Vermont Economic Development Authority Selects their new President

February 21, 2025 — The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) is happy to announce that Joan Goldstein has been selected as the organization’s next President.

Ms. Goldstein is an experienced executive who brings over twenty years of demonstrated management success in government administration, nonprofit organizations, and financial institutions.  Ms. Goldstein’s professional strengths include budgeting, strategic planning, legislative advocacy, and economic development.  She most recently served as Commissioner, Department of Economic Development for the State of Vermont.  As President of VEDA, she will provide leadership for all aspects of VEDA’s operations with an emphasis on strategic planning, financial sustainability, and workplace culture.

The search was conducted by Chris Kelley, Senior Partner, and Julia Crouter, Senior Associate, at Smith & Wilkinson.

About VEDA

VEDA is Vermont’s statewide economic development finance lender.  VEDA’s mission is “to contribute to Vermont’s economic vitality by providing a broad array of financing programs t eligible businesses that create jobs and help advance Vermont’s public policy goals.”

About Smith & Wilkinson

With over two decades of experience, our Financial Services team has successfully led hundreds of placements across various sectors, including Community Banks, Credit Unions, FinTech, and more. We specialize in sourcing a wide range of financial services positions that cater to different aspects of the industry, ensuring we can connect you with the best talent.

Our search assignments cover all seniority levels and functional areas within the financial services ecosystem, providing our clients and candidates with maximum visibility into the talent market.

Need to fill a role similar to VEDA’s? Partner with our Financial Services team to secure the right talent for your strategic goals.