Energy Co-op of Vermont Board of Directors
Peter Bennett, Chair
Peter Bennett is an engineer, entrepreneur and management consultant with more than thirty years experience. As a member of the Investment Review Board for Green Mountain Capital from 1990 - 2002, he provided management consulting services to a variety of clients including software companies, investor groups, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer and an outerwear manufacturer. Prior to his consulting work, he held management positions in several companies in the Boston area including two financial software companies which he co-founded. Since 2007, he has served on the Vermont Community Foundation Investment Committee. He holds bachelors and masters degrees in engineering from MIT.
David Blittersdorf
David Blittersdorf is the president and CEO of AllEarth Renewables, a company dedicated to the development, manufacture and deployment of residential-scale, grid-connected renewable energy systems, including the AllSun Tracker. David founded NRG Systems in 1982, and grew that company into an internationally recognized manufacturer of wind measurement technology before founding AllEarth Renewables in 2005. David's grid-connected home includes photovoltaic and solar hot water systems on its roof, a wood pellet stove for heating, and an Earth Turbine and AllSun Tracker in the back yard. David makes frequent public speaking engagements on the world's energy future, and serves on the boards of the Distributed Wind Energy Association, the Small Wind Certification Council, and Renewable Energy Vermont. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Union of Concerned Scientists and the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Julie Elmore
Julie Elmore is the Administrator and Communications Director for Sudan Development Foundation, (SUDEF) a Burlington based non-profit that brings health resources, community development and educational services to Southern Sudan. She is a certified Emergency Medical Technician, volunteered with Essex Rescue for seven years and served two terms as Vice-President on Essex Rescue's Board of Directors. She is a member of the Westford Energy Committee and is the Green-Up Day coordinator for her community. Julie also serves on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. Previously she served as Chair of the Westford School Board. Julie is an active supporter of efforts to create safe, green energy technologies and recently made extensive energy-efficiency improvements to her Westford home.
Joan Jamieson, Secretary
Joan Jamieson runs a small home-based business called Quilted Views, and is Director of Communications for Mason Associates, one of the largest educational consulting firms in the country. Joan worked for Verizon in Vermont from 1993 through 2003, first as Associate Director of Public and Community Relations and subsequently as Vice President of Public Affairs. Earlier in her career, Joan was responsible for international media relations for NYNEX Corporation and for the design and maintenance of billing systems for New York Telephone.
Joan holds a Masters of Business Administration from New York University. During her career in Vermont, Joan served as a board member of Vermont Public Television, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Chittenden County and the University of Vermont Lane Series. Joan heats her Charlotte home primarily with wood pellets.
Peter Richardson, Treasurer
Peter Richardson is president of Housing Strategies, Inc. (HSI), a real estate development and consulting firm. HSI has been a developer of several residential and commercial projects in Vermont. Peter was previously president of Housing Vermont, a statewide nonprofit development company. He was a partner of the Boston Financial Group, a diversified real estate firm that specialized in tax-advantaged investments. A founding trustee and past chair of Vermont College of Fine Arts, Peter has been a board member of numerous national housing organizations.
Paul Smith
Paul Smith is a mechanical engineer currently at SOH Wind Engineering in Williston, building a world-class wind tunnel, calibrating wind measurement equipment and testing bridges and buildings for problems related to wind loading. Previously he designed wind energy assessment sensors and masts at NRG Systems in Hinesburg, VT, where he also led tours of the company’s eco-friendly building and served on the car pooling committee. His prior experience includes engineering and design positions at Burton Snowboards, Trans-Tek and Merrow Machine.
In the Burlington home he shares with Elisa Nelson, Paul has reduced oil use from 1,500 to 500 gallons with energy-saving improvements and the addition of a wood pellet stove. Paul and Elisa also use solar to provide two thirds of their electricity. In total, they have reduced their carbon footprint by 15% in the past year.
Peggy Treanor
Peggy Treanor is Community Services Director for Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). CVOEO provides services to low-income households in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties, including the federally funded LIHEAP Program and the statewide WARMTH Program. Peggy has twenty plus years of professional experience in nonprofit management, including fundraising and program design and development. She has been a member of the Co-op since it was founded in 2001.
Jenn Wood
Jenn Wood is the Weatherization Program Director at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) where she provides comprehensive energy services for qualified low-income clients. Her previous positions include Career Connect Coordinator at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf; VT Green Career Development Counselor and Program Coordinator for Energy Efficiency Outreach and Education at Vermont Works for Women; Senior Consultant, Climate Solutions, at NativeEnergy; and the Corporate Accountability Program at Ceres. She holds a Masters degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University.