Campaign for Vermont expands board

Campaign for Vermont, the state’s fastest-growing statewide advocacy organization, today announced its expanded board of directors. Bruce Lisman, a founder of the non-partisan organization, said that the founding officers have expanded Campaign for Vermont’s board to include nine more seats, adding a number of respected leaders from all regions of Vermont. Joining the Campaign for Vermont Board of Directors are:
· George Clain of Barre
· Mary Evslin of Stowe
· Louise McCarren of Charlotte
· Ed Morrow of Manchester
· Patty O’Donnell of Vernon
· Stefanie Pigeon of Essex
· John Powell of Colchester
· Edward Zuccaro of St. Johnsbury
· Steve Wilk of Rutland
‘The new board members are committed to putting progress ahead of partisanship and believe that government should be transparent, accountable and accessible,’ Lisman said.
Campaign for Vermont is now the fastest growing grassroots advocacy organization in the state. Currently, it has more than 1,000 partners and nearly 12,000 Facebook followers.
‘This development is part of the founding partners’ strategy to ensure Campaign for Vermont can be an effective, self-sustaining advocacy organization well into the future,’ said Lisman. ‘We are also interviewing candidates to fill new staff positions to support the Board and take the organization to the next level by mobilizing its partners and advocating for key policy proposals in the Legislature.’
‘Campaign for Vermont has built a coalition of Vermonters devoted to transforming Vermont’s economic landscape to one in which everyone can prosper,’ said Campaign for Vermont co-founder Mary Alice McKenzie. ‘It’s rewarding to know so many Vermonters share our passion to make this state a better and more affordable place to live, work and raise a family.’
‘Campaign for Vermont is a grassroots organization of outsiders ‘ a coalition of independent Vermonters who want to have a voice for both fiscal responsibility and compassion for those who need a helping hand,’ said Tom Pelham, also a co-founder of Campaign for Vermont. ‘I believe this organization will be successful in reconnecting Vermonters to their government and continuing to influence the public policy dialogue in Vermont. I’m excited about this new phase of the organization’s development and look forward to its continued growth.’
Campaign for Vermont New Board of Director Member Biographies
George Clain, Barre
Clain currently serves as a consultant and lobbyist for the Vermont Yankee Development Trust, representing the mutual interests of IBEW Local #300 and Entergy in regards to the Vermont Yankee generation station. He is a past business manager, financial secretary and president of IBEW Local #300, representing over eight hundred members. Mr. Clain, a graduate of Spaulding High School and DeVry Institute of Technology, also served in the U.S. Army and has been active in state and community affairs, holding various positions with the Barre City School Board, Barre Fish and Game Club, Dollars Against Diabetes Campaign, Green Mountain United Way, Vermont Employee Ownership Center, New England Electrical Workers Benefits Trust Fund, Vermont Energy Partnership, Central Vermont Kindred Connections and Vermont Cancer Survivors Network.
Mary Evslin, Stowe
Ms. Evslin is the Co-Founder of NG Advantage LLC of Milton. She is currently a member of the board of directors of the Vermont and New Hampshire Upper Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, a trustee for Champlain College and an Emergency Response Team Member with the American Red Cross. Ms. Evslin has previously held various professional positions with ITXC / Teleglobe, Solutions Inc., Solutions International and for Senator James Jeffords. She has also served as a board member of CapitalPlus Exchange, chair of the board of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority and a trustee of the Helen Day Art Center in Stowe.
Louise McCarren, Charlotte
Ms. McCarren, an attorney by training, has held numerous positions in government and the private sector, with a concentration in regulated industries. She was both the Chair of the Vermont Public Service Board and, later, the Commissioner of Public Service. She was the Vermont State President for Verizon, Vermont and most recently the CEO of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council a company responsible for the reliability of the Western Power Grid. She has been a resident of Vermont for forty years and active in numerous boards and commissions. Most recently she was a member of the Governor’s Commission on Energy Siting and is a member of the Vermont Telecommunication Authority Board.
Ed Morrow, Manchester
Created the Northshire Bookstore with his wife, Barbara, in Manchester, 31 years ago. He was a journalist in Asia, a community-development/disaster-relief manager in North Africa and Latin America, and an Investment Advisor and Mutual Fund manager, before entering the world of bookselling. He has been a strong bookseller advocate within the book world, serving for years on the boards, and as President, of both the New England and the American Booksellers Associations. He consults on small business development, and has written and spoken extensively on the book & publishing industry, and has lectured on free enterprise, entrepreneurism and book distribution in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Rumania, and Russia.
Patty O’Donnell, Vernon
Ms. O'Donnell is a small business owner and a former member of the Vermont House of Representatives, representing the Windham-1 Representative District from 1998 to 2010 and serving on the Appropriations and Human Service Committees. She currently serves as the Chairwoman of the Town of Vernon Selectboard, a board member of the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, the Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Brattleboro Retreat. In addition, she has also served two terms on the Vernon School Board.
Stefanie Pigeon, Essex
Ms. Pigeon, a graduate of the University of Vermont’s School of Business, has operated her own insurance agency in Essex, VT for the past 19 years. She is past president of the Burlington Sunrise Rotary. Stefanie is a longtime supporter of 4-H programs and presently serving as secretary of the Vermont State 4-H Foundation. Stefanie is a founding partner of Campaign for Vermont.
John Powell, Colchester
At present, John is marketing three home sites on Lake Champlain, called ‘Powell Beach.’ John owned and operated a local construction company and lumberyard for twenty years. He was then CEO of Lake Champlain Housing, a non-profit building and operating affordable housing. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Fletcher Allen Hospital. Previously, he was Chairman of the Board of Fanny Allen Hospital. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Vermont Health Foundation. John is a past President of the Board of Directors of Northern Vermont Home Builders Association and was a founding member of Energy Rated Homes of Vermont. John served in the Navy on board an aircraft carrier. He is a multi-generational Vermonter. John maintains a passion for building and windsurfing. John is a founding partner of Campaign for Vermont.
Edward Zuccarro, St. Johnsbury
Mr. Zuccaro is a partner at the firm of Zuccaro, Willis and Sipples, P.C. of St. Johnsbury. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont and New York Law School, is St. Johnsbury town attorney, past chairman of the V.O.S.H.A. Review Board and also a former member of the Vermont House of Representatives. In addition, he has served as both a member and chair of the University of Vermont Board of Trustees, Vermont Judicial Nominating and Labor Relations Boards, and as a member of the Professional Conduct Board. He is a current member of the Caledonia Bar Association and the Vermont Bar Association. Mr. Zuccaro also served as a Captain in the United States Army.
Steve Wilk, Rutland
Mr. Wilk is the owner and President of Wilk Paving Inc. in Rutland and also serves on the Rutland City Development Review Board. He is an active member of the greater Rutland community, supporting and taking part in a variety of local projects, charitable initiatives and community events.
Source: Campaign for Vermont 1.30.2014