Personal Background:

• Born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont on August 23, 1945, the daughter of Catherine (Kate) and Harold Beattie
• Grew up in a large family in Danville, Vermont on the family farm
• Attended Danville Schools and graduated from Danville High School in 1963 and Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania in 1967
• Married to Robert (Guil) Kitchel - 1967
• Parent of one son, Nathaniel
• Active in community projects - currently Secretary of the Danville Chamber of Commerce and President of the Board of Trustees of the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury
• Toll Fellow / The Council of State Governments - Class of 1994
• Recipient of the Patricia S. Walton Award / Vermont Chapter of The American Society for Public Administration - “In recognition of exemplary public service to the State of Vermont - 1998
• Recipient of the Individual Membership Service Award / American Public Human Services Association - 2000

Professional Background:

• 1967 - began public service as a social worker for the Vermont Department of Social Welfare
• 1985 - appointed Deputy Commissioner , Department of Social Welfare
• 1992 - appointed Commissioner , Department of Social Welfare
• 1999 - appointed Secretary, Agency of Human Services

While serving as Social Welfare Commissioner , Kitchel was responsible for overhauling Vermont’s welfare system. This statewide initiative, that replaced financial dependence with work, was the first in the nation and received national recognition for its approach to serving families.

Kitchel played a major role in the expansion of Vermont’s health assistance programs for low-income Vermonters. These programs include Vermont Health Access Plan, Dr. Dynasaur and the pharmacy assistance programs for Seniors.

As Secretary of the Agency of Human Services, Kitchel was responsible for annual budget of $1 Billion and 3000 employees. The Agency includes the Departments of Health, Aging and Independent Living, Children and Families and Corrections, and the Office of Health Access.