Meet Our Speakers
Karen Anderson
Director of Radio Programming & Operations, Vermont Public
Karen is Vermont Public's Director of Radio Programming & Operations, serving Vermonters by overseeing the sound of Vermont Public's radio broadcast service. Karen has a long history with public radio, beginning in the early 2000's with the launch of the weekly classical music program, Sunday Bach. Karen's undergraduate degree is in Broadcast Journalism, and she has worked for public radio in Vermont and St. Louis, MO, in the areas of production, programming, traffic, operations and news. She has produced many projects for broadcast over the years, including Vermont Public's live multi-platform coverage of the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, and interviews with local newsmakers alongside former Morning Edition host Mitch Wertlieb. In 2021 Karen began working on a national collaboration with StoryCorps One Small Step, connecting Vermonters one conversation at a time.
Mellisa Cain (She/Her/They)
Creative Community Connections
Iceberg Consulting
Mellisa Heather Cain of Iceberg Consulting, LLC is a Visual Trainer and Facilitator who offers experiential workshops and meeting facilitation that focus on group development, engagement, communication and understanding. With a unique style rooted in her background in international education, conflict transformation, and the arts, Mellisa makes sure the needs of all participants are welcomed and embraced. In addition to teaching, Mellisa offers graphic recording of meetings and events of all sizes and is passionate about bringing visuals for better understanding of complex materials to all. Find Mellisa at www.IcebergConsulting.net.
Lucia Campriello
CEO, Hula
Lucia lives in Burlington's South End neighborhood with her husband and two young daughters, where she and her family can often be found traveling as a four-pack between Burlington’s bike path, beaches, playgrounds, waterfront, Centennial and Virtue fields and Bolton Valley Ski Resort (season depending)! At Hula Lucia is focused on driving growth and impact in service of elevating Vermont entrepreneurs and creating community connections. Lucia enjoys most the opportunity to develop and contribute to high-performing teams of passionate, mission-driven people, and at Hula she is thrilled to be working in a broader ecosystem of people and organizations committed to a future in which Vermont enjoys a nationwide reputation as the premier home for growing innovative, competitive, sustainable businesses that generate economic opportunity for all.
Prior to Hula, Lucia was Chief Engagement Officer at Let's Grow Kids where she successfully led an ambitious fundraising campaign and helped marshall the support of over 300 Vermont business and community leaders to pass the ground-breaking child care bill, Act 76. Equally rewarding as her work, Lucia enjoys serving as a Burlington School Commissioner, on the Board of Directors at Generator, as a Trustee of Champlain College, and as an employer advocate within Vermont's child care campaign.
Carra Cheslin (She/Her)
Social Impact Program (SIP) Manager, Lawson's Finest Liquids
Carra is the Social Impact Program (SIP) Manager at Lawson’s Finest Liquids and also serves on the Vermont B Corp Collective (VBCC) Organizing Team. At Lawson’s Finest, Carra manages the 5 Social Impact Program initiatives: Sunshine Fund, Sip of Support, Good Brews for a Cause, Green is Grand, and Great Place to Work. She also facilitates the company’s B Corp certification, staff volunteer program, B Team, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Previous to joining the Lawson's Finest Liquids team, Carra spent her career designing, implementing, and leading a variety of local and national programs, initiatives, and events across the corporate social responsibility, solar energy, sustainability, community organizing, and outdoor recreation spaces, in both the nonprofit and public sectors. Carra lives in the Mad River Valley and loves spending her time skiing or splashing in the river with a hoppy craft brew in hand.
