The Vermont Department of Labor has hired Kristen Rengo as its inaugural equal opportunity and accessibility manager as part of a plan to increase the department’s diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts across all its programs.
Rengo will serve as the equal opportunity officer, overseeing the development, implementation and monitoring of the department’s nondiscrimination plan, which includes conducting fact-finding investigations to resolve discrimination complaints and working to assess current programs to improve equal opportunity compliance and accessibility.
“I’m also thrilled that we were able to hire Kristen into this role," Commissioner Michael Harrington said. “She’s a great addition to our team.”
Rengo has a professional background working with refugee children and families with the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and the Howard Center. Prior to becoming the EOA manager, she served as the Department of Labor’s state monitor advocate and foreign labor certification program administrator in the workforce development division.
“I am passionate about language access and hope to bring my prior experience in workforce development, refugee resettlement and interpretation and translation services to this new role,” Rengo said. “As the manager, it will be my priority to ensure that our array of services are accessible to all Vermonters.”