One Credit Union’s CEO Brett Smith was recently named Chair of the Board for Make A Wish Vermont. As Board Chair he hopes to continue to broaden awareness of Make A Wish across all of Vermont in order to help as many children as possible and to deliver on the non-profit’s mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Brian Leffler, President of Instrumart in South Burlington, Vermont, wrapped up his three-year-term as Board Chair. During Brian’s term as Chair, he championed the values of corporate giving and served as a strong model, leading his own business, Instrumart, to donate $77,000.00 over the past three years. Brian has served on the Board since 2015 and will continue his service as a member at large. Brian lives in Williston with his wife, Colleen.
Newly joining the Make-A-Wish Board are Christian Kuzia and Ahmed Yearwood. Christian Kuzia is the General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor, on Burlington’s Waterfront. He previously served on the Boards for the Vermont Convention Bureau and the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. Christian lives with his wife Jodi and sons Caleb and Camden in Colchester. Christian hopes to bring his deep knowledge and connections within the hospitality industry to Make-A-Wish Vermont, as many wishes include a tourism/hospitality element; and he will be spearheading Make-A-Wish Vermont’s Over the Edge event in 2021. Christian was also recently appointed as Secretary of the Board.
Ahmed A. Yearwood is the Owner and Founder of Y INTERACT, a digital creative agency. He concurrently serves on the Boards of the Financial Communications Society and Cool Culture, a New York City-based arts and cultural organization. Currently on a long-term assignment as Creative Lead, Custom Solutions, at Princeton University, Ahmed lives in Princeton, NJ with his husband, Stephen Ober. As a storyteller in the digital arena, Ahmed hopes to share the stories of the young people and families whose lives are transformed by the power of a Wish, and the team at Make-A-Wish Vermont that makes that magic happen every day.
Board Thanks Longtime Member Terrell Titus: Taking leave from her Board position after nine years of dedicated service is Terrell Titus, of Shelburne, Vermont. Terrell is a longtime champion of Make-A-Wish Vermont. She is the co-founder of the Wish Kids Golf Classic, now entering its 20th year, and has spearheaded numerous community events during her tenure on the Board.
Current Members who will continue to serve on the Make-A-Wish Board include newly elected Vice-Chair Jean Giard and Treasurer Marietta Formanek, and members-at-large Julie Dale, Dr. Jennifer Carlson, Andrea Gagner, Barbara Harris, Patti Komline, Regina Pattison, Ken Thompson, and Mark Wallace. They, along with more than sixty volunteers, complement the full-time staff of just three, in making Wishes come true for critically ill children in Vermont.
Make-A-Wish Vermont creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. A wish is often the turning point in a child’s recovery. Since 1989, Make-A-Wish Vermont has granted over 830 wishes.