Michael Pieciak named 2023 Rising Stars Alumnus of the Year
Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak has been named the recipient of the 2023 Rising Stars Alumnus of the Year.
A 2016 Rising Star recipient, Pieciak was inaugurated in January as Vermont’s 31st treasurer. In his new role, Pieciak has worked to strengthen Vermont’s economy and build financial equity.
This past legislative session, Pieciak successfully championed the passage of Vermont Saves, a publicly administered retirement program that will be available to the more than 80,000 Vermonters who currently lack access to an employer-based retirement plan.
He also expanded the 10% in Vermont program and made the development of new housing a top priority. In September, the treasurer’s office announced $55.5 million in low-interest housing loans that are expected to leverage an estimated $340 million in additional capital to support the construction of over 1,100 housing units in Vermont.
Pieciak previously served six years as commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, where he was first appointed by Gov. Peter Shumlin in 2016 and then reappointed by Gov. Phil Scott in 2017. During the pandemic, Pieciak served on the COVID-19 pandemic response team, providing regular data and modeling updates at the governor’s weekly news conferences.
He also served as deputy commissioner of DFR’s securities division, where he led the investigation into the Jay Peak EB-5 projects.
Prior to his public service, Pieciak practiced law in New York City and at Downs Rachlin Martin in Burlington in the Business Law Group.
Pieciak grew up in Brattleboro and graduated cum laude from Union College with a degree in political science. He received a law degree summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the “Miami Law Review.” Pieciak lives in Winooski with his partner, Will, and English Setter, Jetty.
“Mike is an outstanding choice for this award,” said John Boutin, publisher of VermontBiz. “When we started this awards program in 2010, we wanted to highlight the great young leaders we have here in Vermont. Mike has clearly lived up to expectations of all past Rising Stars with his commitment to Vermont and its community.
“These young people are recognized each year for what they bring to their places of employment as well as their communities,” Boutin added, “and Mike has gone above and beyond since first receiving this award in 2016.”
Pieciak expressed his thanks to VermontBiz for the honor of being named 2023 Alumnus of the Year and for the chance to celebrate with this year’s “impressive group of young leaders.
“I’ve never been so optimistic about the future of our state, in large part because of the next generation of Vermont leaders who are already having an outsized impact on our state,” he said.
Nicole Ravlin, president of the public relations firm Junapr, was the first recipient of the Rising Stars Alumni Award, in 2019. Other past recipients are Dan Smith, president and CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation, 2020; Neale Lunderville, president of Vermont Gas, 2021; and Ted Brady, executive director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, 2022.
