At the Champlain Housing Trust’s recent Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, members elected two new Board members and re-elected four to the Board, and recognized outstanding contributions to our mission from three individuals and two organizations.
More than 300 people attended the event in Burlington to participate in the governance of the organization and celebrate the completion of Champlain Housing Trust’s 39th year. Check out photos from the event.
Shelburne Craft School
The Brenda Torpy Founders Award for Exemplary Contributions to Perpetually Affordable Housing went to Vermont Representative Tom Stevens of Waterbury, who is the chair of the House Committee on General & Housing. “It seems so natural to me to fight for affordable housing,” he said accepting the award. “And it’s not just fighting for affordable housing, but it’s fighting for human beings to have the right to live in a place that’s safe and stable.”
The awards presentation can be viewed on CHT’s YouTube channel. CHT also recognized:
- Maida Townsend, of South Burlington, with the Hilton Wick “Give Until if Feels Good” Fundraising Award for her work over many years on the Cornerstone Luncheon;
- Gordon Gokey, of Burlington, with the Joan Beauchemin Civic Engagement given to a CHT resident for community service;
- Shelburne Craft School with the Carole Pack Volunteer Award for their engagement with and support of Harbor Place guests; and
- Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity was presented with a Special Community Partner Award for always being there to work with us on programs and to take on the hard challenges necessary today.
The Champlain Housing Board of Directors is made up of one-third residents of CHT’s housing, one-third representing local government, and one-third the general population.
Newly-elected to the Board of Directors for three year terms were Regina Mahony, City Manager of Essex Junction (Public Member), and Isaac Owusu, Director of Community Engagement and Support for the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance (Resident Member).
Re-elected to the Board of Directors were Naima Dennis of Burlington (General Member), Liz Gamache of St. Albans (Public Member), Sarah Robinson of Burlington (General Member), and Jeff Smith of Burlington (General Member).
Board biographies may be seen on CHT’s website.
CHT staff anniversaries
As has been tradition for several years, the Board recognized staff milestones as follows:
- 5 years – Melissa Abbott, Home Repair Loan Officer
- 5 years – Joshua Carey, Senior Maintenance Technician
- 5 years – Jacob Elkins, Regional Maintenance Coordinator
- 10 years – Heather Little, Accounting Assistant
- 10 years – Sara Maddocks, Associate Director of Compliance
- 15 years – Jusinta Katon, Associate Director of Property Management
- 20 years – Joshua Chant, Director of Finance