Governor Peter Shumlin announced Feb. 19 that Commissioner of Economic Development Lisa Gosselin will be leaving her post in April to take a job outside state government. She will be replaced by Joan Goldstein, who currently serves as executive director of the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation.
Gosselin is leaving state government to become the vice-president of Addison Press, Inc., the Middlebury-based publisher of regional newspapers, magazines, web sites and digital apps. “It’s been a tremendous honor to serve the state under Governor Shumlin,” Gosselin said, “and to work with so many of the state’s growing businesses. However, there is an opportunity now to focus on our own family business’s growth.”
Gosselin was appointed in July 2013. As commissioner, she oversaw the first state-wide comprehensive economic development strategy, a 12-month federally-funded study that sets measurable goals for key economic areas over the next five years and prioritizes projects for federal funding. She also helped to launch the Great Jobs in Vermont campaign to attract employees to Vermont’s growing job market, re-launched the ThinkVermont.com e-newsletter, organized InnoVaTe (an annual economic development summit) and worked with the Agency of Commerce team to grow captive insurance and financial services marketing and to strengthen the Vermont Training Program, EB-5 and foreign trade programs.
“She’s been a tremendous asset to the state and we hate to see her go,” said Gov. Shumlin. “But we wish her luck growing the family business in Vermont.”
“Lisa’s done a great job for the state and we’ll miss her, but I know she’ll also do a great job helping to strengthen and grow one of the best family newspaper and multi-media businesses in the state,” said Secretary of Commerce Patricia Moulton.
Joan Goldstein comes to the position after six years as executive director of the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). Under her tenure, the regional development corporation for northern Windsor and Orange counties was able to diversify services with real estate investments, brownfields and flood recovery grants, and innovative workforce development projects and programs. Prior to GMEDC, Goldstein worked as a small business advisor for the Vermont Small Businesses Development Corporation. Before to moving to Vermont from New York City 10 years ago, Joan spent 20-plus years in the financial services industry at JP Morgan and Credit Suisse.
Pete Van Oot, chair of the GMEDC Board, said, “Although we are sad to lose Joan as GMEDC executive director, we are fully aware that the state as a whole will gain.”
“I am honored to serve Vermont in this capacity,” Goldstein said. “Economic development is critical for the further prosperity of the state and I am very pleased to have this opportunity to play a role.”
