Rose Kenary, general manager of Manhattan’s Pizza & Pub, and Joe Carton, chief operating officer of Westport Hospitality, have been elected to the board of directors of the Burlington Business Association, a nonprofit membership organization comprising 200 businesses and nonprofit members.
Kenary has lived or worked downtown for the entirety of her 12 years in Burlington and has extensive experience in both front-of-house and management roles at some of the city’s most popular breweries and bars. She recently became a leader in promoting industry safety by connecting fellow downtown bars and restaurants with BBA and harm-reduction resources. Kenary is a graduate of the University of Vermont.
Carton has worked in downtown Burlington for over 33 years, beginning as general manager of the former Radisson/Wyndham Hotel (now the Hilton Burlington) and then as GM of the Courtyard Burlington Harbor. His current employer operates the Hotel Vermont and Courtyard Burlington Harbor. Carton has been active in the Lake Champlain Chamber, Hello Burlington, Ronald McDonald House Charities and several other local charities and organizations through the years.
“We are lucky to have Rose and Joe join the board of directors,” said BBA Executive Director Kelly Devine. “Rose’s leadership in engaging a too-often-overlooked sector adds even further value to the BBA’s work to support downtown staff at a critical time. Joe, a longtime Vermont hospitality industry and downtown Burlington leader, will provide a unique industry and historical perspective to the BBA’s work to serve Burlington businesses.”