VBA Committees

COMMITTEES ‑ FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

COMMERCIAL LENDING COMMITTEE

This committee is responsible for: (1) suggesting changes in law and regulation affecting commercial lending ‑ both on the state and federal level, (2) developing programs to enhance commercial lending skills and techniques among members, (3) identifying important trends and issues affecting commercial lending in Vermont, and communicating these matters to the leadership of the Association and the members, and (4) in general, representing the Association in the field of commercial lending.

Chair: Carvell, Peter – Brattleboro Savings & Loan Association
Caldwell, Chris – Community National Bank
Christensen, Robert – Ledyard National Bank
Croft, Sandy – VEDA
Gundler, Zachary – Berkshire Bank
Jullian, Scott – USDA Rural Development
Lapierre, Chris – National Bank of Middlebury
Legacy, Kelley – The Bank of Bennington
Manahan, Danielle – Peoples Trust Company
Mazza, Susan – Small Business Administration
McGowan, Joe – KeyBank
McSweeney, Jack – M&T Bank
Morehouse, Kevin – Small Business Administration
Nielson, Brandon – Union Bank
Pearson, Crystal – Wells River Savings Bank
Perry, John – Wells River Savings Bank
Pippin, Adam – Claremont Savings Bank
Polhemus, Cassie – VEDA
Roberts, Jameson – Bank of Burlington
Samson, Peter – VEDA
Seaver, David – Northfield Savings Bank
Sinsigalli, Misty – USDA Rural Development
Voisnek, Alycia – Passumpsic Bank
Whitehill, Roena – Passumpsic Bank
Woulf, Michael – Bank of Burlington
Yearman, Ken – USDA Rural Development
Zanleoni, Jay – Mascoma Bank

COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE

The Compliance Committee is responsible for increasing knowledge and awareness of compliance issues within the Vermont banking community. This committee is concerned with the financial institution’s total compliance posture and will coordinate and augment the compliance efforts of other VBA committees from a more global perspective of regulatory management.

The committee will disseminate information independently or in conjunction with other VBA committees. The committee will also suggest changes in legislation through the VBA Government Relations Committee.

The committee will serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience in regulatory management. It will also serve as a “think tank” and will present workshops on issues of current concern in local and national arenas.

Chair: TBD
Allen, Jenny – NBT Bank
Bacon, Risa – The Bank of Bennington
Carter, Melanie – Passumpsic Bank
Caverly, Kristina – Mascoma Bank
Ebbighausen, Jay – Northeast Home Loan
Ehmann, Cynthia – The First National Bank of Orwell
Farr, Dylan – Wells River Savings Bank
Gould, Kevin – Mascoma Bank
Gray, Kandy – Mascoma Bank
Hamilton, Donna – Passumpsic Bank
Hayes, Lili – Bar Harbor Bank and Trust
Hogan, Tricia – Union Bank
Jackson, Gail – Wells River Savings Bank
Kane, Tim – Northfield Savings Bank
LaRocque, Janice – Peoples Trust Company
Marston, Dawnlynn – Mascoma Bank  
McLenithan, Shannon – The Bank of Bennington
Miller, Jessica – Union Bank
Osetek, Amy – Ledyard National Bank
Plante, Andrew – Community National Bank
Raasumaa, Jake – Mascoma Bank
Rathbun, Donna – Brattleboro Savings & Loan Association
Sickles, Christine – National Bank of Middlebury
Stevens, Lottie – Bar Harbor Bank and Trust
Sykes, Jonathan – Bank of Burlington
Turgeon, Mindy – Mascoma Bank
Watson, Kara – Berkshire Bank
Williams, Lisa – Northfield Savings Bank
Wood, Beth – Bar Harbor Bank and Trust

DEPOSIT & OPERATIONS

This committee is responsible for deposit and bank operations. It may sponsor conferences on current developments as well as suggest any changes in laws and regulations affecting deposit services.

Chair: Benware, Tony – Ledyard National Bank
August, Christine, Mascoma Bank
Baldasaro, Erika – Community Bank NA
Barrett, Laurie – National Bank of Middlebury
Bean, Tonya – Wells River Savings Bank
Bergeron, Amy – Bank of Burlington
Bickford, Kassandra – Northfield Savings Bank
Brown, Rachel – Peoples Trust Company
Bussiere, Lori – Northfield Savings Bank
Chapman, Heidi – Mascoma Bank
Fernald, Susan – Ledyard National Bank
Fortier, Karen – Brattleboro Savings & Loan Association
Hay, Marcella – M&T Bank
Keefe, Kelly – KeyBank, NA
Kinney, Heather – The Bank of Bennington
Picard, Nicole – Claremont Savings Bank
Quirion, Anne – Community National Bank
Schartner, Joyce – Passumpsic Bank
Small, Abbie – Union Bank
Urnek-Chatlos, Julie – Wells River Savings Bank

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Is designed to provide a forum for peer networking and discussion on best practices and innovation in bank training. The Committee will collaborate with VBA staff in determining educational platforms, offerings and methodologies. Our goal is to enhance individual VBA member banks in their ability to understand and keep abreast of the rapidly changing training and education needs of the industry.

