Con Hogan Awardee Jared Duval:

Jared Duval was honored with this year’s Con Hogan Award—the tenth and final. Duval is executive director of the Montpelier-based Energy Action Network (EAN), which brings together more than 200 Vermont-based nonprofits, utilities, businesses, universities, and public sector partners to help Vermont achieve its climate and energy commitments, to create a more just, thriving, and sustainable future. The network supports research and data-tracking on energy and emissions, with a focus on evidence-based policy analysis.

In his acceptance remarks at the October 9 award ceremony in the Vermont State House, Duval, a ninth-generation Vermonter, reflected on his journey in public service. It began with his family’s influence, which led him to pursue environmental activism in high school, college, and work. He went on to study research and analysis methods and public policy in graduate school. Then he served as Economic Development Director at Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development before landing at EAN.

Duval emphasized, “It’s not the specific position or title we hold that matters when it comes to public service. It’s the positive impact we make, from whatever position we hold. We all have far more ability than we might think to contribute to the public good, even if we aren’t in positions typically associated with political leadership.”

Using data to inform policy was a hallmark of Hogan’s work—and it is central to Duval’s work as well. “The purpose of data and analysis is not to support a pre-formed position. It is to get closer to the truth, with evidence and as objectively as possible, by testing assumptions, asking hard questions, keeping an open mind, and tracking the metrics that matter,” Duval said. “Good intentions are not enough. Good data should inform policy positions rather than the reverse.”

Duval also noted that in recent years, several long-term EAN funders had either closed or shifted priorities, creating a significant budget gap for the organization. He plans to use the award funds as part of a matching gift challenge to attract new funders and secure sustainable financial support for EAN’s future work.

As this was the final award event, this phase of the award committee’s work is done. Looking ahead, the committee and the Vermont Community Foundation announced at the event that they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the UVM Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships. Together they will gather, report, and facilitate the use of data that reflects indicators of social wellbeing to serve Vermont and its communities.

Leahy Institute Director Tricia Coates shared, “We are truly honored to hold this aspect of Con Hogan’s legacy by providing the best data we possibly can through the land grant institution to Vermont communities and to the state.”

Watch the event video, including remarks from Duval, Coates, and others, or to learn more about the Con Hogan Award, visit vermontcf.org/ConHogan.

Current members of the Con Hogan Award Committee are Will Belongia, Paul Cillo, Steve Dale, Scott Johnson, Etan Nasreddin-Longo, Karen Scott, Arnold Isidore Thomas, and Diana Wahle.