Ryan Christiansen (He/Him)
Head Distiller & President of Vermont’s Caledonia Spirit
Ryan Christiansen, a Vermont native, is Head Distiller & President of Vermont’s Caledonia Spirits, famed for crafting Barr Hill Gin, Barr Hill Reserve Tom Cat Gin and Barr Hill Vodka. Ryan’s entrepreneurial path was born in his family-owned hardware business in Vermont. His exposure to the challenges of small-town business at an early age, fueled a desire to bring local products to a global market. Ryan spent 8 years as an avid brewer and owner of a home-brewing store, which eventually led him down a path to distilling. In 2011, Ryan met a beekeeper named Todd Hardie. Todd had been keeping bees for 30 years and was in a pursuit to bring the agricultural aspect of beekeeping into distillation. Ryan, captivated by Todd’s agricultural mission, sold his home brewing business to step foot into the distilling arena. With a 15 gallon still, and a Mercury station wagon, the beekeeper and the distiller built the Caledonia Spirits distillery and set out to share their beloved Barr Hill Gin with the world. Today, Barr Hill employs 70 employees, purchases over 150,000 pounds of raw honey annually from local farmers, and is the fastest growing super premium gin made in the US. The destination distillery is located on Gin Lane in Montpelier, VT and includes a James Beard nominated cocktail bar on site.
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Kelly A. Combs (She/Her)
Brand Manager –Innovation & Sustainability, New Chapter, Inc.
Kelly is a Brand Manager for Innovation & Sustainability at New Chapter Inc, a Brattleboro, Vermont-based vitamin and supplement company. In this role, Kelly leads initiatives at the intersection of science and nature, driving product innovation and sustainability. She is committed to crafting high-performing, trusted supplements that combine the wisdom of nature with the needs of the body, all while being mindful of the planet. Guided by New Chapter’s mission to champion organic, non-GMO, and regenerative agriculture, Kelly is passionate about developing products that not only uphold the highest standards of product integrity but also contribute to a healthier, more resilient food system.
Before joining New Chapter, Kelly held key roles at two of Vermont’s most iconic brands —Magic Hat Brewing Company and Ben & Jerry’s — where she led cross-functional initiatives across the natural products space, launching new products, developing brand strategy, and executing go-to-market plans for international expansion.
Outside of work, Kelly finds inspiration in Vermont’s natural beauty. She enjoys staying active year-round, from hiking and skiing in the Green Mountains to walking and biking along the Burlington waterfront, always drawing energy from the outdoors to fuel her creativity and leadership.
Caroline Corrente (She/Her)
Founder/Owner/Bun Lady
Caroline is the chef/owner of Haymaker Bun Company, which has locations in Middlebury and Burlington, VT. She holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and African Studies from The University of Vermont. Prior to attending pastry school in Paris & owning restaurants, she worked in low income housing and financial education at Champlain Housing Trust and the Champlain Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). Caroline serves on the Board of Atria Collective (formerly WomenSafe) and the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-Op. Caroline lives in Middlebury with her husband, two sons, and dog. In her spare time she enjoys reading, biking, hiking, and doing any snow sport.
Michael Dupee (He/Him)
CEO, Sustainable Brands
Michael Dupee is the Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Brands, and a corporate sustainability and innovation expert, educator, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience across the consumer products, graduate education, investment banking, and ecotourism fields.
He served as both the first Vice President of Corporate Sustainability and the first Vice President of Sustainable Innovation at the former Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Keurig Green Mountain Inc., co-winning Best First Time Sustainability Report in North America by CERES, deploying over $48 MM in strategic philanthropy, and achieving recognition on behalf of the company as the #1 Best Corporate Citizen by CRO Magazine twice during his tenure. He has taught in the internationally-recognized Sustainable Innovation MBA program at the Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont, served as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs & Co., making and managing investments in distressed financial assets, co-founded an innovative and successful railbiking ecotourism venture, and acted as a Senior Advisor to a boutique consulting firm for their Environmental, Social, and Governance ("ESG") practice.
Michael holds graduate degrees in law, business administration, and biomimicry. He is based in Vermont where he lives with his son, makes music, and both plays and coaches baseball.
