Vermont Businesses & Educational Institutions Collaborating for Community

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Join VBSR and the Vermont Law and Graduate School for an evening of connection and learning, as we explore the important role Vermont’s higher education institutions are playing—and their untapped potential—as conveners and changemakers, especially when working alongside businesses to improve local communities.

This panel discussion will examine how socially responsible businesses and educational institutions driving transformative local change through public-private partnerships, community governance, and climate resilience. 

This panel discussion will examine how socially responsible businesses and educational institutions driving transformative local change through public-private partnerships, community governance, and climate resilience. You will hear from panelists including:

• Our moderator, Dan Bromberg, Dean of the Vermont Law and Graduate School
• Patricia Coates, Director, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships and Office of Engagement at the University of Vermont
• Christophe Courchesne, Associate Dean, Environmental and Experiential Programs; Director, Environmental Law Center; Director, Environmental Advocacy Clinic
• Phillip Foy, General Counsel at Encore Renewable Energy
• Emiliano Void, Founder and CEO of nuwave Equity Corporation

We’ll dive into the power of local collective action*—led by businesses and educational institutions—to fill critical gaps in government support. Come for the insights—stay for the delicious drinks, networking, and shared learning! 

This event is a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, build new relationships, gain fresh inspiration, and have some fun. Open to all who are interested in building a just, thriving, and transformative economy that works for both people and the planet.

*Collective action refers to collaborative efforts where groups share knowledge, resources, and efforts to achieve a common goal.

Food & Drinks

This event will feature free finger foods including gluten free and vegan options. Guests will also have access to delicious drinks for purchase, including non-alcoholic options.

Thank you to our moderator!

Dan Bromberg, Dean of the Vermont Law and Graduate School

Bromberg, who received a Ph.D. in public administration from Rutgers University and a master of public administration from the University of Vermont, will shape the future of the new graduate school, which currently includes environmental master’s degree programs in climate and environmental policy, energy regulation and law, food and agriculture law and policy and animal protection, as well as the master of arts in restorative justice. He will also be instrumental in the development of a new master’s degree in public policy as outlined in the VLGS Strategic Plan.

Previously the director of academic programs and then interim director of the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire, Bromberg brings to VLGS expertise in the implementation of new degrees and expansion of experiential learning opportunities for graduate students.

Bromberg is no stranger to public policy work and has authored publications including “Calibrating Public Accountability: The Fragile Relationship between Police Departments and Citizens in an Age of Video Surveillance” and “Problem Solving with the Private Sector: A Public Solutions Handbook.”

Additionally, he was a tenured professor at the University of New Hampshire, with a joint appointment in the department of political science and the Carsey School, and served as a member of the graduate council and as a graduate school faculty fellow.

Thank you to our panelists!

Patricia Coates, Director, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships and Office of Engagement at the University of Vermont

Patricia leads the UVM Office of Engagement and the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships team at the University of Vermont. They support connections and partnerships between Vermont organizations and the University and serve as the front door to the University for Vermonters.

Christophe Courchesne, Associate Dean, Environmental and Experiential Programs; Director, Environmental Law Center; Director, Environmental Advocacy Clinic

Christophe Courchesne has litigated environmental cases for nearly two decades. Before joining Vermont Law and Graduate School in 2022, he was Deputy Chief of the Energy and Environment Bureau and Assistant Attorney General at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, leading work on the climate crisis, federal policy, environmental and racial justice, and clean energy. Prior to his bureau leadership, Professor Courchesne was Chief of the Environmental Protection Division at the AG’s Office, with oversight of the division’s civil enforcement docket, federal litigation and advocacy challenging Trump-era regulatory rollbacks, and defense of Massachusetts environmental agencies. Professor Courchesne was previously a Senior Attorney at Conservation Law Foundation, an associate in the environmental, energy, and land use practices at Goodwin Procter LLP, and a law clerk for the Honorable Robert Cordy at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He has been admitted to practice in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and various federal courts. Professor Courchesne received his Juris Doctor cum laude from Harvard Law School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, summa cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Phillip Foy, General Counsel at Encore Renewable Energy

Phillip is the General Counsel for Encore Renewable Energy. He joined the Company in 2014 and was named General Counsel in January of 2016. Outside of Encore, he’s on the Board of Directors for Mentor Vermont and he previously taught energy courses as an adjunct professor at the University of Vermont. At Encore, Phillip brings his expertise in legal analysis, environmental law and policy, along with an understanding of how the public and private sectors interact in regards to project development and implementation. He holds a J.D and Master of Environmental Law and Policy degree from Vermont Law School, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from North Carolina State University. As any Vermonter, Phillip enjoys the outdoors, hiking with his dogs, mountain biking, and tinkering.

Emiliano Void, Founder and CEO of nuwave Equity Corporation

Emiliano Void is the founder and CEO of nuwave Equity Corporation, a social innovation technology firm. He is responsible for the coordination, development, and implementation of systemic solutions that address systemic issues.

The approach that Emiliano and the nuwave team leverages has led to transformational impact in communities, global organizations, as well as entire industries.

From the creation of mentorship programs for Black youth, to producing the flagship event for Black History Month for the state of Vermont, to founding a national non profit to tackle systemic racism, his efforts have been recognized through the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility’s 2022 Young Changemaker Award, the Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2024, and as a Vermont Rising Star.

Thank you to our hosts!

At the Vermont Small Business Law Center, our dedicated team of lawyers, students, and community partners work together to empower small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to legal services.

We support the growth and success of small businesses through educational consults, attorney referrals, public educational events, and educational materials. We proudly serve and support Vermont’s small businesses from all industries and areas of the state.

With the Vermont Small Business Law Center, small business owners gain the legal expertise and support they need to start up, grow, and transition. Together, we build a stronger foundation for Vermont’s entrepreneurs and its long-term economic development.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Reframe Lab helps public, private, and non-profit organizations in Vermont and across the country navigate complexity with clarity and creativity. Using a design thinking-based methodology, we blend innovative change management with stakeholder engagement to align resources, processes, and investments around the challenges that matter most. Our expertise in building public-private partnerships and facilitating consensus across diverse groups transforms uncertainty into opportunity, while our visual storytelling and creative strategies uncover insights that inspire action and harness change as a catalyst for growth.

Davis & Hodgdon CPAs is a full-service public accounting firm with locations in Williston and Rutland Vermont. The firm serves clients by providing progressive, proactive services through expert staff, high-end technology, and unparalleled efficiency. The firm is part of Davis & Hodgdon Advisory Group, a financial firm with the unique ability to offer tax planning through Davis & Hodgdon CPAs, financial and investment planning through *Copper Leaf Financial, and client accounting services through Convergent Accounting. These comprehensive services address all of your business and individual needs and each has a fully dedicated staff.

Well Told Films - Documentary style storytelling that inspires positive change, highlights potential solutions to complex problems, and fosters community building. We work with mission driven companies, non-profits, foundations, and independent journalists, and have worked on award-winning project large and small.

Our most recent documentary project Gone Guys, exploring the “quiet crisis” of the increasing disengagement and isolation of boys and young men, is currently touring Vermont, setting the stage for meaningful, locally-driven conversations.

Attendee Experience

All members of New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility are welcome to attend for free.

Please make note of any accommodation requests when you register.

Are you interested in sponsoring this event? If so, please contact Jeremy Gerber at jeremyg@vbsr.org for details.

Questions? Contact mollyr@vbsr.org.