Southwestern Vermont Chamber and Beacon Bank Announce Fifth Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon

Manchester, VT — The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Beacon Bank, is proud to announce the 2026 Women In Leadership Luncheon, returning to Hildene’s Lincoln Hall in Manchester, Vermont. Now in its fifth year, the event has grown into one of the region’s signature celebrations of leadership, inspiration, and community, with organizers anticipating more than 200 attendees this spring. The Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, May 13 from 12pm to 2pm.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Hildene, this year’s luncheon will feature a prepared spring lunch by Pangaea, two keynote speakers, and the presentation of three distinguished awards: the Young Woman in Leadership Award, Woman of the Year Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominations for all three awards are now open at https://www.swvtchamber.com/womenluncheon 

What began as a promising new event at the Wilson House in 2022, with an inaugural crowd of approximately 80 attendees, has grown significantly over the past five years. The luncheon later expanded to The Inn at Manchester, where attendance surpassed 130 participants, and Park McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion, before ultimately outgrowing those venues and finding a new home at Lincoln Hall, where it has continued to flourish.

Today, the Women In Leadership Luncheon has become more than an event — it is a growing regional platform that draws women professionals, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and community members from across Southwestern Vermont and beyond.

“Beacon Bank is honored to once again present this year’s Women In Leadership Luncheon and support an event that so powerfully reflects the strength, talent, and impact of women across the region,” said Michele Hunter, Vermont Regional Leader at Beacon Bank. “This luncheon has become a meaningful tradition — one that not only celebrates achievement, but also creates space for connection, encouragement, and the kind of shared energy that helps communities grow stronger. We are proud to stand with the Chamber in continuing to elevate women’s leadership in Southwestern Vermont.”

“This event has grown in a remarkable way over the last five years,” said Mikaela Lewis, Event Manager for the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “What started as a special, somewhat intimate, gathering has become a true magnet for the region. There is something incredibly powerful about bringing so many people together to celebrate women who are leading in business, service, education, nonprofit work, and community life. Each year the energy in the room grows stronger, and we are excited to continue building on that momentum in 2026.”

This year’s luncheon will feature a co-keynote presentation by Emily Bush of the Vermont Women’s Fund and Rhoni Basden of Vermont Works for Women. Emily Bush is the Director of the Vermont Women’s Fund, whose work sits at the intersection of leadership, philanthropy, and opportunity for women and girls across Vermont. Since 1994, the Vermont Women’s Fund — a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation — has served as the state’s largest philanthropic resource dedicated exclusively to women and girls, awarding more than $5 million in grants to support economic mobility, equity, and long-term advancement. Bush brings nearly twenty years of experience in development and mission-driven leadership, including work with The Clinton Foundation, Girls Who Code, AI4All, and Moms First. 

Rhoni Basden joined Vermont Works for Women as Executive Director in 2019, bringing extensive leadership experience in advancing social and economic opportunities for underserved populations. Prior to this role, she served for eight years as Executive Director of Girls Inc. of the Tennessee Valley, where she led significant regional expansion efforts across East Tennessee. Earlier in her career, Rhoni worked in Seattle supporting Early Head Start program expansion initiatives. She holds a degree in Sociology, Law and Society from the University of San Francisco. Rhoni resides in Monkton, Vermont, with her husband and their two sons.

“In year five, we wanted this luncheon to go deeper,” said Matt Harrington, CEO of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “This felt like the right year to focus more intentionally on women in Vermont — what the data is telling us, what Vermont women are experiencing, and what kind of response is needed from our communities, employers, and leaders. With Emily Bush and Rhoni Basden, we have two keynote voices who can help us connect the dots between the Vermont Women and Wages report, the on-the-ground realities facing women and families, and the initiatives and support systems that can help build a stronger future.”

The luncheon will also feature the presentation of three awards recognizing women at different stages of leadership and impact:

• The “Young Woman in Leadership Award” honors a woman between the ages of 21 and 40 for outstanding leadership, service, and being widely seen by her peers as a woman on the rise. Past recipients include Kaiya Kirk of the Bennington Theater (2022), Val Harrington of Coggins Auto Group (2023), Andie Fusco of Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty (2024), and Sarah Janabi of the Bennington County Multicultural Community Center (2025).
  
• The “Woman of the Year Award” recognizes a woman for outstanding leadership and service to her organization, community, and career. Past recipients include Susan Plaisance of Vermont News and Media (2022), Lani DePonte-Disorda of Pangaea (2023), Kate Bryan of Battenkill Valley Health Center (2024), and Erin Kaufman of Southern Vermont Arts Center (2025).
  
• The “Lifetime Achievement Award” honors a woman who, over the course of her life, has made exceptional business or nonprofit leadership contributions to her community while inspiring other women through mentorship and support. Past recipients include Carolyn Blitz of Mountain Media (2022), Lana Hauben of Manchester Designer Outlets (2023), Sheela Harden of Bennington Potters (2024), and Janice Corey of JK Adams (2025).

This is a ticketed event and are available for purchase on the Chamber’s website at: https://www.swvtchamber.com/womenluncheon 

For more information, please contact Mikaela Lewis at the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce.