Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Chuck Ross, announced today that Jolinda LaClair of Middlesex has been appointed as Deputy Secretary for Administration for the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
‘I am pleased to announce that Jolinda LaClair will join the Agency of Agriculture as Deputy Secretary. She brings years of experience working with Vermont on issues relating to rural development and agriculture and many other matters of public policy,’ stated Vermont Agriculture Secretary Chuck Ross. ‘Her experience building partnerships across public, private and non-profit sectors will be a real asset to the Agency of Agriculture's work to support agricultural viability in Vermont.’
‘Jolinda's wealth of knowledge about Vermont -- its people, its communities, and the challenges and opportunities for agriculture and commerce will be a great benefit,’ added Ross.
For most of the past decade, LaClair served as USDA State Director for Rural Development in Vermont and New Hampshire. She directed over 40 community and economic development programs aimed at rural development including agriculture. In this capacity from 2001 to 2009 she helped to direct millions of dollars of support to Vermont's rural and agricultural communities.
Most recently she worked for the New England Culinary Institute. LaClair also spent over 15 years working for U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords where she addressed an array of issues including agriculture.
LaClair will provide leadership for the Agency on policy development, management, legislative initiatives and convening agricultural groups in the state to move work forward such as the Farm to Plate strategic plan and other initiatives important to Vermont agriculture. She will begin work at the Agency of Agriculture on February 22, 2011.
Source: Agriculture Agency. 2.16.2011
Jolinda LaClair named deputy secretary for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture
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