Our Staff

Erin Sigrist is the President of Vermont Retail & Grocers Association, and the Executive Director of Vermont Specialty Food Association.

As President of VRGA, the leading resource and advocate for retailers and grocers in Vermont, Erin is a seasoned policy advocate who has successfully testified before the Vermont State Legislature to affect critical policy issues and has worked closely with State Agency leaders to impact regulatory protocols. She is also responsible for executing the vision of the VRGA Board of Directors through membership outreach and development, and ensuring the association continues to provide value-added benefits for members of all kinds.

As Executive Director of VSFA, the oldest specialty food association in the country, Erin is responsible for enhancing the exchange of proven practices between members and industry professionals, fostering statewide and national growth within the industry through various promotional efforts, and encouraging continued support of Vermont products through state-supported grant funding.

Born and raised in the Finger Lakes in New York, Erin grew up working in her family’s 140-year-old hardware store and volunteering in her community. She graduated from Elmira College with a BA in Business with a concentration in marketing, and briefly worked for an AHL hockey team and NLL Lacrosse team before moving on to focus on small business marketing and support. Erin moved to Vermont in 2010 and was fortunate enough to continue her work in representing small businesses in a new capacity. Past experience guided her to work hard to provide value to association membership. Having fallen into the government relations sphere by chance Erin has enjoyed serving as a voice on behalf of business in the halls of the legislature and promoting the value of Vermont businesses and Vermont-made products within Vermont and beyond.

Karin Cioffi is the Director of Membership and Development for VRGA and VSFA. A Vermont native, Karin grew up in Rutland and received a Bachelor's degree from Saint Michael’s College. Over the years Karin has enjoyed volunteering on biological reserves and traveling throughout Latin America. After a decade of working in and managing a restaurant, she decided to explore other opportunities. She worked with the Rutland Recreation Department, giving rise to her passion for community and a focus on local initiatives. Since joining the association in 2022, Karin has worked hard to build relationships with members and partners across Vermont.

Alyssa Greaney is VRGA and VSFA’s administrative assistant. Brought up in a tight knit community in Western New York, just southwest of the Finger Lakes, she grew up aiding her father with his small business. Drawn to Vermont, she graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s in Nutrition and Food Science, sparking her interest in the local food system. She is excited to be a part of growing Vermont businesses and looks forward to serving our members during her time with VRGA.