Bringing more than 25 years of marketing, management, and strategic business consulting experience in the corporate and non-profit fundraising sectors, Leslie Keefe will join the management team at Southwestern Vermont Health Care in January as its vice president of corporate development. Keefe, who is a Rutland native, most recently ran a successful consulting business focusing on organizational development, including strategic planning, governance, fundraising, training, and marketing.
“Leslie brings a depth of expertise in both for-profit and not-for-profit management,” said Thomas Dee, SVHC president and CEO. “She is energetic, positive, and forward thinking. Leslie also knows our communities and our health system and is deeply committed to our mission, our vision, and our values. We are eager to have her join our team.”
Keefe, who lives in Manchester, has a long history of successful marketing and fundraising in Bennington County. She served as development director at Long Trail School in Dorset, and directed the capital campaign for the Northshire Day School in Manchester, raising several million dollars in annual, capital and endowment initiatives for the organizations. As executive director of the Manchester and the Mountains Chamber of Commerce for seven years, she quadrupled membership and led a variety of successful economic development initiatives.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be joining SVHC,” Keefe said. “It is an excellent health care organization with a medical and professional staff that puts patient care first. We have a strong network of supporters who understand the value of high quality care. I look forward to working with the talented team at SVHC to build upon the strong foundation of the region’s leading health care institution.”
Keefe launched her career in the retail industry, completing the Bloomingdale’s executive training program in New York City before spending nearly a decade with San Francisco-based clothing chain, Esprit De Corp. In her last four years with Esprit, she oversaw the entire East Coast and Midwest operations, opening numerous outlet stores and managing over 200 employees and several million dollars in revenue.
Active in the both her local and statewide community, Keefe serves on the boards of the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation and the Greater Northshire Access TV, as well as volunteering with various community organizations. She also was recently re-appointed by Governor Peter Shumlin as an alternate commissioner on the District 8 Act 250 Commission, a position she has held since 2007.
Keefe will begin her post January 6.