Vermont Development Conference

Beth Boutin
Vice President of Community Investments | Evernorth

Beth Boutin is Vice President of Community Investments at Evernorth, where she leads an 11-member team across the Burlington, Vermont, and Portland, Maine, offices. She oversees Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and New Markets Tax Credit strategies throughout northern New England, guiding project origination, underwriting, and deal structuring. With 29 years of experience in economic and community development finance, Beth has held roles at the Vermont Community Loan Fund, Evergreen Community Development Association, and the State of Vermont. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Vermont and lives in Montpelier with her family.

Maura Collins
Executive Director | Vermont Housing Finance Agency

Maura Collins became Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency in January 2019. She joined VHFA in 2002 as a Research Analyst. She sits on the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, is Treasurer/Secretary of the National Council of State Housing Agencies, serves on the Executive Committee of Let’s Build Homes, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Advisory Council, the Vermont Treasurer’s Local Investment Advisory Committee, and the Vermont Council on Homelessness and Housing. Maura has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Vermont and a Bachelor’s from the University at Buffalo.

Paul Conner, AICP
Director of Planning and Zoning | City of South Burlington 

Paul Conner has served as the Planning & Zoning Director for the City of South Burlington since 2008, where he leads long-range planning, development review, and land use policy initiatives for one of the state’s fastest-growing communities. In his role, Paul has helped foster South Burlington’s City Center redevelopment along the Shelburne Road and Williston Road corridors, with mixed-use environments, infill, and resource conservation.  Before his time with the City, Paul worked in the private sector in Pittsburgh, PA, and with the Rutland Regional Planning Commission in Rutland, VT.

Catherine Dimitruk
Executive Director | Northwest Regional Planning Commission

Catherine Dimitruk has been the Executive Director of the Northwest Regional Planning Commission in St. Albans, Vermont for over twenty-five years. She coordinates regional approaches to land use, emergency preparedness, environmental conservation, transportation, economic development, and energy planning. She supports communities and regional organizations with strategic planning, grant writing, fiscal management, project planning and implementation. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

Ryan Dirks, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC
Senior Associate | Perkins Eastman

Ryan Dirks is an Architect and Sustainability Specialist at Perkins Eastman, with expertise in building enclosures, building-science education, and energy and carbon.  Since 2008, Ryan has worked on a wide range of projects, ranging from single-family Passive Houses to hospital towers and nearly everything in between.  He helped write the book Passive House Details, has presented at Greenbuild and PhiusCon on the subject of carbon, and loves learning and educating about the benefits of sustainable design.

Emily Eckert
Account Manager | Efficiency Vermont

Emily Eckert is an Account Manager at Efficiency Vermont, supporting municipalities, breweries, and other small businesses in reducing energy costs and environmental impact. With a degree in Global Economies, Human Rights, and the Environment, she has built a career in the energy sector spanning energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation electrification, and business sustainability. Her experience includes managing energy efficiency rebate programs, supporting heat pump and EV initiatives, and advising customers on energy-saving opportunities. Over the past six years, Emily has focused on helping businesses and communities develop practical energy strategies, improve operations, and achieve long-term sustainability and cost-saving goals.

Pete Gill, Esq.
Executive Director | Vermont Land Use Review Board 

Pete Gill, Esq.,  is the Executive Director of the Vermont Land Use Review Board (LURB) – the State entity that oversees the administration of Act 250- Vermont’s state land use law. The statutory changes discussed in this session are part of a long-term transition of land use permitting in Vermont to a location-based system. With an able team and capable Board, Gill is leading that transition. Before his work at the Land Use Review Board, Gill served as a law clerk for a superior court judge in Alaska, provided legal representation for the state’s Water Resources Panel and Land Use Panel, and managed legal compliance for Norwich University. Gill lives in East Montpelier with his family, dog and chickens, where he skis, bikes, and enjoys woodworking. 

