Meet Our Executive Team

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Thomas Dunn

Thomas Dunn

President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Dunn currently serves as President & CEO of Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO). Mr. Dunn joined VELCO in 2000 and advanced through several positions within the Company including: Director of Capital Projects, Vice President for Transmission Services, and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining VELCO, Mr. Dunn was the Chief of Engineering at the Vermont Public Service Department from 1992-2000. From 1985 to 1990 Mr. Dunn was a Field Engineer at the Massachusetts Electric Company. Mr. Dunn is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and has an MBA from Boston College.

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Thomas Dunn

President & Chief Executive Officer
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Michele Nelson

Michele C. Nelson

Chief Financial Officer

Michele joined VELCO in 1995, serving as Manager of Accounting. In 2008, she became Assistant Treasurer, and has been Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2010. From 1990 to 1994 she served as Internal Auditor at Central Vermont Public Service. She holds a Bachelors of Science from the University of Vermont.

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Michele C. Nelson

Chief Financial Officer
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Kerrick Johnson

Kerrick Johnson

Chief Innovation and Communications Officer

Kerrick Johnson is VELCO’s Chief Innovation and Communications Officer. He conceives and accelerates development of initiatives that deliver value to the company, its customer/owners and Vermont.  Kerrick’s responsibilities include all of the company’s print, digital and social media, community engagement and advocacy work. He most recently served as Vermont Energy Investment Corporation’s (VEIC) Strategy & Corporate Affairs Director. Immediately prior to his successful VEIC role, Kerrick was a Co-Founder/Chief Ecosystem Officer for Utopus Insights, a New York-based energy analytics company formed by IBM, Boston Consulting Group, and VELCO that was acquired in 2018 by Vestas Wind Systems A/S

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Kerrick Johnson

Chief Innovation and Communications Officer
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Dan Nelson

Dan Nelson

Vice President Technology

Dan currently serves as Vice President of Technology and leads the Telecommunications and Information System teams. His background includes twenty years serving in a variety of management and director positions responsible for conception, build out, and maintenance of VELCO's 1,600-mile fiber optic network. Dan earned his Electrical Engineering Technology degree from Vermont Technical College in Randolph. 

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Dan Nelson

Vice President Technology
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Mark Sciarrotta

Mark Sciarrotta

Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

Prior to his 2007 arrival at VELCO, Mark was as Vermont Assistant Attorney General representing the State in all aspects of complex environmental cases, civil litigation and criminal prosecutions in state and federal courts. In addition to ensuring the company’s legal and ethical compliance, Mark leads the company’s sustainability efforts. Mark earned his law degree from Vermont Law School, where he currently serves as a Trustee, and his undergraduate degree from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Mark and his three children currently reside in Montpelier, Vermont.

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Mark Sciarrotta

Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
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Mike Fiske

Michael Fiske

Chief Operating Officer

Mike Fiske is a seasoned professional in the utility industry, bringing nearly four decades of experience to his role. A dedicated member of the VELCO team since 2000, Mike currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer where he oversees critical company functions, including Planning, Engineering, Operations, Safety, and Transmission Services. Prior to his current role, Mike has held several key positions such as Substation Supervisor, Construction Manager, Director of Transmission Assets, and Senior Director of Transmission Assets. Mike's comprehensive knowledge is underscored by his Master Electrician License from the State of Vermont Apprenticeship program. He and his wife reside in Rutland, Vermont.  

Michael Fiske

Chief Operating Officer
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Brian Connaughton

Brian Connaughton

Vice President of Transmission Services and Asset Maintenance

Brian Connaughton serves as Vice President of Transmission Services at VELCO where he is oversees the Transmission Services and Asset Maintenance divisions, playing a critical role in ensuring the safety and reliability of the system. Brian began his career at VELCO in 2007 as an Environmental Specialist, and continued to advance through diverse roles such as Environmental Manager and Director of Transmission Services. Brian earned a B.A. in Natural Resource Studies with a Minor in Wildlife Fisheries from UMASS and a Masters of Business Administration from the College of St. Joseph. He resides in Pittsford, Vermont with his wife and three sons.

Brian Connaughton

Vice President of Transmission Services and Asset Maintenance
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Senior Director, Human Resources

Cheryl Mullins

Senior Director, Human Resources

Cheryl Mullins joined VELCO as Director, Human Resources in July 2020. She has extensive experience in human resources in multiple industries, most recently serving as the Director of Human Resources for Middlebury College. Cheryl holds a bachelor’s  degree in business management from Castleton University and a master’s degree in management and leadership from Western Governors University. She and her husband live in Orwell and have two grown children.

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Cheryl Mullins

Senior Director, Human Resources

Meet our Board of Directors

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Theresa Alberghini DiPalma

Theresa Alberghini DiPalma

Former, Senior Vice President for Marketing & External Relations, University of Vermont Health Network
tad@vtmednet.org
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Sam Anderson

Susan Andersen

Executive Vice President, Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation
susan.connect@gmail.com
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Coates

David Coates

Retired Partner, KPMG Peat Marwick
dcoates802@aol.com
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Maura Collins

Maura Collins

Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency
maura4collins@gmail.com
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Thomas Dunn

Thomas Dunn

President & Chief Executive Officer
tdunn@velco.com
VELCO
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Kaminski

Stephen Kaminski

Power Planning and Policy Advisor, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative
kaminskis@nhec.com
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Deb Markowitz

Deb Markowitz

Former VT Secretary of State & Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources
debmarkowitz@gmail.com
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Mari McClure

Mari McClure

President & CEO Green Mountain Power Corporation
mari.mcclure@greenmountainpower.com
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Ken Nolan

Ken Nolan

General Manager Vermont Public Power Supply Authority
knolan@vppsa.com
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Reilly

Lawrence Reilly

Principal Rosewood Energy Consulting, LLC
lreilly@rosewoodenergy.com
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Mike Solimano

Michael Solimano

President & General Manager Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners, LLC
msolimano@killington.com
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Springer

Darren Springer

General Manager Burlington Electric Department
dspringer@burlingtonelectric.com
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Rebecca Towne

Rebecca Towne

Chief Executive Officer Vermont Electric Cooperative
rtowne@vermontelectric.coop