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Cheryl Eaton (She/Her)
COO / Managing Director, Guru Media Solutions
Cheryl is a seasoned marketing pro who has worked with powerhouse brands like Seventh Generation, National Grid, REBBL, Traditional Medicinals, Hormel, and Crocs. As a partner at KSV she was instrumental in building that super-regional marketing firm. Now as a leader at Guru - with a hub at Hula Lakeside but spanning both costs and everywhere in between - she passionately uses her marketing and sustainable business experience to both support clients trying to make the world a better place and build a thriving community of amazing employees. A business and brand strategist by trade, an MBA in Sustainable business by passion, and a former instructor at the MBA level, Cheryl loves bringing these superpowers together to help people and the planet thrive.
Emily Gaynor
Director of People & Culture at Native, a Public Benefit Corporation
Emily is the Director of People & Culture at Native, a Public Benefit Corporation. With a background in social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, and sustainable business, she has worked with CPG companies, Certified B Corporations, and national and international nonprofits. She is passionate about transforming businesses into sustainable and collaborative organizations for all stakeholders, and believes that people are the key to an organization's lasting success. Emily holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an MA from SIT Graduate Institute.
Mel Hall
Co-founder and CEO, Global Village Foods
Michelle Hernandez (She/Her)
CEO & Co-Founder, Leading Elephants
Michelle is an adventurer, a wonderer and a systems thinker. She’s a new Vermonter, passionate about the ways each of us contributes to this magical place we call home. Above all, she’s an evangelist for human connection in a world that feels increasingly virtual, polarized, and disconnected.
Michelle founded Leading Elephants in 2010 to prove that achieving bold impact and deep care for humans aren’t mutually exclusive. Today, Leading Elephants supports clients through cultural creation and transformation — building spaces of belonging, growing leaders that are both brave and human, and aligning on shared ways of being that fuel bold missions. In a world that emphasizes doing, Michelle helps leaders and teams reclaim what they stand for - and curate meaning, purpose and joy in their work - together!
Mark Hunter (He/Him)
Master Certified Coach - President and Founder, Pinnacle Coaching, LLC - Leadership Coaching and Consulting
Mark is an executive and leadership coach, published author (The Brink – How Great Leadership Is Invented – Morgan James Publishing, 2014,) and a leadership consultant and trainer. As the President and Founder of Pinnacle Coaching, his career has spanned 30 years working globally with top-tier business & organizational executives and prominent thought leaders. He spent over 17 of those years training high-level coaches to do what he does through Accomplishment Coaching’s ICF (International Coach Federation) accredited Coach Training Program, where he was a Senior Team Leader. In his private practice, his clients are C-level executives in the private sector, civic leaders in the public sector, professional athletes and teams, startup innovators, visionary creatives and front-line disruptors in their respective markets. His specialties include leadership training & development, mastery of dynamic communication, effective relationship and team building, crisis leadership, culture reinvention and implementation, market disruption, inclusivity initiative implementation, radical innovation, thought leadership and working with fear and the unknown as assets in unpredictable environments.
Fauna Hurley (She/Her)
Business Liaison, Office of Senator Peter Welch
Fauna Hurley has served as Senator Welch’s Business Liaison for five years. She covers economic and workforce development and international trade. Fauna works closely with Vermont businesses, state agencies, trade groups, and associations, helping them navigate federal agencies and legislation. Fauna is the Chair of the annual Women’s Economic Development Conference (WEOC), a free conference held in Randolph. Prior to her work with Senator Welch, she worked in development and spent several years as the Director of Revitalizing Waterbury. An Oklahoma native, Fauna lives in Burlington and enjoys cooking, traveling and being outdoors with her family.
Nicole A. Killoran
Professor of Law and Director, Vermont Small Business Law Center,
Vermont Law and Graduate School
Meghan Ksiazek (She/Her)
VP of Product & ESG, Turtle Fur
Meghan is the VP of Product & ESG at Turtle Fur. In her role she is able to weave sustainability into Turtle Fur's product from concept to consumer. Helping to lead her company to become a B Corp was a dream come true. Her passion lies in sustainability and the joy of the outdoors.
