Melinda Moulton and Mary Powell to chair Vermont’s Go Red for Women luncheon

They’re known for building things and powering things, and as co-chairs of the fifth annual Go Red for Women Luncheon, Melinda Moulton, CEO of Main Street Landing, and Mary Powell, CEO of Green Mountain Power, will build on the spirit of camaraderie of nearly 400 women to power up the fight against heart disease in the state of Vermont.
The fifth annual Go Red for Women Luncheon is set for Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center. There will be educational sessions, health screenings, a silent auction, moving stories from heart disease survivors, a keynote speaker, and a heart-healthy lunch.
Powell said the Go Red for Women Luncheon is an event she’s long wanted to be a part of, and her schedule permitted it this year.
‘Heart disease is in my family,’ said Powell. ‘For women, it’s troubling that the symptoms are often misdiagnosed. A year ago, a friend of mine was exhibiting what are classic signs of heart disease in women, but she was diagnosed with indigestion. She’s OK now, but nearly died of a massive heart attack. Awareness is the first step, and the Go Red for Women Luncheon is a great way to change the way we think about heart disease and women.’
Moulton participated in last year’s Go Red for Women Luncheon as a panelist addressing the issue of stress.
‘I’m the worst in the world at handling my stress,’ Moulton said. ‘Women worry about everything ‘ ourselves, our families, money, friends, our households, the state of the world. We are so set up for heart disease, and the luncheon provides a place for people to confer and confide in one another.’
Moulton also found it rewarding to be surrounded by so many women at the luncheon.
‘I work in a man’s world, and I felt that I was being bathed in female energy and love at the Go Red for Women Luncheon,’ she said. ‘It’s an opportunity to be with each other, to network and to celebrate our good health. We need to learn to take care of ourselves, because our community, friends and family need us.’
In her position as CEO of Green Mountain Power, Powell oversees 200 employees at the state’s second largest fully integrated electric utility that serves 200,000 Vermonters. She became CEO of the utility in 2008, after working at Green Mountain Power for 10 years.
‘I love the challenge of crafting a low-carbon, low-cost future for our customers, while working with the 200 people here,’ Powell said. ‘We’ve been expanding into renewable energy and have been an innovator in bringing a tremendous amount of solar power online. We’re trying to build Vermont’s largest wind farm.’
The South Hero resident started her career in the mutual fund business in her native Manhattan. After moving to Vermont in 1989, Powell served under three governors and then worked in the banking and energy sectors. Powell, 50, and her husband Mark also own a small business, called Spot the Dog, and have a 14-year-old daughter, Alex.
Moulton has also brought a great deal of change to the state of Vermont, primarily through the Burlington waterfront redevelopment that is today’s Main Street Landing.
‘I’ve worked on this redevelopment for 30 years,’ Moulton said. ‘There’s 250,000 square feet of space here, with businesses, an art gallery and a theater. I started with a phone on the floor in a small office, and my partner Lisa Steele and I created Main Street Landing.’
Main Street Landing has won several awards, nationally and locally, and Moulton speaks nationwide about her project and work ethic of social responsibility. The 60-year-old Allentown, Pa., native is married to filmmaker Rick Moulton. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Both women serve on several boards, and are now turning their attention to the Go Red for Women Luncheon.
‘We’d like to raise $200,000,’ Moulton said. ‘We think we can easily accomplish this while bringing women together and having a really great time while fighting the No. 1 killer of women in America, heart disease.’
The Go Red for Women Luncheon is set for Wednesday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington. Lauren Maloney of FOX44 is the emcee of the luncheon. Macy’s and Merck are the national sponsors of Go Red for Women. Presenting sponsor of the Go Red for Women Luncheon is Fletcher Allen Health Care. A Picture and A Promise sponsor is NorthCountry Federal Credit Union. Main Street Landing is a local sponsor. Media sponsors are FOX44, Star 92.9 and the Burlington Free Press.
About Go Red For Women
Go Red For Women is part of the American Heart Association’s solution to help save women’s lives. With one out of three women still dying from heart disease, we are committed to fighting this No. 1 killer, which is largely preventable. GoRedForWomen.org, a premiere source of information and education, connects millions of women of all ages and gives them tangible resources to turn personal choices into lifesaving actions. We encourage women and the men who love them to embrace the cause. For more information, please visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278). The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc.
Photos: Top, Mary Powell, GMP; and Melinda Moulton, Main Street Landing.