On Thursday, April 5, in front of a sold out crowd of over 430 business leaders, the Burlington Business Association (BBA) announced the two newest appointments to its Board of Directors. Kathleen Shirling, of People’s United Bank, and Zandy Wheeler, of the SkiRack, were both in attendance at the BBA Dinner and Annual Meeting, where the appointment became official.
Kathleen Schirling, Director of Marketing and Community Services for People's United Bank in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, has been with the bank (formerly Chittenden Bank) since 1990. She is an active member of the community and currently serves as vice-chair and secretary of the Sara Holbrook Community Center board and is a member of the Queen City Police Foundation board.
“Having worked with Kathy in a client/vendor relationship for years, I’ve known her to be fair, grounded, and well-organized. Her demeanor and perspective on issues or initiatives as a BBA board member will be eloquent,” said BBA Vice Chair Tom Brassard.
Zandy Wheeler helped his fraternity brothers establish The Ski Rack while still a junior at UVM. After 13 years running a private psychotherapy practice with his wife, Karen George, his family returned to South Burlington in 1989 to take over operations at The Ski Rack. Since then, the business has grown into both a successful physical and on-line store, employing more than 50 people. Zandy has served as both Chair and as a Board Member of the King Street Center since 1999 and recently served as a member of the Bike Path Task Force.
“Zandy is the classic hard-working, involved, feet-on-the-ground small business person who sees every day from the trenches. He and his partners have built one of the top 100 cycling stores in the country as a result and there’s no substitute for this experience when advocating for Burlington businesses as a BBA board member,” noted Brassard.
“It’s exciting when the board unanimously elects new board members,” said Kelly Devine, Executive Director of the BBA. “In this case, it happened twice in the same meeting.” Devine also noted that many board members commented on their new board members’ superb character as much or more than businesses with which they are involved. “It’s important that the people that comprise our Board of Directors not JUST be good business people, but they should be good people as well. I think we hit the nail on the head with Zandy and Kathleen.”
Schirling and Wheeler will replace retiring board members Paula Coletti, People’s United Bank, Tom Leavitt, and Peter Straube, Champlain College. Each of these former board members was personally thanked, to a rousing applause, at the BBA Dinner for their unending hard work and dedication to their positions on the board. The BBA wishes to thank them once more for everything they have contributed to the organization.
The BBA is a private membership organization with over 225 members. Located in downtown Burlington, the Association and its members work to promote and enhance the economic vitality of Burlington.