2023 Speakers
Heather Pelham, Commissioner of VT Department of Tourism & Marketing
Heather Pelham was appointed to role of Commissioner of the Department of Tourism and Marketing in November of 2019, after serving as the Chief Marketing Officer for the State of Vermont since June 2015. Pelham guides the Department on strategic planning, marketing strategy and creative development, budget development, and policy initiatives to support the tourism and hospitality sector in Vermont. Prior to joining state government, Pelham was the managing partner of a central Vermont advertising and design firm, developing brand strategies and integrated marketing campaigns for small business, nonprofit and higher education clients. Also an accomplished designer, Pelham has 25 years of experience in creative strategy, graphic design, and web development. Pelham is a graduate of Brown University and lives with her family in Randolph Center.
Angela Zaikowski, Director of Vermont Landlord Association
Angela Zaikowski is a Partner with the firm Bennett & Zaikowski, PC where her primary practice area is landlord-tenant law. She is also the Director of the Vermont Landlord Association; a trade association for Vermont Landlords which provides services and resources to Vermont Landlords, and manages the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program. Angela received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Portland in 2000. After college she moved to the Northeast to attend Vermont Law School, where she received her J.D. degree and an M.S. in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School in 2003. She joined Bennett & Zaikowski, PC in September 2003. Angela was recently re-appointed to a second 3-year term on the Vermont Rental Housing Advisory Board, which advises the Legislature on all issues related to rental housing. Angela is a Board member for the non-profit Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences.
Alexa Nota, Co-Founder of Rent Responsibly
Alexa Nota is the COO and Co-Founder of Rent Responsibly. Prior to this role, Alexa served as the director of marketing for property management companies on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and in Telluride, Colorado. With a degree in journalism, she also served as vice president of VRM Intel, where she primarily covered short-term rental regulations. After participating in advocacy in her hometown of Chapel Hill, NC by starting an alliance and co-chairing the town's STR task force, she and her co-founder, David Krauss, founded Rent Responsibly in 2019 to empower successful short-term rental alliances and the rapid professionalization of operators.
Nick Massey, Director of Sales at Proper Insurance
Nick brings a wide scope of experience to the short-term rental insurance market. With over six years at Proper Insurance, Nick has developed and managed a seamless consultation and education operation with a staff of highly trained agents focusing on demystifying the confusion involved with insuring vacation rentals. Residing in Bozeman, MT with his wife and two kids, you can find them enjoying just about every outdoor activity and waking up to the best views you can imagine.
Justin Ford, Director of STR Safety Program at Breezeway
Justin is the Director of Safety & Certification Programs at Breezeway; where he is helping property managers and owners maintain the safety of vacation rental properties. Breezeway is a property care and operations software platform that helps hosts and property managers coordinate, communicate, and verify detailed work, and deliver the best service experience to renters. An international short-term rental safety expert, Justin was the first to elevate awareness of safety in vacation rentals back in 2013. A former member of the US Coast Guard and a firefighter, Justin travels worldwide to share his industry expertise on short-term rental safety.
Bradley Steckart, Strategic Partnership Manager at GovOS
Bradley Steckart is the Strategic Partnership Manager for GovOS and is responsible for developing strategic partnerships across all GovOS product lines. Having a service mindset and a deep passion for effective local government, Brad earned a Master of Public Administration while working as the Budget Manager for Washington County, WI. Since moving to the private sector 4 years ago, Brad has worked with hundreds of communities to help develop standards and implement new technologies to create safe, effective, and efficient communities.
Julie Marks, Founder & Director of Vermont Short Term Rental Alliance (VTSTRA)
Born and raised in Hinesburg, VT, Julie has always called the Green Mountain State home. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from James Cook University in 2007 and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Health from the University of Washington in 2015. In 2018, Julie returned to Vermont to fulfill her dream of homesteading. She became a Certified Master Gardener through the University of Vermont Extension Program in 2020 and has built a small homestead in Jericho, VT sustained by two short-term rental accommodations. She also manages a mixed portfolio of rental properties in Burlington, Bolton, and Stowe, and takes pride in providing both housing and hospitality. Julie founded VTSTRA in February 2021 upon mounting regulatory threats to her self-built business. In 2022, Julie was appointed to serve on the Government Affairs Committee for the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA).
Peter Tucker, Director, Advocacy and Public Policy at Vermont Association of Realtors
Peter has over 25 years of experience as a real estate salesperson and broker, primarily in the resort and second home markets. As a volunteer, he has served as President of the Vermont Association of Realtors in 2011 and as a member of the Government Affairs Committee 2009-2020. In 2020 he accepted the position of Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for the Vermont Association of Realtors.
Noah Stewart, Head of Advocacy at Expedia Group/Vrbo
Noah leads advocacy and public affairs efforts for Expedia Group and Vrbo across North America. He has been with the company for 7 years, having started as a HomeAway employee. Noah is passionate about civic engagement, travel, and sustainable policy. He resides in Burlington, Vermont, and spends all of his free time in the woods with his wife Danielle, and dogs Maple and Howdy.
