John Simson
Senior Policy Consultant
John served as Vermont State Planning Director from 1977 to 1982. During that period he supervised the completion of a State Economic Development Plan, instituted five year strategic plans for all Vermont state agencies and was the Governor's special staff liaison to the federal government and the National Governors' Association. John was elected by his peers to two terms as president of the National Association of State Planning and Policy Advisors. Prior to becoming State Planning Director, John was the first executive director of the Bennington (VT) Regional Commission for seven years. He also worked with a HUD grant in Mercer County New Jersey on an experimental program-based budgeting process, and served as Assistant to the County Manager in Arlington Virginia.
In 1982, John left this distinguished career in public policy to co-found a financial advisory firm. John's firm specializes in financial planning strategies for businesses and individuals using all kinds of investments, insurance and retirement plans. John was also the co-founder of a company that specialized in providing structured settlements using specialized insurance products for plaintiffs in personal injury cases. After 21 years as a successful entrepreneur, John has retired from his financial services firm to concentrate on his interest in public policy issues. He has recently joined EPR as a part-time consultant specializing in local and state policy issues.
In the years since leaving public service, John has been active as a volunteer serving on boards of non-profits in the fields of economic development, medicine, education and horticulture, which includes work with United Way as well as formerly holding the office of President of his Rotary Club.
John holds a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University and a B.A. in Sociology from Middlebury College. He enjoys golf, gardening and globe-trotting.