More changes today in the Douglas administration. Rob Hofmann promoted from Corrections commissioner to Agency of Human Services secretary.
Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Jim Douglas today announced that Commissioner of
Corrections Rob Hofmann will soon be Secretary of Human Services.
Cindy LaWare, the current agency head, is stepping down to explore other
opportunities to serve Vermont.
Governor Douglas thanked LaWare
for her service. “Cindy has been an important and dedicated member
of my cabinet and has served Vermonters with diligence and professionalism for
the past seven years. I greatly appreciate her work to advance important
elements of our agenda, including fighting to make health care more accessible
and affordable, improving services for Vermonters with mental illness through
the Futures plan, and implementing the Incarcerated Women’s Initiative, the
Children’s Integrated Services initiative, and the statewide Housing Now
initiative,” Governor Douglas said. “I hope and expect she will continue
to serve Vermonters in the future.”
Governor Douglas said Hofmann,
who served as Vermont’s finance commissioner before moving to the Department of
Corrections, has the right financial and human services management expertise for
the new post.
“Rob shares my views that the best social program is
a good job and the best way to balance the budget is to grow the economy,” the
Governor said. “He has proven to be an innovative, caring and pragmatic
leader at the Department of Corrections, addressing some of our state’s most
pressing challenges with balance and common sense. He also understands the
challenge of building a responsible and compassionate budget during difficult
financial times that protects the most vulnerable.. He will serve
Vermonters very well as secretary of human services.”
Hofmann’s
appointment is effective November 23, 2008.
ABOUT ROB
HOFMANN
Robert D. Hofmann of Waterbury Center, Washington County was born on
August 3, 1960. He graduated from SUNY College at Cortland (BA
History: Summa Cum Laude 1985). After working as a Business Analyst
at Dun and Bradstreet in New York City, he attended Columbia Graduate School of
Business (MBA Finance 1985), where he met his future wife, Kit Walker, a former
Vermont teacher. Rob worked at American Express in New York City
(1985-1990) in progressively challenging positions in financial services.
From 1990-2003 he worked at Chittenden Bank in Burlington, VT first as Director
of Marketing and later as Senior Vice President for Business Services.
Rob served as Vermont’s Commissioner of Finance and Management
from 2003-2005 and Corrections Commissioner since February 2005. He has been
involved in his church, coaching his children’s sports teams and is a former
board member of his college alumni association and the Vermont Chamber of
Commerce. The family holds dual citizenship: United States and Ireland and
Rob hopes to work overseas after the kids leave the nest.
- Terri Hallenbeck