Jeanette Langston (She/Her)
Founding Director, Social Tinkering
Jeanette is a passionate and determined woman who believes that self worth and self love, compassion for all, and service to each other and our communities, all lie at the heart of a thriving world. She believes that just as one person's healing goes through many ups, downs, and complex challenges, so too does healing entire communities. Social Tinkering was founded in 2021 with a diverse team of unique and passionate humans that has shifted and grown as they have practiced how to connect and thrive together.
Mike Lannen
Eternity Marketing, Founder
Mike Lannen is the Founder of Eternity, a web, digital marketing and AI consulting firm in Burlington, Vermont. An Eagle Scout, Mike is on a mission to make the web a more user-friendly space. He takes pride in building close relationships with all of his clients while keeping a watchful eye on team culture and employee satisfaction. Mike has spoken at numerous conferences internationally about AI in Digital Marketing, Future Trends in AI, Leveraging AI for Businesses, and more. When not at work, he can be found spending time with his wife and playing LEGO with his two daughters. He thrives with being Neurodivergent and having AuDHD (Autism and ADHD).
CD Mattison (She/Her)
Yelo, Head of Product; UX and Ecommerce Innovation Strategist
C D Mattison is a seasoned e-commerce and digital innovation expert with over twenty years of experience in boosting online shopping and business performance. Known for her customer-focused and data-driving design, she excels in enhancing conversion rates with ethically-driven technology and AI, always keeping data privacy and user engagement at the forefront. Passionate about developing sustainable digital strategies, she ensures her work not only aligns with her clients' values but also sets new benchmarks in creating memorable and effective shopping experiences. Mattison combines deep insights with practical strategies to drive business growth and foster genuine customer loyalty with seamlessly enjoyable online experiences.
Sascha Mayer (She/Her)
Cofounder, Chief Experience Officer, Mamava
Sascha Mayer, cofounder and Chief Experience Officer (CXO) of Mamava, is an expert in lactation space design, family-friendly workplace policies, and social entrepreneurial leadership. She serves on the VBSR board and hosts "The Bodacious Optimist" podcast, focusing on design, brand, advocacy, and inspiring entrepreneurial stories.
Morgan Nichols (She/Her)
Community Liaison and Constituent Services Representative, Office of Representative Becca Balint
Morgan Nichols is a Community Liaison and Constituent Services Representative for Congresswoman Balint. Her outreach issue areas include Economic Development, Workforce Development, Arts and Culture, Rural Issues, and Water and Wastewater infrastructure. As a caseworker, she supports constituents who are facing issues with their social security, student loans, and the SBA.
James Paradissis
Outreach Representative, Office of Senator Bernie Sanders
Margot Phillips (She/Her)
Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), Burton
Margot is the Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) at Burton Snowboards. She is responsible for developing and managing the implementation of a multinational diversity and inclusion strategy, coaching leaders on inclusive best practices, and building meaningful partnerships that support the growth and development of diverse talent.
Prior to joining Burton, Margot worked as a DEI leader at Ericsson and Meta. Previously, she worked for a number of years in management consulting, supporting public and private organizations in leadership development programs, DEI and Human Capital strategy, and change management. Before entering consulting, Margot served as a senior policy aide in the US Senate and as a Presidential Management Fellow in the Executive Office of the President.
Margot is a proud veteran of the US Navy, where she served as a Surface Warfare Officer from 2005 - 2012. Margot is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, holds an MA in Strategic Planning from the US Naval War College and an MS in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University.
Mike Pieciak (He/Him)
State Treasurer, State of Vermont
Mike Pieciak is a proud Vermonter and our state's 31st Treasurer. As Treasurer, Mike has focused on growing our state's economy by investing in every Vermonter's success. Mike successfully championed the passage of “Vermont Saves” - a publicly administered retirement program for the +80,000 Vermonters who currently lack access to a retirement plan through their employer. Mike also expanded the “10% in Vermont” program to invest tens of millions of dollars in the construction of new housing, supporting over 1,100 housing units statewide. Most recently, Mike announced a plan to eliminate up to $100 million in medical debt held by working and middle-class Vermonters. Mike previously served six years as the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation and on the COVID-19 pandemic response team. Currently, Mike resides in Winooski with his husband, Will, and English Setter Jetty.
