Champlain Weekend Kick-Off!

Join us at the official kick-off event for Champlain Weekend and the new Champlain Innovators Series!

The Champlain Innovators Series is a new session we are bringing to Champlain Weekend this year that is a combo of a TED Talk and an interview session focused on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

For 2024, we are excited to welcome Katie Clark ’06 from Beta. Beta Technologies is a Vermont based aerospace manufacturer developing electric vertical takeoff and landing and electric conventional take-off and landing aircraft for the cargo, medical passenger, and military aviation industries. Katie Clark has been with Beta in one capacity or another since its beginning in 2017. Some of the roles she has played are– Flight Test Coordinator, Accounts Payable, Human Resources, Head Chef, Sous Chef, Photographer, Videographer, Janitor, Designer, Staff Psychologist, Transport, Fake Architect, Bus Driver, Health and Safety Advisor, Facilities Facilitator, Events Planner, Purchaser… (to name a few) before settling into her current role as Director of Culture.

Katie has a degree in Liberal Arts from Champlain College where she focused on professional and creative writing and conflict resolution. In the 17 years prior to Beta, Katie was a stay at home mom who homeschooled her four children and several of their friends while running a small farm and managing a somewhat unruly husband. Katie specializes in wild ideas while focusing on keeping Beta an awesome place to work. She loves hot water, hot weather, her family, sneakers, cowboy boots, miniature donkeys, getting tattooed, loud music and walking in the woods.

President Alex Hernandez and Katie will talk about her experience growing up in Vermont, attending Champlain College, and the creation and growth of Beta. A reception will follow their discussion.