Governance

Vermont Federal is a full service, not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution that has been serving Vermonters for over 60 years. Founded in 1953, the Credit Union now operates under a community charter opening the possibility of membership to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in a variety of Vermont counties, as well as any of their family members. Those counties include: Chittenden, Grand Isle, Franklin, Caledonia, Orange, Orleans, Lamoille, Washington and Addison. Making a decided difference in our member's lives is what we strive to do.

People Listening at a Meeting

Please join us for Vermont Federal Credit Union's 68th Annual Meeting. Your involvement helps us steer the future of the Credit Union with your needs in mind.

Due to COVID-19, this year's meeting will be held virtually through a webinar on Wednesday, June 30th, 2021. The business meeting begins at 5:30pm.

Please register by June 28th, 2021 by:

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us or email: annualmeeting@vermontfederal.org.

Register Online Now

Join us for our Annual Meeting on June 30, 2021

Jean Giard – CEO

Jean Giard is the President & CEO of Vermont Federal Credit Union, a $700 million financial institution serving over 45,000 members throughout nine Vermont counties. Jean joined the Vermont Federal team in April 2006 as the Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Senior Management team. In February of 2017, Jean was appointed by the Board of Directors as President & CEO, after having served as Interim CEO for a year.

During her 12 years on the Senior team, Jean helped the Credit Union to grow from a $160 million dollar financial institution to its current asset size of over $700 million. Previous to her employment at Vermont Federal, Jean was a CPA and Audit Partner at R. F. Lavigne & Company.

 

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Jean Giard
Megan Manahan Bliss - Board Chair

Megan Manahan Bliss – Chair

Megan resides and works in St. Albans. Megan started out her career at the former Brown Cahill, Gawne & Miller, P.C. in 2001 as law clerk and in 2003 as an attorney and is now a shareholder in Cahill, Gawne, Miller & Manahan, P.C.. Megan received her B.S. from the University of Vermont in 1999 and her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 2003.

Will Voigt – Vice Chair

Will Voigt is the Senior Accountant at D.W. Voigt CPA P.C., a tax and consulting firm located in South Burlington. Will began his career with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) working in budget and finance and was the special assistant to the Chief Financial Officer of USCIS before leaving to work in the family owned business of D.W. Voigt CPA P.C. The opportunity to work with family and own his own business in the great state of Vermont was too good to pass up.

WILL VOIGT – TREASURER heatshot
JOSEPH FINNIGAN – CHAIR headshot

Joseph Finnigan – Treasurer

Joseph was elected to the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of Vermont Federal Credit Union in 1978. He served as President/CEO for more than 30 years, retiring in March 2009. He serves on the Board Executive Committee and on the Board of Trustees of the Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC). He has also served on the Board of Directors of TriCorp Federal Credit Union and the New England Credit Union Heritage Foundation.

Suzanne Lynn – Secretary

Suzanne is the co-publisher and general manager of The St. Albans Messenger, a daily newspaper serving Franklin County. She carries the same titles and responsibilities for the Milton Independent, the Colchester Sun and the Essex Reporter, newspapers serving those communities. Her responsibilities include: budgeting, administration, P&L performance, staff planning and leadership, sales, marketing, circulation, collections and key account responsibilities.

SUZANNE LYNN – SECRETARY headshot
ETHAN HUTCHINS – DIRECTOR headshot

Ethan Hutchins – Director

Ethan is a University of Vermont alumnus who grew up in Barre, Vermont. He started his career in 2008 in the software design industry. He is currently employed at DealerPolicy as a Senior Software Engineer. Ethan enjoys participating in the whole lifecycle of software development and having an end result of new or additional functionality for the software program. Ethan takes on a range of software development projects ranging from database administration, customer web forms, internal tool usage analysis/reports, and User Interface Development. Ethan played for the University of Vermont’s men’s soccer team and is currently on their Hall of Fame committee.

Paul Politano – Director

Paul Politano resides in Brandon, VT with his wife and their four children. Paul works at Middlebury College's golf course as their Head Golf Professional. Paul is an active member of the golf community; he has been working in the industry for 27 years and has been nominated on numerous occasions for awards such as Vermont PGA Professional of the Year. Paul also served on the Vermont PGA Board of Directors from 1998 - 2009. Paul is proud of the accomplishments he has had in the industry which includes positions as General Manager and Head Golf Professional at Neshobe Golf Club in Brandon, Crown Point Country Club in Springfield, and at Montague Golf Course in Randolph.

PAUL POLITANO – DIRECTOR headshot
LISA REES – DIRECTOR headshot

Lisa Rees – Director

Lisa Rees currently works for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a leadership coach specializing in emotional intelligence and appreciative inquiry. Lisa has worked for the USCIS since 1987 which was also when she became a member of Vermont Federal Credit Union. During most of her federal career, Lisa was involved with implementing financial systems to improve operational efficiencies and, in 2008, was named USCIS Manager of the Year in recognition of her excellence in leadership.

Neal Robinson – Director

Neal Robinson retired from Saint Michael’s College in June of 2017 where he had served as vice president for finance for fifteen years.  Prior to his service at Saint Michael’s, Neal enjoyed an extensive twenty-year career in banking having been the assistant controller of the Tompkins County Trust Company in Ithaca, NY, vice president and chief financial officer of First Vermont Bank in Brattleboro, VT and senior vice president and treasurer of Banknorth Group in Burlington, VT. Neal also served as vice president and chief financial officer of VELCO in Rutland, VT. Neal has served as a board member of the Cancer Patient Support Foundation as well as a trustee of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont.  His volunteer activities also include having been treasurer of St. James Episcopal Church in Essex Junction. Neal is currently on the board of the Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency and serves on the vestry of St. James Episcopal Church in Essex Junction.

Neal Robinson
MS Photo

Maribeth Spellman – Director

Maribeth Spellman is the Director of Workforce Engagement at Hickok & Boardman HR Intelligence, an employee benefits and HR services consulting firm headquartered in Burlington. Maribeth began her career as a military officer and attorney, serving within the Department of the Army for over 15 years in numerous assignments both overseas and throughout the United States. Maribeth returned to Vermont in 2013 and was appointed to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources for the State of Vermont. She has a Master of Laws degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America.

Bylaws

Vermont Federal operates in accordance with our approved bylaws. Any questions about these bylaws should be directed to the Board of Directors.

Read Bylaws