VBSR Names Chelsea Bardot Lewis New Executive Director
Burlington, Vt. (April 14, 2025) – Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), the statewide, nonprofit business association with a mission to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact, has named Chelsea Bardot Lewis the organization’s new executive director. Bardot Lewis will take leadership of the organization on June 1. She brings over 15 years of experience in Vermont’s private, public, and philanthropic sectors, with roles spanning business development, operations, impact capital, and workforce development. Bardot Lewis takes over leadership from Roxanne Vought, who departs on May 30, 2025, after a total of 10 years with VBSR.
“Chelsea is a trusted leader of mission-driven organizations and an experienced collaborator who brings a breadth of skills, creativity, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a commitment to the future of Vermont,” said Vought. “I couldn’t be more confident in her ability to lead VBSR forward as our next executive director.”
“The Board of Directors is deeply grateful for Roxanne’s many years of service to VBSR. Our appreciation for her steady, sure-footed leadership cannot be overstated,” said Adeline Druart, VBSR Board Chair and CEO of Lawson’s Finest Liquids. “As we mark our 35th year, we are proud to welcome Chelsea as VBSR’s eighth executive director. The Board, our committees, and VBSR’s exceptional team have full confidence in her leadership, her proven track record across Vermont’s nonprofit and purpose-driven business sectors, and her unique vision for what’s next. Chelsea is poised to lead VBSR into a bold new chapter – one that deepens our impact, strengthens our community, and supports our members in redefining what it means to be a business for good.”
Formerly at Working Fields, Bardot Lewis led the company through a period of rapid growth and transformational change. She partnered with dozens of Vermont employers to create fair-chance staffing solutions, giving her unique insights into opportunities for the future of work. As Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Vermont Community Foundation, Bardot Lewis managed the Foundation’s place-based mission investment pool, growing a portfolio that includes high impact companies and funds. Previously, Bardot Lewis led a team to support food, farm and forest sector businesses at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, including the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative and international trade. Bardot Lewis lives in Waterbury with her husband Nate and two energetic boys.
“This moment demands bold leadership,” said Bardot Lewis. “Now more than ever, we must celebrate and grow business as a force for prosperity, justice, and sustainability. VBSR is uniquely positioned to bring leaders together to solve problems, navigate uncertainty and build resilience. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves alongside our exceptional members, board, staff and partners to make Vermont the best place to do business while doing good."
To learn more about VBSR’s advocacy work, upcoming events, staff and board, or how to become a member please visit www.vbsr.org.
About VBSR
VBSR is a statewide, non-profit business association with a mission to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact. VBSR’s 600 member businesses and organizations strive toward a just, thriving, and transformative economy that works for all people and the planet through shared learning, community building, and collective action. Learn more or join the cause at www.vbsr.org.
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