Lisa Gosselin tapped to fill Economic Development Commissioner post

Montpelier, Vermont - Lisa Gosselin, who helped grow Eating Well Media Group into a profitable
business with an online eatingwell.com viewership of 5 million, has been named Economic Development Commissioner for Vermont. That position has been unfilled since the Douglas administration, but was reinstated by Gov. Peter Shumlin with the support of the legislature to spearhead his aggressive jobs and economic development agenda.

“Lisa has an incredibly strong marketing and business background, but even more significant is her hands-on success at economic growth and her enthusiasm for doing business in our great state.  She understands why businesses choose to grow in Vermont and she has the ability to connect the dots and generate the buzz needed to spur economic development in the state,” said Gov. Shumlin. He noted that in addition to producing award winning spin-off endeavors, eatingwell.com is now among the top 20 food sites worldwide. “Lisa loves Vermont and knows how to grow a business. We are very fortunate that she will bring her skills to state government, helping our employers with start-up, marketing, and expansion.”

Lawrence Miller, Secretary of Commerce and Community Development, agreed. “Lisa will be a key player in the agency’s focus on creating jobs, supporting businesses, strengthening downtowns, and ensuring employers have what they need to attract the best employees and find success in Vermont,” he said.

“My great-grandfather and his family owned and ran a general store in Rutland, and my grandfather went to
medical school at UVM before leaving to practice in Connecticut,” Gosselin said. “I am passionate about Vermont and believe deeply that businesses can grow and thrive here.  I am excited to apply what I’ve learned in my career to help make Vermont an even better place to grow business opportunities.”

Prior to serving as editorial director at Eating Well and launching eatingwell.com, Gosselin was hired to expand publications in California, Pennsylvania and New York, and served as editor-in-chief of Audubon, a magazine created by the National Audubon Society in New York City. She also was a senior brand manager at Kelliher Samets Volk in Burlington, working with clients including Dynastar, Ryka, New England Culinary Institute and McGill University. She graduated from Yale University, has dual citizenship in the U.S. and France, and is a former Ironman triathlete. She lives in Stowe.

Sec. Miller also announced that Nancy Driscoll has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer for the State of Vermont. Driscoll replaces Kathy Murphy, who will be leaving to oversee marketing and communications efforts at Norwich University.

Driscoll has served as Chief of Staff for Lt. Governor Phil Scott for the last three years. Before joining state government, she was an independent marketing consultant, working with Vermont small-business clients on brand development and strategic marketing. Prior to that, she spent several years as the marketing director for Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel, where she was responsible for media buying, graphic design, web development and audio-video production. Driscoll is a graduate of Princeton University. She resides in Marshfield.

The Chief Marketing Officer serves as the steward of the Vermont brand and marketing resource for agencies and projects across state government, working to achieve consistency in the Vermont brand and ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in the promotion of initiatives ranging from tourism to economic development.

“I’m excited about this new challenge, which lets me draw on my experience working with state government and with Vermont’s small businesses,” Driscoll said. “Working in the Lt. Governor’s office for the last three years made me appreciate the wide variety of creativity and innovation going on around the state. I’m honored to have the support of state leaders in being appointed to the CMO position, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Sec. Miller noted that, with the appointment of Commissioner Gosselin and Chief Marketing Officer Driscoll, he has a full complement of individuals at his Agency working to develop business, community development, tourism, and other economic opportunities for Vermont.

Lt. Gov. Scott said, "Having Nancy move on is a loss for me and for the Lt. Governor's office, but a great opportunity for Nancy and for the state. She'll do a great job in the position."