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 Vermont county, as well as any of their family members. Those counties include: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor. Making a decided difference in our member's lives is what we strive to do.

We hosted Vermont Federal Credit Union's 69th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 9th, 2022. Due to COVID-19, this year's meeting was held virtually through a webinar. Thank your for your participation. Your involvement helps us steer the future of the Credit Union with your needs in mind.

Feel free to watch this year's Annual Meeting below:

2022 Annual Meeting Minutes

Feel free to watch this year's Annual Meeting below:

2022 Annual Meeting Minutes

Vermont Federal Credit Union is proud to share the history, values and continued growth of the Credit Union through our Annual Report. The Annual Report is made available each year in conjunction with our Annual Meeting.

Vermont Federal posts its monthly financials in each branch location. They are also available for viewing by clicking the link below.

View the Credit Union's current monthly Unaudited Financial Statement

Vermont Federal Credit Union and Subsidiary Consolidated Financial Statements

Jean Giard – CEO

Jean Giard is the President & CEO of Vermont Federal Credit Union, a $850 million financial institution serving over 48,000 members throughout Vermont. 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 16 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 $850 million. Previous to her employment at Vermont Federal, Jean was a CPA and Audit Partner at R. F. Lavigne & Company.

Email Jean

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.

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 served on the Board of Directors of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) as a National Director from 1991 to 1996. Joseph received recognition and was nominated for the Director of the Year Award for the Credit Union Executive Society’s Educational Forum in 1999. In 2005, he was inducted into the Credit Union Executives Society’s Hall of Fame. He served on many state, regional & national credit union Boards which include the Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC) and American Credit Union Museum. Joseph spent several years serving on the Board of Directors of TriCorp Federal Credit Union and the New England Credit Union Heritage Foundation. Most recently, he worked with the World Council of Credit Unions and made several trips to Kenya to develop financial literacy and promote credit union values. He also served on many Vermont community boards & non-profits.

Ethan Hutchins – Secretary

Ethan is a University of Vermont alumnus who grew up in Barre, Vermont. He started his career in 2008 in the software development industry and is currently employed at Polly as a Lead Software Engineer. Ethan actively participates in the entire software development lifecycle and finds the problem solving aspects of the role extremely rewarding, yet challenging. Ethan played for the University of Vermont's Men's Soccer team and is currently on their Hall of Fame committee.

Neal Robinson

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.

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.

Lisa Rees – Director

Lisa Rees is the principal of LTR Leadership, a coaching and consulting business specializing in emotional intelligence and appreciative inquiry. Lisa is a credentialed coach and works closely with leaders and their teams in strategic planning, visioning, and co-creation, helping organizations leverage their strengths to reach operational and personal goals. Lisa worked for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services for 37 years and became a member of the Vermont Federal Credit Union in 1987. During most of her federal career, Lisa was involved with implementing financial systems to improve operational efficiencies.

Emily Byrne - Director

Emily is an Associate Fiscal Officer for the Joint Fiscal Office of the Vermont General Assembly. She moved to Vermont in 2012 after graduate school to work for the State Government serving in various financial positions in the State Budget office, at the Agency of Education, and at the Agency of Natural Resources. Additionally, Emily served as the Financial Director for the Burlington Electric Department. Emily received a MPA from Syracuse University, a MS the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a BA from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She lives in Montpelier with her family.

Michael Costa - Director

Michael is the Chief Executive Officer for Northern Counties Health Care, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont with a rural network of five community health centers, three dental practices, two express care clinics, and a home care and hospice division. Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bates College and a law degree from the University Of Wisconsin School Of Law. In addition, he received a Master of Heath Care Delivery Science from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Michael graduated from the Snelling Center’s Vermont Leadership Institute, and the Millbank Memorial Fund Emerging Leaders Program. He volunteers his time on numerous boards and community organizations, such as the VNAs of Vermont, Bi-State Primary Care Association, and the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. He lives in Norwich, Vermont with his wife and two boys, where he volunteers with youth baseball and hockey.

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