Martha Maksym, Executive Director of United Way of Chittenden County has announced that Bobbe Maynes, the organization’s Communications Director is retiring after joining UWCC seven years ago at the very beginning of the transformation to become a community impact United Way. In addition to her communications role, Maynes served as the Director of Development for four of the seven years, leading the resource development staff and volunteers. Referring to her contributions to the community, Maksym said, “Bobbe has had an illustrious marketing and communications career in state government, in hospitality and in community. She was a true partner and mentor to me as I stepped into this role of Executive Director and her skills, her intuition, her insights, her friendship and support have been a huge strength in our Leadership Team. We thank her for her years of service to us and to the community, and wish her well on this next great adventure -- whatever that may be.”
For a brief period just before joining United Way, Bobbe worked for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont after selling two bed and breakfast inns which she and partners launched in the late 90’s – Heart of the Village Inn in Shelburne, and Lang House on Main Street in Burlington. In both cases, significant renovations were required to adapt the two Victorian homes (both listed on the National Register Historic Register) to the needs of current travelers, while maintaining authenticity and critical historic elements.
From 1992 to 1997, Bobbe was Vermont’s first Commissioner of Tourism, appointed by Governor Howard Dean to market the State of Vermont as a destination to both business and vacationing/recreational travelers. During her tenure with the State, she partnered with other New England state tourism offices and local businesses to cooperatively enter the international visitor market, recognizing that “long haul” travel is less likely to be impacted by the fluctuations and seasonality of weather in the Northeast.
Among her other career highlights, Maynes was the Director of Tourism and the Convention Bureau for the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, was an elementary school teacher and worked as an estimator and project coordinator for a general contractor in Woodstock, Vermont. She is a current member of the Board of the Burlington Business Association, as well as a newly appointed member of the Board of the Cancer Patient Support Program. She has also held many state and regional volunteer leadership positions and was named the Burlington Business and Professional Women’s “Woman of the Year” in 1992, was the first “Friend of the Industry” recognized by the former Vermont Lodging and Restaurant Association in 1993, and with her business partner Bev Watson was named “Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper of the Year” in 2002.
She lives in South Burlington with her husband Robert, and between them they have four grown children and seven grandchildren. Maynes has no specific plans for the future, but looks forward to volunteering for organizations and programs she feels passionate about, and to spending time with her family.