Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that Philip Kolling will serve as Executive Director of SerVermont, which coordinates and promotes community service across the state and is housed within the Agency of Human Services. Kolling has been SerVermont's VISTA Project Supervisor, and is responsible for starting Vermonts AmeriCorps VISTA program, which currently hosts 27 VISTA members within 20 different non-profit and government agencies statewide.
Phil has volunteerism in his heart; it is the path he has chosen for his life's work. His background in community organizing and familiarity with SerVermont, coupled with his optimism and drive for increasing volunteerism in Vermont, make him the perfect choice to head the organization, Gov. Shumlin said. Kolling replaces Hal Colston, who resigned to take the position of Executive Director of the Partnership for Change, an educational non-profit.
I am honored by the appointment, Kolling said. National service members are a great asset to our communities, and I know that they make a difference in the lives of Vermonters every day. I am proud to be leading SerVermont and look forward to deepening the strong tradition of service in our state.
Prior to joining SerVermont, Kolling was Club Director of the Boys and Girls Club in Everett, Mass., Field Coordinator for the Appalachian Mountain Clubs Berkshire Chapter, Assistant Program Director of the Vermont Youth Tomorrow VISTA and Vermont Youth Development Corps AmeriCorps state programs, and served terms as both an AmeriCorps VISTA member with Vermont Youth Tomorrow, and as an AmeriCorps state member and Field Team Leader for the Maine Conservation Corps.
It is obvious that Gov. Shumlin recognizes and values the roll of volunteerism throughout the state and the importance to have someone like Phil who knows volunteerism and the Corporation for National and Community Service from the inside out, said Peter Hayward, chairman of the SerVermont Commission. Phil's commitment to volunteer service, its members and the communities that are served, along with his willingness to bring a fresh approach to the challenges ahead are what makes me believe he will add his name to the ranks of great national service directors nationwide."
Kolling is currently finishing his masters degree in Managing Mission Driven Organizations at Marlboro College, and holds a bachelors degree in Community Development from the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire.
He lives in Graniteville with his wife Brandy and their son, Charlie.
Governor taps Philip Kolling to head SerVermont
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on