Vermont Digital Government Summit 2025 Banner

Overview

The Digital Government Summit is an event that brings together public sector leaders and technology professionals to explore innovative solutions to solve government problems. Key themes include cybersecurity, digital transformation, AI implementation, data governance, and fostering collaboration across multiple stakeholders. Attendees will benefit from expert discussions, peer networking, and insights into the future of government technology. Join us and let’s improve the future of government together!

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Last year's Digital Government Summit was so successful that we knew we needed to keep the conversation going. This event allows industry and public sector experts to come together and collaborate on the future of government technology. The discussions held here will help create more efficient, secure, and accessible services for the people of Vermont. I'm eager to see the ideas and partnerships that develop as we work together to drive innovation in state government.

– Denise Reilly-Hughes, Secretary & State Chief Information Officer, State of Vermont

Speakers

Denise Reilly-Hughes

Denise Reilly-Hughes

Secretary & State Chief Information Officer, State of Vermont

Denise Reilly-Hughes brings over 20 years of extensive technology expertise in managing operations and strategic initiatives. In September 2023, Denise was appointed to the role of Vermont's Chief Information Officer and Secretary of the Agency of Digital Services. She leads the state’s technology systems and services while focusing on improved human-centered design and core technology standards of the State’s information systems. Denise is dedicated to improving Vermonter’s experience, employee enablement, and modernizing government technology services.
Before her current position with the State of Vermont, Denise spent her career in the private sector developing teams and growth initiatives within the technology industry. During that time, she helped lead numerous U.S. states through their modernization journey and adoption of cloud services. Denise is committed to ensuring the State of Vermont’s technology achieves value-based outcomes and digital services are designed to meet the needs of the Vermonters who access them.

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Dr. Kellie B. Campbell

Dr. Kellie B. Campbell

Chief Information Officer, Vermont State Colleges Information Technology 

As Chief Information Officer of the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS), Kellie works in close partnership with the Council of Presidents to provide leadership, management, and strategy for the Information Technology (IT) shared services division. Inclusive of seven key service areas, the IT division provides direct IT services to the entire VSCS. Kellie also serves on the executive leadership team driving at transformation objectives for the state colleges system. As a commissioner and committee co-chair on the Vermont Commission on Women, Kellie works with others on non-partisan issues to advance the rights and opportunity for women in the state of Vermont.

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Jessica O. Matthews

Jessica O. Matthews

CEO of Uncharted, Innovator and Social Entrepreneur, Trailblazing Energy Advocate

Founded award-winning power and data infrastructure tech company credited with inventing an energy generating soccer ball and revolutionizing vision AI in energy efficiency
Mission-driven leader who values positive social impact and inspires audience to use innovation and technology to meet everyday needs
Recognized as Fortune’s Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs, 30 Under 30 list for Forbes and Inc., and Scientist of the Year by Harvard University
Powerhouse speaker dedicated to using technology to change the world
Innovation, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility have always been intrinsic to Jessica O. Matthews, even from a young age. At just 19, she invented SOCCKET, an energy-generating soccer ball that reflects her vision for a better world. Matthews was inspired by her experiences in Nigeria, when she noticed the reliance on dangerous diesel generators during power outages. She addressed a community need and created a safer alternative that harnesses power from an everyday activity to provide a source of light.
Her invention of SOCCKET exemplifies Matthews’ unique blend of altruism and a disruptive technological mindset that encourages her audience to embrace innovation and actively contribute to positive change. She channeled these qualities into founding Uncharted, an award-winning sustainable-infrastructure company that empowers small and under-resourced cities. As CEO, she takes her social responsibility seriously, creating solutions that enhance access to energy, water, air, and transit. Notably, Matthews has revolutionized vision AI in energy efficiency, developing technology that employs “smart photos” to visually assess homes. These photos then determine potential savings on energy bills and qualifying rebates. Matthews is committed to preserving the unique identities of the cities she serves, asserting that citizens shouldn’t have to "leave where they are from to get where they are goingExclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Jessica O. Matthews captivates audiences with her engaging presentation style. A relatable, down-to-earth speaker, she refers to herself as a “blend of Beyoncé and Bill Nye the Science Guy.” Her enthusiasm engages audiences, and she often jumps rope on stage to demonstrate her innovations in an interactive way. This personable approach allows her to connect deeply with her audience, fostering an honest dialogue about the challenges and opportunities in innovation. Matthews leaves audiences feeling inspired and motivated to create solutions that disrupt the status quo and encourages them to meet the needs of real people and communities. Her ability to tailor her message to resonate with the unique interests and experiences of each audience ensures that her insights are both relevant and impactful.
Jessica’s success in entrepreneurship led to a White House invitation from President Barack Obama to represent small companies for the signing of the America Invents Act in 2012. In 2016, she raised what was at the time the largest Series A round ever raised by a black female founder in history and was selected to ring the NASDAQ opening ceremony bell, representing all Forbes 30 Under 30 alumni. In 2021, Jessica was officially appointed by Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm to the Electricity Advisory Committee. As a member of the Smart Grid subcommittee, she plays a key role in advising the Department of Energy on the ways we can modernize our nation’s electric delivery system, specifically focusing on accelerating the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the U.S.
A dual citizen of Nigeria and the United States, Jessica has a degree in psychology and economics from Harvard University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is listed on over 12 patents and patents pending. Her list of accolades includes Fortune’s Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs, Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 and Female Founders 100, Harvard University Scientist of the Year, One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year, the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, and Black Women Tech Talk’s Tech Trailblazer Award. She has appeared on the cover of Forbes and Forbes Africa, as well as featured in Marie Claire, Wired, Inc., TechCrunch, The New York Times, and Fast Company, among others.

