Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice welcomes Ena Backus, Shannon Gilligan, and Karen Zecchinelli to its Board of Directors.
Ena Backus is a health policy expert serving as a Senior Consultant at Freedman HealthCare (FHC), where she supports clients with thoughtful team leadership, attention to data-driven problem-solving, and fluency with state and federal health policy arenas.
Before joining FHC, Ena served as a health policy advisor in the Office of U.S. Senator Peter Welch. Previously, Ena served as Director of Health Care Reform in the Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS), responsible for coordinating health care reform efforts across state government. Prior to her work at AHS, Ena was a staff member at the Green Mountain Care Board.
“Vermont’s demographic challenges are well understood. We have an aging population, and a death rate that outpaces births. That reality falls hardest in our most rural towns, where fewer young people remain nearby to help as people grow old,” says Ena. “Vermonters have a long tradition of aging in place, and supporting that means making sure care reaches people where they live. I look forward to serving on the Board of Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice to support the agency and its partners in providing compassionate care today and in preparing for greater demand tomorrow.”
Shannon Gilligan is Publisher at Chooseco, LLC, in Waitsfield, a purpose-built publishing company created to relaunch Choose Your Own Adventure, the popular gamebook series for kids. She is the author of over 20 books for children. She is also a noted video game designer, having created the Virtual Murder series and Comic Creator, named Best Software of the Year by People magazine. Shannon lives in Warren, Vermont.
Karen Zecchinelli is a native of Central Vermont. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and spent several years in the financial services sector where she held roles at Vermont Federal Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.
Karen’s parents purchased the Wayside Restaurant, Bakery & Creamery in 1966, and today, Karen and her husband, Brian, are still involved with the beloved Montpelier diner. “My husband and I are grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Wayside’s enduring legacy,” Karen says. “We are thankful for all the like-minded employees that take pride in their work and each and every one of our local customers and those from around the world that continue to energize our efforts daily,” she adds.
Karen’s son, Nick, has received home health services through CVHHH following discharges from the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center ICU. “CVHHH’s nursing team brought peace and professionalism into our home. Nicholas just celebrated his thirtieth birthday and is doing great,” says Karen. “We want everyone to know that CVHHH helps our neighbors of all ages get out of the hospital and stay out of the hospital.”
