Con Hogan Award
The Con Hogan Award recognized Con and his life’s work by encouraging and rewarding leaders who share his vision of a Vermont that places the highest value on the public good.
The Con Hogan Award
For ten years, from 2015 to 2024, the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial, Community Leadership honored Con Hogan and his life’s work. The award celebrated leaders who embody his vision of a Vermont that places the highest value on the public good and seizes responsibility for turning that vision into reality. Recipients were recognized for their commitment to using data and measurement, implementing actionable plans, and making strategic adjustments along the way to achieve their goals.
Award Recipients
To learn more about each of the 10 recipients of the Con Hogan Award, please click on their name or scroll down further on the page.
About Con Hogan
Con Hogan was an important figure in Vermont. Sadly, he passed away in August 2018. From his work in the public, nonprofit, and private for-profit sectors, he exemplified the kind of thinking and leadership that Vermont needs as we address the challenges of a new century. Con’s down-to-earth management approach was always backed by both sophisticated, tested theory and a nuts-and-bolts practicality.
Whether the focus was corrections, child wellbeing, or health care, Con served his state by working to understand the fundamentals of the situation, finding experts who could educate him about what he didn’t know, setting a vision for what was possible, and getting to work to make that vision reality. Throughout this process, he kept his eye on whether his project was producing the desired results. If it wasn’t, he looked for another way to get the results.
Selection Committee
Award recipients were selected by a committee consisting of individuals who represented a broad range of activities, including health and human services, the arts, government service, early care and education, agriculture, and civic duty.
The Award Committee evolved over the ten years as new members were added to fill vacancies. The following list contains all members of the Con Hogan Award committee from 2015-2024.
Committee member listings include members’ roles when they joined the committee.
Alissa Auerbach
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Will Belongia
Vermont Community Loan Fund
Paul Cillo*
Public Assets Institute
Jon Cocina
Vermont Community Foundation
Stuart Comstock-Gay*
Vermont Community Foundation
Steve Dale
Former Human Services Manager
Paula Duncan* **
Pediatrician
Karen Hein*
M.D.
Libby Johnson
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Scott Johnson*
Lamoille Family Center
Ellen Kahler
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Jane Kimble
Vermont Community Foundation
Cheryl Mitchell*
Treleven
Holly Morehouse
Vermont Afterschool
Dr. Etan Nasreddin-Longo
Vermont State Police
Jericho Parms
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Deb Richter
M.D.
Felipe Rivera
Vermont Community Foundation
Karen Scott
Vermont Community Foundation
Arnold Isadore Thomas
Pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jericho
Heidi Mohlman Tringe
Partner – MMR, LLC
Diana Wahle*
NAACP of Windham County
Linda Wheatley
Gross National Happiness USA & VT Principal’s Association
*Founding Members **Deceased
Ongoing Impact
The committee and the Vermont Community Foundation announced at the 2024 Award Ceremony 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.”
Jared Duval (2024)
Duval is executive director of the Montpelier-based Energy Action Network (EAN). The Committee was impressed with Jared’s work addressing climate change using an evidence-based, collaborative policy development approach and regularly communicating with diverse of stakeholders. He also skillfully used data analysis, measurement, and tracking tools to guide policy decisions.
HB Lozito (2023)
Lozito is the executive director of Brattleboro-based Out in the Open, building a multi-issue, multiracial social justice movement of rural LGBTQ+ people. Lozito has been key in creating safe and thriving places for rural LGBTQ+ people and building visibility, knowledge, and power in the community, gathering previously uncollected data to support this work.
Joe Wiah (2022)
Wiah is director of the Ethiopian Community Development Council’s Multicultural Community Center in Brattleboro, which helps refugees with jobs, housing, education, medical care, and community integration. A former refugee from Liberia’s civil war, he witnessed its brutality and vowed to promote peace and support refugees.
Dr. Lydia Clemmons (2021)
Dr. Clemmons, executive director of the Clemmons Family Farm in Charlotte, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa, launching a 35-year public health career. She returned in 2013 to plan the farm’s future with her parents. The Committee honored her for empowering Black artists and sharing Black culture in Vermont.
Vermont Department of Health (2020)
Suspending the cash prize and nomination process, the Committee recognized the VDH staff for their exemplary performance this year. The Committee credited Vermont’s low positivity rates to the VDH’s insights and action: Early recognition of Covid-19’s dangers; calm, quick, and expert response to reported outbreaks; and honest, straightforward, and compelling communication inspiring Vermonters to keep each other safe.
Jan Demers (2019)
Demers, executive director of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, oversees ten programs offering services and advocacy, from fuel assistance to Head Start. The Committee praised her transparency, coalition-building, and data-driven approach, as well as her vision, compassion, and ability to inspire collaboration for results.
James Baker (2018)
Colonel Baker served with the VT State Police for over 30 years and retired as Director in 2009. He started JW Consulting and served as Interim Director of the VT Police Academy, Acting Police Chief – Town of Manchester, Interim Police Chief – City of Rutland, and consultant for the FBI National Law Enforcement Data Exchange Program.
Holly Morehouse (2017)
Morehouse was one of the co-founders of Vermont Afterschool. She has played a major role in advancing high quality afterschool and summer learning opportunities for all kids so that Vermont’s children and youth have the opportunities, skills and resources they need to become healthy, productive members of society. Watch an interview with Holly.
Michael Monte (2016)
Monte joined the executive leadership team at Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) in 2007. CHT is a community land trust with a portfolio containing over 2200 units of permanently affordable housing. Michael was a founder of Burlington Community Land Trust and a board member for Lake Champlain Housing, the two organizations that merged to form CHT. Listen to Monte here.
Ellen Kahler (2015)
Kahler is the Executive Director of the VT Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF). VSJF is committed to nurturing the sustainable development of Vermont’s economy. Prior to joining VSJF, Kahler was executive director of the Pease and Justice Center. Ellen brought careful analysis and heightened attention to the importance of racial and economic justice in Vermont.