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Lori Boisjoli

Lori Boisjoli

Chief Information Officer, The University of Vermont Health Network

Lori Boisjoli is the Network Senior Vice President Chief Information Officer for the University of Vermont Health Network. The UVM Health Network is a non-profit academic and community health system that serves more than one million people living in rural communities across Vermont and northern New York. The Network is comprised of an anchor academic medical center, five community hospitals, a children’s hospital, a home health and hospice agency, and a multispecialty medical group. It employs nearly 2500 licensed physicians and other health care professionals permitted by law, and through admitting privileges, to provide medical care within our hospitals and health care facilities. The IT organization is comprised of over 400 technology professionals providing the necessary technical and application support for over 14,000 employees. Lori joined the organization 9 years ago, after spending most of her career on the healthcare vendor side, primarily with IDX and Allscripts.

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Ellie de Villiers

Ellie de Villiers

Chair, Vermont CUD Association

Ellie de Villiers holds a number of positions across the public and private sectors, with a focus on telecommunications and affordable access. Ellie is Executive Director of Maple Broadband Communications Union District in Vermont, USA, Group Head of Affordable Access Initiatives for Liquid Intelligent Technologies Group in eastern and southern Africa, and Board Advisor to Konnekt, an innovative FTTH provider in Nairobi, Kenya.
Having resided in South Africa for a decade, Ellie has strong credentials in public policy and strategy as it applies to innovation and industry development. Current Chairperson of the Vermont CUD Association, she is former Chairperson of the Wireless Access Providers’ Association of South Africa (WAPA), and was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for four years.
Her specific areas of interest and expertise are identifying new ideas and the commercial modelling and technical assessment required to deliver on those ideas.
She holds an MBA from Babson College (ranked number one for entrepreneurship for 32 consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report), and lives in New Haven, Vermont.

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Scot Barker

Scot Barker

Chief Innovation Officer, City of Burlington

Scot Barker, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Burlington, VT, joined government after more than 25 years in the private sector as a leader of global technology and operations teams. He is also a management consultant, speaker, and educator. Along with innovation, technology, and operations, Scot has led organizational change management efforts, coaches developing professionals, and presents workshops and classes on leadership, organizational change management, multi-sector awareness, project management, and other topics. Scot has taught leadership classes at Marlboro College and presented at conferences including Public Sector Network, International City/County Management Association, and the Vermont Technology Alliance.

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Hansa Bernal

Hansa Bernal

Senior National Conference Director, Government Technology

Leah Bogdanowicz

FBI Special Agent, Cybersecurity, Burlington Residence Agency

FBI Special Agent (SA) Leah Bogdanowicz is assigned to the Cybersecurity division, covering all Vermont cyber related threats in the state, to include both criminal and nation state actors. SA Bogdanowicz has been with the FBI since December 2021 and has spent all of her time in the Colchester, Vermont office. SA Bogdanowicz works closely with other federal, state, and local partners on cybersecurity matters, as well as private sector partners throughout the state. SA Bogdanowicz has taken several SANS courses, as well as FBI Cyber courses covering topics such as cyber threat landscape, cryptocurrency, threat hunting, open source investigations, and more. Prior to joining the FBI, SA Bogdanowicz worked at PwC in Boston for almost 10 years, where she ended her career as a Senior Manager IT Auditor focusing largely on public manufacturing companies in the Aerospace and Defense, Retail, and Biotech industries. 

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Bill Carter

Bill Carter LinkedIn

Public Sector Cybersecurity Strategist, Fortinet

Bill Carter is a dynamic cybersecurity leader with a passion for securing the digital world and educating others on the evolving threat landscape. Currently serving as a public sector cybersecurity strategist at Fortinet, Bill previously protected Ohio’s 12 million citizens as the Chief Information Security Officer for the Department of Commerce and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for the State, overseeing security strategies across 80+ agencies.
With a career spanning additional roles as Field CTO, Senior Systems Engineer, and Technical Consultant, he brings deep expertise in cybersecurity strategy, infrastructure, and risk management.
A hands-on technologist and sought-after public speaker, Bill holds a master’s degree in Cybersecurity and multiple industry certifications, including CISSP, SecurityX, and all MITRE credentials. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity, and an active member of the Ohio Cyber Reserve and the FBI’s InfraGard. Beyond his professional pursuits, Bill is dedicated to philanthropy in serving as CEO for an80,000-person strong non-profit organization.

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Adam Gamelin

Cybersecurity Advisor, CISA, State of Vermont

Adam Gamelin is the Cybersecurity Advisor (CSA) for Vermont (Region 1), within the Integrated Operations Division, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). CISA established ten regional offices across the country to improve the delivery of the department’s services to critical infrastructure owners and operators and state, local, tribal, and territorial partners. CSAs are the front-facing cyber experts supporting regional operations capabilities. Region 1 includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Before joining CISA, Adam was an All-Source Intelligence Analyst with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He has also spent time with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Adam holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from St. Michael’s College and a master’s degree in Information Security from Champlain College.

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Rebecca Kelley

Rebecca Kelley

Chief Communications Officer, State of Vermont

Rebecca Kelley is the chief communications officer for the State of Vermont. In this role, she is leading the State’s effort to meet new federal digital accessibility standards. Previously,  she served as the Vermont governor’s communications director for eight years. Before joining state government in 2017, Rebecca spent a decade in public relations, working with corporate and non-profit clients across several sectors, including law, government relations, real estate, financial services, and technology.

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Sergio Ortega

Sergio Ortega

Sales and Business Development Lead AI/ML SLG US, Amazon Web Service

Sergio Ortega serves as the Business Development Lead for AI/ML Worldwide Public Sector at Amazon Web Services, focusing on State and Local Governments. With over 20 years of experience in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Analytics, Sergio is a recognized leader in driving technological innovation in the public sector. Previously at Microsoft Corporation, he led global strategies for Metaverse, IoT, and AI solutions. He holds a Master's in Data Science from CUNY, an MBA from the University of Warwick (UK), and degrees in Computer Science and Public Policy. Sergio is passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex governmental challenges.

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Dr. Kristen Pedersen

Vice President of Cyber Operations and Chief Research Officer, Norwich University Applied Research Institute

Dr. Kristen Pedersen is the Vice President of Cyber Operations and Chief Research Officer at Norwich University Applied Research Institutes (NUARI), where she leads a robust portfolio of cybersecurity and national security initiatives. She oversees research and operational programs supporting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Defense (DOD), National Security Agency (NSA), and critical infrastructure sectors.
Dr. Pedersen directs NUARI’s Distributed Environment for Critical Infrastructure Decision-making Exercises (DECIDE®) platform, advancing the design and execution of cyber, information warfare, and physical-threat simulation exercises to strengthen incident response, test protocols, and improve organizational resilience.
Her research expertise spans influence and information operations, frame analysis, human-cyber interaction, and strategic communication. She brings a diverse professional background that includes service in the U.S. Coast Guard, investigative researcher, and television producer.

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Meg Walz

Meg Walz

Deputy Chief Information Officer, Vermont State Colleges

Meg Walz is the Deputy Chief Information Officer at the Vermont State Colleges, leading IT operations with a strategic focus on organizational leadership and service excellence. She is committed to fostering inclusive, student-centered technology environments and driving operational effectiveness through collaboration and innovation. Meg’s professional interests include digital accessibility and the student experience with technology.

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Alexa Woodward

Alexa Woodward LinkedIn

JD, Executive Director, Vermont Complex Systems Institute, University of Vermont

Alexa Woodward received her Juris Doctor from the City University of New York Law School and her BA from Gordon College in Wenham, MA. As a lawyer with a background in interdisciplinary research partnerships, she leads Vermont Complex Systems Institute operations and strategic initiatives and manages a team of research engineers and program coordinators. As Executive Director, she is responsible for managing and sustaining key research initiatives in partnership with faculty PIs, including the MassMutual Center for Excellence in Complex Systems and Data Science, Institute collaboration with Vermont’s NSF EPSCoR office, and the Vermont ReSearch OPSO (VERSO), UVM’s open source program office. She serves on UVM’s AI Committee and jointly leads an external advisory AI Strategy Group comprised of experts in generative AI. She reports to the University’s Vice President for Research. Prior to UVM, she led large scale scientific partnerships and economic development initiatives at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Clemson University.

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Agenda

Tuesday, August 19

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

9:00 am Eastern

Opening Remarks

9:20 am Eastern

Keynote – Have You Ever Jumped from an Airplane? (The Journey of Delivering a Complex Project in the Public Sector)

Large-scale public-sector technology projects are complex, often requiring IT leaders to address technical debt and legacy issues before envisioning future advancements. Launching new projects involves evaluating everything from the RFP process to relationship management, and regulatory compliance. Join Saby Waraich as he shares actionable insights from his journey of transforming a struggling digital transformation project into a success. Discover the strategies he employed to overcome these challenges and understand the true essence of jumping out of an airplane' in the context of leading successful digital transformations.

Saby Waraich, Chief Information Officer/Chief Information Security Officer, Clackamas County College

10:20 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

10:50 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Balancing Innovation and Responsibility in AI Adoption

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing government operations, offering new efficiencies and capabilities. How can agencies adopt AI while maintaining security, compliance, and public trust? This session will explore practical AI use cases and strategies for overcoming skepticism through preparedness and upskilling. Industry leaders will share insights on responsible implementation, helping attendees navigate the evolving landscape of AI adoption.

Moderator: Menaka Indrani, Technical Services Director, Alameda County

Tony Batalla, Chief Technology Officer, City of Oakland

Jane Gong, Director of Emerging Technologies, City & County of San Francisco

Incident Response: Beyond the Immediate Crisis

A cyber incident can disrupt government operations, but what happens after the initial response? How can agencies collaborate across municipalities to strengthen recovery efforts and mitigate future risks? This session will examine the responsibilities and obligations following an incident, focusing on collective response planning and risk management. Our speakers will share ideas for coordinated recovery, ensuring public sector IT teams can effectively navigate post-incident challenges.

Keith LaFaver, Security Program Manager for Cyber, Alameda County

Nathan Sinclair, Chief Information Security Officer, City and County of San Francisco

Strategic Approaches to Infrastructure Modernization

Modernizing IT infrastructure in the public sector demands strategic decision-making. What are the best collaborative measures? From cloud vs. on-prem solutions to cost management and compliance, agencies must align technology investments with organizational goals. This session explores successful modernization use cases, and governance frameworks that ensure accountability, while maintaining service continuity.

Moderator: Darren Numoto, Chief Information Officer, City of Palo Alto

Jagan Subramanian, Information Systems Director for Cloud Infrastructure, Alameda County

Liza Massey, Chief Information Officer, County of Marin

Michael Lat, Chief Operations Officer, City and County of San Franciso

11:50 am Eastern

Lunch

12:50 pm Eastern

Bits and Bytes

This session will focus on three Ted-Style lightening talks featuring public sector use cases and success stories.

Adam Kostrzak, Chief Information Officer, City of Hayward

Michael Lat, Chief Operations Officer, City and County of San Franciso

Meg Ragan, Innovations Officer, County of Napa

1:20 pm Eastern

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

1:30 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Data Governance in Action: Policies, Regulations, and Access

Data governance is evolving, and it’s important to stay ahead of shifting regulations and compliance requirements. How can government organizations develop a shared understanding of data layers while adapting to change? This session will explore key aspects of data governance, including legal perspectives and best practices for managing data access status. Panelists will provide insights into maintaining transparency, security, and accountability, sharing practical strategies for ensuring privacy and compliance.

Moderator: Herman Brown, Chief Information Officer, San Francisco District Attorney’s Office

Naveed Ashraf, Chief Information Officer & IT Director, City of Vallejo

Ahsan Baig, Chief Information Officer /Chief Technology Officer, Department of Innovation and Technology, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit

Eudora Fleishman, IT Infrastructure and Security Manager, City of Fairfield

Developing Tomorrow’s IT Leaders

Leadership in public sector IT requires more than technical expertise; it demands vision, mentorship, and the ability to inspire teams. What does it take to become an effective leader? This session will explore the realities of IT leadership, from career progression and education to motivating teams and fostering innovation. Our experts will share insights on upskilling, reskilling, and mentoring aspiring leaders. Attendees will gain actionable strategies for shaping the future of public sector IT.

