

Sarah Phillips leads lending for affordable housing development and nonprofits as the Director of Housing & Community Facilities for the Vermont Community Loan Fund, a statewide mission-based alternative community lender. In her role, she provides flexible capital solutions to help projects and organizations access the resources needed to succeed. Prior, she directed the Office…

Shaun Gilpin is the Housing Division Director for the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD).

Sofia Benito Alston is the Flood Recovery Assistance Specialist for the Mobile Home Program of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). With over 3 years of combined environmental and housing work, Sofia is interested in the intersection between environmental conservation and affordable housing availability and has played an important role in advocating for…

Steve O’Malley is the Lead Engineering Consultant for Efficiency Vermont. He has over 15 years’ experience in building science and the construction of commercial and multifamily buildings. He builds and advances relationships within the design and construction community to promote the installation of cost-effective, energy-efficiency improvements to all building systems.

Stockton Williams is Executive Director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies. NCSHA’s state housing finance agency members have delivered more than $740 billion in financing to make possible the purchase, development, and rehabilitation of more than 8.2 million affordable homes for low- and moderate-income households. Stockton leads NCSHA’s wide-ranging efforts to…

The Land Access and Opportunity Board ("the Board") was created under Section 22 of Act 182 of 2022 to engage with Vermont organizations working on housing equity and land access "to recommend new…

With extensive experience in the financial services industry, Tim assumed the role of president and chief executive officer of FHLBank Boston on December 1, 2021. 

 

He joined us as senior vice president and treasurer in 2010 and was promoted to executive vice president in 2019. As treasurer, Tim was responsible for the overall management of our balance sheet and…

TJ Poor is the Director Regulated Planning for the Vermont Department of Public Service. TJ Poor is the Director Regulated Utility Planning at the Vermont Department of Public Service, which plays a dual role as Vermont’s State Energy Office and Vermont’s ratepayer advocate in matters before its Public Utilities Commission.  In his role at the Department, TJ oversees…

Weiwei Wang (she/her) is Executive Director of the Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC), which was founded in 2019 to advancing the prosperity of all professionals of color throughout Vermont by “building from within”. In both her personal and professional life, Weiwei brings a passion for community connection and development, and redefining accessibility for historically…

Wendy Moran is the Director of Homeownership for RuralEdge. She is a dedicated professional with extensive expertise in mortgage lending and customer service. Wendy empowers individuals and families on their path to homeownership. Her diverse background in mortgage lending and customer facing roles enables her to offer both financial insights and strong community support. Before…

Yoshi Bird, UVM Complex Systems. Trained in law at the University of Michigan, Yoshi returned to academia in 2021 to pursue a PhD in Complex Systems and Data Science at the University of Vermont after a career in homelessness services spanning two states, three Continua of Care, and nearly twenty years of professional experience. As Project Director of the Vermont Zoning Atlas,…