Danielle Pinders (Joined Feb 11)

Burlington Rotary welcomes it's newest member, Danielle Pinders.

Danielle was born and raised in Springfield, Vermont and attended Castleton State College in Castleton, VT. She played college basketball and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Social Science/Child Psychology.

After graduating from Castleton in 1999, Danielle moved to Boston, MA and worked for organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Boston, EF Education, and Alloy Marketing. She spent a lot of time traveling the country running promotions for fortune 500 companies like Verizon Wireless, American Express, and Coca Cola. It was during this experience and many months living out of a suitcase and hotel rooms that she realized there’s “no place like home”.

After a brief stint in Portsmouth, NH she returned to Burlington, VT in 2004 to pursue her passion of helping others in her home state. Danielle is currently the Director of Development for the American Lung Association of Vermont and has been helping Vermonters living with lung disease and concerned about healthy air for the last 4 years. Danielle and her husband reside in Essex Jct., and just welcomed their first son, Gage Hardee Pinders, on Jan. 3. 2007.

Edie Brodsky (Joined Jan 7)

Welcome Edie Brodsky! Helping others fulfill their dreams is Edie’s first priority. Her skills are many from creative and organizational skills, to attention to detail and negotiation. With a Masters Degree in Art & Education, she has spent years making a difference in the lives of many children. Now through her career in real estate, Edie turns her attention to making a difference in the lives of the families she works with. As a top monthly performer in her first year in real estate, Edie’s enthusiasm and dedication are obvious to all whom she comes in contact with. She knows how to listen and meet the needs of both customers and clients. Her professionalism, confidence and friendly manner are infectious.

Paul Columbo (Joined Nov 26)

On November 26, we had the pleasure of officially welcoming Paul Colombo to the Burlington Rotary. Paul is a Rotary veteran from his days in the Portland, Maine area. He has been summering in Charlotte for a number of years, but only recently took up permanent residence in Colchester. Welcome, Paul, to the Burlington Rotary.

Richard Lewis (Joined Aug 20)

Rich is a native of Burlington, and graduated from BHS and UVM. He has worked in several facets of the communication world, including stints in radio production and management for WEZF Radio, community relations and volunteer management at UVM, and corporate and community relations for KeyBank’s Vermont district. He recently completed seven years as communications director for the American Cancer Society in Vermont, and is now Director of Public Relations for the Hayes Group, Inc. in Williston.

Prior to his involvement with Rotary International, Rich served on the boards of the American Heart Association, the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, and he chaired the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He presently serves on the Governing Board of Essex Alliance Church, where he is the Treasurer.

Rich is twenty year resident of Colchester, where he lives with his wife, Gloria, and their three children: Alison, Christian, and Tim.

Benson Hodgson (Joined Aug 20)

In the summer of 1988, Benson Hodgson had just completed a four year enlistment in the US Navy. His father was living in South Burlington and so Benson decided Vermont was going to be his next home. Since then he has enjoyed numerous careers ranging from aeronautical repair, sales, finance, lighting design and computer technology. Nearly two years ago, Benson ended his 8 years of working for Bruegger’s Enterprises as its Vice President of Information Technology. In November 2005 he and his business partner Chris Goodwin started a small computer technology consulting and support company, IBeam, LLC.

Over the years Benson has participated in a few charitable organization events such Share Our Strength (SOS), Make a Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the annual, refreshing Penguin Plunge.

Benson and his family live in Burlington. His wife, Althea Hodgson is a school teacher with the Burlington School District. Benson and Althea have a son, Ellis.

Jeanne Collins (Joined Mar 19)

Jeanne Collins is Superintendent for the Burlington School District, the largest district in Vermont. Prior to her appointment as superintendent last year, she served Burlington schools as the Director of Special Services. Jeanne has been an educator for 25 years, most of that time serving in special education across four different states.

Jeanne has a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Administration from St. Michael’s College, a B.A. in Speech/Language Pathology and Elementary Education from Purdue University, a 5th year of studies in Special Education from California State University, Northridge, and a Masters degree in Special Education: Emotional Disturbance from the University of Northern Colorado.

Active both nationally and statewide on policy setting in education, Jeanne has served as President of the Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators, Unit Liaison at the Council for Exceptional Children, and was named as the Gail Lynk Administrator of the Year in 2003, a Vermont award given to one school administrator per year.

One of Jeanne's favorites quotes is, "When parents and teachers collaborate on behalf of children, they create windows of light for the generations that follow."

