Leadership
Guiding Excellence in Housing and Community
Mary Cohen
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Mary Cohen brings deep experience in business, housing, and community development to her role as CEO. She previously owned several Rutland County businesses and built a strong real estate career before joining NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, where she led operations and neighborhood revitalization. As Executive Director of the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce, she launched the “Real Rutland” campaign. In 2020, she returned to housing as Executive Director of the Housing Trust and played a key role in forming Cornerstone Housing Partners.
Bill Ackerman
Chief Operations Officer
Bill Ackerman joined the Housing Trust in 2022, bringing extensive experience in property and facilities management. His career includes serving as General Manager and Regional Director for full-service hotels in 10 cities nationwide. Following his work in hospitality, Bill led retail and facilities operations at The Vermont Country Store. He later transitioned to marketing, becoming Chief Marketing Officer at Green Mountain Marketing and Advertising, a firm he co-founded with his wife, Kasia. Bill brings a dynamic, operations-focused perspective to his leadership role.
Melanie Paskevich
Chief Program Officer
Melanie Paskevich joined the organization in 2010 and manages operations for Homeownership Programs, including Home Repair, Rental Repair, HEAT Squad, Homebuyer Education and Counseling, Shared Equity, and Lending. Her oversight of program development, operations planning, customer acquisition and management, reporting, analysis, and budgeting helps the organization achieve milestones that support our strategic goals. Melanie has over 30 years of experience in the architectural and construction field and holds a Master of Architecture degree.
Team
Working Together for Stronger Communities
Marketing/Fundraising
Penny Inglee, Marketing, Fundraising & Public Relations Coordinator
Staff-Rutland Office
Rental Services
Property Management
Nikitta Caveney, Regional Property Manager
Kathleen Dodge, Compliance Administrator
Pam Favreau, Assistant Property Manager
Carly Lehrer, Assistant Property Manager
Kate O’Hagen, Leasing Agent
Melissa Webb, Administrative Assistant/Compliance
SASH & Resident Services
Resident Services Program
Danielle Hughes, Resident Services Coordinator
Rebecca Winship, Resident Services Coordinator
SASH (Support and Services at Home)
Becki Lund, SASH Coordinator
Katie Pett, RN, SASH Wellness Nurse
Claire Traver, SASH Coordinator
Property Maintenance
Eric Bradley, Lead Maintenance Technician
Dawn Childs, Maintenance Coordinator
Neal Clark, Maintenance Technician
Larry Stevens, Maintenance Technician
Real Estate Development
Dan Caputo, Director of Real Estate Development
Carrie Putnam, Real Estate Development Coordinator
Finance
Hilary Mullin, Staff Accountant
Renee Marsan, Accounts Payable
Homeownership Services
Customer Service
Bethany Jones, Customer Service Coordinator
Liz Marrier, Customer Service Coordinator
HEAT Squad
Chad Thornton, Energy Auditor
Home & Rental Repair
Aaron Jones, Home & Rental Repair Director
Caden LaPenna, Home & Rental Repair Coordinator
Homeownership Center
Nancy Gilman, Homeownership Center Director
Lindsey Newton, HUD Certified Housing Counselor
Lindsey Johnston, Homebuyer Educator
Lending Department
Bryn Milks, Loan Servicing Specialist
Megan Chamberlain, Loan Officer
Scott Nichols, Lending Business Development Officer
Finance
Paul Lasky, Staff Accountant
Staff-Bennington Office
Property Management
Britney Bowen, Regional Property Manager
Krista Galipeau, Assistant Property Manager
SASH & Resident Services
Becky Arbella, Director of SASH & Resident Services
Resident Services Program
Rosemarie Rogers, Resident Services Coordinator
SASH (Support and Services at Home)
Debbie Allen, SASH Coordinator
Kim Cook, SASH Coordinator
Randi Crofut, RN, SASH Wellness Nurse
Morgyn Davis, SASH Coordinator
Autumn Dorman, RN, SASH Wellness Nurse
Tina Greene, SASH Coordinator
Tanya Powling, SASH Coordinator
Stacia Sirois, RN, SASH Wellness Nurse
Property Maintenance
Davion Burrell, Maintenance Technician
Ryan Hurley, Maintenance Technician
Christopher Saunders, Maintenance Technician
Real Estate Development
Jan Buonanno, Real Estate Development Coordinator
Finance
Jim Stevenson, Senior Accountant
Jessica Grimm-Lyon, Accountant
HEAT Squad
Rebecca Keyes, Energy Auditor
Northeast Kingdom
HEAT Squad
Ann Lawless, NEK HEAT Squad Outreach Coordinator
Sally Ayers, Energy Auditor
Stewardship & Oversight
Volunteers Helping Shape the Future of Housing in Vermont
Officers
President: Bill Gross
Vice President: Cathy Reynolds
Treasurer: Gabe Gladding
Secretary: Donnaleen Farwell
Board of Directors
Jessica Anderson
Karen Bartlett
Keri Franzoni
Kathy Leech
Jake Pluta
Dylan Watts
