Tom Cheney

Tom is an experienced leader in government and the nonprofit sector. He is Advance Vermont’s first executive director, serving in the role since 2017. Prior to joining the organization, Tom served as the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Human Resources. He has also worked as a legislative assistant to Congressman Peter Welch in Washington D.C. and chief of staff to Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith. Tom was born and raised in Vermont, and is a graduate of the University of Vermont. He serves his town as a justice of the peace and chair of its board of civil authority, and is a member of his county’s CTE regional advisory board. He previously served on his local school board, and on the board of trustees at statewide social services agency.