Chair: Tinker, Melissa – Community National Bank
Buckley, Elizabeth – The Bank of Bennington
Collette, Tessa – Bank of Burlington
Jaquith, Jessica – Union Bank
Jarmiolowski, Bev – M&T Bank
Jerome, Heather – National Bank of Middlebury
McDevitt, Sheryl – Mascoma Bank
Moulton, Cassie – Wells River Savings Bank

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE

The Government Relations Committee represents the Association and Vermont financial institutions in legislative and regulatory affairs. All questions in these areas will be referred to this committee.

This committee may seek legislation or take a position favorable or in opposition to proposed laws or regulations affecting banking. Caution is exercised by the committee in taking positions and should be taken only after consulting with the President of the Association or the Executive Council. This committee, as all the committees, represents the interest of all Vermont banking. Other committees may suggest needed legislation to the committee for action.

Close contact with the Vermont Commissioner of Banking on matters of legislation and regulation is also an important function of the committee. Periodic meetings with the Commissioner and his/her staff will be held as needed, for the purpose of promoting good communication and providing a sounding board for ideas or for problems within the industry.

Chair: Young, Bryan – First National Bank of Orwell
Adams, Clayton – Mascoma Bank
Austin, Kathy – Community National Bank
Baker, Don – TD Bank
Brown, Jim – The Bank of Bennington
Carpenter, Caroline – National Bank of Middlebury
Casparino, Mike – M&T Bank
Chapin, Anne – Mascoma Bank
Finnerty, Dave – Claremont Savings Bank
Gallagher, Thomas – Peoples Trust Company
Grip, Brian – Bank of America
Hesslink, Geoffrey – Bank of Burlington
Howe, Kenneth – Mascoma Bank
Kimbell, Daniel – Passumpsic Financial Advisors
Kisch, Jim – Passumpsic Bank
Leavitt, Tom – Northfield Savings Bank
Lyon, Rich – Passumpsic Bank
Martell, Tina – TD Bank
Osetek, Amy – Ledyard National Bank
Parisi, Mike – Ledyard National Bank
Pugliese, Christopher – Key Bank
Silverman, David – Union Bank
Simard, Curtis – Bar Harbor Bank and Trust
Stephenson, Deb – Brattleboro Savings & Loan
Tartaglia, Robert – JP Morgan Chase
Thompson, Denise – Berkshire Bank
Werme, Dan – NBT Bank
Wilhite, Lorenzo – Wells River Savings Bank
Young, Mark S. – First National Bank of Orwell
Zeigler, Sharon – Bank of America

HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

This committee is organized to establish and maintain among the human resource officers within the Association, the highest level of awareness and professionalism when addressing current human resource management issues and concerns; assist Vermont bankers regarding equal employment and affirmative action; establish personnel communications within the Association; to work in conjunction with other committees or general VBA training programs; and to maintain records on pay practices within the state. The committee may sponsor seminars on personnel matters.

Chair: TBD
Austin-Hawley, Donna – Northfield Savings Bank
Bardier, Catherine – Ledyard National Bank
Brown, Lori – Mascoma Bank
Buckley, Elizabeth – The Bank of Bennington
Cauller, Stacey – Peoples Trust Company
Collette, Tessa – Bank of Burlington
Coursen, Michele – Brattleboro Savings & Loan Association
DiPaola, Alison – Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
Eames, Liz – Mascoma Bank
Greene, Melissa – Union Bank
Hallett, Robbie – Passumpsic Bank
Jerome, Heather – National Bank of Middlebury
Nolet, Kathie – Mascoma Bank
Nutter, Kirsten – Wells River Savings Bank
Perry, Kimico – Community National Bank
Provost, Nicole – Community Bank NA
Simpson, Michael – Wells River Savings Bank

INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

This committee is charged with considering current and emerging issues in information systems and technology and to sponsor conferences and seminars on related topics.

