The American Heart Association’s named Joy Blandford to the position of Director of Go Red for Women and the Start! Heart Walk in the state of Vermont.
Blandford, originally from Atlanta, Ga., began the job in late September.
“I enjoy healthy living and all the information that surrounds it, and how to get there,” Blandford said. “The American Heart Association provides a lot of that, which makes this a perfect fit for me. It’s also a challenging job, and I’m looking forward to engaging more people in helping us reach our goals.”
For the past 10 years, Blandford has organized the Lake Champlain Blue Grass Festival, an annual August event in Alburgh, Vt.
“We started with one band and 300 people,” Blandford said. “We’re up to 12 bands over a three-day weekend and 3,000 people in attendance.”
Before that, Blandford worked with Phillips LifeLine and in the health care sales field.
“My goal was to get back into the health care industry,” Blandford said. “I’m impressed with how much money comes into Vermont to fund research. The AHA is currently funding almost $1.3 million in research here.”
Mauret Brinser, executive director of the AHA’s Vermont and New Hampshire offices, had high praise for Joy.
“I’m excited to have someone with Joy’s experience and enthusiasm join our staff,” Brinser said. “Vermont is a healthy and friendly state, and I know Joy will continue to implement the AHA mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases, in the state.”
Blandford is a graduate of Clayton State College in metropolitan Atlanta and has lived in Vermont since 2000. She currently resides in Hinesburg with her family. She is gardener, photographer, tennis player, and takes a seven to 10-mile walk once or twice a week.