Citizen of the Year

Susan Dana is Springfield's new Citizen of the Year.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140312/NEWS02/703129935

Published March 12, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Susan Dana named Citizen of the Year in Springfield By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Susan Dana moved to San Francisco a few years after college, leaving her hometown of Springfield thousands of miles behind. But not for long. “I was homesick,” Dana said. After six years of working in ski industry-related businesses based in San Francisco, Dana returned to Springfield in 1997-98 and got involved in her hometown. That loyalty was rewarded when the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce named Dana its Citizen of the Year during the chamber’s recent annual banquet in North Springfield. Elly Hunt, branch manager of Connecticut River Bank in Springfield, and a director of the chamber, said she had known Dana “since she was a little girl.” And, she said, she is amazed at the amount of time and energy she volunteers to various organizations and activities in Springfield, both as a single mother of two young children, Paul, 10, and Emma, 8, and as a certified public accountant. Her parents, Charlie and Liz Phelps, were longtime small business owners in Springfield. Dana was very involved in the reopening of the Springfield Theater, which was heavily damaged by fire in July 2008. The Ellis Block was eventually restored, and the theater reopened under the financial sponsorship of the chamber. “She spends an incredible amount of time on the chamber’s biggest fundraiser, The Apple Festival,” Hunt said. Hunt said because of Dana’s professional expertise, she’s volunteered her time as treasurer of several organizations, including the Relay for Life, as well as the chamber. She is a director of the Springfield Alumni Association, Class of 1985, and volunteers for her children’s Scout activities. . Dana graduated from Springfield High School before heading north to Burlington, where she attended Champlain College, studying accounting. “I’ve always loved numbers,” Dana said Monday in a telephone interview from her office at Susan Dana and Associates in downtown Springfield. She worked for Graham and Graham accounting firm for eight years before establishing her own firm in 2006. She’s been in her current office in the McKinley Block, in the space formerly occupied by Penelope’s Restaurant, for about three years. “Ever since high school, I’ve always enjoyed accounting and numbers; helping people understand what they’re doing and how they’re doing it,” she said. Dana said she is committed to Springfield and making it a great place for families and businesses. “We need a better positive attitude, I think that would help people a long way. A lot of people are negative about the town, but there are good things,” she said. “I think we take a lot for granted.” 2014TopNewStories