Tayt Brooks ’97 has conveyed his leadership roles at St. Lawrence into a leadership role in State government.  Vermont Governor Jim Douglas has announced the appointment of Brooks as commissioner of the Department of Housing, Economic and Community Development.

A history major at St. Lawrence, Brooks joined the Douglas Administration late in 2008 as deputy commissioner of Housing and Community Affairs.  When that department merged with the department of Economic Development, Brooks served as deputy commissioner for the new department of Housing, Economic and Community Development. He previously was the government affairs director for the Home Builders’ & Remodelers’ Association of Northern Vermont; there he worked on important legislation such as the Growth Centers and New Neighborhoods bills. 
  
“I’m excited to appoint Tayt to lead this department,” said Governor Douglas.  “His experience in the private sector and in state government, along with his experience working with members of the General Assembly, makes him a natural fit to advance policies that will help create jobs and grow our economy.”

A native of St. Albans, Vt., Brooks is a graduate of Bellows Free Academy. At St. Lawrence he was a member of the football and outdoor track teams, and was active in student government and his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega.