Jessica Hartleben, VEPC Executive Director, Selected for Competitive Regional Leadership Academy

New York, NY - Jessica Hartleben, the Executive Director of the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) was recently selected by a panel of regional leaders in state government to participate in the Council of State Governments Eastern Leadership Academy.

The Eastern Leadership Academy (ELA) is run by CSG East - one of four regions that make up The Council of State Governments - and welcomes a small group of qualified state legislators, executive branch leaders, staff, and judicial officials each year for a four-day program designed to develop the best and brightest in state governments from Maryland to Maine as well as the U.S. territories and Canadian Provinces that make up the Eastern Region. The purpose of the Academy is to build excellence and effectiveness in state government and promote regional cooperation between rising leaders across state and partisan lines.

"It's an honor to be selected for the CSG Eastern Leadership Academy," said Jessica Hartleben. "I'm proud to represent Vermont and have the opportunity to connect with neighboring state and international partners. I greatly look forward to collaborating with other leaders at the Academy."

Admission to the academy is competitive, with just 30 attendees selected each year. The program has been offered annually since 2005 and is hosted in Philadelphia, where it is run with the support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government.

Hartleben was appointed as VEPC Executive Director by Governor Phil Scott in 2024. VEPC serves as an approval and oversight body for several economic development programs, including the new Community and Housing Infrastructure Program, which is set to invest up to $2 billion between now and 2035.

This year's program is scheduled for August 23-27, 2026.

For more information, visit the CSG East Eastern Leadership Academy.

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