Erika Anderson-Putman
Community Marketing Associate, Cabot Creamery Co-operative
Tinotenda Charles Rutanhira (He/Him)
Executive Director, Business Development and Co-Founder, The Vermont Professionals of Color Network
Tino Rutanhira was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and studied in South Africa before immigrating to the U.S. He co-founded the Vermont Professionals of Color Network in 2019 and previously worked at Dealer.com and Cox Automotive. A true creative and entrepreneur, Tino has produced and hosted a podcast, co-founded Best in VT Tours & Charters, acted in a Flynn Theater production, and performed stand-up comedy at the Vermont Comedy Club. He currently serves on the boards of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and LetsBuildHomes. Beyond work, Tino is passionate about music, podcasts, and competitive sports, particularly soccer. He is an avid Liverpool FC fan, often found yelling at the TV on match days. Most importantly, he is a proud single parent to an amazing 19-year-old daughter, whom he considers his greatest source of pride and joy.
Liz Schlegel
Executive Director, The Alchemist Foundation
Christine Badalamenti Smith
Yoga Therapist and Rewilding Guide, OGGI BE
As a yoga therapist, rewilding guide, environmental advocate, and writer, my mission is to help people feel at home, alive, and powerful in their bodies and outdoors. People who feel whole, safe, and empowered are better stewards of their lives and our planet.
I founded OGGI BE to offer services and resources and convene a collective of people who want to be present, authentic, and intentional in their lives. With yoga therapy and rewilding, I support clients' mental health and resilience, I help them commit to and maintain lasting life change, cultivate personal, professional, and spiritual alignment, and deep connection to self and purpose so they can thrive in a life they love.
Yoga therapy is not only a profound tool in working with many mental health conditions and life experiences, but it is also a way to engage the body and mind to cultivate greater alignment, flow, and joy in one's life. In addition to working toward abundance and ease.
I work with young adults and adults, couples, and groups. I see clients in my office and online, and provide workshops and group experiences online and at various locations throughout New England and New York.
Follow this link to schedule a 1:1 consultation with me to learn more about my services and if we might be a good fit! https://www.oggibe.com/consultation
Vijay Singh (He/Him)
CEO of Vermont Public
Vijay Singh is CEO of Vermont Public. He began his career as a documentary filmmaker, where his storytelling won awards and brought attention to important issues. From there, he moved into leadership roles at NPR stations including LAist and CapRadio, where he expanded digital platforms, created new programming, and grew audiences by reaching more people in new ways.
His work is driven by the belief that public media is vital to a healthy democracy, fostering dialogue and understanding across communities. He seeks to lead Vermont Public by building on its strong foundation, growing its impact, and ensuring it continues to serve as a cornerstone of Vermont life for generations to come.
Hiro Soga (He/Him)
Marketing Partners, Digital Marketing Specialist
With experience in all things social media, digital advertising, and copywriting, Hiro serves clients as a digital marketing specialist. Having grown up alongside the rise of social media - from AIM away messages and MySpace Top 8s, through the ban and unban of TikTok - Hiro understands the challenges of navigating the balancing act between the dangers and benefits of technology and social media. He thrives in helping clients find that balance through the right channels, tools, and tailored messages that not only drive results, but reflect their values. Outside of work you can find Hiro catering to 3 needy cats, strategizing and storytelling in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, or on the hunt for a world-class bagel.
Srini Venugopal, Ph.D.
