Virtual Policy Series
​Monday afternoons: A three-month series

​Monday, October 19 - Monday, December 14, 2020
Presented by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Virtual Policy Series will bring together government and business leaders to get questions answered, provide personal access to key Vermont leaders, and bring attendees up to speed on important policy.

This event series will explore federal and state actions impacting our business community, economic relief, and other topics. Our guest speakers will answer questions from members of chambers of commerce across the state and our staff will moderate.

Please feel free to register for your favorite topics and submit your questions. Each event will feature a 25 minute presentation by our guest speaker(s) followed by 35 minutes of Q&A. This event is free to attend but registration is required.  

Previous Events:

October 19, 2:45 p.m. - Congressman Peter Welch
Congressman Peter Welch was our first guest in the Virtual Policy Series. He discussed economic relief available for Vermont businesses and federal actions impacting Vermont. 

Presenter Information:
Peter Welch
  • ​Congressman Peter Welch, elected to Congress in 2006, has been a champion for working Vermonters throughout his career. In Congress, he is a leading advocate for rural economic development, cutting the price of prescription drugs, investing in infrastructure, and expanding broadband and telemedicine in rural America.
October 26, 3 p.m. - Elections During a Pandemic
Secretary of State Jim Condos will provide an overview of the Secretary of State's work and discuss navigating Vermont's election system in 2020.
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Presenter Information: ​​
Jim Condos
  • Jim Condos has served as Vermont’s Secretary of State for the past 10 years. He has a record of achievement from more than 30 years of elected public service. Prior to becoming Secretary of State, he served on the South Burlington City Council for 18 years and as a Vermont State Senator from Chittenden County for 8 years.
November 2, 3 p.m. - The State of Vermont's Workforce
Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington, Director of Economic & Labor Market Information Section Mathew Barewicz,  and others from the Department of Labor will discuss the condition of Vermont's workforce, including an overview of unemployment numbers and trends, the UI trust fund, UI employer experience ratings, and other topics impacting employers and employees.  
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​Presenter Information:​​
Michael Harrington
  • Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington, appointed Deputy Commissioner for the Vermont Department of Labor by Governor Phil Scott in January of 2017, became Interim Commissioner for the Department on September 3, 2019, and was appointed Commissioner on June 1, 2020. Prior to joining the Scott Administration, Michael served as the Economic and Community Development Director for the Town of Bennington. 
Mathew Barewicz
  • Mathew Barewicz is the Economic and Labor Chief for the Vermont Department of Labor. He has 14 years of professional experience as an economist across both the public and private sector.
November 9, 3 p.m. - Election Results & Economic Impact
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley will discuss election results and the impact of national results on Vermont's business community. 
Presenter Information:
Neil Bradley
November 16, 3 p.m. - Broadband Now and Beyond
Department of Public Service Commissioner June Tierney and Representative Laura Sibilia will discuss broadband investments made in 2020 and expectations for broadband infrastructure improvement in the future. Click on the map to the right to view the distribution of various broadband types in Vermont.
Presenter Information:
June Tierney
  • June E. Tierney was sworn in as the Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service by Governor Phil Scott on January 5, 2017. Prior to her appointment, Commissioner Tierney served as general counsel to the Vermont Public Service Board (2012-2016). Before then, she was a Board hearing officer (2008-2012), as well as a staff attorney at the Vermont Department of Public Service (2001-2008). A 1986 graduate of Boston University and a 1993 graduate of Vermont Law School, Commissioner Tierney began her legal career with a clerkship at the Vermont Supreme Court, followed by three years as an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York City, where she specialized in securities fraud litigation, white collar crime defense and corporate internal compliance investigations. Before her admission to the bar, Commissioner Tierney enjoyed the privilege of serving on active duty (1986-1990) as a commissioned officer in the United States Army.
Laura Siblia
  • Representative Laura Sibilia is serving as an elected member of the Vermont House of Representatives for the Windham – Bennington district.  This district includes the towns of Dover, Readsboro, Searsburg, Somerset, Stamford, Wardsboro and Whitingham. Laura is one of five independents serving in the Vermont House.  Laura was first elected to the Vermont House in 2014.   
November 23, 3 p.m. - Economic Outlook for the Road Ahead
Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein and Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation Executive Director Adam Grinold will discuss Vermont's economic outlook, provide an overview of existing relief programs, and discuss other economic development issues. 
​Presenter Information:
Joan Goldstein
  • Appointed by Governor Shumlin and reappointed by Governor Scott, in the past four years Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein has built a team of dedicated professionals in the dept where the focus is to improve the economic well being of Vermonters. Well-respected in the business community, Joan brings a wealth of experience to the job, having spent six years as executive director of a regional development corporation for Windsor and Orange Counties, GMEDC, where she helped diversify services with real estate investments, flood-recovery grants, and innovative workforce-development projects.
Adam Grinold
  • A graduate of Wilmington High School, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation Executive Director Adam Grinold received a BA with honors in History Education from Castleton State College in 1995. Adam was the general manager of his family business, The White House of Wilmington until successfully selling the operation in 2008. A life-long resident of Southern Vermont, he enjoys contributing to the vitality of the local community.
November 30, 3 p.m. - Act 250 Reform
Natural Resources Board Chair Diane Snelling and Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore will discuss developments related to Act 250, reform progress made during 2020, and expectations for changes in the future. 

