2026 Annual Meeting
Thursday, May 14, 2026
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Delta Hotels by Marriott Burlington
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Noon —2:00pm
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Registration opens at 11:30am
Celebrating Impact and Advancing Financial Wellness Across Our Communities
NorthCountry’s Annual Meeting is a chance to celebrate impact, strengthen partnerships, and reaffirm our commitment to member well-being. With this year’s focus on financial wellness, we’re highlighting a simple truth: when people have the tools and support to manage money with confidence, communities thrive.The leaders featured here show how financial wellness is built—through direct service, education, healthcare access, and public stewardship. From efforts that help families navigate the “Benefits Cliff,” to rural health center expansions, to statewide initiatives that broaden opportunity, progress happens when sectors work together.
Financial wellness is also learned early. By bringing personal finance into classrooms and supporting hands-on experiences like reality fairs, we help students prepare for real-world decisions—and extend our mission beyond banking. As we gather, we celebrate progress and look ahead to reducing barriers, listening to members, and connecting people to the right resources. NorthCountry remains committed to helping members move from financial stress to financial strength—one conversation at a time.
Meet our panel
Kathy Benoit is a seasoned nonprofit healthcare leader and Executive Director of a Vermont Federally Qualified Health Center, known for her strategic vision and commitment to strengthening rural healthcare access. She has driven significant organizational growth, playing a central role in the acquisition of several medical practices, pharmacies, and even a community grocery store to preserve essential services in rural Vermont. Kathy has also led two New Market Tax Credit projects, the first of their kind in the state, expanding critical healthcare and community infrastructure. Her strategic vision includes championing innovative health models such as a produce prescription program that addresses food insecurity and improves overall wellness. She is currently overseeing the major renovation and expansion of the St. Albans Health Center into a modern medical clinic and pharmacy.
Deeply grounded in family and community, Kathy is married to a lineman and mom to two
service minded young adults, a lineman and a nursing student, giving her a personal connection to professions that keep communities healthy, safe, and supported.
Deeply grounded in family and community, Kathy is married to a lineman and mom to two
service minded young adults, a lineman and a nursing student, giving her a personal connection to professions that keep communities healthy, safe, and supported.
I am a recent graduate in International Relations and Global Studies, with a concentration in law and human rights. I began working at NorthCountry FCU right after high school and returned as a seasonal employee during my college summers. After graduating, I joined the credit union full time as a Member Advocate at our Colchester location, where I continue to learn and grow within the organization. I am passionate about helping others and am in the early stages of my career, exploring opportunities to make a meaningful.
Tawnya Kristen is an innovative and collaborative senior leader with over three decades of experience in adaptive, strengths-based leadership. Known for building cross-sector partnerships that align diverse perspectives around shared goals, advancing both individual and community stability. Driven by a commitment to human potential, she fosters networks that promote well-being for all.
Since 2016, Tawnya has served as Executive Director of Green Mountain United Way, leading regional efforts across five northeast Vermont counties to advance health, education, and financial stability. Under her leadership, the organization evolved from a traditional funding agency for nonprofits into a dynamic entity that provides direct services and pioneers innovative partnership practices. A signature initiative in alliance with United Way Northwest is Working Bridges, which strengthens workforce and business stability by integrating human services into the workplace, supporting working families, and reinforcing the economic foundation of communities. Additionally, Tawnya guided GMUW as the lead agency for the Federal Reserve Bank’s Working Communities Challenge for five years, developing strategies to address the Benefits Cliff, with a focus on working families and single women heads of household.
Previously served as Community Relations & Municipal Funding Manager at Green Mountain Transit Agency, where strategic partnership development expanded rural transportation access, increased municipal investment, and launched impactful services connecting communities to healthcare, employment, and regional mobility. Earlier experience includes serving as Director of Operations at King Street Center, which serves children and youth in the Burlington area.
Tawnya actively contributes to community leadership through service on multiple boards and advisory groups, including UVM Health Network/Central Vermont Medical Center, United Ways of Vermont (Secretary), THRIVE Accountable Communities for Health (Vice President), and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation Advisory Committee, among others.
Recipient of the 2023 Vermont ATHENA Leadership Award and the Outstanding Contributor by the Vermont Department of Health and Governor Scott at the statewide Worksite Wellness initiatives for advancing employee well-being and organizational excellence.
