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Meet Our Team

Howard Goodrow, Executive Director

Howard Goodrow is the Executive Director for the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Howard has over 20 years of non-profit experience, focusing primarily in the fund development space. Howard started his career with the American Cancer Society working out of Rutland, VT and later moved to Burlington as the State Vice President for Development. He was later promoted to oversee all transactional income throughout New England, including all Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events. This move forced a personal move to Connecticut. Howard then moved on to a national role with the Cancer Society working with Division I college basketball coaches within the Coaches vs Cancer platform. His final stop with the Cancer Society was back in the New England Division as a Senior Director of Corporate Relations. After his time with the Cancer Society, Howard took on the role as Chief Development Officer for the Greater Hartford (CT) YMCA.

Having spent time in leadership roles at the local, regional, and national levels, Howard has been very engaged in setting the direction, not only within development, but also from a human resource, mission, board of directors, and strategic planning standpoint for both organizations he has been a part of.

Howard grew up in Woodstock, VT with his parents and four siblings and has lived in multiple towns from Brattleboro to Colchester. Howard and his wife, Katie have relocated from Connecticut to Milton, VT, and they have two sons, Cole (20) and Aidan (18). Howard is a graduate of the College of Saint Joseph in Rutland, with a Masters in Business Administration from Plymouth State University.

Howard can be reached at (860) 436-7774 (cell), hjgoodrow@alz.org.


Jordan (Jo) Cotto, Program Manager

Jo joined the Vermont Chapter in October 2021, bringing a strong passion for recruiting, training, and education. Jo is thrilled to be a member of the Vermont Chapter in the fight to cure Alzheimer's, a cause very near and dear to her heart.

In 2005 Jo moved to Seattle, WA and worked for PROVAIL in Supported Employment as an Employment Consultant and later Program Manager, supporting individuals with developmental disabilities with employment and retention. Jo started a mentorship program that worked to connect new employees with tenured employees in cohorts.

Jo was also involved in several collaboration opportunities on a county and state level to support businesses with hiring diverse staff utilizing the supported employment model. In 2016 Jo, her husband Matt, and son Vincent, moved back to Vermont to live closer to family. Jo worked at Howard Center as a Program Manager and Team Lead, supporting individuals with dual diagnoses mental health and developmental disability with accessing resources for housing, community support, medical needs, clinical, and transportation needs.

Jo started Lunch Buddies, which worked to connect employees and increase connectivity. Jo co-facilitated a committee that started a new onboarding and training program for case managers.

Jo was born and raised in Fairfax, Vermont and resides in South Burlington. She enjoys spending time with her boys, Quinn and Vincent, and her husband, Matt, and spending time with friends, and with a very large family in Vermont and Massachusetts. Jo enjoys walking and yoga, writing, hikes, and loves the beach.

Jo can be reached at (802) 433-4090 ext 8011, jtcotto@alz.org.


Jenna Smith, Development Manager

Jenna joined the Vermont Chapter in May of 2018, with a background in management, marketing and communications. She is passionate about helping others and is dedicated to any way that she may assist in furthering the mission of the Alzheimer's Association.

Jenna manages two of the four Walks to End Alzheimer's in Vermont; the Champlain Valley Walk in Shelburne and the Northeast Kingdom Walk in St. Johnsbury. Jenna also manages the Camel 's Hump Challenge, Vermont's premier backcountry event, a rigorous wilderness ski touring experience where spirited backcountry Nordic skiers traverse around the perimeter of Camel 's Hump - the third highest peak (4083') in Vermont 's Green Mountains.

Jenna lives in Winooski; she enjoys working in her garden, hiking and snowboarding.

Jenna can be reached at (802) 316-3839 ext 8015 (office), jmjohnson@alz.org.


Meg Polyte, Public Policy Director

Meg joins our Vermont team with deep knowledge of Vermont non-profits, community organizations and politics. Most recently serving as the Chief of Staff for the Lt. Governor, Meg is well versed in policy and practice in Montpelier and beyond. She loves meeting new people, helping individuals share their stories, and advocating for those who we too often marginalize or forget.

Meg grew up in Vermont and has a deep love for the people, community spirit, and natural beauty of the state. After living and working in the former Soviet Union and then Russia for 5 years, Meg returned to Vermont where she attended St. Michael's College in Colchester and earned a BS in International Leadership and Management. She later returned to St. Michael's and completed her Masters in Education.

Meg lives in Burlington with her two almost grown kids, two cats and her dad. She loves gardening, knitting, cooking, yoga and appreciating the beauty of Lake Champlain and the green mountains.

Meg can be reached at (802) 440-1881 ext 1429, mmpolyte@alz.org.


Kirk Rankin, Administrative Associate

kirk-rankin.jpgKirk Rankin joined the Vermont Chapter in 2022 as the Administrative Associate with a background in communications, and community outreach. Upon graduating from the University of Vermont in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Community & International Development, Kirk brings a can-do attitude and fresh face to the numerous services the Vermont Chapter provides. Kirk interned as a student with Chapter Policy Director, Meg Polyte in Spring 2022 around various State and Federal Advocacy Efforts.

Outside of the office, Kirk enjoys plein air painting and collaging in his free time. Also an avid bike rider, there's a good chance you've seen him riding on the Burlington Bike Path. Kirk was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and has lived in Vermont for over five years.

Kirk can be reached at (802) 433-4222 ext 8013, kirankin@alz.org.



Jazmin Averbuck - Development Manager

Jazmin is new to the Alzheimer's Association. Starting in September 2022 as the Development Manager for the Vermont Chapter, Jazmin brings a passion for an engaged community and vibrant events to her position as she supports The Longest Day initiative and Walks in Rutland, the Upper Valley and our communities in Southern Vermont. 

Jazmin earned her graduate degree in Health and Physical Activity from the University of Pittsburgh with a focus on physical fitness, movement and recreation of seniors throughout the community. In 2017, Jazmin moved back to Vermont and began working with the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains in outdoor programs. As manager of Outdoor Programs, she developed and continued programs that promoted girls in the outdoors while removing barriers that may have taken those opportunities from them. 

Recreation is a passion of Jazmin's as she is an active volunteer with the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association and is very active in the Vermont strength community; personally as a competitive strongman athlete and highland games thrower and more professionally as an event promoter for United States Strongman and Vermont Powerlifting. Jazmin is also a certified lifeguard, USArchery Level 2 Instructor and qualified low ropes/team building instructor.

Jazmin is excited to bring all of her experiences and interests to her work with the Alzheimer's Association throughout the state of Vermont; breaking barriers to reach all those affected by Alzheimer's and dementia.

Jazmin can be reached at (802) 433- 4244 ext 2267, jmaverbuck@alz.org.