Board of Commissioners

Burlington Housing Authority's five Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor for five year terms. One Commissioner must be a BHA program participant. Mike Knauer is currently Chair of the BHA Board and has been a commissioner since 1994. His previous public service includes serving on the Burlington School Board from 1985-1988. Mike and his wife have three children and have lived in Burlington's New North End for the past 24 years. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For his day job, Mike is a consulting manager at Hewlett-Packard Company. Term Expires: 1-17-2014

Neil Wheelwright is currently vice-chair of the BHA board and has been a commissioner since 1993. He previously served on the Burlington Housing Board of Review from 1990 to 1992. Neil has lived in Burlington since 1982. He is an attorney practicing with Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer, PC in Burlington. Neil is a graduate of Colgate University and the Boston University School of Law. Term Expires: 1-17-2015

Connie Krosney, Ed.D. has lived in Chittenden County for over 20 years, and in Burlington for 7 years. She is a Professor of Graduate Studies at Vermont College of the Union Institute and University in Montpelier, and has worked previously at St. Michael's College, the University of Vermont, and Burlington College. She holds an M.Ed. in Interdisciplinary Studies and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (focus: Social Foundations of Education) from the University of Vermont. She serves on the Board of Directors of Spectrum Youth and Family Services and chairs the Program Committee of that board. She is interested and engaged in issues involving social justice, education, ethics, and philosophy. Term Expires: 1-17-2011

Sheila Gorski was born and raised in Burlington. Sheila has been active for the past 20+ years in both Florida and Vermont on issues concerning disabilities and accessibility. She served as a member on the Mayor's Advisory Committee for Accessibility in Burlington from 1995 - 2001. From 1994 - 2001 Sheila was a board member, prevention specialist, and public speaker for the national organization Think First, which is a prevention program for spinal cord and brain injury. She is also a peer counselor for newly spinal cord injured patients in Rehabilitation at Fletcher Allen Health Care. For the past 7 years, Sheila has been involved with VSA (Very Special Arts) in helping to make the arts accessible to both the disabled community and the disabled artist. She is presently working on her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at Saint Michael's. Sheila's goal is to work as a grief counselor and is highly interested in the Hospice organization, as well as her continued work in disability awareness. Term Expires 1-17-2013

Erin Baker is a Diversity & Equity Advisor at the University of Vermont's Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunities. She has previously worked at Norwich Univeristy, Community High School of Vermont and Dickinson College. She holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Norwich University. She is involved with several groups within the community including the Gender Violence Response Team, Human Resources Work Group and is Co-Chair of the Alana Coalition. Term Expires 1-17-2012