The Energy Co-op's Board of Directors provides guidance and oversight supporting our cooperative principles that foster responsible business practices, putting people before profits.
Board of Directors
The Co-op's Board of Directors consists of nine members, elected by the Co-op's members in advance of our annual meeting held in the fall each year. Board members serve for three-year terms.
The Board has four officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer) and five committees. Ad Hoc committees
may be formed as needed. The Board meets quarterly with the General Manager, with additional committee meetings convening from monthly to quarterly.
Download Board Member Job Description
Read the Energy Co-op's ByLaws Here
Board Committees
- Executive
- Business Development
- Nominating
- Membership and Marketing
- Audit and Finance
OUR BOARD
Kelly Lucci
Chair
Kelly has a depth of experience in energy efficiency policy, legislative strategy and corporate communications. She is currently the Director of Strategy and Partnerships for Efficiency Vermont at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) where she formerly served as Director of External and Government Affairs. Prior to joining VEIC, Kelly was an outreach representative in the office of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. She holds a degree in Political Science from Middlebury College, and resides in Fletcher, Vermont.
Chris Flannery
Treasurer
Chris is the Chief Financial Officer for the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. He is an experienced investment banking, capital markets, and data analytics professional with math Ph.D. He has strong people and project management skills and proven ability to execute complex transactions to achieve transformative business results.
Tom Connors
In 2019 Tom retired as Chief Financial Officer at the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) where he was responsible for the overall direction of the financial, accounting and investment areas of this not-for-profit affordable housing agency. Prior to joining VHFA, Tom held senior financial positions at Trak Sports USA, IDX Systems (now GE Healthcare) and Information Resources. Tom has also worked as an adjunct accounting professor at both Champlain College (2010-2016) and the Community College of Vermont (2005-present). He currently serves on the Board of VTARR (Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences). He previously served on the Board of ReSOURCE, a Burlington-based, non-profit Community Enterprise for 15 years and served as Board President, Vice President and Treasurer during that tenure. Tom holds an MBA (Finance) degree from Bentley University in Waltham, MA and a BA in Business Administration from St. Michaels College. Besides teaching Tom spends his retirement time volunteering for several local non-profits and playing bad golf.
Sarah Wolfe
Vice Chair
Sarah has worked in communications and public affairs in the energy space for ten years. Her work has strengthened climate and clean energy policies and programs in Vermont and nationally. She was the Senior Manager of National Campaigns for Sunrun, a residential solar company, advocating for net metering policies across the country. She brought her national experience to Vermont to lead legislative and regulatory clean energy work for VPIRG as the Clean Energy Advocate. She turned to a broader statewide energy focus as the Network Director for the Energy Action Network, leading the development of the Annual Progress Report and facilitating network strategy sessions. For the last several years, she has worked as the Communications Manager at VEIC, leading internal and external communication efforts for Efficiency Vermont. In her personal capacity, she helps organizations and individuals develop and deliver key messages. She also chairs the Northfield Energy Committee. She lives in Northfield, VT with her husband, new son, and faithful hound.
Owiso Makuku
Owiso is a newly elected candidate for the Energy Co-op board. She has 20+ years of experience in planning and community development in cities as diverse as NYC, Cambridge (MA), Detroit (MI), Burlington (VT) and for the State of Michigan. She is interested in how people interact with and within the built environment and the dynamics and elements that make cities and communities successful. She is currently the Interim Community Development Director for the Town of Essex (VT). Owiso attended Middlebury College as an undergraduate and received graduate degrees in both Architecture and Urban Planning from MIT. She brings to the board her passion for serving and improving communities.
Gillian Nanton
Gillian Nanton is currently the Assistant Director for Community Engagement, Neighborhoods & Workforce Development in the Community and Economic Development (CEDO), in the City of Burlington, Vermont.
Prior to joining CEDO in 2015, she worked for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as Chief of the Caribbean Division in New York and was the Resident Representative/Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, for five and a half years. Ms. Nanton also served as Assistant to the Executive Director who represented Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean, at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Nanton has over 25 years of economic development experience and is a senior professional with expertise in policy and program analysis, program management and partnership building, in areas such as poverty reduction, affordable housing, and sustainable development. She holds an MBA from Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, and is twice a graduate of the University of the West Indies, where she earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics and Master's in Social Sciences (MSc).
Gillian currently chairs the board of the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center and serves on the board of directors of Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) and South End Arts + Business Association in Burlington, Vermont.
Leslie Parker
Leslie joined Wake Robin as the Director of Environmental Services in 2016 where she is responsible for new construction, including a $42 million dollar expansion project, maintenance, grounds, security, housekeeping, laundry and utilities. She also works with residents and staff on sustainability, environmental stewardship and reducing Wake Robin's carbon footprint.
Her work history has focused on operations management, including Long Term Care Director of Operations at the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties, Operations Director at an internationally recognized graphic design firm, and independent consulting work. She's been a Vermont resident since receiving a BS from Penn State University.
Graham Turk
Secretary
Graham is graduate student and research assistant in MIT's Technology and Policy Program where his research is focused on heat pump adoption. He previously worked at Green Mountain Power (GMP) on the innovation team and as head of customer care. His work at GMP involved designing and executing innovative programs in areas such as electric vehicle charging, energy storage, and demand flexibility. Graham holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Princeton University.
On the weekends you can find him on the slopes, in the woods, or riding on a dirt road. He can sub in to play goalie at your weekly hockey skate with at least 4 hours' notice.
Interested in joining the Energy Co-op board?
The Co-op benefits from having Board members with a wide range of life and business experiences and areas of knowledge. We are always looking for interested candidates to fill future vacancies. Experiences and knowledge that can strengthen the Board include, but are not limited to; Energy, Finance, Marketing IT, communication, HR and legal.
No experience with boards?
The Energy Co-op welcomes potential new members from many professions who are interested in our cooperative business model and the thermal energy future of Vermont. We offer lots of support to candidates willing to make a commitment to the board responsibilities and who have the ability to offer the time required.
In addition to be being a great opportunity to build a variety of skills, people who join the Energy Co-op's Board enjoy the opportunity to engage with like-minded people who are committed to our mission of saving money and reducing fossil fuel use for homeowners in our community.
Helping Homeowners with Energy Efficiency for over 20 years
For over 20 years the Energy Co-op has been helping Vermont homeowners save money and use less energy.
The Energy Co-op has over 2,000 members in Vermont. Over the years we've got to know many of them as they made improvements to their heating systems, called to schedule fuel deliveries, requested an energy audit or asked us to repair their furnaces.
Co-op members aren't just customers. Each person has a voice and a vote in how the Co-op is managed. When you become a member, you join a community of Vermonters committed to local, equitable ownership.