Matt McMahon, Partner at MMR, LLC
Matt McMahon has been VTSTRA’s political strategist and advisor since 2021. He has over a decade of experience in the State House; his deep understanding of Vermont’s legislative process and its unique political landscape are of great benefit to the clients he serves. Matt is known as a trusted resource for policymakers and as a tireless advocate. Before joining MMR, Matt worked at the Lake Champlain Chamber in Burlington, VT where he advocated at the local and state levels. Matt is a graduate of Saint Michael’s College.
Shaan Franchi, Co-founder & CEO of Hostfi
Shaan Franchi is the Co-Founder/CEO of Hostfi, a smart banking platform for short-term rental managers that offers FDIC-insured operating and trust accounts, Visa Business Debit cards with expense management tools built-in, payments to vendors and owners via ACH/wire/check, and automated accounting workflows. Shaan previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Clarity Money, and other financial technology companies for 4 years in various product and growth roles. He graduated from Cornell and is an Airbnb Superhost along with his family. He is from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Tom Powers, East Coast Market Manager for Guesty
Tom is a longtime property manager of STR's, LTR's, and now MTR's (mid term rentals) and owns several rental homes as well. Currently, Tom is the East Coast Market Manager for Guesty and has also worked with various other STR Tech companies over the years. Tom is happy to discuss the industry and try to help anyone, from Large to Small operators. Tom has worked with and consulted for some of the largest Vacation Rental companies in the world as well as simple one-on-one sessions with hosts with single properties.
Edward Ulmer, CEO of Barefoot Technologies
Prior to his involvement with Barefoot, Ed was executive director of Destination Plymouth MA, and the Bar Harbor Area Association, both innovative start up non-profits that managed all forms of tourism for their respective towns. While serving as Marketing Director of a Pyramid Mall property, Ed was introduced to the world of real estate and rentals. He has his real estate license in both NH and Massachusetts, and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Prime MLS, the MLS body for NH and VT and on the executive Board for the Capitol Board of Realtors. Ed has also acted as a tourism consultant including the set up of a Duck Boat business, adjunct professor of hospitality and tourism courses at Quincy College as well as taught seminars on revenue management, social media, guerrilla marketing, segmentation, asset management and tourism for multiple chambers of commerce, VRMA, and other tourism groups.
Lauren Bowling, Sales Specialist at InterCoastal Net Designs
Lauren Bowling is a Sales Specialist at InterCoastal Net Designs. ICND specializes in digital marketing and website solutions for the vacation rental industry. With over 24+ years of experience, they offer AXIS, the preferred booking engine platform built with direct bookings in mind. Their team delivers direct strategies, superior customer support, and cutting-edge tools to enhance your online presence, drive qualified traffic, and maximize reservations. With a remarkable blend of expertise in sales strategies and an in-depth understanding of the vacation rental landscape, Lauren stands as a guiding light for industry professionals seeking to optimize their direct booking practices. Her commitment to driving results has earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor among peers and clients alike.
Amy Tang, Founder & CEO of Folio
Amy is the founder and CEO of Folio, a platform for professional hosts to create digital guides so they can deliver exceptional hospitality while boosting revenue. Prior to starting Folio, she spent 5+ years as a data science consultant, leading teams to design and implement AI-enabled tech solutions for large, multinational companies.
Arthur Colker, Founder & CEO of StayFi
Arthur Colker is the founder and CEO of StayFi, a cloud-managed WiFi solution that enables vacation rental managers to seamlessly collect guest information, build brand awareness, and drive more direct bookings. Arthur is a marketing leader who has led marketing and digital innovation at several start-ups in New York City. Prior to finding his passion for the hospitality industry and brand building, Arthur was a management consultant and received his MBA from Columbia University.
Marc Hostovsky, Founder & CEO of Minoan
Founder & CEO of Minoan, Marc is a self-proclaimed boutique geek and is passionate about the future of retail. After spending nearly 6 years working at Jet.com and then Walmart (acquired Jet.com), he quickly realized that the best product experiences don't happen on screens or shelves, they happen in real moments of use "in the wild". Marc founded Minoan to help vacation rental hosts create, and capitalize on, rich moments in their homes, save money on everything they need to buy, and spend a fraction of the time on the unsexy things that come along with ordering (tracking, routing, logistics, etc.). Marc also loves calling Vermont home.
Monique DeLorenzo, Solutions Consultant at PriceLabs
Monique DeLorenzo is a Solutions Consultant with PriceLabs, a revenue management tool for vacation and short term rental property managers which provides users with data-driven dynamic pricing and powerful market insights. Monique found her passion in the vacation rental industry after purchasing a vacation rental with her husband, The Vermont A-Frame, located in Winhall, Vermont. She has been with PriceLabs since September 2022 and now helps vacation rental owners and property managers implement pricing and minimum stay strategies to maximize revenue.