Since 2016, Tawnya has served as Executive Director of Green Mountain United Way, leading regional efforts across five northeast Vermont counties to advance health, education, and financial stability. Under her leadership, the organization evolved from a traditional funding agency for nonprofits into a dynamic entity that provides direct services and pioneers innovative partnership practices. A signature initiative in alliance with United Way Northwest is Working Bridges, which strengthens workforce and business stability by integrating human services into the workplace, supporting working families, and reinforcing the economic foundation of communities. Additionally, Tawnya guided GMUW as the lead agency for the Federal Reserve Bank’s Working Communities Challenge for five years, developing strategies to address the Benefits Cliff, with a focus on working families and single women heads of household.
Previously served as Community Relations & Municipal Funding Manager at Green Mountain Transit Agency, where strategic partnership development expanded rural transportation access, increased municipal investment, and launched impactful services connecting communities to healthcare, employment, and regional mobility. Earlier experience includes serving as Director of Operations at King Street Center, which serves children and youth in the Burlington area.
Tawnya actively contributes to community leadership through service on multiple boards and advisory groups, including UVM Health Network/Central Vermont Medical Center, United Ways of Vermont (Secretary), THRIVE Accountable Communities for Health (Vice President), and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation Advisory Committee, among others.
Recipient of the 2023 Vermont ATHENA Leadership Award and the Outstanding Contributor by the Vermont Department of Health and Governor Scott at the statewide Worksite Wellness initiatives for advancing employee well-being and organizational excellence.
Mike Pieciak is a proud Vermonter and Vermont's 31st Treasurer.
Growing up in Brattleboro, Mike was inspired to pursue public service by the example his parents set. His father, a small business owner, dedicated his free time to community service, while his mother founded St. Brigid’s Soup Kitchen, which continues to serve those in need today. They raised Mike to believe that Vermonters should always look after their neighbors. That belief continues to guide his work today.
As Treasurer, Mike has focused on making smart investments that lower costs, strengthen Vermont's economy, and give every Vermonter a fair shot at success.
Before he was elected Treasurer, Mike served six years as the Commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation under Governors Peter Shumlin and Phil Scott. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike served on the pandemic response team, providing data and modeling updates at the Governor’s weekly press conferences.
Prior to his public service, Mike practiced law in New York City and at Downs Rachlin Martin in Burlington in the Business Law Group.
Mike graduated cum laude from Union College with a degree in political science. He received his 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.”
Mike resides in Winooski with his English Setter Jetty.
Growing up in Brattleboro, Mike was inspired to pursue public service by the example his parents set. His father, a small business owner, dedicated his free time to community service, while his mother founded St. Brigid’s Soup Kitchen, which continues to serve those in need today. They raised Mike to believe that Vermonters should always look after their neighbors. That belief continues to guide his work today.
As Treasurer, Mike has focused on making smart investments that lower costs, strengthen Vermont's economy, and give every Vermonter a fair shot at success.
Before he was elected Treasurer, Mike served six years as the Commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation under Governors Peter Shumlin and Phil Scott. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike served on the pandemic response team, providing data and modeling updates at the Governor’s weekly press conferences.
Prior to his public service, Mike practiced law in New York City and at Downs Rachlin Martin in Burlington in the Business Law Group.
Mike graduated cum laude from Union College with a degree in political science. He received his 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.”
Mike resides in Winooski with his English Setter Jetty.
Courtney Poquette is an award-winning educator who has been teaching Business classes at Winooski High School for 20 years, with a strong focus on Financial Literacy. She has been a leading advocate for Personal Finance education at both the state and national levels.
Her work has helped make Winooski a leader in Vermont, guaranteeing every student a Personal Finance course before they graduate. In addition to working with high school students, she supports educators through the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College and with NextGen Personal Finance. She is grateful for her partnership with NorthCountry over the years through school wide reality fairs and the grants that have supported programs such as Passport to Financial Independence and student run businesses. Steps to Success is also an innovative community school partnership, which has made a lasting impact on Winooski graduates.
Her work has helped make Winooski a leader in Vermont, guaranteeing every student a Personal Finance course before they graduate. In addition to working with high school students, she supports educators through the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College and with NextGen Personal Finance. She is grateful for her partnership with NorthCountry over the years through school wide reality fairs and the grants that have supported programs such as Passport to Financial Independence and student run businesses. Steps to Success is also an innovative community school partnership, which has made a lasting impact on Winooski graduates.