Amy Kapitan (Selectboard)

Amy Kapitan

Jericho Select Board

By Phyl Newbeck

When Amy Kapitan learned that Jericho was expanding the Select Board to five people she decided to apply for one of the new positions. “I moved to Jericho three years ago,” she said “and I really love the community, the people and the vibrancy. The Select Board seemed like a good fit where I could support my community and help it grow.”

A native of southern Vermont, Kapitan and her husband were long-time renters in Winooski before moving to Jericho. The couple was hoping to find a home here because of Jericho’s proximity to Burlington and the fact that they felt it still retained its rural character. “This is where I want to spend my days,” Kapitan said.

Thanks to her work, Kapitan doesn’t always get to spend her days in Jericho. Most Monday mornings find her at the airport boarding a plane for her job as a technology strategy manager. She works with large corporate clients, helping them develop their 10-15-20-year strategies for plant maintenance and the introduction of new technology. She learns where the businesses currently stand and where they want to grow and then helps them figure out how to get there.

“There are lots of different moving parts and differing opinions,” she said. “There are really big budgets and big hairy questions.” Kapitan believes her proficiency with complex budgets and occasionally difficult people is ideal for her new position on the Select Board. “Those skills translate to allowing me to help my community,” she said. She is grateful that Jericho’s meetings are accessible to all, which makes it possible for her to attend via Zoom if she is out of state.

Because her job is a corporate one, Kapitan tries to find ways to volunteer to help those in her community. For years she served as a clinic escort for Planned Parenthood and is very happy that her services no longer seem to be needed for that role. “I love it when they don’t need me,” she said. A self-described “dog mom,” Kapitan is passionate about making life easier for our furry friends. She has volunteered at the Humane Society as a fundraiser and a dog walker. Kapitan has also served as a family mentor for the U.S. Committee for Refugees, as well as helping out with the Veterans Yoga Project and at Outright Vermont.

Kapitan has stepped out of her comfort zone by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. “I’m not the best at construction,” she said “but I like to think that I can hold my own. It’s important to do these things because I have a vision for the world I want to live in. Life can feel overwhelming, but I believe that it’s really crucial to remember that all of us have things we can do and it’s important to go out and do what you can.”

Kapitan believes Jericho is on the right path and can continue to improve. At 34, she has seen changes in Vermont and Chittenden County during her life, and she wants the town to keep its character while looking at ways to improve. She is convinced that there are plenty of people in Jericho with both the skills and the will to help. Specifically, Kapitan is interested in having a wastewater system in town and would like to see an expansion of the natural gas line. She wants to make sure the town is sustainable for those who want to age in place while also welcoming young families. “We have the pieces and the people who are passionate about making Jericho a fabulous place to live,” she said, “and we need to continue to make it suitable for a new generation of Vermonters.”

Kapitan started teaching skiing at Bromley when she was 14 and continued to do so through college. These days, you’ll find her on the slopes at Smugglers’ Notch, which she enjoys in part because of their old-school approach to skiing. In the summer, Kapitan spends time in her garden. She enjoys canning her own food with an emphasis on tomato sauce and salsa. She also grows many varietals of dahlias. Her work results in a lot of airplane and hotel points which allow her to travel with her husband. St. Marten as a favorite destination.

One of Kapitan’s goals on the Select Board is to work on long-term capital planning which includes taking inventory of the town’s physical assets ranging from snowplows to the municipal building. The next step is looking at recurring costs like new tires and making sure that those are on schedule while also saving money for new things.

During her interview for the position, Kapitan was asked why she applied for the Select Board rather than one of the other committees or commissions. “I know where my skills and abilities lie,” she said. “This is where I have the most to offer but honestly, I tend to jump feet first. I go big or go home.”