Vermont Business Magazine Special Olympics Vermont welcomed three new staff members in 2015: Caitlin Jenkins, Daniel Favand, and Rachel Hamm, all of Burlington. In April, Caitlin Jenkins became the Community Development Manager for Special Olympics Vermont. Caitlin graduated from the University of Windsor located in Ontario, Canada with a Masters in Human Kinetics. Before joining the SOVT staff, Caitlin worked for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games, and US Lacrosse.
Daniel Favand assumed the role of Operations Manager in April. Daniel graduated from Geneva College in Pennsylvania with a B.A. Prior to Special Olympics Daniel obtained a masters of social science from the University of Edinburgh in Ireland.
In June, Rachel Hamm joined Special Olympics Vermont as the Data and Administration Coordinator. Rachel graduated from Grove City College in Pennsylvania with a B.S. in elementary education. Before coming to SOVT Rachel taught in the Burlington school district, Winooski, and in California.
In 2015, Special Olympics Vermont also welcomed four new board members: Ken Ballard of Williston, Peter Curliss of Jericho, Virginia Merriam of Wolcott, and Bob Uerz of Jericho.
Ken Ballard received his B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Southern Maine before becoming the owner of Spherion Staffing. Ken is the father to three children and enjoys hockey.
Peter Curliss recently relocated to Vermont from Maine to become the General Manager of Green Mountain Harley-Davidson. Peter and his family have a long history of supporting Special Olympics and have already scheduled a few fundraising events throughout the summer.
Also new to the board is Virginia Merriam. Virginia is a detective for the state of Vermont’s Office of the Attorney General. Before working for the state, she received her M.S. in economic crime management as well as human service administration. In Virginia’s free time she enjoys running, yoga, hiking, and biking.
For a decade Bob Uerz has served as a coach with Special Olympics Vermont’s Chittenden Delegation; as the head coach of the soccer program and as a track & field coach. In his professional life, Bob has served as president & CEO of the American Lung Association of Vermont, a fundraising & management consultant and is presently the Education Programs Coordinator for Tobacco Use Prevention at the Vermont Agency of Education. Bob has a BS in Health Education from SUNY Plattsburgh and a M.Ed in Administration & Supervision from Antioch University.
Special Olympics Vermont is part of a global movement that works year round to foster acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities by using the power of sport to showcasing their gifts and abilities. In Vermont, 1,140 athletes train and compete in 12 Olympic type sports. Through successful experiences in sports, SOVT athletes fain confidence and build positive self-images, which follow them into their homes, classrooms, jobs, and communities.