Governor Phil Scott Announces Leadership Appointments

What this means

Vermont Governor Phil Scott announced four administration appointments on October 2, 2026: Nick Kramer as deputy commissioner of Human Resources, Shabnam Nolan as deputy secretary of Human Services, Heather Pelham as deputy secretary of Commerce and Community Development, and Sara DeFilippi as interim commissioner of Tourism and Marketing. Nolan is scheduled to begin October 19. Pelham moves from tourism commissioner, DeFilippi moves into the interim role, and the release outlines each appointee’s prior state, nonprofit, policy or tourism experience.

Official release

Source material from Vermont Department of Economic Development. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today announced new appointments within the administration.

“Each of these individuals brings valuable skills and experience to leadership roles across state government,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I’m confident they’ll serve Vermonters well in their new roles and I appreciate their willingness to help us move Vermont forward.”

Nick Kramer, deputy commissioner, Department of Human Resources

Nick Kramer has been appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources. Kramer most recently worked as the Chief Operating Officer for the Agency of Administration, where he helped provide executive and operational leadership to the Departments of Finance and Management, Human Resources, Taxes, Buildings and General Services, Libraries, Financial Services and the Office of Racial Equity. Before his appointment to that role in 2024, Kramer worked in the Department of Finance and Management helping develop the state’s operating and capital budgets, with a focus on natural resources, debt management and pension systems. Before joining state government, he worked for the Vermont Council on Rural Development, a nonpartisan nonprofit helping facilitate locally driven community conversations in rural communities across the State.

Shabnam Nolan, deputy secretary, Agency of Human Services

Shabnam Nolan has been appointed deputy secretary of the Agency of Human Services. Nolan has served as Executive Director of King Street Center in Burlington since 2021. During her tenure at King Street Center, Nolan has expanded opportunities and supports for children and families, including youth workforce development, mentoring, early childhood and afterschool programming, and family support services. She has also worked across government, schools, nonprofits, philanthropy, businesses, and community organizations to respond to the changing needs of Vermont children and families. She brings more than 15 years of experience in human services, public policy, government relations, and organizational leadership, including extensive work with Vermont children and families. Nolan will begin her role on October 19.

Heather Pelham, deputy secretary, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Heather Pelham has been appointed deputy secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Pelham previously served as commissioner of the Department of Tourism and Marketing since 2019, leading the team responsible for promoting Vermont as a global travel and relocation destination that welcomes over 16 million visitors annually, driving $4.2 billion in economic impact for the state. Her work at the department has included the strategic deployment $10.4 million in EDA-ARPA Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation funding to aid post-pandemic economic recovery, culminating in the State’s first Destination Management Plan and the recent launch of Vermont's first dedicated tourism brandmark and ‘State of Inspiration’ brand platform. Pelham also serves as Vice-Chair of the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative and previously served as the Chief Marketing Officer for the State of Vermont. Before joining state government, Heather was the managing partner of a local advertising and design firm.

Sara DeFilippi, interim commissioner, Department of Tourism and Marketing

Sara DeFilippi has been named interim commissioner of the Department of Tourism and Marketing, following Heather Pelham’s appointment as deputy secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. DeFilippi has spent the last eight years with the Department of Tourism and Marketing in various roles, most recently as the Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement. She currently leads the department’s partner outreach, engaging with tourism businesses and community organizations across the state as well as directing the department’s relocation efforts through the Grants for Relocation Outreach Work (GROW) Program. Sara also leads the department’s international marketing activities working with global travel trade and media partners. Previously, Sara worked as the Assistant Director for Partner Relations at St. John's University.

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Release text attributed to Vermont Department of Economic Development. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.