Director and Staff

• Jeffrey Lewis, Executive Director
• Bruce Gardner, Associate Director
• Sandy Otero, Office Manager
• Paula West, Property Manager
• Bill Wittmer, Facilities Engineer

Jeffrey Lewis, Executive Director

Jeffrey Lewis came out of retirement (again!) to take on the role of BDCC executive director in the spring of 2006. Well versed in organizational strategy, customer care, and communications technology, Jeff was a senior executive with Monster.com in Maynard (MA) when he "retired" and relocated to the Brattleboro area in 2002.

Before undertaking the full-time directorship of BDCC, Jeff operated his own management/marketing consulting firm called Customer Driven Market Strategy, to help companies rebuild their business models and plans based on careful analysis of customer needs and market dynamic. He also served as the chairman of the Brattleboro Branch of the U.S. Small Business Administration's SCORE, taught classes at both the School for International Training and the Marlboro College Graduate Center, and was a board member of the United Way of Windham County.

At Monster.com, Jeff was the chief customer officer from 2001 to 2002, where he was responsible for creating and implementing mature business practices based on customer loyalty in the fast-growing, Internet-based company. Prior to his work at Monster.com, Jeff was a senior consultant for the Patricia Seybold Group in Boston. He and Seybold co-authored the book, The Customer Revolution, with Ronni Marshak in 2001. His background also includes working with the Phoenix Investment Partners of Hartford (CT), and the Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company of Enfield (CT).

Jeff earned a Master of Divinity degree in theology and history from the Hartford Seminary Foundation, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and mathematics from the University of Hartford. He served as the minister of Montague Congregational Church (MA) from 2004-2007 and, before that, of Hope Congregational Church in Springfield (MA). While at Hope, he founded Open Pantry, a private, nonprofit social service agency that provides comprehensive services to people who are homeless, hungry, or disadvantaged. Jeff volunteers regularly as a cook at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen.

Bruce Gardner, Associate Director

The newest BDCC staff member, Bruce Gardner, has a long history with BDCC and the Brattleboro business community. Bruce served on the Board from 1984 until April 2007, when he was hired for the newly created position of associate director. He was president for the 1994-1997 term.

Bruce is a Massachusetts native who has lived in the Brattleboro area since 1968, when he relocated from American Optical Corporation's Southbridge (MA) headquarters to the Brattleboro plant. He worked for American Optical from 1964 to 1980, serving in various capacities and ultimately becoming the lens operation manager responsible for six plants and 700 employees.

Later, he became the president of Janos Technology, Inc., a leading infrared optics manufacturer in Townshend from 1989 to 2004. Bruce led the company during a period of growth, increasing business from $2 million to $10 million. During the transition of selling Janos and relocating it to Keene (NH) in 2004-2005, Bruce served as the vice president of technology, investigating advanced new technologies and manufacturing processes.

Bruce's professional career also includes working at three other Brattleboro businesses: Chomerics, Inc., a custom electronic keyboard manufacturer; Appropriate Technology Corporation, a market leader in high performance window shades; and, most recently, Omega Optical, a manufacturer of state-of-the-art optical interference filters for scientists and industry worldwide.

His extensive community involvement includes being a member on several local boards, including: the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Vermont Photonics, United Way of Windham County, the Associated Technologies of Vermont, the Community House, and the World Learning President's Advisory Council. He also has co-founded two local business roundtables and served as a business mentor.

Sandy Otero, Office Manager

Sandy Otero is a veteran in the BDCC office. She has worked as the intrepid yet modest BDCC office manager since 1999. Born in Brattleboro, Sandy was raised in nearby Northfield, Massachusetts, where she attended local schools. She returned to Brattleboro in 1970, working in various capacities at Vermont National Bank, Datatronic, and Pieciak & Company, while also pursuing her associate's degree at the Community College of Vermont. Her outside interests include reading, walking, traveling to Maine, pursuing her interest in lighthouses, and enjoying her five grandchildren.

Paula West, Property Manager

Bill Wittmer, Facilities Engineer

Bill Wittmer, a senior project manager for SVE Associates Civil Engineers, contracts with BDCC as the facilities engineer for the Cotton Mill, the Exit One Industrial Park, and the Brattleboro Business Park (formerly known as the Book Press building). He has more than 35 years of experience in the fields of engineering, construction management, facility maintenance management, and property management, and has developed successful predictive, preventative, corrective, and condition-based maintenance programs. His educational background includes majoring in power electrical engineering and minoring in economics at Colorado State University.