Sarah Hadd
Vice Chair | Vermont Land Use Review Board

Sarah Hadd is the Vice Chair of the Vermont Land Use Review Board. Since its inception in 2025 she has worked with the Board to review and confirm regional plans and implement Tier 1s. Before the Board, she served as the Director of Planning and Zoning for the Town of Colchester for two decades administering the development review process, wastewater delegation, and land use plans. More recently she served as the Fairfax Town Manager. She holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Vermont and is credentialed as a certified planner, ICMA manager, and floodplain manager.

Zak Hale
Partner and CEO | Hale Resources

Zak Hale is an innovative leader in rural real estate development, reshaping Southern Vermont’s housing landscape through Hale Resources, LLC. As partner and CEO, he combines strategic investment, rigorous financial planning, and practical development expertise to oversee a portfolio of more than 200 managed units, including 100 directly owned homes. His rural redevelopment work includes securing Vermont’s first Community Development Block Grant awarded to a for-profit company and raising more than $2 million for housing renovation projects. Recognized as a “Rising Star” by Vermont Business Magazine and an “Emerging Leader” by Castleton University, Zak remains deeply committed to rural revitalization.

Matt Harrington
CEO | Southwestern Vermont Chamber Foundation

Matt Harrington is Chief Executive Officer of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber enterprise, overseeing the Chamber of Commerce, The Shires Destination Marketing Organization, Shires Young Professionals, and the newly formed Southwestern Vermont Chamber Foundation. Since 2016, he has helped transform the organization into a regional convener advancing business growth, tourism, workforce development, and economic vitality. Through the Foundation, Harrington leads efforts around investment attraction, relocation, entrepreneurship, regional data, and development-focused storytelling, including InvestInSouthwest.org. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), a faculty member for the national Institute for Organization Management, and a Bennington resident.

Diantha Korzun, AIA, LEED, AP
Firm Partner | gbArchitecture

Diantha Korzun is a partner at gbA, committed to socially conscious projects and the creation of beautiful, sustainable buildings suited to their place through studying culture, climate, and environment. Diantha has extensive design and project leadership experience and has focused on school and community projects in the US and abroad for over twenty-five years. She has lived and worked all over the world, fueling her passion for discovering unique qualities of people and place to design spaces that fit the environment but are of the time. She has lived and studied in Rome, Cuernavaca, and Paris; K-12 work continues internationally.

Dylan Lozier
Senior Project Manager, Construction | Whiting Turner 

Dylan Lozier is a Senior Project Manager in Construction, with 21 years of experience at Whiting-Turner. He has worked on complex projects around the country, managing day-to-day operations from concept to closeout.  He successfully led the Burlington High School project over the last 3 years and is co-leading the recently established Whiting-Turner office in South Burlington, VT.  He is a proud graduate of Clarkson University, and in his free time, you can find him hiking or looking for hidden fishing spots on Lake Champlain.

Eric Morrow, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Architect | Cx Associates

Eric Morrow is a licensed architect with over 20 years of experience in both commercial and residential buildings with a strong emphasis on high-performance design and energy reduction practices. Eric continues to make significant contributions to the built environment’s energy impact around the greater Burlington area and New England. Eric works in the building enclosure division and is currently leading projects including Vermont Housing Trust’s Cambrian Rise apartments and Shale Beach condos, the College Street Green Castle Apartments and the new Burlington High School complex. 

Aabha Parikh
Senior Associate | Exponent

Aabha Parikh is a construction consultant specializing in project & program management, claims and dispute resolution. She has approximately four years of experience in forensic schedule analysis, construction delay claims, standard of care evaluations, cost estimating, and project controls. During her tenure at Exponent, she has supported clients involved in disputes spanning multiple sectors, including commercial building, transportation, infrastructure, oil and gas, industrial facilities, and utility-scale energy.

Brian Pine
Senior Project Manager | White + Burke Real Estate Advisors 

Brian Pine is a Senior Project Manager at White + Burke Real Estate Advisors with more than 30 years of experience in community and economic development. His career spans the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, where he has led housing, economic development, financing, and revitalization initiatives across Vermont. Most recently, Brian served as Director of Burlington’s Community & Economic Development Office, overseeing major housing and economic development projects and an annual budget of up to $10 million. He is recognized for building consensus, developing practical solutions, and helping clients navigate complex real estate and community development challenges.