Chair: Schoenig, Vince – Union Bank
Bechanan, Chris – Passumpsic Bank
Duddie, Kyle – Mascoma Bank
Elmore, Michael – Peoples Trust Company
Entrott, Mike – Northfield Savings Bank
Foss, Dave – Ledyard National Bank
Gebo, Jennifer – National Bank of Middlebury
Grzankowski, Renee – VEDA
Guidera, Marcia – Northfield Savings Bank
Kean, Shane – National Bank of Middlebury
Knapp, Mary – Union Bank
Levock, Michael – Brattleboro Savings & Loan
Norris, Megan – National Bank of Middlebury
Perry, Daniel – Wells River Savings Bank
Sickles, Christine – National Bank of Middlebury
Sweeney, Travis – Peoples Trust Company
Thomas, Michael – National Bank of Middlebury
Willard, Tim – Passumpsic Bank
Wyand, Tony – Bank of Burlington

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE

This Committee is responsible for marketing and public relations efforts sponsored by the Association. The Committee will in no way compete or replace any of the individual marketing efforts currently organized by individual institutions. The purpose of the Committee is to develop and implement strategies and programs that will create awareness about the banking community, educate individuals about our activities, respond to media, engage in legislative outreach, focus on financial literacy and other activities designed to present a favorable public image for all banks.

Chair: TBD
Campbell, Aly – Northfield Savings Bank
Davis, Mariah – Mascoma Bank
Kelly, Cassie – Brattleboro Savings & Loan Association
Larrow, Sharlene – Peoples Trust Company
Moulton, Cassie – Wells River Savings Bank
Nelson, Jed – Union Bank
Wright, Kayla – Community National Bank

MORTGAGE COMMITTEE

This committee is responsible for real estate financing and related consumer affairs. It may sponsor conferences on current developments in those areas.

The committee is responsible for: (1) suggesting changes in law and regulation affecting mortgage lending ‑ both on the state and federal level, (2) developing programs to enhance mortgage lending skills and techniques among members, (3) identifying important trends and issues affecting mortgage lending in Vermont, and communicate these matters to the leadership of the Association and the members, and (4) in general, represent the Association in the field of mortgage lending.

Chair: Jewett, Lynne – Union Bank 
Allen, Terry – Wells River Savings Bank
Blackinton, Brandy – Claremont Savings Bank
Castine, Cindy – Northeast Home Loan
Haley, Jessica – Mascoma Bank
Hodgdon, Robin – Ledyard National Bank
Johnson, Penny – Community National Bank
Kendall, Steve – Union Bank
Longe, Chelsea – Peoples Trust Company
McHenry, PJ – M&T Bank
Paliling, Becky – National Bank of Middlebury
Perry, John – Wells River Savings Bank
Robtoy, Samantha – Peoples Trust Company
Russell, Susan – Brattleboro Savings & Loan Association
Sargent, Gina – Northfield Savings Bank
Shatney, Dawn – Passumpsic Bank
Steinfeld, Ellen – Berkshire Bank
Trombley, Tammy – The Bank of Bennington
Urnezis, Michael – Ledyard National Bank
Wing, Lindsey – First National Bank of Orwell

SECURITY COMMITTEE

This committee is responsible for developing an awareness for bank security both physical and white collar, and should be a forum for continued strengthening of security functions and compliance and develop programs and seminars to advance the security of the member banks.

Chair: O’Neill, Robert – Northfield Savings Bank
Begin, Peter – Mascoma Bank
Callahan, Walt – The Bank of Bennington
Culver, Tom – Wells River Savings Bank
Dion, Ron – Union Bank
Finnemore, Kim- Mascoma Bank
Gombos, Danielle – M&T Bank
Gray, Laurie – Community National Bank
Keiler, John – Brattleboro Savings and Loan Association
Martin, Christine – Northfield Savings Bank
Poirier, Lyle – Peoples Trust Company
Robinson, Jeanne – Berkshire Bank
Ruffner, Abbie – Passumpsic Bank
Sims, Kate – Ledyard National Bank
Sykes, Jonathan – Bank of Burlington
Wagner, Christine – National Bank of Middlebury

TRUST COMMITTEE

This committee is concerned in areas involved in settling estates, administering trust and guardianships and handling agencies in appropriate cases for individuals, business organizations and municipal and state governments as well as public, educational, social, recreational and charitable foundations and institutions.

The committee may sponsor or co‑sponsor a state‑wide conference(s) each year on the current developments in trust services. The committee is responsible for: (1) suggesting changes in law and regulation affecting trust services and operations ‑ both on the state and federal level, (2) identifying important trends and issues affecting trust services in Vermont, and communicating these matters to the leadership of the Association and the members, and (3) in general, represent the Association in the field of trust services.

Chair: Kimbell, Daniel – Passumpsic Financial Advisors
Arsenault, Craig – M&T Bank
George, Grady – Ledyard National Bank
LaForest, David – Community Bank, NA
Maginnis, Gretchen – Union Bank
Nevel, Valerie – Ledyard National b
Nowell, Jeffrey – Mascoma Bank
Perrillo, Charles – Community Bank, NA
Ross, Kelly – TD Bank