Burlington, VT – (January 8, 2026) The Lake Champlain Chamber is pleased to announce Alex Halpern, president of Freeman French Freeman, as chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. The Chamber also announced that Tatiana Davydov, NBT Bank; Patrick Gallivan, Vermont State Dental Society; Ara Hagan, Hagan Marketing; Paul Jarvis, Bilodeau Wells; Matt McMahon, MMR; and David Seaver, Northfield Savings Bank have joined the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
Cathy Davis, president and CEO of the Chamber, said in announcing the new officers and directors, “The Lake Champlain Chamber’s work is rooted in the knowledge and experience of our business community. Our talented and engaged board of directors provide us with valuable insight and feedback as we seek to continually improve our region’s business climate. I also want to thank Heather Ross, director and shareholder at Sheehey, Furlong and Behm P.C. for her leadership as chair of the board in 2025.”
Alex Halpern, President, Freeman French Freeman
Alex has practiced architecture in Vermont for more than 25 years. His education includes degrees in art and architecture from the University of Vermont and the State University of New York. His work includes projects like Burlington High School, the UVM STEM science facility, the Burlington YMCA, UVM Rescue and Dartmouth Soccer. He is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Champlain.
Tatiana Davydov, NBT Bank
Tatiana serves as retail market manager in Burlington, where she oversees market strategy, customer engagement and community partnerships across four branches located in Burlington, Essex, Williston and South Burlington. With a strong focus on fostering local business growth, she works closely with teams to deliver exceptional retail experiences and strengthen community connections. She is passionate about supporting initiatives that drive economic development and volunteer engagement in Chittenden County. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and dogs.
Patrick Gallivan, Vermont State Dental Society
Patrick Gallivan leads the state’s professional association for dentists, working to enhance the oral health care environment in Vermont. The Vermont State Dental Society proudly serves their members, Vermonters, and their partners in oral health care, through advocacy, education and fostering collaboration. His prior experience includes nearly 30 years as a college administrator in areas of enrollment, association management (alumni), philanthropy, government affairs and board relations. Believing in the importance of engaging with his community, he is an active volunteer and proud to serve as the camp director and a board member at Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a community he has been a part of for more than 25 years.
Ara Hagan, Hagan Marketing
Ara Hagan brings strategic leadership and an extensive portfolio of creative achievements to her role at Hagan Marketing, an award-winning, woman-owned media agency based in Essex Junction, Vermont. Over the past decade, she has been instrumental in building the foundation for successful client campaigns through comprehensive media strategy development, social media management and performance analysis of marketing initiatives across diverse industry sectors. Her approach leverages cross-industry insights to amplify results and consistently identify value-add opportunities for clients. Under her leadership, Hagan has become known for connecting purpose-driven brands—both for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations—with the right audiences through creativity, ethics, humanity and heart, driving award-winning online and broadcast campaigns that make a lasting impact.
Paul Jarvis, Bilodeau Wells
Paul is a partner at Bilodeau Wells & Company, where he brings expertise in financial strategy and tax planning to clients across the region. Born in Vermont, Paul now resides in North Hero with his wife, two children, and their energetic dog. Known for his approachable style and commitment to building lasting client relationships, he blends deep technical knowledge with a genuine passion for helping individuals and businesses thrive.
Matt McMahon, MMR
Matt is a partner at MMR, a government relations, Issue advocacy, public relations and communications firm based in Montpelier. Inside the State House and beyond, Matt works with clients in a variety of sectors and policy areas. At MMR, he helps them navigate policy discussions, build relationships and ultimately, achieve their goals. His 15 years of State House experience began with advocacy work at the Lake Champlain Chamber on behalf of their members. Matt is a graduate of Saint Michael’s College.
David Seaver, Northfield Savings Bank
David is a senior vice president with Northfield Savings Bank in Burlington. In his role, he oversees a team of commercial lenders in Chittenden County, while also managing a loan portfolio. He is a lifelong Vermonter, having grown up in Burlington. He and his wife reside in South Burlington with their two young children and mutt. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, getting outdoors in all seasons and skiing in the winter.