At the annual meeting held in July, John Ewing, founder of Smart Growth Vermont, stepped down as Chair of the board. He will remain as an active board member, with the title of Founder. Robin Scheu, Executive Director of the Addison County Economic Development Corporation in Middlebury, is the new board Chair.
"After 12 years as Chair I am delighted to transfer the office to Robin who has a long history of non-profit leadership,” said Ewing. “Being very proud of Smart Growth Vermont, its staff, and its vital work, I look forward to a continued active role on the board and as an advisor to the organization."
In addition to her experience leading conservation and economic development organizations, Robin also has 16 years experience as a commercial banker and has served on several non-profit boards. "It's such an honor for me to follow John as Chair of the Smart Growth of Vermont board,” said Robin. “John was the visionary for this organization and it's had a great impact across Vermont under his leadership. Thanks in large part to John, Smart Growth Vermont is in a strong position to make even more progress in assisting communities with planning for and managing land use and development. I look forward to serving and to helping guide Smart Growth Vermont on the next stage of the journey."
Other officers were also elected: Cornwall resident Tracy Himmel Isham as Vice Chair, Chad Farrell of Encore Redevelopment in Burlington as Treasurer and Larry Gubb of BILD NorAm of Londonderry as Secretary. Chuck Lief of Colchester and principal of the Hartland Group, was elected as the newest member of the Smart Growth Vermont board.
“I am pleased to have been invited to join the Smart Growth Vermont board,” said Chuck. “As a developer I understand the economic opportunities and long term stability which arise in communities that practice careful land use. Smart Growth Vermont has long been the leader in supporting good planning-both visionary and practical. It emphasizes the essential need to balance growth and conservation as we improve the economy and preserve our heritage.”
As a principal in The Hartland Group, Community Developers and Consultants of Burlington, Chuck has planned, financed, and constructed mixed-use, mixed-income buildings and neighborhoods, historic restoration, brownfield remediation and green and LEED certified construction. Prior to co-founding the Hartland Group in 2003, Chuck was the first President of the Greystone Foundation in New York, a multi-service community development organization. He also serves on other non-profit boards, including the Intervale Center, Vermont Community Loan Fund, the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, and is a founding trustee of the Naropa University in Colorado. He is a member of the KeyBank New Markets Tax Credit advisory committee, the Financial Innovations Roundtable, and Wall Street Without Walls.
Smart Growth Vermont is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to forging growth and conservation solutions for Vermont communities and working rural lands. We work both on-the-ground in communities and at the state level to help develop and implement land use legislation designed to foster growth that works to strengthen our downtowns and village centers while conserving our working landscape and open areas. For more information, please visit Smart Growth Vermont’s website at www.smartgrowthvermont.org.
Source: Smart Growth Vermont. 7.27.2010
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Smart Growth Vermont founder John Ewing stepping down
Submitted by tim
on