Ellie Beckett
33 | Programs Manager, Vermont Economic Progress Council/State of Vermont Department of Economic Development
Residence: Chittenden
Career highlight you are most proud of:
I'm proud of my work managing two large COVID-relief grant programs with the Vermont Department of Economic Development. Through this work we have assisted over 150 small businesses, non-profits, and municipalities across Vermont with capital investments that have helped to offset the impact of COVID and build resiliency for the future. This work has already had a huge positive impact on Vermonters across the state and will continue to do so for years to come.
Community Involvement:
Co-chairing the Williston Planning Commission, chairing the Williston Democrats, serving as a justice of the peace and participating in the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club.
What motivated you to live and work in Vermont?
Proximity to family and accessibility of year-round outdoor recreation. I didn’t know how much I valued those things until I lived in a city where they were absent.
Favorite part of your job:
Exploring different corners of the state, meeting dedicated public servants and innovative business leaders, and helping businesses navigate systems that can be complex and (at times) counterintuitive.
Most inspiring mentor and why:
My mom. She dedicated her life to serving her community and county as Williston’s Town Clerk and a member of the Army National Guard. She wanted to be part of the solution, to listen and understand, and she always found opportunities to insert humor into her current circumstance. She was a profound inspiration to me; I often ask myself how she would approach a situation and try to act as she would.
What is the best career advice you have received?
“Nothing’s easy”
Tell us something fun about yourself that few people know:
I’ve hiked over 6,000 miles around the world, including thru-hikes of the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, Te Araroa, West Highland Way, Tahoe Rim Trail, and Colorado Trail.
What three words best describe you:
Supportive, empathetic and positive.
Favorite Vermont escape:
Camp Wapanacki in Hardwick. I was a camper and a counselor when it was a Girl Scout camp in the 2000’s. Now it’s a summer camp themed Airbnb. While I miss the actual camp, it’s amazing to still have the opportunity to visit, build a fire, and sing camp songs late into the night.
Favorite Vermont season:
Summer! I always want to be active and outside, but I’m a wimp when it comes to cold weather.
What is your favorite smell?
Probably some recency bias sneaking in, but the earthy crisp smell of leaves on the ground in autumn.
If you had unlimited access to funds, which cause(s) would you support:
Building capacity for our mental health providers and creating incentives for the development of affordable and missing-middle housing.
Where do you see yourself professionally in the next 5-10 years?
Still in Vermont, I hope! I’d like to learn as much as I can about economic development in our current context and pursue opportunities to put that knowledge to use in a way that will build and strengthen Vermont communities.
