Cheryl is a lifelong Vermonter
who was born in Rutland and grew up in Addison County on
the University of Vermont Morgan Horse farm where her father
was a horse trainer. In 1978 Cheryl married Richard H. Rivers
a Brandon dairy farmer. Cheryl and Richard just celebrated
their 25th anniversary. They have a twenty two year old
son Nathan. The family lives in Stockbridge.
Cheryl attended the University of Vermont
and graduated from Castleton State College. Cheryl was Director
for Addison County Community Action where she supervised
over 30 employees, founded a homeless shelter, and started
a battered woman’s program. Cheryl also helped found
the Brandon Farmer’s Market and was a vendor and coordinator
for both Brandon and Middlebury Farmer’s markets.
Cheryl has served as a school board member
in Brandon and was the first woman elected to the Select
Board in the Town of Stockbridge. She has served as a town
zoning administrator and health officer. In 1990 Cheryl
was elected a State Senator from Windsor County and was
re-elected five times. She served on the Senate Finance
Committee and for five years chaired the Committee. She
became the first woman ever to serve on the Senate Transportation
Committee where she served for eleven years, and also served
on the Agriculture Committee throughout her time in the
Senate.
Since October of 2001 Cheryl has served as
the Executive director of the National Legislative Association
on Prescription Drug Prices, a Bipartisan Nonprofit Legislative
Association whose mission is to win fair drug prices and
comprehensive prescription drug coverage for all Americans.
Cheryl since childhood has loved Morgan horses,
the source of most of the muscle that cleared the Vermont
forests over the years. The Rivers family operates a small
Morgan horse breeding operation. Cheryl is Vice President
of the Vermont Morgan Horse Association. She enjoys competitive
trail riding and driving competitions. She supports her
horses by providing carriage rides at weddings and sleigh
rides during the winter holidays. In her “spare
time” she also enjoys organic gardening and hikes
the Green Mountains with her husband.
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| Honors and Awards include: |
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Legislator of the Year: |
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The Vermont Children’s Forum |
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Vermont National Chapter of the National Association
of Social Workers |
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Vermont Planning and Development Association |
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Policy Leadership Awards: |
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Vermont Natural Resources Council |
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The American Cancer Society |
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Vermont Public Transit Association |
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Older Women’s League |
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Central Vermont Chapter of Women’s International
League for Peace and Freedom |
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Vermont Mobile Home Owner’s Association |
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Also: |
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National Board of Homeland Ministry: “Partner
in Mission Award” |
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Middlebury Union High School Graduates Hall of Fame
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