Vermont State Police Name New Public Information Officer

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WATERBURY, Vt. — Longtime Vermont News reporter and editor Adam Silverman has been named public information officer for the Vermont State Police.

Silverman will be responsible for helping the state police provide accurate and timely information to the public and the news media on public safety matters, and to engage the citizens and visitors of Vermont. He will advise the state police on best practices for the release of public information and support the vision of the state police to be leaders in policing with an emphasis on fairness, compassion and service.

Silverman joins the Vermont State Police following nearly two decades with the Burlington Free Press, where he began his journalism career as a reporter before becoming one of the newsroom's lead editors. He also served as president of the Vermont Press Association before stepping down following his appointment as Vermont State Police PIO.

"We welcome Adam and we are fortunate to have someone with his depth of experience joining the Vermont State Police," said Colonel Matthew Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police.



Silverman grew up in northern Colorado and attended the University of Missouri, where he earned a degree in journalism. He joined the Burlington Free Press in 2000. He lives in Colchester with his wife, Kristin.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to help the Vermont State Police and Department of Public Safety continue their work of being open and accessible to the community and to journalists," Silverman said. "I believe in transparency and know the state police do, too. I'm going to work to keep the public informed as effectively and transparently as possible, and to maintain strong relationships between the state police, the public and the media."

Silverman succeeds Scott Waterman, who left the Department of Public Safety last fall to become Policy and Communications director for the Agency of Agriculture. Silverman's first day of work is April 9.

 


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Coggins Auto Group Celebrates Five Years

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
BENNINGTON, Vt. — The family-owned Coggins Auto Group is celebrating five years of operations: Coggins Toyota of Bennington and Coggins Honda of Bennington, and Coggins of the Berkshires in nearby Massachusetts.
 
Mike Coggins purchased three dealerships — Honda, Toyota and Ford — in 2020 with a goal to restore trust and a "true sense of community-minded dealership culture." 
 
"My primary focus from day one was bringing back that connection to the region," Coggins had said back in 2021. "This area values real relationships. They want to know the people they're doing business with. We set out to rebuild that trust."
 
The Ford dealership was sold off in 2023 and Coggins of the Berkshires, with sales and services for used cars, opened the same year in Pittsfield, Mass. 
 
According to Coggins Auto Group, the dealerships had social media ratings of two stars when they were purchased; now all Coggins locations are garnering more than four stars in customer satisfaction reviews. 
 
"We sell cars, and we fix cars, and our goal is just to make our customers happy, and keep our employees happy, and that's what's made this really work these last few years," said General Manager Scott O'Connell.
 
Coggins Auto Group is also involved in events that benefit the community, including its popular annual charity golf tournament that funds local charities and organizations such as the Bennington Little League.
 
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