Academic Director, Sustainable Innovation MBA Program; Donald and Gabrielle McCree Endowed Professor of Business; Associate Professor
Srini Venugopal is an Associate Professor and holder of the Donald and Gabrielle McCree Endowed Professorship of Business at the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business. Srini’s research demonstrates how social innovation can serve as a potent tool in providing wellbeing enhancing solutions in contexts of poverty. He has published 20 articles on the subject of social innovation based on field data gathered from diverse contexts of poverty spanning five continents. Srini is an award-winning researcher and teacher. His research has won discipline-wide awards from the American Marketing Association and the Association of Consumer Research. For his teaching efforts, Srini was voted the professor of the year by SI-MBA students for three years in a row. Prior to pursuing an academic career, Srini led a technology-based social venture in India. His venture was focused on delivering education services to low-income consumers in rural India. Committed to being an engaged scholar, he continues to lead an education-focused social enterprise called Diya that operates in several low-income neighborhoods in South India.
Katrina Wagner
AI Help, Principal
Katrina Wagner makes AI approachable, breaking down complex tools into clear, practical steps that help teams work smarter and faster. As the founder of AI Help, she’s built her reputation on aligning technology with real-world goals—ensuring AI isn’t just a trend but a tool that truly delivers results. Her interactive workshops are designed for hands-on learning, giving teams the confidence to streamline workflows, save time, and embrace AI with ease. With years of experience blending tech expertise with a creative, collaborative approach, Katrina turns AI training into an engaging, empowering experience. When she’s not guiding teams or designing websites, you’ll find her exploring Vermont’s landscapes—hiking in summer and cross-country skiing in winter. That same spirit of discovery drives her passion for helping others unlock AI’s potential.
Ari Weitzman (He/Him)
Managing Editor, Tangle News
Ari Weitzman is the managing editor of Tangle News, an independent and nonpartisan digital media company covering U.S. politics. He lives in Huntington, VT, with his wife and Australian Shepherd.
Annie Winkler (They/Them)
Program And Operations Generalist, Vermont Employee Ownership Center
Annie Winkler does a lot of different things. Currently working for the Vermont Employee Ownership Center and with the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Annie facilitates business conversions to worker-owned cooperatives. As a former worker-owner at Real Pickles in Greenfield, MA, they were a production assistant, production manager, HR manager, IT manager and board president over their 12 years. They care more about good process and the journey than they do about the destination. They also believe games teach us more about how we work together than spreadsheets and work plans. They are also involved with the Epic Skill Swap community and paddle dragon boats with Malia Paddling and Racing Club.
Diana Wood (She/Her)
Director of Brand Communications & Sustainability
Diana has more than 25 years of experience in comprehensive brand communications and design. She holds a BFA, an MBA in Marketing, and recently attained certification as Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) through the International Society of Sustainability Professionals. At Norwich Technologies she manages all aspects of the companies' branding and communications, and sustainability efforts as the B Team leader. Together, the B Team works towards increasing the net positive impact of the company and its operations that go far beyond building renewable energy projects. They are currently working on recertifying in 2025 under the new standards. Her focus also includes supporting strategic business growth for the company while making connections with the communities they serve. Diana is passionate about sustainability, conservation and animal welfare. She is guided by her life mission "to leave the world a better place for me having been a part of it" and is excited to work for this growing company that increases clean energy solutions in the region. In her free time she is an active member of the Burlington Vermont Rotary Club, volunteers at Merrymac Farm Sanctuary, is a community gardener, and trains for triathlons to keep in shape.
Steph Yu
Executive Director, Public Assets Institute
Steph came to Vermont and Public Assets Institute in 2015 and became the Executive Director in 2023. She is glad to be back to her New England roots after stints in the Midwest, the Ohio Valley, and on the West Coast. At Public Assets, she works on making Vermont’s unique education funding system, the state budget and family economic policies more equitable and responsive to the needs of Vermonters. Her fiscal experience in the public and private sectors in multiple states informs that work, including staff time in AmeriCorps programs, state budget offices and state legislatures.
She currently resides in Burlington with her spouse and two kids.