From 5:00 – 6:00 pm we will hear from a panel of leading technology experts from Vermont businesses including:

• Matt Dunne – Founder & Executive Director, Center on Rural Innovation
• Rachel Allard – Senior Director, Marketing at Resonant Link
• Nicholas Day – Engineering Manager, Board Member at Chroma Technology Corp.
• Rick Johnson – CEO at VOI
• David Sandelman – Inventor, CTO/COO at VT Dry & Cure Technology – Cannatrol

This will be followed by a reception from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the unique space at BRIC, which is a reclaimed and repurposed schoolhouse! We will reflect on what we’ve learned, meet the speakers, and enjoy a CASH-ONLY bar and free finger foods from The Copper Fox, a local Springfield business!

This is a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues, make new connections, gain new ideas and inspiration, and have some fun. This event is open to anyone interested in VBSR’s mission: to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact.

Meet Our Moderator

Matt Dunne – Founder & Executive Director, Center on Rural Innovation

Matt is the founder and executive director of the Center on Rural Innovation, which he launched in 2017 to reverse the nation’s growing rural opportunity gap and create economic prosperity for small town residents across the country.

Prior to founding CORI, Matt began his career by serving 11 years in the Vermont House and Senate, enacting the state’s first broadband grants, brownfields revitalization funding, and downtown redevelopment program. He helped grow a Vermont-based software company to over 100 people and was Associate Director of the Rockefeller Center on Public Policy at Dartmouth College.

In 1999, Matt was appointed director of AmeriCorps*VISTA under President Clinton, where he led PowerUp — one of the first national efforts to bridge the digital divide — and launched an Entrepreneur Corps to focus on micro-finance in high-need communities.

In 2007, he started Google’s Community Affairs division out of a former bread factory in White River Junction, Vermont, where he led all local US philanthropy and engagement, including the Google Fiber rollout and orchestrating educational and development initiatives in Google’s data center communities.

Meet Our Panelists

Rachel Allard – Senior Director, Marketing at Resonant Link

Rachel Allard has over 15 years of marketing, advertising, and operations experience, leading high-growth teams during periods of rapid change. Most recently, Rachel was Senior Vice President of Strategy at Union Street Media before joining Resonant Link as their first marketing hire. Rachel loves helping others realize and pursue their passions, and she’s been involved with several non-profit and cooperative organizations including Girl Develop It and NorthCountry Federal Credit Union. Rachel grew up in Huntington and has always loved Vermont – the peace you find at the top of a snow covered mountain, the everyday connections and people who look out for you, and the opportunity to have a high quality of life in a place you love.

Nicholas Day – Engineering Manager, Board Member at Chroma Technology Corp.

With almost 25 years of experience in advanced manufacturing, Nick has spent his career making smart systems even smarter. From developing automation on the manufacturing floor, to leading talented engineering teams, to the Board room, he brings a big-picture perspective with a passion for the details.

Chroma is a 100% employee-owned company. Nick is grateful to have been repeatedly elected by the shareholders, meaning his coworkers, to help lead their company as a Board Member for the last 10 years.

Rick Johnson – CEO at VOI

Rick Johnson is CEO for Voi, Inc., a technology company focused on reducing suicide and other behavioral health issues. Prior to this he was the Director of Operations/Finance/Strategy of the Population Health Collaboratory at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. He also worked for Cubic Corporation as a senior military analyst in the U.S. Naval War College’s Wargaming Department. Rick previously worked as the Associate Director of The Dartmouth Institute at Dartmouth College, a Vermont Assistant Attorney General, an associate in a large private law firm in Boston, and as clerk for the Vermont Supreme Court.

Rick retired in June 2015 as Colonel in the United States Marine Corps after 34 years of service. His last position was as the Military Advisor to the Department of Defense’s Deputy Inspector General of Overseas Contingency Operations.

David Sandelman – Inventor, CTO/COO at VT Dry & Cure Technology – Cannatrol

David is the inventor of Vaportrol Technology. He led New Product Development and Engineering for Heat Timer Corp and ran the company’s field service operation. With 14 patents related to the HVAC industry, his most recent Vaportrol patent, and 2 more pending, David’s 40+ years in the controls industry, new technology development and production make him uniquely qualified to drive VT Dry & Cure Technologies into the future.