Thursday, July 20, 2006
Montpelier,
Vt. – Senate President Pro
Tem Peter Welch, Speaker of the House Gaye Symington and Governor Jim Douglas
today announced their appointments to the Next Generation Commission.
The 9-member commission, the product of an agreement between the Legislature
and the Governor, is charged with recommending how best to invest $5
million in programs to address Vermont’s
emerging demographic challenges. The commission will also develop a plan to encourage
Vermonters to live and work in Vermont.
Commission recommendations could include funding for scholarships,
workforce development programs, trades training or other efforts to retain and
recruit working-age Vermonters.
The Governor appointed four
members, the President Pro Tem and Speaker appointed two members each, and
together the Governor and the legislative leaders jointly appointed the Chair.
Jointly
Appointed Chair of the Next Generation Commission
·
Bill
Stenger, Newport
Bill Stenger is the President and Chief Operating Officer
of Jay Peak Resort in Jay, Vermont. He has served on numerous boards
and commissions, is a former president of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber
of Commerce and the current chair of the Vermont Ski Areas Association board of
directors.
Governor Douglas’ Appointments:
Caroline
Bright, St. Albans
Caroline Bright is a senior at Missisquoi Valley
Union High
School and this year's Governor of Girls State.
She has received a number of awards and honors for her academic and public
service efforts. Her peers have repeatedly elected her to a variety of
leadership positions and she has served as a page in the Vermont Legislature.
Ed
Colodny, Burlington
Ed Colodny was a founder, and long-time
president and CEO of US Airways and has held a number of high-level business
posts. He has also served as chairman of the board of trustees at the University of Rochester
and president of the University
of Vermont. Colodny, a
native Vermonter, has also served on a variety of state boards and
commissions.
Elizabeth “Wibs” McLain, Berlin
Most recently, Wibs McLain served as Governor
Douglas’ Secretary of Natural Resources. McLain has also served as a
legislator, Chief of Staff to Governor Richard Snelling and as Commissioner of
the Department of Environmental Conservation and Deputy Secretary of the Agency
of Natural Resources under Governor Howard Dean. Prior to her 2003
appointment to the Douglas administration, McLain
was Vice President for Community and Government Relations at the Vermont
Student Assistance Corporation.
·
Stephen
Morse, Newfane
Stephen Morse is a former Speaker of the Vermont House
of Representatives. Morse, who serves on multiple governing boards and
committees, and is president and chief executive officer of the Windham
Foundation in Grafton, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing
financial support for education and private charities, and developing projects
that benefit Vermont and Vermonters. In 2004 he was named the Citizen of the
Year by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
Senator Welch’s Appointments:
Bob
Miller, Williston
Bob Miller is the
President of R.E.M Development, a company he started in 1984. In two decades,
the Williston based company has grown to become Vermont's largest real estate developer.
Miller is known for his various philanthropic endeavors and community service.
Judith
Moore, Sharon
Judith Moore, Head
Emeritus of The Sharon Academy, is an educator of long standing. A resident of
Sharon, she
holds an MA and an ED.D. from UVM and has over 25 years of experience teaching
foreign language and English in public and private schools. She has served as
the District Supervisor of Adult Basic Education in Peebleshire,
Scotland, Principal of the Stockbridge Central School,
and founder and head of The Sharon Academy. Dr. Moore recently retired from
The Sharon Academy after serving ten years.
Speaker Symington’s
Appointments:
Tiffany
W. Bluemle, Burlington
Tiffany W. Bluemle has been with Vermont Works for
Women (VWW) over nine years. VWW works with women to help them explore, pursue,
and excel in nontraditional fields. She has also served as director of
development for The New York City Outward Bound Center and for the National
Civic League. Tiffany received a Masters in Public Administration from the
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University, and her B.A. from Princeton University. She is a former member of
the Board of Trustees of Princeton University.
Jason
Williams, Jeffersonville
Jason Williams is the Government Relations Specialist
for Fletcher Allen Health Care and a 2005 graduate of the University of Vermont.
At UVM he was awarded the Community Service Scholarship based on his academic
and community service record while a student at Mount Mansfield Union
High School. At UVM Williams
was a leader in community service programs such as Volunteers in Action and UVM
Day at the Statehouse and he worked for the UVM Anti-Tobacco Coalition.
###
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