Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointments of Michael Schirling as commissioner of Public Safety, and Lindsay Kurrle as secretary of the Agency of Commerce & Community Development. Both have served in Scott’s cabinet throughout his time in office.
Schirling, currently serving as secretary of ACCD, will fill the vacancy left by Thomas D. Anderson, who resigned in July. Kurrle will move from the Department of Labor to take the leadership role at ACCD.
“Both Lindsay and Mike have been incredibly valuable members of our team, working together to support – and attract more – employers and employees and tackle some of Vermont’s top economic and workforce priorities,” said Governor Scott. “Their leadership in these new roles will be tremendously important to the state’s work to grow the economy, make Vermont more affordable and protect the most vulnerable.”
Among other priorities, Kurrle and Schirling, along with the teams at Labor and Commerce, have led the administration’s workforce expansion initiatives, including efforts to expand and strengthen worker training programs, better align with the education system, introduce new retention and recruitment tools and ensure a good job is available to every Vermonter who wants one.
Kurrle has served as Labor commissioner since January 2017. Before joining the Scott Administration, she managed operations for Kurrle Fuels and Transport, a Montpelier-based small business she co-owned with her husband, Jim. In addition to running her company, she worked at Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice. She also previously worked for the State of Vermont as the assistant director of statewide financial reporting. Prior to that, Kurrle worked as a staff accountant, certified public accountant, and a governmental audit specialist, collaborating extensively with the State of Vermont and the State of New Hampshire for financial and federal funds’ audits.
“It’s been a pleasure working with Secretary Schirling to bring ACCD and VDOL closer together to grow our economy and expand and strengthen our workforce. It is critical for our teams to continue that collaboration so we can continue to revitalize our county economic centers and the communities around them, in order to improve economic outcomes, and affordability, for Vermonters,” said Kurrle. “I am excited to bring my experience as a small business owner and knowledge of state and federal workforce system to ACCD, and I look forward to joining the exceptional team there to continue this good work.”
Schirling, who has served as Commerce secretary since January 2017, has over two decades of experience in law enforcement. He 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 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. He has also worked as a contractor, conducting trainings for the U.S. State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program Cyber Division.
“It has been a privilege to serve alongside the talented team at the Agency of Commerce & Community Development and I am proud of their great work and all they’ve accomplished over the last two and a half years,” said Schirling. “As the Governor often says, public safety is the top priority of any government, so I am humbled by the opportunity to take this new assignment with an equally exceptional team at the Department of Public Safety.”
Both will take on their new roles on September 3. Kurrle’s transition will create a vacancy at the labor commissioner position. If it has not been filled by September 3, Deputy Commissioner Michael Harrington will serve as interim commissioner.