Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Chamber celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Champlain Class of 2026 on June 9, welcoming 30 emerging leaders into the program's growing alumni network at a ceremony held at Main Street Landing in Burlington. The graduates of the Class of 2026 are:
-
David Qian, 802 Group
-
Gabby Stevens, Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD)
-
Elise Genereux, Common Good Vermont
-
Lisa Grefe, Common Good Vermont
-
Sue Verro, Community Bank N.A.
-
Anne Rosenblum, Dinse P.C.
-
Nick Erly, Dinse P.C.
-
Beth Dailey, EastRise Credit Union
-
Ibby Wilson, EastRise Credit Union
-
Colleen Perron, Freeman French Freeman
-
Mike Shapiro, Gallagher Flynn & Company. LLP
-
Mike Coster, GlobalFoundries
-
Chris M. Bohórquez, Gravel & Shea PC
-
Eleanor Moody, Gravel & Shea PC
-
Karisa Thompson, Lund
-
Garrett Allen, M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust
-
Emilie Tetu, Mack Molding
-
Ben Gilbert, Milton Family Community Center
-
Rachel Conner, NBT Bank
-
Sasha Kauert, PC Construction Company
-
Maddy Prokott, Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer
-
Francis DiMora, Sheehey Furlong & Behm
-
Kim Geyer, Stewart Construction
-
Miriam Mukurazita, University of Vermont
-
Summer Colley, UVM Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships
-
Shelby McGarry, UVM Medical Center
-
Julia Spelman, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
-
Katie French, Vermont Mechanical
-
Jane Wolforth, Wake Robin
-
Emily Hayes, Westport Hospitality
Now in its 38th year, Leadership Champlain is a cohort-based leadership development program that brings together professionals from across northwest Vermont for a rigorous ten-month journey focused on community engagement, systems thinking, and leadership development. Participants engage with dozens of regional leaders, explore Vermont's most pressing civic and economic challenges, and examine their own leadership values and strengths.
"Leadership Champlain is about connection," said Alex Bunten, director of workforce and education at the Lake Champlain Chamber and program manager. "It's about developing the kind of leadership our communities need more of: leadership grounded in empathy, service, integrity, and a genuine commitment to understanding others."
The Class of 2026 represents employers and organizations from across Chittenden County and the broader region, spanning industries including finance, healthcare, law, construction, nonprofit, and higher education. Their graduation adds 30 engaged civic leaders to a network of alumni working across every sector of Vermont's economy.
Leadership Champlain is presented by Community Bank N.A. and supported by community sponsors Leonardo's Pizza and Davis & Hodgdon. For more information about Leadership Champlain, go to www.leadershipchamplain.org.
The Lake Champlain Chamber believes that together, we make Vermont work. Its mission and programs are best summed up by five distinct points: seeking economic opportunity for all; celebrating business ownership and entrepreneurship; promoting a robust, diversified visitor economy; cultivating community leadership; and nurturing emerging talent.
6.15.2026. Lake Champlain Chamber, 60 Main St., Ste. 100, Burlington, VT 05401 lccvermont.org
To support vital journalism, access our archives and get unique features like our award-winning profiles, Book of Lists & Business-to-Business Directory, subscribe HERE!
Vermont Business Magazine