NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (NWWVT) recently welcomed six new members to its board of directors: Bob Amelang, Steve Costello, Gabe Gladding, Amanda Moore, Jim Murphy, and Caroline Schneider. NWWVT is a local nonprofit whose mission is to strengthen a regional economy by promoting safe, efficient and affordable homeownership in Addison, Bennington, and Rutland counties.
Bob Amelang is an engineer who spent 26 years with CVPS/GMP in the Power Supply Department, Steve Costello is Vice President for Generation and Energy Innovation at Green Mountain Power, Gabe Gladding is a property and casualty insurance agent for Holden Financial Services in Rutland, Amanda Moore is a Vice President and Commercial Mortgage Originator with Heritage Family Credit Union, Jim Murphy is owner of Jim Murphy Home Inspection & Consulting Services in Addison County, and Caroline Schneider is Inventory Control Manager at Westminster Bakers.
“NeighborWorks’ mission has broadened over the years. We began by caring for individual homeowners in just a few towns; now we build and benefit whole communities by working with people one-on-one. The diversity and expertise of these new board members will help us realize that broader vision,” board president Rich Carlson said at last night’s meeting.
“We are so delighted to have the support and guidance of so many respected community leaders,” executive director Ludy Biddle said. “They will guide us in all of the exciting things happening around Rutland. As a NeighborWorks affiliate organization, we bring amazing resources to the area, but it’s our connections to the local community that allow us to have impact.”
One of the new board members, Gabe Gladding, is a 2008 graduate of NWWVT’s homebuyer education program. She went on to become a successful homeowner and a member of NWWVT’s loan committee. “The most inspiring part of our mission is how hard we work to help people stay in their homes, whether that means helping them save money on their energy bills, complete health and safety repairs, or avoid foreclosure,” Gladding said. “It’s not easy to ask for help, but no one has to do it alone,” she added.
