Staff

Richard Smith

smith@vcia.com
Richard Smith is the President of the VCIA, a member-based association whose mission is to educate, communicate, and advocate on behalf of the Vermont-domiciled captive insurance industry.  Richard has led the association as President since October of 2009. 

Prior to his work at VCIA, Richard served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Public Service Department for the State of Vermont.  During his five years at the department, he was the primary liaison with Vermont’s general assembly on energy and telecommunications issues.  In addition to policy development, Richard also managed the day to day operations of the department including the development of its $10 million annual budget and direction of its 40 staff.

From 1998 – 2005, Richard was the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development  for the State of Vermont.  He was appointed by a Democratic and a Republican governor to this post.  He was responsible for managing the department’s $4 million annual budget and overseeing the work of 15 staff.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  He also completed a Strategic Leadership for State Executives program from Duke University in 1999 and the Vermont Leadership Institute in 2000.

Diane Leach

leach@vcia.com
Diane Leach joined the Vermont Captive Insurance Association in 1987 and is the Director of  Education and Program Planning.  She started her captive insurance career in 1984, working for American Risk Management, Corp. in the accounting and administration areas.  Her involvement with the Association began during its early stages and has continued through its current maturity.  She is a past Board member of the Vermont Society of Association Executives and a member of the American Society of Association Executives.

Barbara Casanova LaRock

larock@vcia.com
Barbara Casanova LaRock joined the VCIA in 2000 and is our Director of Membership and Development.  Barbara has extensive administrative and development experience with non-profits, both charitable and political in nature.  Barbara has a diverse professional background that encompasses both legislative and association experience; including national conference coordination, fund-raising, membership development, database management, network administration and web-site development.  

Before joining VCIA, Barbara was a Legislative Aide with the Builders Association of South Florida.  She also served on the Board of the Cuban Nation Heritage Foundation and as a volunteer for the Hialeah Foundation.  Barbara has also served on the Board of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, an auxiliary of the Republican National Committee.  Her past work experience includes interning for US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Administrative Assistant in the office of the former Mayor of San Diego, Susan Golding.

Barbara holds a B.A. in Political Science ('94) from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives.

Elizabeth Halpern

halpern@vcia.com
Elizabeth Halpern joined VCIA in 1999 and is our Director of Communications.  She is responsible for the development and design of all the Association's marketing and educational materials. In addition, she manages the VCIA website and electronic promotion. Elizabeth directs the association's advertising and press activities, and is the staff liaison to the Communications Committee. 

Elizabeth has worked in marketing and design for 14 years, working previously in design firms, as a self-employed graphic designer, and in marketing management positions.

Elizabeth holds a B.S. degree from the University of Vermont and completed a year of coursework at the University of Nice, France. 

Peggy Claflin

claflin@vcia.com
Peggy Claflin joined the VCIA in February 2006 and is our staff accountant. In  this capacity, she is responsible for all the financial proceedings of the association. She is also the staff liaison for the Finance Committee.

Peggy is a recent graduate of Champlain College where she graduated summa cum laude and has received several awards recognizing her outstanding achievements as a non-traditional student. She was an accounting tutor at Champlain College as well, a role reserved for top students. 

While earning her accounting degree at Champlain, Peggy worked as a paralegal for attorney Sarah Gentry Tischler, P.C. 

Peggy lived for many years in Florida where she worked for Merrill Lynch. She moved to Vermont in 1998, and became the co-owner of Jerihill Hardware Store in Jericho.

Sharon Lones

lones@vcia.com
Sharon Lones joined VCIA in January 2005.  Sharon brings a wealth and variety of knowledge to the Association in both administrative and technical skill.