Ben Rich
Commercial Energy Advisor | Vermont Gas Services

Ben Rich is a Commercial Energy Advisor at Vermont Gas Services (VGS), where he helps businesses and multifamily developers navigate the path to greater energy efficiency. Before joining VGS, Ben taught physics and environmental science, giving him a knack for making technical concepts genuinely accessible—and entertaining. Known for presentations that blend data with humor, Ben has a talent for keeping audiences engaged from start to finish. At this year’s Vermont Development Conference, he’ll break down the latest incentives and rebates available for commercial and multifamily projects across the state. 

Chris Roy
Director | DRM

Chris Roy is Chair of DRM’s Litigation Group and a member of its Complex Land Use and Development Group, which brings together practitioners from multiple disciplines to assist clients with complex land use and development matters. A seasoned litigator and trial lawyer, Chris develops customized strategies for commercial and real property litigation, including environmental and land use permitting, and represents clients statewide in a broad spectrum of disputes.  A former Williston Selectboard and Vermont Environmental Board member, he regularly appears before the Environmental Division and other Vermont trial courts, and has handled over 50 appeals before the Vermont Supreme Court and other appellate courts.

Chip Sawyer
Director of Planning and Development | City of St. Albans 

Chip Sawyer has been the Director of Planning & Development for the City of St. Albans since 2011.  There, he oversees the City’s land-use planning and permitting, community development, downtown program, stormwater planning, property valuation, and special projects.  Chip has previously worked as a Program Manager at the Center for Rural Studies at the University of Vermont and as a Senior Planner at Lamoille County Planning Commission.  He holds Master’s degrees in Public Administration and Natural Resource Planning from the University of Vermont.  Chip grew up in the City of St. Albans and lives there with his family today.

Kelsey Schweitzer
Associate | DRM

Kelsey Schweitzer is an associate in DRM’s Litigation Group and a member of the firm’s Complex Land Use and Development Group. She collaborates with experienced litigators and transactional attorneys to achieve her clients’ goals in a wide variety of matters, providing thorough legal research and thoughtful analysis.  Prior to joining DRM, Kelsey clerked for the Environmental Division of the Vermont Superior Court, where she assisted the court in several permitting matters.  At DRM, Kelsey continues to build her land use and permitting legal practice, working with Chris Roy and others on a variety of land use appeals, permit applications, and property disputes. 

Paul Simon
Principal and Branch Manager | Bowman
Developer | The Housing Initiative LLC

Paul Simon is a Principal and Branch Manager with Bowman and a developer with The Housing Initiative LLC. With 30+ years of landscape architecture and development experience, Paul provides expertise in permitting, municipal requirements, green design initiatives, sustainability, and ADA regulations. He leads Bowman’s New Hampshire office in Hanover, overseeing projects from feasibility through construction, including housing, industrial centers, parks, and campuses. Paul holds a B.S. in Landscape Architecture from the University of Kentucky. A licensed landscape architect in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, he serves on the Town of Hanover Workforce Housing Taskforce and co-authored Urban Gardening for Dummies.

Craig Steigerwalt
Senior Managing Engineer | Exponent

Craig Steigerwalt is a construction consultant who brings over 20 years of comprehensive experience across all phases of construction projects. His expertise spans program and project management, construction management, CPM scheduling, cost estimating, contracting, project controls, and engineering design. He provides strategic guidance to clients on a wide range of topics, including construction management standards of care, project scheduling, cost estimation, risk mitigation, and claims prevention.

Gary Winslett
Director of International Politics and Economics Program | Middlebury College

Gary Winslett is an Associate Professor in Political Science and the Director of the International Politics and Economics Program at Middlebury College. His research focuses on trade and regulation and he teaches courses on international relations, technology, and the politics of money and finance. He is also active in housing policy here in Vermont and lives in South Burlington. Outside of work, he enjoys Orange Theory, skiing and hiking with his wife Becky and daughter Adeialde.