Chol Dhoor
Company: Sudanese Foundation of
Vermont Inc.
Title: Founder and Executive Director
Age: 38
T
RISING
STARS
he Rising Stars program was started 2010 by Vermont Business Magazine
to show Vermonters that there are people in the state under the age of
40 who make significant contributions to Vermont and that they are a
valued resource when it comes to their employers and their communities. A
panel of judges selects Vermont’s Rising Stars because of their contributions to
their place of employment and their commitment to the communities in which
they live.
Community involvement: Being active in
the community is the most fulfilling personal
experience. I work for the Clemmons Family
Farm as a programs and community out-
reach manager and at the Community Health
Centers of Burlington. I founded a nonprofit
organization called the Sudanese Foundation
of Vermont Inc. with members of the Sudanese
community in 2016 as a primary tool to identi-
fy unique challenges facing new Americans in
communities and to explore new opportunities
to invest in children to succeed in Vermont. I
have been serving on the numerous boards of
Community Development Block Grants with
the City of Burlington, Spectrum Youth and
Family Services, and as a Trustee at Fletcher
Free Library. I’m also serving as the president of
Sudanese (South Sudan and Sudan) Commu-
nity in Vermont and a member of the Discern-
ment Committee at the Cathedral Church of St.
Paul. My experience through these community
engagements gave me a deep sense of appre-
ciation for the great work and resources many
organizations mobilize to meet various needs
in our state.
In November 2019, Vermont Business Magazine honored 40 of Vermont’s most
accomplished young leaders at the Rising Stars Ceremony.
“We are thrilled by the response to this initiative to recognize these up-and-
coming leaders; this is our 10th year,” said VBM Publisher John Boutin. “We
received more than 240 outstanding nominations this year. The five judges had
a difficult time picking the top 40. These young professionals have chosen to
make Vermont home. For these young professionals, it’s not just about business.
It’s about them making a difference in their communities,” John said.
What motivated you to live and work in
Vermont? I have been fortunate to meet with
incredible Vermonters from all walks of life.
There is also something unique about the size
of our state population and the kind of govern-
ment that we have as Vermonters. These char-
acteristics help me to understand what goes on
at the State House in Montpelier, local schools,
public meetings, the dynamics of workplace,
community engagement initiatives, and the
common struggles of Vermonters. Finally, our
state is notoriously beautiful, especially our
green mountains, clean public parks, and the
meandering Lake Champlain.