BURLINGTON, Vt. (January 27, 2025) – The Lake Champlain Chamber is pleased to announce that Heather Ross, director and shareholder with Sheehey, Furlong & Behm P.C., will serve as chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors for the next year, and Alex Halpern, president of Freeman French Freeman, will serve as vice chair. The Chamber also announced that Mimi Buttenheim, Erin Evarts, Andrew Way, and Hans van Wees have joined the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
Cathy Davis, president 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 David Lane, senior vice president of public relations and sustainability for Farm Credit East, for his leadership as chair of the Board in 2024.”
Heather Ross, Director and Shareholder, Sheehey, Furlong & Behm P.C.
Heather practices business litigation with a focus on labor and employment law. For over 25 years, Heather has been advising clients on compliance issues, conducting investigations, and representing clients in all phases of litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Heather spent more than a decade at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont, where, as a federal prosecutor, she tried multiple cases, including fraud and financial crimes and human trafficking cases. Heather came to Vermont in 1995 to serve as a federal judicial clerk to the Honorable William K. Sessions III, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Vermont. She is an alumna of the Lake Champlain Chamber’s Leadership Champlain program and lives in Shelburne with her family.
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.
Mimi Buttenheim, President, Mad River Distillers
Mimi joined the Mad River Distillers team in 2015. After graduating from Brown University with a Classics degree and earning a Certificate of Baking and Pastry Arts from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in California, Mimi held General Manager positions at a boutique Napa Valley Winery and at a craft vodka distillery. Her career in food, wine, and spirits spans 20 years and crosses multiple coasts. As President, Mimi is involved in nearly every aspect of the business as she works closely with manufacturing, wholesale, and retail teams to meet production and sales targets and to execute the vision of the founders.
Erin Evarts, Director of Development, Mercy Connections
Erin started with Mercy Connections as their development director at the start of 2025. Prior to joining Mercy Connections, Erin was the executive director for Lyric Theatre Company, the largest non-profit community theater organization in the Northeast. She previously held positions at Wake Robin and The National Alliance for Mental Illness – Vermont. Erin has been an active volunteer with many local non-profits and arts organizations in the last 20 years. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of Leadership Champlain, after completing the program in 2021. Erin was named a Rising Star by Vermont Business Magazine in 2021. Erin is a native Vermonter who currently resides in Colchester and is a graduate of Emerson College.
Andrew Way, Vice President of Operations, Leonardo’s Pizza
Andrew oversees the company’s three restaurants and remote office. Andrew began his career with Leonardo’s as a pizza maker and has steadily moved up the ranks over his 15-year career. Andrew is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Champlain and a 2024 graduate of Advance Champlain. Andrew lives in Fairfax with his wife and two children.
Hans van Wees, Managing Director, Westport Hospitality
With extensive leadership experience and a diverse background in the hospitality industry, Hans has branded full-service convention and resort hotels in Europe, the Caribbean, and the U.S. He found his way to Vermont when offered the role of general manager at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. He eventually joined the Westport Hospitality team to support the development of Hotel Vermont. After guiding the Hotel Vermont brand as general manager for 10 years, Hans was promoted to managing director of Westport Hospitality’s full portfolio in 2024.