​Presenter Information:
Diane Snelling
  • Diane Snelling was appointed in 2016 by Governor Peter Shumlin to serve as Chair of the Natural Resources Board. The Board administers Act 250, Vermont’s land use law. In 2017, and in 2019, she was re-appointed by Governor Phil Scott. Previously, Diane served in the Vermont State Senate for 15 years, and earned a reputation for being an effective, and non-partisan legislator. She was a member of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee for thirteen years and Vice Chair for four years. Among other issues, Diane was a leader on storm water regulation, the establishment of groundwater as a public trust and lake shoreland protection. She was Clerk of the Senate Appropriation Committee for fourteen years and served for eight years on the Conference Committee for the Budget. Diane is a longtime community activist and artist. She served on the Hinesburg Planning Commission and was elected to two three-year terms on the Select Board.
Julie Moore
  • Julie Moore is the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), the state agency with primary responsibility for protecting and sustaining Vermont’s environment, natural resources, wildlife, and forests, and for maintaining Vermont’s beloved state parks. Moore was named to that position by Governor Phil Scott in January 2017. 
December 7, 11 a.m. - Legislative Preview
Vermont Public Radio's Peter Hirschfeld, VTDigger's Anne Galloway, and Seven Days' Kevin McCallum will discuss the post-election legislative outlook for 2021, including issues the Legislature is expected to return to or begin work on when the new session begins in January. Please note this event is at 11am. 
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​Presenter Information:
Peter Hirschfield
  • Peter Hirschfeld covers state government and the Vermont Legislature. He is based in VPR’s Capital Bureau located across the street from Vermont’s Statehouse. Hirschfeld is a leading Vermont journalist who has covered the Statehouse since 2009, most recently as bureau chief for the Rutland Herald and Times Argus.
Anne Galloway
  • Anne Galloway is the founder and editor of VTDigger and the executive director of the Vermont Journalism Trust. Galloway founded VTDigger in 2009. VTDigger has grown from a $16,000 a year nonprofit with no employees to a $2 million nonprofit daily news operation with a staff of 25.
Kevin McCallum
  • Kevin McCallum is a political reporter at Seven Days, covering the Statehouse and state government. He previously was a reporter at The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, California.
December 14, 3 p.m. - Legislative Update with the Vermont Chamber
The Vermont Chamber’s four person lobbying team will provide a pre-session legislative update and answer questions about anticipated state and federal legislation impacting Vermont businesses. This is a chance to have your lobbyists answer questions on issues important to you!

Questions:

Submit your questions during the registration process. Registrations for each individual event will close by the date of the event at 8:00am. All registered attendees will receive an email confirmation with instructions. 
If you have any questions, please contact Ariel Bertenshaw, Director of Events, at abertenshaw@vtchamber.com or (802)262-0147.

Audio and Photo Release: 

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce and its legal representatives and assigns, retain the right and permission to publish, without charge, photos and audio recordings taken at their events. Photos and comments may be used in publications, including electronic publications, or in other similar ways. In registering, you agree to these terms.

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