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JAMES H. DOUGLAS
GOVERNOR
State of Vermont
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
For
Immediate Release:
Friday, January 27, 2006
Contact: Jason Gibbs
(802) 828-3333
Sec. Charlie Smith Accepts Position at Prestigious Snelling Center
Governor Announces Changes in
Administration
Montpelier, Vt.—Governor Jim Douglas today
said Secretary of Administration Charlie Smith will soon become the President and Chief Executive Officer
of the prestigious Snelling
Center for Government.
As a result, Mike Smith, the current human services secretary, will become
administration secretary, state government’s equivalent of a chief
operating officer. And Cindy LaWare, the current deputy secretary of
human services, will become secretary overseeing the largest and most costly
agency in state government.
These changes will become effective Monday, January 30. All three
individuals will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition of all
management and legislative issues, Douglas said.
Governor Douglas praised Secretary Charlie Smith for his work, saying
he had served extraordinarily well as the leader of both the administration and
human services agencies. “Charlie has been an invaluable member of
my team and has worked very hard to improve the service we provide
Vermonters,” Douglas said. “He has
been instrumental in our efforts to strengthen government services, save
Medicaid and reform health care. He will bring important skills and a
powerful perspective to the Snelling Center and I know he shares my goal of making Vermont a better and
more affordable place to live, work and raise a family.”
Governor Douglas noted in particular Charlie Smith’s work with
consumer and peer advocates to develop and embark on an intensive effort to
transform the way the Agency of Human Services delivers its services and his
leadership of Douglas’ Strategic Enterprise Initiative (SEI), a plan to
prepare for, and invest in, more efficient technology systems and state
workforce training. “Charlie understands that if we are to succeed
in reversing the flow of young Vermonters out of our state, and advancing the
flow of 21st Century jobs into our state, we must make government more effective and less costly
through the use of technology,” Douglas
added.
ABOUT
CHARLIE SMITH
Before becoming administration secretary in February 2005, Charlie
Smith led the Agency of Human Service for the Douglas
administration. Prior to that Smith, 51, of Burlington,
was District president of Key Bank and President of the United Way of Chittenden County.
In the late 1970’s Smith served two terms in the Vermont House of
Representatives and later served as staff director for then Congressman Jim
Jeffords.
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.
ABOUT MIKE SMITH
Mike Smith, 52, was appointed human services secretary in February of
2005 and had served before as administration secretary since January 2003.
Prior to his service in the Douglas administration he was Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Yankee Captive Management, Inc.,
an independent captive management firm located in Vermont. He has also sat on the Board
of Directors of the Yankee Insurance Group, whose subsidiaries include Hackett,
Valine and MacDonald and Yankee Captive Management, Inc. From 1995-1999,
Smith served as Deputy State Treasurer under then State Treasurer Jim Douglas.
He is also former town manager of Hardwick,
Vermont and a former member of the Vermont
Legislature representing his hometown of Woodstock
and surrounding area. From 1972-1975, Smith was a member of the highly decorated
SEAL Team Two, the U.S. Navy’s elite commando unit.
Born in Rutland, Vermont,
Smith earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Vermont.
ABOUT CINDY LAWARE
LaWare, 53, of Williston, will lead the largest agency in state government.
“Cindy is a woman of tremendous passion, strength and
leadership ability” Douglas said.
“She will make an excellent human services secretary.”
Governor Douglas appointed LaWare as the Commissioner of Personnel in
January of 2003. Prior to that LaWare served as the Deputy Commissioner
of that department. She has served as deputy human services
secretary since February of 2005.
LaWare has also held a variety of private sector human resources and
management positions prior to her service in state government.
She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education, counseling
and management from the University
of Vermont.
###
Jason Gibbs
Governor’s
Communications Director
109 State Street ¨ The Pavilion ¨ Montpelier,
VT 05609-0101 ¨ www.vermont.gov/governor
Telephone: 802.828.3333 ¨ Fax: 802.828.3339 ¨ TDD: 802.828.3345