Tom Connors
Tom is the Chief Financial Officer at the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) where he is 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 ISA, GE Healthcare and Information Resources. Tom also worked as an adjunct accounting professor at both Champlain College (since 2010) and the Community College of Vermont (since 2005). He 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.
Richard Faesy, Chair
Richard Faesy is Principal of the Energy Futures Group, specializing in residential energy efficiency programs and markets, with a focus on retrofit, new construction, home energy rating systems, building codes, financing, green building, and effective market characterization, program design, policy and implementation. He has been active locally, regionally, and nationally in all of these areas for more than 30 years, which included positions at Energy Rated Homes of Vermont and the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. Richard holds a B.S. in Resource Economics and Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont.
Cheryl Fatnassi, Vice Chair
Cheryl Fatnassi has over 30 years' experience in financial management, community development, banking and IT systems. She is currently President and CEO of the Opportunities Credit Union, a community development credit union serving a low income membership. Her past experience includes senior management positions at the Lund Family Center and Banknorth Group. Cheryl's community activities include board service at the Joint Urban Ministry and Lund Family Center, and as a commissioner at the Burlington Housing Authority. Cheryl holds a BA in French/Economics from the University of Vermont.
Jennifer Green
Jennifer is the Sustainability Coordinator at Burlington Electric Department (BED) where she supports BED and the City of Burlington’s net-zero energy goals, coordinates outreach and research on emerging technologies, and develops programs around energy efficiency, net-zero energy and sustainability. Jen’s previous employers include the University of Vermont and the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. Jen holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sociology from American University in Washington, D.C. and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University in New York.
David Hill, Treasurer
David is a Managing Consultant with Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. He has helped to lead and design numerous energy efficiency and renewable energy program and policy initiatives with a client base from around the United States. David has also conducted analysis and provided training for energy professionals in more than a dozen countries. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the American Solar Energy Society. He holds a Ph.D. in Energy Management and Policy Planning from the University of Pennsylvania.
Michelle Hobbs
Michelle has spent over 20 years working in corporate and product branding, marketing and graphic design. She recently lead an in-house creative group at VEIC, where she oversaw design, writing and content development in support of the strategic marketing of various efficiency programs, contracts, and corporate divisions. Prior to that work, she managed Bleu Sky Creative, a design studio in Burlington, specializing in branding, packaging design and corporate identity for healthcare, specialty foods and non-profit clients. She is currently working as an independent designer and teaches Graphic Design at the University of Vermont.
Kelly Lucci, Secretary
Kelly has a depth of experience in energy efficiency policy, legislative strategy and corporate communications. She is currently the Director of External and Government Affairs at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) where she formerly served as Public Affairs and Communications Manager. 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.
Gaye Symington
Gaye is President of the High Meadows Fund, a grantmaking organization that promotes farm and forest enterprises, resilient watershed land use and energy efficiency. Previously, Gaye served in the Vermont House for 12 years, four as Speaker. Under her leadership Vermont established the clean energy development fund, greenhouse gas reduction goals and other policies to promote clean and efficient energy use, ground water protection, and affordable housing in village centers. Gaye serves on the board of the Public Assets Institute and Vermont's Clean Energy Development Fund.
Geoff Wilcox
Geoff has been active in Vermont's weatherization community since 1998. He is currently the State of Vermont's Weatherization Program Administrator, where he has overseen significant expansion of the department that provides programs to help Vermont homeowners improve energy efficiency. He is a former energy auditor for the Central Vermont Community Action Council and also has worked for the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity's Weatherization program as State Monitor. He is a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified Quality Control Inspector and Building Analyst. Geoff holds a BS from the UVM School of Natural Resources.
By Brian Gray
If you do a Google search for the phrases “How much does a heat pump cost?” or “Will I save money with a heat pump?” you’ll probably get a long list of links from...