Each year VCDA recognizes an individual who has worked in the community development field for over 10 years as either a professional or community volunteer and who has demonstrated leadership, dedication and commitment to a Vermont community or communities, with the Bernice Murray Award.  The award is given in memory of Bernice Murray, well-known for her dedication to, and support of, community development both in her role as the Vermont State Director.

Award Recipients


​1991 - Jane Kiser, CD Director, St. Albans (longtime Board member)
 
1992 - Jill Eyre, Windsor
 
1993 -  Bruce Seifer, Burlington CD Director and founder of VCDA
 
1994 – Laura Ovitt, Town of Richmond
 
1995 – Robbie Harold, State Director, USDA Rural Development
 
1996 -  Roman Kokodyniak, VT Community Development Program Director
 
1997 - Tom Donahue, Rutland C/C and former VCDA President
 
1998 - Bill Shouldice , past secretary, Agency of Commerce & Community Development
 
1999 -  Jeff Staudinger, 20 year involvement in CD efforts, currently with Randolph CDC
 
2000 - Charlie Carter, retiring after 34 years as Executive Director, Northeastern VT Development Association (NVDA)
 
2001-Governor Dean
 
2002-Molly Lambert, Secretary, Agency of Commerce & Community Development
 
2003-Emily Wadhams, State Historic Preservation Officer
 
2004-Don Bourdon, Ex. Dir., Two Rivers-Ottaquechee Planning Comm (after 30 years)
 
2005-Mary Miller, VCDA Meeting Coordinator, longtime Leahy staffer (surprise nominee!)
 
2006-Erhard Mahnke, VT Affordable Housing Coalition
 
2007-Paul Costello, Executive Director, VT Council on Rural Development
 
2008-Jolinda LaClair, Secretary, USDA Rural Development
 
2009-Joel Schwartz, St. Johnsbury CD Director, past president of VCDA
 
2010-Patricia Moulton-Powden, 22 years in economic development at local, regional and state levels. Commissioner, VT Labor Dept and Economic Development Dept.
 
2011 - Joss Besse, Director of Community Planning & Revitalization, ACCD.  Started the VT Downtown Program in 1994
 
2012 -  Robert McBride, Director, Rockingham Arts & Museum Project (RAMP)
 
2013 - Rhonda Shippee, Community Programs Director, USDA-RD (former longtime VCDA member/secretary)
 
2014 – Paul Bruhn, Executive Director, Preservation Trust of Vermont (presented in 2015)
 
2015
 
2016 -  Carl Bohlen, retiring VCDP Director/Community Development Specialist
 
2017 - Mike Welch, Senior Project Manager, Northern Community Investment Corp (NCIC)
 
2018 - Ted Brady, Deputy Secretary, VT Agency of Commerce & Community Development

2019 - ​Jo Bradley, Executive Director (retired), VT Economic Development Authority

2022 - Jon-Michael "Max" Muise, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)