Karen Duguay, former executive director of the Better Middlebury Partnership, has joined the Addison County Economic Development Corp. in the newly created assistant director position.
In her new role, Duguay will lead several ongoing and new regional economic development initiatives, including serving as business navigator for the Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange; providing outreach and assistance to businesses, nonprofits and municipalities; undertaking grants research; advancing ACEDC’s exploration of a business incubator; and assisting with the development of a regional economic development strategy, among other duties.
“ACEDC and the region will benefit greatly from Karen’s experience and expertise,” said ACEDC Executive Director Fred Kenney. “Her knowledge of the region and the relationships she has developed will help advance our mission to create an entrepreneurial and innovative environment in Addison County.”
In her work at Better Middlebury, Duguay guided the Middlebury downtown through the disruptions of a substantial rail and bridge infrastructure project and COVID-19, managing several grants that helped mitigate negative impacts. Those efforts earned Dugay the Buster Brush Citizen of the Year Award from the Addison County Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to joining BMP, Karen served in a business development role at the Lake Champlain Waldorf School and as marketing and public affairs manager at the Chittenden County Transportation Authority.