RW taps elected leader, nonprofit veteran, Roger Clapp as next executive director

November 19, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti 

Revitalizing Waterbury has chosen its next executive director who hardly needs an orientation to his new post heading up Waterbury’s community and economic development nonprofit. 

Roger Clapp, courtesy photo

Roger Clapp, a 24-year resident of Waterbury who chairs the Waterbury Select Board, will start in the job in January. He will succeed Karen Nevin who stepped down in August having led the organization for eight years.  

Clapp currently works at PH International (formerly Project Harmony) in Waitsfield as associate director of Program & Fund Development. He said earlier this year he gave his employer notice that he planned to step down at the end of 2024. Rather than retirement, however, Clapp said the opening at Revitalizing Waterbury appealed to him as a way to take on a new role that would benefit his hometown. 

“I’ve always thought highly of RW,” Clapp said. “I’m pleased to join Revitalizing Waterbury and look forward to collaborating with the board, staff, and community members to build on the great work that’s already been done.”

In announcing the pick, Revitalizing Waterbury praised Clapp as a “highly respected community leader and seasoned non-profit professional.”

Julie Frailey, president of the RW Board of Directors, said it was important to find the right person for the job. “Roger’s extensive background in nonprofit management, event planning, and fundraising combined with his deep roots in Waterbury, make him an exceptional fit for this role,” Frailey said. 

The RW board conducted its search over several months, Frailey said. In September, it chose one candidate from its first round of applicants, but the candidate withdrew. When the organization put out a second call, Clapp and two other qualified candidates applied, she said, noting that Clapp stood out with a “wealth of experience.” 

Prior to working at PH International, Clapp worked in the nonprofit sector at the Himalayan Cataract Project and March of Dimes. His long resume includes stints in the Peace Corps in Africa after college and as Deputy Commissioner for Agricultural Development in state government during Gov. Howard Dean’s administration. He also helped launch the Vermont Fresh Network and later worked for the Institute for Sustainable Communities.

A resident of Randall Street in Waterbury village, Clapp was first elected to the Waterbury Select Board in 2022 in a write-in campaign. He was elected to two one-year terms before winning a three-year seat this year that runs until March 2027. He was chosen as chair in 2023 and again this year. 

Synergies surpass conflicts 

“There was certainly some discussion about his position on the select board and [possible] conflicts of interest, but I think we've worked through it and he will do what's necessary to make this all work,” Frailey said of Clapp’s dual roles. 

Clapp acknowledged that he will need to navigate the boundaries between his elected role and his new day job. “There will certainly be times of a real or perceived conflict of interest where I’ll have to recuse,” Clapp said of future select board votes. 

Revitalizing Waterbury serves as the town’s economic development organization, promoting local business and community development projects. Its setup includes an economic development staffer who reports to the RW executive director but whose salary is paid by taxpayer dollars appropriated in the annual town budget set by the select board and approved by the voters on Town Meeting Day. This year, Revitalizing Waterbury was allocated $91,166 in the municipal budget.

RW staffers work with businesses to navigate the development process and find sites to locate; they do studies and provide reports on economic activity that inform the work of both the municipality and the organization. Revitalizing Waterbury also owns the Waterbury Train Station and is involved in community projects such as the recent refurbishment of Jack’s Alley on Stowe Street which received town funding and went through the local permitting process. Its largest annual fundraiser is Waterbury Artsfest for which the select board grants event-related permits.

Municipal Manager Tom Leitz said he does not view Clapp’s decision to take the Revitalizing Waterbury position as a negative. On the contrary, he said the new role should have some “real substantial synergies” with his work on the select board.  

“Vermont’s a small state and these issues arise all the time,” Leitz said. “They can be navigated. The most important thing is that they are disclosed.” 

At March Town Meeting, Select Board Chair Roger Clapp (seated third from left), takes his spot between fellow board members to his left and Municipal Manager Tom Leitz, Town Clerk Karen Petrovic and Town Moderator Rebecca Ellis to his right. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti

Clapp’s experience already gives him a good understanding of both town government and RW’s role in the community, Leitz pointed out. That gives Clapp an advantage over someone new to Waterbury who might have taken the position. One example, he said, might be that Clapp’s knowledge of how town government works and what’s happening in town government could be helpful in seeking grants for RW’s efforts.

Leitz pointed to St. Albans where he worked in city government prior to becoming Waterbury’s manager in late 2022. St. Albans City Councilor Tim Smith currently serves as mayor and also works as the executive director of the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation. In a small state, Leitz noted, many people often have multiple roles in their communities. “It’s incumbent on us to navigate it and be transparent,” he said. 

Juggling leadership roles 

Looking ahead, Clapp noted that the select board chooses officers annually, following the March Town Meeting Day elections. He said he plans to continue serving as chair until his time as chair ends in March, at which point he would not want to be considered for either the board chair or vice chair roles. Stepping away from a board leadership position would help avoid some potential conflicts and it would require a smaller time commitment than his current duties, he said. 

Roger Clapp (right) on the sidelines of a snow soccer match at Winterfest 2024. Photo by Gordon Miller 

Frailey said Clapp’s willingness to be a leader in various organizations was something the Revitalizing Waterbury board valued in its executive director search. “His commitment to the town, demonstrated through his leadership of Waterbury Winterfest as well as numerous other volunteer efforts, will be invaluable as we continue our work,” she said. “We are truly fortunate to have him on board.” 

For a number of years, Clapp has served as president of Waterbury Winterfest, the annual winter recreation festival held in late January/early February. Similar to his plans on the select board, Clapp said he’s planning to bow out of his Waterbury Winterfest role after the 2025 event ends. “We have some new members and have already started the transition of leadership. I feel good about letting go of those responsibilities so I can take on others with new vitality,” he said. 

Waterbury Winterfest is scheduled to run from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. 

On the RW horizon 

As she prepared to move on from the executive director position, Nevin reflected on RW’s current projects such as growing its involvement to promote Waterbury Center businesses. It’s also participating in efforts to increase housing availability in the community. She also suggested the organization may tackle its own identity, something Clapp confirms. 

“We will be going into a rebranding exercise within the next year or two,” he said, adding that the decision would be made by the group’s board of directors and it would require funding. 

Clapp said a more short-term project he hopes to jumpstart would be to resurrect the volunteer fair concept that RW conducted more than a decade ago. The events, held every other year for several years, gave community groups and nonprofits a chance to share their mission with the public. With many new residents in the community, and new organizations popping up in recent years, such an event could help connect many groups with new volunteers. “We’d love to have that come back,” Clapp said.