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Mayor Weinberger Announces Neale Lunderville to Conclude BED Service, Lead CEDO as Interim Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 23, 2018
Contact:  Katie Vane
                  802.734.0617

Mayor Weinberger Announces Neale Lunderville to Conclude BED Service, Lead CEDO as Interim Director
Praises Burlington Electric for Great Innovation, Progress over Past Four Years

 

Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced the appointment of Neale Lunderville as Interim Director of the City’s Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO), effective July 16, 2018, and ensured for the Burlington community a smooth leadership transition at Burlington Electric Department (BED), where Lunderville has served as General Manager (GM) since July 2014. The Mayor has asked the City Council to approve the appointment at its June 4, 2018 meeting.

 

“Neale has distinguished himself as a proven leader and manager in the public sector at the highest levels of state and city government, including at our beloved Burlington Electric Department,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Neale’s successful reorganization of BED resulted in millions of dollars of savings, led to the launch of innovative programs to help us on the road to our Net Zero Energy City goal, and has positioned BED to be a leader in the energy revolution. I expect Neale to play a similar, pivotal transitional role in helping to reorganize CEDO and to build on that Department’s record of success.”

 

More immediately, the Mayor has named Lunderville to serve as Acting CEDO Director beginning May 26, 2018 and running through July 15, 2018. During this time, Lunderville will continue to serve as GM of BED to ensure a smooth transition. Neale’s successful four-year tenure at BED will conclude when he begins as Interim Director of CEDO. The Mayor will conduct a full national search for a new BED GM.

 

Lunderville’s general assignment during the months ahead will be to provide steady leadership to advance the important, ongoing work in which CEDO is engaged, including critical projects for the City, such as CityPlace Burlington, Memorial Auditorium, and the new Marina project. More specifically, the Mayor has directed Lunderville to make meaningful progress on the following tasks: finalize and implement CEDO’s strategic plan; engage in a strategic review of all elements of CEDO’s operations; if needed, propose a reorganization of CEDO to more effectively serve the City; and provide recommendations on future steps the next permanent Director should take to continue to make Burlington housing more affordable, invest in community and economic development, and ensure community justice.

 

Lunderville is a native Vermonter who was born in Burlington. Prior to 2014, Lunderville served as Chief Executive Officer of NG Advantage, an energy company he co-founded in 2012 that delivers compressed natural gas to industrial users. He also has served as Secretary of Administration and Secretary of Transportation for Governor Jim Douglas, and as the Tropical Storm Irene Recovery Officer for Governor Peter Shumlin. Lunderville’s work to make our community stronger extends beyond his professional work to service on various boards and involvement in charitable organizations, including Preservation Trust of Vermont, Vermont Journalism Trust, Champlain College, BTV Ignite, VELCO, and Spectrum Youth and Family Services. 

 

“Serving these past four years as GM at Burlington Electric has been a great honor, and I’m thankful that Mayor Weinberger has asked me to continue to serve the City of Burlington as Interim CEDO Director,” stated Lunderville. “I’m looking forward to working with the dedicated CEDO team to craft a strategic plan to help create more affordable housing in Burlington, invest in community and economic development, and ensure community justice throughout the City.

 

“I am deeply grateful to have worked with and learned from the incredible Burlington Electric team,” reflected Lunderville. “The BED staff is truly committed to safely delivering reliable, low-cost, renewable energy to our Burlington community. They make all the difference. Together, we have built on the utility’s well-earned reputation and launched BED into the energy revolution with purpose and pride. In every part of BED, we’re doing our work better, smarter, and – most importantly – more safely.”

 

Please see following and documents, including:

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Press Release Date: 
05/23/2018
City Department: 
Mayor's Office