Veteran public- and private-sector leader takes the helm of non-profit seeking economic prosperity.
Campaign for Vermont Prosperity (CFV), the nonpartisan advocacy organization focused on public policies that support prosperity for all Vermonters, today announced that Pam Mackenzie has been named President of the organization. Mackenzie succeeds Pat McDonald, who led CFV for the past decade and will continue to serve the organization as a member of its Advisory Council.
Mackenzie brings to CFV a rare combination of executive leadership, deep Vermont connections, and a lifelong commitment to strengthening the communities she serves. As President, she will lead CFV's nonpartisan mission to advance data-driven public policy, civil discussion, transparency and accountability in state and local government, and to build an economy in which every Vermonter is secure and able to prosper.
"It is my honor to step into this role," said Mackenzie. "Over the past six months, I've had the privilege of working closely with our Board of Directors and Advisory Council to take an honest look at this organization: its strengths, its weaknesses, and its opportunities. What I found was a group of smart, thoughtful, and deeply dedicated people, all working toward the same thing: making Vermont a better place to live, work, and raise a family. I'm energized, I'm ready, and I can't wait to get to work."
Mackenzie takes on the role at a moment when Vermonters are wrestling with real and pressing challenges; including the cost and outcomes of education, the affordability and supply of housing, the rising burden of health care, and the need for transparency and trust in public institutions.
"None of these challenges are simple, but all of them are solvable when we lead with credible, nonpartisan analysis and practical, data-driven solutions," Mackenzie added.
A Career Built on Strategy, Service, and Results
Mackenzie is an established leader with a proven record of developing and implementing long-term strategies for both public- and private-sector organizations. Her executive experience spans respected names in telecommunications and technology, including Xerox IT Services and C2 Competitive Computing, and Inntopia. Earlier in her career, as an Area Vice President with Comcast, Adelphia, and other leading providers, she led teams of hundreds of employees serving hundreds of thousands of customers across multiple states, expanding access to high-speed internet in rural markets and earning a reputation for taking systems "from worst to first."
Her public service reflects a deep dedication to Vermont's future. Mackenzie served as Chair of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority, leading a nine-member board responsible for building broadband and cellular services statewide and stewarding more than $300 million in federal and state funds to connect rural and underserved communities. She also chaired the Board of Vermont Public Television and served as Chair of the South Burlington City Council, where she led the community through high-visibility issues including a major lawsuit settlement, airport development, and the establishment of the area's first hub-and-spoke opioid treatment location in partnership with the Howard Center.
Mackenzie has additionally served the Greater Burlington YMCA as Interim CEO and supported the State of Vermont's Agency of Commerce & Community Development in implementing its economic development marketing plan and Talent Pipeline program. Her extensive civic and community work includes board service with the University of Vermont Medical Center, the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation, the Vermont Business Roundtable, Vermont Works for Women, the United Way of Chittenden County, and the Howard Center, among others.
Looking Ahead
Mackenzie was quick to credit her predecessor. "Pat McDonald closed out her CFV era with characteristic grace, and with the same full heart and tremendous optimism she has brought to Campaign for Vermont over the past decade," she said. "The foundation she and many others laid is exactly what makes this next chapter possible."
As President, Mackenzie is uniquely positioned to advance CFV's priorities, from transforming education and addressing Vermont's demographic challenges to exploring thoughtful economic policy alternatives. In the months ahead, the organization intends to sharpen its focus on the areas where it can make the greatest impact for Vermonters.
"None of this happens without our supporters," Mackenzie said. "To our Board, our Advisory Council, our members, and every Vermonter who reads our updates and contacts their legislators: thank you. Your engagement is the engine of everything we do."
CFV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to the vision of a more prosperous Vermont and growing middle class. They seek to accomplish these goals by reconnecting Vermonters to their government and advocating for more transparent policy-making.