OUR TEAM

As the certified non-profit economic development corporation serving Chittenden County, GBIC is dedicated to implementing our vision of a thriving Lake Champlain region.  This includes an economic environment providing meaningful employment consistent with an uncompromised natural environment, while enabling present and future generations of Vermonters to live, learn, work, and play in the Champlain Valley.

GBIC strives to attract, retain, and expand environmentally sensitive high-paying jobs in the Champlain Valley, and to initiate and support advocacy, education, and collaborative programs in promoting our Vision.

Frank Cioffi

President

Frank Cioffi is a graduate of the University of Vermont, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.

Frank has owned and managed several businesses in Vermont.  He served as Executive Director of the Franklin County Industrial Corporation.  Frank is a licensed Vermont Real Estate Broker and is a past President of the Vermont Association of REALTORS.  He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS.

From 1995 to 1998, Frank served in the Administration of Governor Howard Dean, M.D. as Commissioner of the State of Vermont Department of Economic Development.

In January of 1998, Frank accepted the position of President of The Greater Burlington Industrial Corp. (GBIC) & Cynosure, the Regional Economic Development Corporation serving Chittenden County, Vermont.  Frank participates in numerous organizations and civic activities in Vermont, and he currently serves as a member of the following Boards of Directors and organizations:

  • Member, University of Vermont Board of Trustees
  • Chair, Committee on Board Governance
  • Chairperson, Vermont Technology Council
  • Chairperson, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies Board
  • Chairperson, Vermont EPSCoR
  • Member, Vermont Workforce Development Council
  • Member, Board of Directors, Peoples Trust Co.
  • Member, Board of Directors, Tarrant Foundation

Contact
(802) 862-5726, Ext. 12
[email protected]

Sam Andersen

Executive Vice President

Sam rejoined GBIC in 2020 with a focus on the Municipalities and value-added businesses in Chittenden County.

She has over 20 years’ experience in economic development in Vermont at both the state and regional levels of which 12 years were at GBIC and 10 years as the Executive Director at the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation.

She was a real estate licensee from 1991-2016 and is a retired Chairperson of the Vermont Real Estate Commission.

She also was a Gubernatorial appointee to the Commission on Wind Energy Regulatory Policy, the Commission on the Future of Economic Development and the Private Activity Bond Advisory Committee.

In addition, Sam is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO).

Contact
(802) 862-5726, Ext. 19
[email protected]

Curt Carter

Senior Vice President

Curt Carter has been with GBIC since retiring from the State of Vermont in 2007. As GBIC’s Vice President, Curt focuses primarily on business expansion and retention working closely with more than 200 of the area’s value added, dollar importing, manufacturing and business service companies. Curt’s economic development experience comes from working in Vermont’s Department of Economic Development for nearly 30 years.

Notable accomplishments while at DED were founding the VT Business and Industry Expo and the Vermont Investors Forum along with providing environmental permitting assistance for many major projects. Curt has worked with Vermont’s Act 250 since its enactment, either as an administrator or advisor. He has served locally in numerous town positions and is currently President of the Jericho Community Development Corporation.

A UVM economics grad, Curt lives in Jericho and enjoys doing almost anything, as long as it is outside.

Contact
(802) 862-5726, Ext. 14
[email protected]

Alex Demoly

Economic Development Specialist

Alex earned his double major in mathematics and political science at Middlebury College, from which he graduated summa cum laude in 2022.

Prior to joining GBIC, Alex worked as a government affairs intern for Downs Rachlin Martin during the 2021-2022 session of the Vermont Legislature. He also has experience working for government agencies in his hometown of Albany, New York, where he specialized in the review of funding proposals, and on political campaigns at the local and federal levels. 

During his time at Middlebury, Alex produced a political science capstone project on higher education policy and a mathematics thesis applying analysis to the space of fractals and fractal dimension. Alex also helped create Next Blaster Co., a startup company in the entertainment space.

Alex is a 2018 graduate of The Albany Academy, where he was valedictorian.

Outside of work, Alex enjoys reading, playing tennis and squash, and perpetually refilling his beloved old sports sedan with oil.

Contact
(802) 862-5726, Ext. 10
[email protected]

Board of Directors

Current Officers

Vice Chairperson

Peter Sylvester

Chairperson

Tim Shea

Treasurer

Ernie Pomerleau

Secretary

Frank Cioffi

Current Board Members

Ethan Bechtel

OhMD

Eric Bergstrom

Burton

Jim Donohue

Raymond James

Dr. John Evans

University of Vermont

Moe Germain

The Moorings, Inc

Ben Hardy

Hayward Tyler

Jaime Heins

EBlock

Jon Pizzagalli

David Rose

Twincraft

Emilie Schweikert

Peter Sylvester

Morgan Stanley