BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors helps shape a vibrant, resilient, and inclusive regional economy rooted in Southwestern Vermont’s natural beauty, creative spirit, and collaborative energy. From Bennington to Manchester, Pownal to Peru, and every town in between, our goal is straightforward: strengthen the ties that unite us — across industries, communities, and generations.

Executive Committee (2026)

Shannon McLenithan - President
Senior Vice President of Residential Lending at The Bank of Bennington
smclenithan@bennbank.com

Maru Leon Griffin - Vice President/Treasurer
Co-owner of Mt. Anthony Country Club/ The Grille
Maru@mtanthonycc.com

From left: Maru, Matt, & Shannon

The Board of Directors of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce Enterprise provides strategic leadership, governance, and accountability for one of the region’s most interconnected economic development organizations.

Together with staff and partners, the Board helps ensure the Chamber remains focused, responsive, and future-ready — advancing initiatives that strengthen businesses, support communities, and enhance quality of life across Southwestern Vermont.

The Board of Directors governs the organization by setting long-term direction, safeguarding mission and values, and ensuring responsible stewardship of resources. While day-to-day operations are led by professional staff, the Board plays a critical role in shaping strategy, policy, and regional priorities.

In practice, this means the Board:

  • Sets strategic direction aligned with the Chamber’s long-term vision

  • Ensures financial health, transparency, and accountability

  • Represents the interests of members and the broader community

  • Supports collaboration across business, nonprofit, and public sectors

  • Helps the organization adapt to changing economic and workforce realities

As the Chamber often notes: Boards govern. Staff manage.

Board of Directors [2026]

 

Rob Bahny
Southwest Tech
rbahny@svcdc.org

Ed Barbeau
Friend of the Chamber
ed.barbeau@melissa.com

Alex Figueroa
United Counseling Services
afigueroa@ucsvt.org

Mark Grossarth
Heritage Family Credit Union
mark@hfcuvt.com

Jessica Smith Hartleben
Friend of the Chamber
Jessica.Hartleben@vermont.gov

Sarah Linford
Mettowee Mint
Sarah@mettoweemint.com

 

Our Vision for the Region

The Board helps advance the Chamber’s 2027 Vision:

To cultivate a vibrant regional economy driven by innovation and collaboration — where commerce thrives in harmony with stunning natural landscapes and welcoming, diverse communities.

This vision guides decisions related to workforce development, business growth, community vitality, and regional collaboration.

Strategic Priorities

The Board helps focus the Chamber’s work through three core strategic pillars:

Promote

  • Attracting and retaining people, businesses, and investment in the region.

Collaborate

  • Convening partners and fostering connections across communities and industries.

Empower

  • Informing, educating, and activating people to strengthen the regional economy.

The Chamber Enterprise

Today’s Chamber is more than a single organization — it is an integrated enterprise working across multiple focus areas to deliver greater regional impact. The Board provides governance and oversight across this ecosystem, which includes:

  • The Shires of Southwestern Vermont – Regional destination marketing and tourism

  • Bennington State Welcome Center – Serving more than 100,000 travelers a year as a regional gateway

  • Shires Young Professionals – Workforce attraction, retention, and leadership development

  • Southwestern Vermont Chamber Foundation – Charitable foundation supporting workforce, entrepreneurship, and data-driven economic development

This enterprise model allows the Chamber to address economic challenges more holistically—connecting people, place, and opportunity.

Accountability and Governance

Strong governance is central to the Board’s work. Directors operate within clearly defined policies that ensure ethical leadership, legal compliance, and financial oversight. These include standards related to conflicts of interest, confidentiality, communications, financial management, and fiduciary responsibility.

Through committees and task forces, the Board also provides focused oversight in areas such as finance, events, workforce initiatives, and regional strategy.

Learn More

If you’d like to explore what it takes to be a board member at one of the fastest growing Chambers in the tri-state area, fill out the form below: