Heather Ross, director and shareholder at Sheehey, Furlong & Behm, and Alex Halpern, president at Freeman French Freeman, have been elected chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Lake Champlain Chamber Board of Directors. The chamber also announced that Mimi Buttenheim, Erin Evarts, Hans van Wees and Andrew Way have joined the board.
“The Lake Champlain Chamber’s work is rooted in the knowledge and experience of our business community," said Chamber President Cathy Davis. "Our talented and engaged board of directors provide us with valuable insight and feedback as we seek to continually improve our region’s business climate.”
Ross practices business litigation with a focus on labor and employment law. For over 25 years, she has been advising clients on compliance issues, conducting investigations and representing clients in all phases of litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Ross spent more than a decade at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont.
Halpern has practiced architecture in Vermont for more than 25 years. His education includes degrees in art and architecture from the University of Vermont and the State University of New York. His work includes projects like Burlington High School, the UVM STEM science facility, the Burlington YMCA, UVM Rescue and Dartmouth Soccer. He is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Champlain.
Buttenheim is president at Mad River Distillers, where she works closely with the manufacturing, wholesale and retail teams to meet production and sales targets and to execute the vision of the founders. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in classics and earned a certificate of baking and pastry arts from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in California.
Evarts is director of development at Mercy Connections, an educational and social justice organization that empowers people to make significant life changes. She previously served as executive director at Lyric Theatre Company. Evarts serves on the advisory board of Leadership Champlain and is a graduate of Emerson College.
Van Wees is managing director at Westport Hospitality. With extensive leadership experience and a diverse background in the hospitality industry, he has branded full-service convention and resort hotels in Europe, the Caribbean, and the U.S. He found his way to Vermont when offered the role of general manager at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.
Way is vice president of operations at Leonardo’s Pizza, where he oversees the company's three restaurants and remote office. He began his career with Leonardo's as a pizza maker and has steadily moved up the ranks over his 15-year career. Way is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Champlain and a 2024 graduate of Advance Champlain.