For Immediate Release:
Date: 4/26/2023
Contact:
Rachel Dumeny, Communications and Outreach Coordinator
Rachel.dumeny@vermont.gov
VDOL Hires Equal Opportunity and Accessibility Manager
Montpelier, Vt. - The Vermont Department of Labor recently hired Kristen Rengo as its Equal Opportunity and Accessibility Manager, in a plan to increase the Department’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts across all its programs.
Rengo will serve as the equal opportunity officer, overseeing the development, implementation, and monitoring of the Department’s Non-discrimination Plan, which includes conducting fact-finding investigations to resolve discrimination complaints, and working to assess current programs, to improve equal opportunity compliance and accessibility.
“I’m incredibility excited to see this position come to fruition. We have been talking about adding an equity manager for a long time and now that it’s here, I feel like we can really make some ground in this area, in order to better serve Vermonters,” Commissioner Harrington said. “I’m also thrilled that we were able to hire Kristen into this role. She’s been a great addition to our team,” Harrington added.
Rengo will serve as the Department of Labor’s first-ever EOA manager and has a professional background working with refugee children and families with the U.S Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, and the Howard Center. While in her previous roles, she worked directly with new Americans coordinating interpretation and translation services, designing, and implementing trainings for best practices on working with interpreters, implementing statewide grants such as Reach Up, and collaborated with schools, hospitals, and medical service providers to strategize support for those with language access needs.
Prior to becoming the EOA manager, Rengo served as the Department of Labor’s State Monitor Advocate & Foreign Labor Certification Program Administrator in the Workforce Development Division.
“I am passionate about language access and hope to bring my prior experience in workforce development, refugee resettlement, and interpretation and translation services to this new role,” said Rengo. “As the manager it will be my priority to ensure that our array of services are accessible to all Vermonters.”
Community partner’s looking to engage with Kristen can reach her by email Kristen.Rengo@vermont.gov
Additional information on the Vermont Department of Labor and its resources can be found at www.Labor.Vermont.gov.
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