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Join the Addison County Chamber of Commerce at the 2023 Awards, Hall of Fame Induction and Annual Meeting Dinner. This event promises to be a highlight of the year for the 2023 business and non-profit communities of Addison County!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Jim Douglas, Former Governor of Vermont
Governor Jim Douglas served the people of Vermont for more than 35 years. He was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives after graduating from Middlebury College in 1972. He became Assistant Majority Leader in his second term and Majority Leader in his third term at the age of 25. Governor Douglas retired from the Legislature in 1979 to become a top aide to Governor Richard Snelling.Governor Douglas was elected Secretary of State in 1980, a post he would hold for 12 years. He was then elected State Treasurer in 1994, where he served the people of Vermont for eight years. As Treasurer, he implemented programs that returned millions of dollars in assets to their rightful owners and, under his leadership, Vermont's bond rating came to be the best in New England and one of the best in the nation.
Governor Douglas successfully sought the office of Governor in 2002 and was inaugurated as the 80th Governor of Vermont on January 9, 2003. He was re-elected in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
During his tenure, Governor Douglas focused on strengthening the state’s economy, reducing the cost of living in Vermont and protecting the state’s natural environment. He advanced groundbreaking health reforms that have made Vermont a model among the states in health care. He sought to strengthen the relationship between Vermont and Quebec and the other Canadian provinces.
Governor Douglas was chosen for leadership positions by his colleagues, having served as the president of the Council of State Governments, chairman (twice) of the New England Governors’ Conference and chairman of the Coalition of Northeastern Governors. He served as chairman of the National Governors Association. In February 2010 President Obama appointed him co-chair of the Council of Governors.
Outside of government, Governor Douglas has been active in many community organizations. He is a past president of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and Porter Medical Center. He served as treasurer of the State 4-H Foundation and president of the Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ. He has served on the boards of the Mary Johnson Day Care Center, the Counseling Service of Addison County, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and the United Ways of both Addison County and Vermont. He served as Town Moderator of Middlebury for 33 years.
He’s married to Dorothy Douglas. The former Governor and Mrs. Douglas have two sons and two grandsons.