Kevin Ramirez, Customer Advocate at Hospitable
Kevin Ramirez has been in the vacation rental industry since 2018 and manages 18 properties down in sunny South Florida, along with his wife. Kevin is also a Customer Support Advocate for Hospitable, and hosts his own podcast with tips on how to become a vacation rental pro.
Palmer Lintz, Owner of VermontProperty.com
Palmer Lintz is the owner of VermontProperty.com, Vermont’s only by-owner local short-term rental listing website. After settling in Vermont with his wife and daughter, Palmer began looking for alternatives to the “Big Tech” rental listing companies for his own short-term rental. In late 2022 Palmer became the new owner of VermontProperty.com and has since embarked on a goal of modernizing the website, with the intent of making it the go-to resource for Vermont short-term vacation rentals. With a background in transportation, logistics, and safety, and a knack for all things tech, Palmer is focused on making the Green Mountain State the best it can be for locals and visitors alike.
Jay Cummings, Business Development Officer at Peoples Trust Company of Vermont
Jay is the Business Development Officer at Peoples Trust Company of Vermont. Graduated Champlain College 1986. Founder/operator of the Vermont Clothing Company 1992-2013. Joined Peoples Trust Company in 2013 Business Development and recently added Director of Marketing to his responsibilities. Specializing in Business Loans, Commercial Loans, and Business Consulting. When not working, which is rare, Jay can be found on mountains in the winter, on water in the summer and in the woods in the fall.
Anastasia Surmava & Colin Pomer, Financial Planners at Commonwealth Financial Group
Colin and Anastasia are a Financial Planning duo with their main office in Burlington, Vermont. They work in a holistic comprehensive financial planning nature with their clients. Focusing on education, goal achievement, and accountability. Their ultimate goal is take the stress and anxiety out their clients relationship with money and guide their clients on the road to financial independence.
Ted Brady, Executive Director of Vermont League of Cities & Towns
Ted Brady is the Executive Director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT). VLCT is a statewide non-profit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1967 with the mission of serving and strengthening Vermont local government. All 247 cities and towns and another 142 units of local government are currently members. VLCT offers support, knowledge, representation, insurance and connection to its members. Brady served as Deputy Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development in the Scott Administration. During his 4 years with the Agency, he assisted with the pandemic response and recovery, administered state and federal technical assistance, tax credit, and grant programs, championed outdoor recreation expansion, and worked to make Vermont a great place to live, work and play.
Kevin Chu, Executive Director of Vermont Futures Project
Kevin Chu grew up in Vermont and is looking forward to growing old here too. He is the son of immigrants and spent most of his early years living and learning in Burlington. Kevin is a graduate of Middlebury College, where he studied the environment and education while also competing in track and field. Prior to joining the Vermont Futures Project, Kevin worked at the University of Vermont, where he led efforts in recruiting for diversity, academic advising, communications, community engagement and economic development, and strategic planning. He is now the executive director of the Vermont Futures Project, a nonpartisan organization that is working to answer the mission question: "How can we use data to support the evolution of Vermont's economy towards a thriving future with opportunity for all?"
Kate Robinson, Owner of Wild Birch Designs
Kate Robinson is the lead designer and owner of Wild Birch Design. As an interior and exterior designer with a background in horticulture, each project she creates has a unique and interesting style of its own, offering a sense of lush comfort that welcomes you to settle in and stay a while. Whatever space she designs is somewhere you will want to be as long as possible. Her style is an extension of her personality - warm, welcoming, easy, and comforting, all with an eye for design without any pretenses or stuffiness. Kate collaborates with her clients to design spaces within and surrounding their homes/STRs to up-level their furnishings, remodel, and complete new construction. As a gift to you, Kate would like to offer you a 15-minute session to discuss your design needs, budget, and timeline during the conference. Followed by a free in-person 60-minute site visit to walk through your space with you, and take in your pain points and desired areas of growth. After she will share a written design proposal that you can hire her and her team to completely transform your space.
Molly Mahar, President of Ski Vermont
Molly Mahar is president of Ski Vermont/the Vermont Ski Areas Association, a nonprofit trade association serving 21 alpine and 28 cross-country ski area members in four primary areas: legislative, regulatory, marketing, and public affairs. As president she oversees the staff, operations and programming and serves as the organization’s lobbyist in Montpelier. Previously she worked at several ski areas both in and outside of Vermont holding marketing, sales, communications, and senior management positions. She is a member of the Vermont Travel & Recreation Council, several committees of the state’s Workforce Development Board and a Vermont Ski Museum Board member. Originally from Massachusetts, Molly is a graduate of the University of Vermont and a lifelong skier.
Megan Bullard, Government Affairs at Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Megan Sullivan is the Vice President of Government Affairs at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the largest statewide business organization in Vermont. In this role Megan leads the organization’s four person advocacy team in a dedicated mission of advancing the Vermont economy. Megan came to the Vermont Chamber from her position as Executive Director of the Vermont Economic Progress Council, overseeing the State’s business incentives and statewide tax increment financing program. Prior to that, she worked as the business liaison for U.S. Senator (then a Congressman) Peter Welch. Megan lies in Jericho with her husband and two kids.