Darren Numoto, Chief Information Officer, City of Palo Alto

Tim Flanagan, Chief Information Officer, County of Solano

Adam Kostrzak, Chief Information Officer, City of Hayward

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Tony Batalla, Chief Technology Officer, City of Oakland

Michael Makstman, Chief Information Officer, City and County of San Francisco

Khaled Tawfik, Chief Information Officer, City of San Jose

2:30 pm Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

2:50 pm Eastern

General Session – The Government Experience Revolution: Reimagining Personalized Government Delivery

Constituents today expect the same level of seamless, personalized service from government that they receive in the private sector. The Government Experience Revolution is transforming how agencies deliver services—moving from one-size-fits-all approaches to data-driven, user-centric experiences. This session will explore how governments are leveraging AI, digital identity, and advanced analytics to anticipate citizen needs, streamline interactions, and build trust through personalization.

John Matelski, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government

3:30 pm Eastern

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.

4:00 pm Eastern

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.

DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont

870 Williston Road
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 865-6600

Get Directions To
DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont

Advisory Board

Government Representatives

Richard Adams
Technology Director
Windham Northeast Supervisory Union School District

Chip Bacon
Associate VP, Information Security & Chief Information Security Officer
Information Technology
Norwich University

Scot Barker
Chief Innovation Officer
City of Burlington

Kellie Campbell
Chief Information Officer
Information Technology
University of Vermont

Andrea DeLaBruere
Deputy CIO
Agency of Digital Services
State of Vermont

Tracey Delphia
Director, Digital Services
Agency of Digital Services
State of Vermont

Stacy Gibson-Grandfield
Director of Enterprise Project Manaement
Agency of Digital Services
State of Vermont

Christopher Irish
Technology Coordinator
River Valley Technical District

Jonathan Kelley
Chief of Staff
Agency of Digital Services
State of Vermont

Jim Lipinski
Director of Shared Services
Agency of Digital Services
State of Vermont

Ashley Lipton
Grants & Partnerships Manager
Norwich University Applied Research Institutes

Mike Mott
Director of Technology
Colchester School District

Michael Nagle
IT Director
Agency of Digital Services
State of Vermont

Robert Paluba
Director of Information Technoology
Town of Essex

Brad Portlance
Enterprise Engineer
Vermont Supreme Court

Josiah Raiche
Chief Data & Artificial Intelligence Officer
State of Vermont

Denise Reilly-Hughes
Secretary & State Chief Information Officer
Agency of Digital Services
State of Vermont

Marcia Schels
Chief Innovation Tech Officer
Judiciary
Vermont Judiciary

Kate Slocum
Chief Financial Officer
Information Technology
Vermont Agency of Digital Services

Rebecca White
Risk Management Director of Operations
Office of Risk Management
State of Vermont

Industry Representatives

Steve Cunha
Named Account Manager
Fortinet

Sam Martin
Account Executive
Snowflake

Jenny Phelps
Senior Account Manager
Presidio

Craig Schena
Enterprise Account Manager
Amazon Web Services

Rosalba Schino
Client Relationship Executive
Deloitte

Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: August 14, 2025

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.

Contact Information

For registration and general assistance contact:

Lauren Schoenberger
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1408
E-mail: lschoenberger@erepublic.com

For assistance or questions concerning Sponsor Logos or Logistics please contact:

Mireya Gaton
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact:

Heather Earney
Government Technology
Phone: (916) 932-1339
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

Venue

DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont

870 Williston Road
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 865-6600

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Room Block

Room Rate: $289/night, single/double.
Rate Cut-off Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
To Make a Reservation:
    Phone: (802) 865-6600 and reference Vermont Digital Government Summit.
    If you experience issues booking online, call the hotel directly for assistance.

Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note, once the room block is full, you will need to make other arrangements for your accommodation with the hotel directly or a nearby hotel. 

Map and Directions

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/btvbsdt-doubletree-burlington-vermont/hotel-location/

Event Parking

Self-parking: Complimentary, onsite.
Valet parking: Not Available
Note: No trailers or RVs allowed.

Parking fees subject to change without notice.