This is the latest of several quick bios we'll blog of speakers scheduled to appear at the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference, Nov. 18 in South Burlington.
Read about other speakers scheduled to present at the event and register to attend at the conference Web site.
Joss Besse is Director of the Division of Community Planning and Revitalization at the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
He previously served as coordinator of the Vermont Downtown Program, working with 23 "designated downtowns" and numerous other communities interested in revitalization.
Joss has provided training to most of these communities in non-profit development, marketing/promotions, economic development, and physical improvements, both public and private.
Prior to his work in downtown revitalization, Joss worked in land use planning, community development, and forestry.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Forestry and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Vermont. He's served on the Bolton selectboard, and was chair of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission.
He'll be presenting at the conference as part of the Planning/Zoning: Regulations workshop.