VIP Person of the Year Evening Reception
Each year, the Vermont Council on World Affairs celebrates leaders recognized locally and globally with our Person of the Year award. This award is given annually, to someone who, in VCWA’s view, embodies the qualities inherent in promoting international understanding and building ties between the U.S. and the world.
Meet our 2024 Honoree
Announcing VCWA’s Person of the Year
Image Source: Andrew Kotowski for Forbes
Donna Carpenter
Owner & Chair of the Board, Burton Snowboards
Donna met Burton’s founder, Jake Burton Carpenter in a Southern Vermont bar on New Year’s Eve 1981. Ever since, she’s been a driving force at the world’s leading snowboard company. Her first job included dipping snowboards in polyurethane and answering the customer service line that rang in the bedroom. In the mid-1980s, Donna expanded Burton’s business to Europe and ran the company’s first international office in Innsbruck, Austria.
In 2003, Jake asked Donna to make Burton a brand of choice and employer of choice for women. Thanks to Donna’s leadership, Burton now has progressive parent policies, mentoring programs and more women in leadership roles. In 2010, Donna stepped up to the role of President, and then in 2016 went on to become Burton’s first female CEO.
In February 2020, Donna became the Chair of the Burton Board of Directors, a position formerly held by her late husband and Burton founder, Jake Burton Carpenter who passed away in November of 2019 due to complications from recurring cancer.
Today, Donna inspires Burton to root the company’s work in a greater purpose. She invests in sustainability efforts and advocates for more diversity on the mountain and in boardrooms. As a founder and Co-Chair of the non-profit youth development organization Chill, she is dedicated to the organization’s mission of inspiring young people through boardsports and building a more equitable outdoor community. Under her ownership, Burton commits $2M of profits annually to support values-aligned organizations doing work that positively impacts people, planet, and the sport of snowboarding.
Donna and her three sons George, Taylor and Timi do their best to live by Jake’s motto of having as much fun as possible while keeping the world’s leading snowboard company a family-owned brand.
Thank you to our sponsors
Join us on the evening of Wednesday, September 25th for a VIP cocktail reception where we will honor our 2024 Person of the Year. This event will feature exclusive networking opportunities, guest speakers, and a fireside chat with this year’s Person of the Year, Donna Carpenter.
As a business leader, Donna has helped Burton become a globally recognized brand while advocating for gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and snowboarding industry. Donna's commitment to environmental sustainability and minimizing Burton’s ecological footprint aligns with global efforts to combat climate change while her philanthropic work and dedication to social causes locally and internationally reflect the values of VCWA. Her leadership embodies the intersection of business success, social responsibility, and global impact.
Tickets include exclusive networking opportunities, complimentary drinks, and hors d‘oeuvres.