Montpelier, Vt. – Governor-elect Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Michael Schirling as Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) and Lindsay Kurrle as Commissioner of the Department of Labor (DOL). Both posts are members of the Governor’s cabinet.
“My entire administration will have a laser focus on economic growth and prioritize policies that strengthen the economy and make Vermont affordable for families and businesses. At the very center of this effort will be work by ACCD and DOL because they will be charged with revitalizing our ability to expand the workforce, help workers and businesses be more competitive, and retain and recruit good jobs,” said Governor-elect Scott.
“Mike has a strong record as an innovator, and his experience as a dynamic community leader and in the tech community demonstrate his ability to lead teams, create change and get measurable results. His leadership skills will be essential to our efforts,” Scott continued. “Lindsay will bring her experience as a small business owner, and former auditor and CPA, to the important work done by the team at DOL. I’m grateful they are willing to serve Vermonters at this very important time in our economic future.”
ABOUT LINDSAY KURRLE, COMMISSIONER OF LABOR
Lindsay Kurrle is the co-owner of Kurrle Fuels and Transport, a small business based in Montpelier. Lindsay and her husband, Jim, purchased the convenience store and fuel hauling company in 2004, and Lindsay currently manages the company’s daily operations including personnel, financial, marketing, contractual and facilities maintenance. In addition to running her companies, Lindsay has worked at Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice in Community Relations and Marketing. She also previously worked for the State of Vermont as the Assistant Director of Statewide Financial Reporting.
Earlier in her career, Lindsay worked at KPMG as a Staff Accountant and became a Certified Public Accountant. During her career at KPMG, Lindsay worked as a governmental audit specialist, working extensively on the State of Vermont and the State of New Hampshire financial and federal funds audits.
Lindsay has served on the Vermont Lottery Commission since 2014. Lindsay attended Montpelier High School and graduated from St. Michael’s College. Lindsay and Jim reside in Middlesex, VT with their three children and their dog Bruin (as in Boston Bruins). They are proud supporters of local youth programs.
“I’m looking forward to helping Governor-elect Scott make state government a stronger partner to workers and employers,” Kurrle said. “It is critically important that we focus on retaining and recruiting more workers, employers and jobs into our state, because our ability to invest in the future depends on it.”
ABOUT MIKE SCHIRLING, SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
Schirling currently serves as executive director of BTV Ignite, an economic development and technology accelerator initiative, where he oversees the organization’s efforts to expedite growth of the local tech sector to strengthen the economy by driving innovation. Schirling has led projects and initiatives focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities, career coaching and workforce training programs, and development of innovation hubs. During the campaign, Governor-elect Scott introduced a comprehensive economic growth plan that emphasized these as priority areas for economic development. He has also worked as a contractor conducting trainings for the U.S. State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program Cyber Division. Schirling also served in the Burlington Police Department for 25 years, including seven years as Burlington’s chief of police. As chief, he was committed to innovation, collaboration and community engagement. He led efforts to enhance the Department’s technology platforms and received recognitions from the International Association of Chiefs of Police for Civil Rights, and awards for excellence in victim service and community policing.
“I am humbled to be asked to join Governor-elect Scott’s team and for the opportunity to work with so many talented Vermonters. I am eager to bring my passion for innovation and collaboration to the agency, and to implement the Governor’s vision and plans to grow our workforce, energize our towns, villages and cities, and make Vermont affordable,” said Schirling. “I look forward to working with the rest of the Scott administration and the entire agency staff to leverage Vermont’s extensive history of creativity, innovation, and hard work to help grow our economy and our Vermont brand."
ABOUT ACCD & DOL
ACCD is responsible for enhancing the Vermont business climate, marketing the state, and strengthening communities through economic and community development, tourism, housing policy, historic preservation and more. DOL promotes economic growth by assisting employers with job creation, retention and recruitment; coordinating some of the state’s workforce education and training programs; ensuring workplace safety; assisting dislocated workers and providing labor market information and analysis. The missions of both ACCD and DOL combine to include the state’s most significant pro-growth economic programs, initiatives and services.