Tom Bivins
Bethel, Vermont

Tom Bivins graduated from Louisiana State University in 1988 with a BA in Communications, and in 1991 was awarded an AOS (Associate of Occupational Studies) from the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont. After an impressive career as Executive Chef at three of Vermont's premier dining establishments - Shelburne Farms, the Pitcher Inn (a Relais & Chateaux property), and the Old Tavern at Grafton - and two invitations to cook at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City, Tom joined the teaching staff at the New England Culinary Institute in 2003, where he now serves as Executive Chef.

Tom's primary interest is in environmental education, and he has been a frequent organizer of NECI student involvement in local non-profit activities. Tom served as Chair of the Vermont Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food (2000 - 2001) and is currently Chair of the Chef & Child Foundation Committee of the Vermont Chapter of the American Culinary Federation.

Jan Blanchard
Bristol, Vermont

Jan's past experience includes personnel management as well as billing & credentialing in physician's practices for Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island, NY and then for Porter Hospital, a not for profit in Middlebury, VT. While working with Porter Hospital Jan returned to University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix in 2005. During the course of her studies, Jan switched careers and is currently working with Physician's Computer Company of Winooski, VT as a Software Designer and certified professional medical coder. Jan served as Secretary for the Broadview Estates Homeowner's Association (a not for profit in Bristol, VT) from 2002 to 2005. Since its inception in 1999, Jan has contributed to Habitat for Humanity volunteer projects in Addison County.

Barbara Dozetos
New Haven, Vermont

Board Secretary

Barbara Dozetos has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Trinity College of Vermont. She is employed as Marketing Communications Designer at the Physician's Computer Company in Winooski, VT. Barbara is a former editor of Out in the Mountains, Vermont's monthly newspaper for the LGBT community. She is a widely published journalist, having spent two years as a correspondent and reporter for Gay.com/PlanetOut.com news, as well as contributing to LGBT publications around the country. From 2001 to 2004, Barbara served as the national secretary for the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. This followed a year as a board member for that organization and several years as the New England chapter president. Barbara served on the Advisory Committee to the Vermont Unity Project (2001 - 2005), a collaboration between the Vermont Community Foundation and the Samara Foundation of Vermont. She has also served on the boards of Mountain Pride Media (the non-profit publisher of Out in the Mountains) and The Gailer School (an independent 7-12 grade school in Shelburne, VT).

David Hooks
Pittsfield, Vermont

Treasurer

David Hooks graduated from the University of Texas in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government. He earned a JD degree from the University of Houston Bates College of Law in 1979.

David served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Vermont CARES (1998 - 2001) and as Executive Director from June to December of 2001. He is a member of the Pittsfield Planning Commission, President of his Homeowner's Association in Pittsfield and is a member of the AMAP Advisory Committee administered through the Vermont Department of Health. Past volunteer activities have included work for the AIDS Foundation Houston, Dallas Taping for the Blind and The Lighthouse in New York City.

David brings to the Board of The Gay & Lesbian Fund of Vermont past work experience in the financial and public relations fields. He is currently the owner of Green Mountain Public Relations in Pittsfield.

Tina is a Web systems analyst and technical writer at Co-operative Insurance Companies in Middlebury, VT. She holds an MS in Internet Strategy Management from Marlboro College ('00), a BAA in journalism from Ryerson University ('98), a DipAA in business management/marketing from Cabot College ('94), and assorted Insurance Institute of America designations.

She's volunteered in editorial, technical, operational, fundraising, and other capacities with Mountain Pride Media/Out in the Mountains, the Vermont Rainbow Connection, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, the Canadian Association of Journalists, the CBC, the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario, etc news, VPR, and the Gailer School's Parents' Association. She is a past member of the board of Mountain Pride Media.

Bennett Law
Bethel, Vermont

Board President

Bennett Law earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, cum laude, from the University of Vermont (1980), where he was inducted into the national honor society Phi Beta Kappa, and a Master of Science degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Nebraska (1982). He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (1988) and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (1989), and is employed by National Life Insurance Company, headquartered in Montpelier, Vermont, where he serves as 2nd VP - Policy & Business Forms Management.

Bennett served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Vermont CARES (1995 - 1997), an AIDS service organization serving 10 of Vermont's 14 counties, and of Mountain Pride Media (1998 - 2001), publisher of www.mountainpridemedia.org and "Out in the Mountains," Vermont's monthly newspaper for the LGBT community. Bennett was a member of the Board of Trustees of Gifford Memorial Hospital in Randolph, Vermont (2002 - 2003), and served on the Advisory Committee to the Vermont Unity Project (2001 - 2005), a collaboration between the Vermont Community Foundation and the Samara Foundation of Vermont. Bennett is currently a member of the board of directors of the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force.

Susan Murray
Ferrisburgh, Vermont

Susan graduated from Smith College in 1980, and received her law degree from New York University School of Law in 1983. She is a partner with the Burlington law firm of Langrock Sperry & Wool, where she focuses on family law, appellate practice, and estate planning. She also has an active practice in the area of gay and lesbian family law, including adoption, surrogacy, donor insemination, planning for death and disability, and civil union issues, including property ownership and dissolution matters.

Susan was involved in the first gay "second parent" adoption case in Vermont, as well as Vermont "same sex marriage" case, Baker v. State.
Susan is a founder of a grassroots educational organization, the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, as well as a founder and board member of the lobbying group that fought for passage of Vermont's civil union law and the political action committee that has worked to elect candidates who support marriage rights for gays and lesbians. She is a past board member of Outright Vermont and the Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

Carrie Rampp
Leicester, Vermont

Carrie received a BA from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in 1994, and an MA from Southern Methodist University in History in 1997, and has recently completed an MLIS with Syracuse University. Carrie has held a variety of positions with Middlebury College since 1997. Currently, she is Area Director for Resource Development & Services within Library & Information Services where she oversees a whole host of library and technology services and initiatives for the College. Carrie was Chair of the Board of Mountain Pride Media from 2001-2002.