VSC Hires New Director of Community Relations & Public Policy

The Vermont State Colleges is pleased to announce that Daniel

P. Smith of Burlington has been appointed the Director of Community

Relations and Public Policy. Smith comes to the Vermont State Colleges from

the Arno Group, a management and strategic consulting firm located in Stowe,

Vermont, where he provided businesses and organizations with strategic

planning, project management, complex problem solving and facilitation

services.

Tim Donovan, Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges, said, “We’re thrilled

that Dan Smith will be joining the Vermont State Colleges. The breadth of

his experience in economic development, strategic planning, and governmental

affairs brings considerable talent to the colleges in a very broad and

flexible portfolio.”

Prior to the Arno Group, Smith was Vice President and General Counsel of

GBIC-the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation, the regional economic

development corporation responsible for economic development services in

Chittenden County, Vermont. He also was an associate attorney in government

affairs and regulated entities at Downs Rachlin Martin, PLLC, located in

Burlington, Vermont.

David Rocchio, Smith’s colleague at the Arno Group, said “We are excited for

Dan. It is bittersweet for us. If he brings half the energy to the state

colleges that he brought to our clients, they will be well served. We wish

him well and the colleges are lucky to have him.”

Smith was recently named a 2010 Rising Star by Vermont Business Magazine

because of his contributions and commitment to the community. He chairs the

Board of Mobius, the Mentoring Movement, and serves as Vice Chair of the

Church Street Marketplace Commission.

The Vermont State College system is composed of five unique institutions,

the Community College of Vermont, Castleton State College, Johnson State

College, Lyndon State College and the Vermont Technical College. It is

headquartered in Waterbury, Vermont and the institutions serve more than

13,000 students annually.