Leadership Team

Neale F. Lunderville is the President & CEO of VGS (Vermont Gas Systems). He previously served as General Manager of the Burlington Electric Department, and, prior to that, as Co-Founder and CEO of NG Advantage LLC. In 2011, he was appointed by Governor Peter Shumlin to lead Vermont’s recovery efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene. Neale also served in two top cabinet posts for Governor Jim Douglas: Secretary of Administration and Secretary of Transportation.

Neale serves as a director on several Vermont and regional boards and is an Honorary Commander for the Vermont Air National Guard. He graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. and was given their 2012 Alumni Achievement award.

Grace Amao is the VP of Customer & Energy Services at VGS. Her previous positions include Director of Operations for Nedde Real Estate, Senior Manager for Facility Operations at Cox Automotive, and as an Assistant Director at the City of Burlington’s Community and Economic Development Office. Grace’s entrepreneurial experience have seen her found and lead start-up ventures including a restaurant, a real estate investment business, and a private consultancy outfit specializing in construction project management, interior design, and event planning.  She currently serves on the boards of the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain and Burlington City Arts Foundation, previously having served as a Planning Commissioner in the town of Hinesburg, VT. Grace earned her undergraduate degree from Middlebury College, and attended the University of London, as well as the University of Vermont’s Master of Social Work program.

Richard Donnelly is the Director for Energy Innovation for VGS (Vermont Gas Systems), overseeing the creation of a new product portfolio focused on decarbonization and efficiency. Richard is leading the company’s efforts in developing in-home services such as hybrid heating and utility-scale geothermal. Prior to joining VGS, Richard served in management roles focused on strategic planning for Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, as an economic development official for the City of Burlington, and as Marketing Director for a fiber-optic telecommunications network. In a past life, Richard also served as a chef in various NYC restaurants.

Dylan Giambatista is the Director of Public Affairs for VGS (Vermont Gas Systems). He has extensive experience in community relations, having previously served two terms as a citizen lawmaker, representing Essex Junction in the Vermont House of Representatives from 2017 to 2021. Prior to serving in public office, Giambatista was Director of Outreach & Financial Literacy for the Vermont State Treasurer’s Office and Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Vermont House. He is an active community volunteer and chairs the Essex Junction Board of Civil Authority. Giambatista is a graduate of the Community College of Vermont and NVU-Johnson.

Andrea McNeil is the VP, Finance and Strategy of VGS. Andrea has been with VGS since 2016 with the exception of an employment at Burlington Electric Department where she had the opportunity to serve as the Director of Finance. Andrea retuned to VGS in February 2021. Prior to VGS, Andrea worked in Public Accounting for KPMG, LLP where she provided audit and advisory services for various companies with a concentration in the utility industry.  Andrea earned her B.A from SUNY Plattsburgh and her MBA from Marist College.  Andrea is a Certified Public Accountant in VT.

Thomas Murray currently serves as the Vice President of Decarbonization Technology for VGS (Vermont Gas Systems), overseeing the company’s efforts to achieve NetZero emissions by 2050. Tom is leading the company’s innovation initiatives, which include becoming the first gas utility in the nation to offer a Renewable Natural Gas program (2018), Green Hydrogen pilot projects and other decarbonation efforts.  Tom serves on the American Gas Association’s Sustainability Committee (past Chairman) and on the Board for the American Biogas Council, where he is driving the national effort to incorporate RNG into the supply portfolio of the nation’s gas utilities.  Prior to joining Vermont Gas, Tom served as the state of Vermont’s Chief Information Officer and the Commissioner of Information and Innovation. He has also served as the state’s Deputy Commissioner of the Economic Development. Tom worked in the telecommunications industry for over fifteen years with TDS Telecom and Rural Cellular Corporation. Tom grew up in Montpelier, VT, graduated from Western New England University (BS/BA) and Champlain College (MS).

Jill M. Pfenning is the VP, Regulatory and General Counsel of VGS (Vermont Gas Systems). Prior to VGS, Jill served as in-house counsel to various start-up and fast-growing companies in the energy, education, and technology industries. Prior to that, Jill was a litigator at a Washington, D.C.-based law firm after clerking for Hon. Peter W. Hall on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Jill serves on various boards, including the Board of Trustees of the Vermont Law & Graduate School. She earned her J.D. from Vermont Law School and her B.A. from Wesleyan University.