Chapin Spencer (Joined Jun 26)

Chapin Spencer believes in focusing his energies on community development and alternative transportation. He is founding Executive Director of Local Motion (1999-present) a greater Burlington non-profit organization developing trails and fostering active lifestyles. He is also a Commissioner with the Chittenden Co. Transportation Authority – CCTA (2001-present).

Chapin grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and graduated with honors from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in 1993. He came to Burlington for an Americorps*VISTA placement with the Burlington Community Land Trust in 1994.

Chapin’s community activities include: volunteer building engineer, Flynn Center, former Burlington City Councilor, 1998-2002, former Board Member of the Intervale Center, former Chair of the Property Committee of the Burlington Quaker Meeting and as a volunteer on many neighborhood activities.

Chapin has received several community awards, including: the Vermont Leaders in Sports and Fitness Award, Gov’s Council on Physical Fitness, in 2000 and the Neighborhood Leadership Award, City of Burlington, in 2003.

Chapin lives in Burlington with his sweetheart Rebecca Grannis and their two huskies Diego and Osirus. In his free time, Chapin is an avid swing dancer, ultimate Frisbee player, and outdoor enthusiast.

Dan Feeney (Joined Jun 12)

Dan was born on Long Island and moved to Vermont in 1990 to join Green Mountain Coffee as their CFO at age 25.

After 10 years in the coffee industry at various companies, Dan acquired the Freedom to Achieve leadership development system created by legendary Vermont businessman and philanthropist, J. Warren McClure. Over the next seven years Dan provided leadership to a number of businesses and non profits in various management roles and helped raise over $25,000,000 for such organizations as Fletcher Allen Health Care, McClure Multi-Generational Center, Community Health Center, ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, to name a few.

In 2006, he led a team of investors in acquiring North Star Leasing Company, a 27 year old company that provides equipment financing nationwide and serves as the President.

Dan married his wife Amy in 1989 and has three daughters - Emma, Madison and Abigail.

Erik Sandblom (Joined Jun 20)

Erik Sandblom grew up in a small mid-western town in Wisconsin. While traveling with his family when he was in high school he visited Vermont and fell in love with Burlington. He ended up attending UVM and received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the school’s College of Engineering and Mathematics in 1993. He has not left Vermont since.

Erik opted for the “five-year plan” at UVM. About mid-way through his engineering degree, he spent a year in Stockholm, Sweden studying language, public policy and about everything else, except engineering.

Since college, Erik has worked as a civil and environmental engineer for the State of Vermont and Griffin International, Inc., and eventually became a professional engineer. In 2000, Erik started Erik Sandblom, PC (ESPC) a civil and environmental engineering firm with offices in Williston, VT and Plattsburgh, NY. ESPC provides civil and structural engineering, environmental management consulting, and industrial hygiene services.

Erik is an Eagle Scout and he learned at an early age about giving to the community through Boy Scouts. Although he has volunteered on and off over the years to support school programs and community projects, he joined Rotary for the opportunity to provide a more regular commitment of service to the community.

Erik lives with his wife and two children in Richmond, Vermont. He enjoys skiing, biking, hiking, camping, home brewing, and doing just about anything with his family.

Carol Johnson (Joined Feb 14)

Carol Johnson has lived in the Burlington area for most of her life and enjoys the out of doors lifestyle that Vermont offers. She has an extensive background in outside sales and marketing in the advertising, insurance, HVAC and pharmaceutical industries.

During college she spent an enjoyable summer selling Kirby vacuum cleaners door to door in the Portsmouth, NH area which led her to ultimately abandon her course of study in Electronics Engineering. She went on to own and manage a restaurant in Wells, Maine for six years before returning to Vermont and working in outside sales.

In 1995 Carol returned to college and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Trinity College of Vermont. In 2001 she was accepted into the Graduate program at St. Michael’s College where she completed coursework towards her MA in Clinical Psychology.

Most recently Carol became a Realtor and joined Lang Associates in South Burlington where she enjoys working with people and helping them with their real estate needs.

Carol believes strongly in the importance of giving back to the local community and is looking forward to working with other members of the Burlington Rotary as they strive to make the Burlington area (and the world) a better place to live. Carol has done volunteer work for Women Helping Battered Women, the King Street Youth Center, and has worked with children at Baird Children’s Services. In her spare time, Carol enjoys hiking, fishing, rollerblading, yoga and traveling.