Chad Simmons (he/him/his) joined VHFA in January 2021. Chad supports the agency’s state and federal policy priorities through direct advocacy and relationship building with housing and community partners. Prior to joining VHFA, he spent 15 years as a community organizer and advocate in Windham County working on numerous, but inter-connected issues ranging from early childhood, environmental justice, and community health. Chad lives in Montpelier with his partner Carrie, daughter Ember and forever puppy Coco.

Peggy O’Neill-Vivanco is the Coalition Director of Vermont Clean Communities, a US Department of Energy-designated coalition. She brings together stakeholders in the public and private sectors across Vermont to help fleets shift to affordable, efficient and clean transportation fuels and technologies. Her work with stakeholders covers a wide range of topics including idle reduction technologies; electric lawn equipment; electric bicycles; transit options for rural and underserved areas; car sharing and other equitable transportation options.

She is on the Burlington, Vermont Public Works Commission where she works with fellow Commissioners supporting Burlington’s investments in its comprehensive PlanBTV; working to reduce Burlington’s dependence on fossil fuels and taking strategic steps to adapt infrastructure to the impacts of climate change. She is also on the board of CarShare Vermont, advocating for shared-use mobility.

Peggy holds an MA from New York University. She is a year-round bike commuter, and advocates for safe transportation options for all.

Ross is the Public Transit Program Manager for the Vermont Agency of Transportation. He started his career in State government after 12 years in the private sector. In 2004, he joined the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, contributing to land-use and Environmental Justice policies, and coordinating Transportation Orientated Design projects. Ross joined the Public Transit Program in 2007 and created the successful Go! Vermont program, becoming the Program Manager in 2019. Ross was also named the 2018 “Rural Transit Champion” by the Transportation Research Board.

Bryan Davis, AICP, is passionate about sustainable transportation options. His work at the CCRPC focuses on regional Transportation Demand Management programs, bicycle and pedestrian projects, complete streets, and engagement with our cities and towns to support and help realize their vision for livability. Bryan’s background includes public service with the US Forest Service and non-profit experience in land conservation and affordable housing. He lives in Burlington with his family and has a thing for trails.

Nick Atherton is a land use and planning professional who joined South Burlington’s Planning & Zoning office in 2023. His work in these fields has taken him into Vermont’s statehouse, New Mexico’s forests, and cities and towns across Minnesota. Nick is interested in using public policy to deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits and in making government work better for the people it serves. When he’s not presenting to a city committee or researching bylaws, Nick is usually riding his bike or feeding his cat Elote

Peter Plumeau has over 25 years of leadership and consulting experience helping organizations navigate complexity, adapt to disruption, and lead change with foresight and empathy. He has advised more than 100 public, private, and non-profit organizations across North America, including leading the development of CATMA’s new strategic plan and supporting GMT in reengineering its local funding model. Previously CEO of EBP US, he guided the firm successfully through the COVID-19 pandemic and a foreign ownership transition. Peter is a certified Prosci™ Change Management Practitioner and active in national and state leadership and business networks.

Michelle Hobbs is a seasoned facilitator and designer with over 25 years of experience helping organizations align resources, processes, and culture to tackle complex challenges and drive results. She specializes in collaborative workshops and retreats that engage teams in co-creating visions, strategies, and solutions, drawing on innovative visual tools to deepen understanding and spark action. Michelle has worked with leaders across healthcare, technology, human services, transportation, energy, and the environment, and previously held design leadership roles at ICF, VEIC/Efficiency Vermont, and her own studio, Bleu Sky Creative. She also teaches design at Champlain College and is an avid gravel cyclist, hiker, and maple syrup enthusiast.

Caleb Grant is a visionary non-profit leader with more than two decades of experience driving transformative change in rural communities. A passionate advocate for the power of place, Caleb has spent his career revitalizing local economies across the Northern Forest through bold, integrated strategies in transportation, higher education, clean energy, regional agriculture, and outdoor recreation.

At the heart of Caleb’s work is a deep commitment to the four pillars of rural vitality: health, wealth, community, and capacity. Known for turning big ideas into real-world results, he brings people together across sectors to build stronger, more resilient communities.

Caleb’s leadership extends across the Northeast Kingdom, where he serves on the boards of NEK Collaborative, Vermont Public Transporation Association, and Kingdom Trails—organizations at the forefront of rural innovation and sustainability.

When he’s not shaping the future of rural Vermont, Caleb finds joy at home in Lyndonville, where he and his wife raise their two boys and care for their horses. Whether he’s on the trail or in the boardroom, Caleb is driven by one mission: to make rural places thrive.

Nicole Gratton is the Village Trust Initiative Director at the Preservation Trust of Vermont, where she leads efforts to empower small communities to take on meaningful historic preservation projects. With a deep belief in the power of place, Nicole helps local leaders transform vision into action—revitalizing buildings, strengthening community ties, and sparking long-term change. She brings energy, empathy, and strategic insight to every project, championing the idea that preservation isn’t just about saving the past—it’s about shaping a stronger, more connected future. When she’s not immersed in reimagining Vermont’s villages, you’ll find Nicole adventuring outdoors in all seasons with her two daughters, exploring the landscapes that inspire her work.

