VHFA's Maura Collins received a Rising Star award at the Vermont Business Magazine’s annual awards dinner last week. Rising Star awards recognize 40 of Vermont’s most accomplished young leaders, all of whom are younger than 40. With 120 nominations this year, judges faced tough selection decisions. Selection is based on nominees’ commitment to business growth, professional excellence and involvement in their communities.
“I’m humbled to be included when I see the caliber of the other winners and judges,” Maura, aged 35, said. Maura has led VHFA’s policy and planning initiatives for the past six years and prior to that forged new roads for the agency in housing research and data sharing. “Among all the players who build, operate, and finance housing, Maura has emerged as one of the state’s most effective coalition builders and communicators,” commented Sarah Carpenter, VHFA’s Executive Director. Sarah noted that “Maura’s focus and passion for an issue as critical as affordable housing has benefited low and moderate-income residents across the state.”
Maura also manages the biennial statewide housing conference for hundreds of professionals from the profit, non-profit, and government sectors which will be held on Thursday, November 15th. In addition to her work at VHFA, Maura teaches housing policy at the University of Vermont.
“Few colleagues realize how young she is due to her deep expertise and professionalism,” Sarah Carpenter explained.
Pictured: Maura Collins, front row second from right, and other 2012 Vermont Business Magazine Rising Stars.