Labor
Commissioner to Retire
Governor Praises Her Commitment to Public Service
Montpelier, Vt. — Vermont’s
labor commissioner Patricia McDonald will retire from state government
effective May 31, the office of Governor Jim Douglas announced April 3, 2006.
McDonald, who has worked in state government for more than 13 years,
has served three governors in a total of seven appointed positions.
“Pat has had a remarkable career,” Governor Douglas said.
“She has served the state in so many ways; as commissioner of both the
Departments of Human Resources and Motor Vehicles, as secretary of the Agency
of Transportation, and most recently she undertook for me the challenge of
merging the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Employment
and Training.” The merger is one which had been discussed for
years, but Douglas credits McDonald’s
skilled leadership for making it happen.
In addition to serving Governors Snelling, Dean and Douglas, McDonald
worked with legislatures controlled by both Republicans and Democrats.
“And all admired her for her ability to work with them, and to get the
job done,” Douglas added. “Pat has
certainly earned her retirement, but I do hope that she will seek other ways to
serve our wonderful state.”
ABOUT PATRICIA MCDONALD
Patricia A. McDonald was appointed Commissioner of the Vermont
Department of Labor on July 1, 2005. Prior to this appointment, she was
Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Training. Her primary
focus was to oversee the merger of the Department of Labor and Industry and the
Department of Employment and Training.
During her career in state government, she has worked for three
Governors and has held seven appointed positions. In addition to the
positions noted above, she has also served as Secretary of Transportation;
Deputy Commissioner of Education; Commissioner of Motor Vehicles; and
Commissioner of Personnel, a position she held twice.
Ms. McDonald serves as Chair of the Vermont Employment Security Board,
the Governor’s Interagency Workforce Development Committee and the State
Apprenticeship Council. She is also a member of the Governor’s Jobs
Cabinet and the Human Resources Investment Council.
Prior to her public sector career, McDonald enjoyed a nineteen-year
career with CIBA-GEIGY Corporation, where she held several key managerial and
administrative positions within the corporate and human resources
offices. She was also employed by the Merchants Bank for more than three
years and served as Vice President of Human Resources and Regulatory
Management.
Ms. McDonald resides in Berlin,
Vermont and is Chair of the
Berlin Selectboard. She also serves as Chair of the Berlin Capital Budget
Committee and is a member of the Town Center Task Force.
She is a former member of the Berlin Planning Commission, Central
Vermont Regional Planning Commission, and Vermont Council on Rural
Development. She is married to Retired Captain J. Bruce McDonald, Vermont
State Police and has a daughter, two stepsons, and two grandsons.
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Jason
Gibbs
Governor’s
Communications Director
109 State Street ¨ The Pavilion ¨ Montpelier,
VT 05609-0101
¨ www.vermont.gov/governor
Telephone: 802.828.3333 ¨ Fax: 802.828.3339 ¨ TDD: 802.828.3345