Jamie Green serves as the Environmental Stewardship Specialist at Hypertherm Associates, a global leader in advanced cutting solutions and technologies. In this role, Jamie leads the Greener Cuts Program, an internal environmental certification initiative that empowers teams worldwide to reduce their environmental footprint through targeted energy efficiency, waste reduction, and carbon mitigation projects.
In addition to her environmental work, Jamie is an active member of the Substance Use Disorder Taskforce, a subcommittee of Hypertherm’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the HOPE Foundation. Drawing from her own journey in long-term recovery, Jamie brings invaluable lived experience to her advocacy, helping to shape and support recovery-friendly workplace initiatives both within the organization and in the broader community.

Kati Gallagher joined VNRC in fall 2021 as the Sustainable Communities Program Director. Prior to VNRC, Kati worked with the Mad River Valley Planning District, implementing a program of bioregional planning focused on affordable housing, sustainable transportation, and placemaking. Kati also gained experience as a grassroots advocate, organizer, and researcher while working with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). Kati holds an M.S. in Community Development & Applied Economics with a concentration in Community Resilience & Planning from the University of Vermont. Her master’s research focused on Vermont’s “new economy,” including social entrepreneurship and alternative wellbeing measurement. Kati lives in Waterbury Center with her family and overgrown garden.

Sarah Camille Wilson is the Executive Director of Old Spokes Home. A lifelong practical transportation cyclist, Sarah Camille is never happier than when overloading her bike and taking the longer, slower way.

Jack Evans is a Burlington-raised advocate for human-oriented transportation.

Serves as the Executive Director of Champlain Islanders Developing Essential Resources (CIDER) since 2022.

Chris is an urban planner with experience in both land use and transportation planning. Prior to assuming his current role as the Community Development Director at the City of Essex Junction, he was a Senior Associate at Jarrett Walker & Associates, a Portland, Oregon based public transit planning consultancy that worked with cities and public transit agencies across North America to analyze and redesign their bus networks.

Jason Schrieber is a multi-modal planner and designer focused on the intersection of the public realm and safe, efficient and healthy communities. For 30 years, he has helped hundreds of cities, institutions, and developers elevate the importance of active transportation and bring nonmotorized policy and infrastructure solutions to complex projects— typically in urban conditions. He’s shown governments from Boston to Abu Dhabi, how to manage parking in difficult shared environments; helped clients develop demand-management programs that get people to choose transit, walking, and biking over cars; and has led multi-modal planning efforts that range from the block to corridor to citywide levels that use transportation investments and mobility strategies wisely to incentivize travelers to their destinations efficiently and safely, improving public health, and strengthening communities’ sense of place.

KESHA RAM HINSDALE is the first woman of color to serve in the State Senate, and is chair of the Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee. She also sits on the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Justice Oversight Committee. She received a BS in natural resource planning and a BA in political science from the University of Vermont in 2008. She served in the Vermont House of Representatives on behalf of Burlington, Chittenden District 6-4, from 2008 to 2016, where she sat on the House General, Housing and Military Affairs, and Ways and Means Committees, and served as vice chair of the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. Kesha earned her Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2018. When not in the legislature, Kesha teaches Structural Inequality and Environmental Justice at Vermont Law & Graduate School. She has also served as co-chair of the Vermont Attorney General’s Immigration Task Force and as a member of the boards of Emerge Vermont, the Main Street Alliance of Vermont, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the Regenerative Food Network, and the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Kesha lives with her husband, Jacob Hinsdale, and their new baby Mira in Shelburne, Vermont.

PATRICK M. BRENNAN of Colchester, Chittenden County, Republican, was born in Burlington, Vermont and became a resident in 1985. He was educated at Rice Memorial High School, South Burlington, Vermont. He is married to Mary and they have one daughter and one son. Organizations: Colchester Civil Board; Justice of the Peace; past Colchester High School Key Communicator; ST. Chairman, BPOE Special Activities; Past CMS Girls’ Softball Coach. Member of: Colchester Republican Committee; past member, Citizens Advisory Committee on Lake Champlain; House Ways & Means Committee; Co-Chair of Leg. Sportsman’s Caucus; Vice President of Congressional Sportsman’s caucus; Former Chair of House Transportation Committee; current Chair of CSG Transportation Committee; Colchester Planning Committee, former member.
Member of the House of Representatives: 2003-2024.
Member of the Senate: 2025-present.

Thomas Renner has worked for Congresswoman Becca Balint since she first was elected to Congress. Thomas covers a variety of issues in the Congresswoman’s office including: transportation, housing, agriculture, appropriations and Thomas handles veterans casework.

Austin Davis is a dynamic and pragmatic young professional who has spent his career at the nexus of government and the economy, where he has proven himself as an adept facilitator with the ability to convene and coordinate diverse stakeholders toward common goals. Austin serves as the Director of Government Affairs for the Lake Champlain Chamber, engaging with policymakers as a registered lobbyist to represent the needs of Vermont businesses and their employees. Prior to joining the chamber staff, he handled Communications & Operations for the trade association Renewable Energy Vermont. He is a lifelong resident of the Champlain Valley and received a Bachelor of Science in Community & International Development from the University of Vermont. Austin volunteers on the Green Mountain Transit Board of Commissioners, where he served two terms as Chair. When Austin is not working or volunteering, he can be found skiing, mountain biking, or ultra-marathon running.