Trained problem-solver, veteran, and former guv candidate

By Michael Bielawski

BURLINGTON – One of the region’s most popular radio news talk shows – The Morning Drive – has swapped out one of their co-hosts. Former lawmaker and city councilor Kurt Wright has left and he is now replaced by business consultant Dan Feliciano, who as of late June joined the other remaining co-host Anthony Neri. The formal announcement can be read here.

According to his WVMT bio, Feliciano brings a unique blend of military discipline and analytical expertise to Vermont radio. As a U.S. Navy Sonar Technician, he developed the foundation for his career-long passion for analyzing complex systems and finding clear solutions to challenging problems.

Following his military service, Feliciano became a GE-certified Master Black Belt, applying his problem-solving skills across industries, including healthcare, finance, defense contracting, and manufacturing. He developed innovative frameworks, such as The Phoenix Protocol, for organizational recovery.

Vermonters know him from his runs for Governor and Auditor of Accounts, experiences that deepened his understanding of state issues. As an active member of Braver Angels, he’s committed to fostering respectful dialogue across political divides—a skill that will serve him well in his new role.

Feliciano, an Essex Junction resident, recently answered some questions exclusively for VDC, including how his understanding of business and economic trends will play into each episode.

“My background is in business turnaround and public sector consulting—including healthcare, government reform, and operational strategy,” Feliciano said in an email response.

“Whether I’m working with a private company or a public agency, I focus on solving the right problem, validating the causes with data, and deploying solutions that actually work in the real world.”

A recent episode was an interview with Vermont-based economist Art Woolf. They discussed Vermont’s 4th and 8th grade math and English scores in relation to the other 49 states. Vermont is both one of the highest spending states per student yet the results are right near the bottom. This episode and others are on the show’s homepage to be replayed any time.

VDC asked if the show will continue its tradition to take on controversial subjects.

He wrote, “I’ve built strategic planning frameworks like AESOP [protocols for navigating uncertain times] and The Phoenix Protocol [a form of ‘fasting’ that can be applied to city policy] specifically to drive outcomes. I’m bringing that same mindset to the Morning Drive: We’re going to elevate the conversation by demanding accountability, challenging assumptions, and asking every guest—left, right, or center—to back their claims with evidence.”

He added, “This show won’t be about political theater. It’ll be about truth, traction, and turning things around for Vermont.”

Many past episodes looked at controversial initiatives coming out of the Statehouse, such as the Global Warming Solutions Act which requires often-expensive shifts in energy, heating, and transportation over to newer and less established technologies, all without promising any measurable change in climate.

VDC asked what are some of the subjects that listeners can look forward to hearing more about.

“Oh, plenty. And I don’t care if the bad idea came from the left or the right—if it’s hurting Vermonters, we’re going to shine a light on it.

“The Global Warming Solutions Act is a prime example. I want to see the actual emissions reduction versus the economic burden being placed on households and businesses. If the numbers don’t add up, then someone’s pushing ideology at the expense of results.”

He said education policy and healthcare will get attention as well.

“But we also need to look at education policy. Vermont is spending more per pupil than ever, yet our NAEP scores are collapsing [as discussed with Woolf]. Where’s the accountability? Why are we overpaying for underperformance?

“And in healthcare—especially with OneCare and the Green Mountain Care Board—we’re seeing regulation without results. Monopolies forming. Competition evaporating. Patient outcomes flatlining. There’s no transparency and no measurable ROI for Vermonters.

“Expect those issues and others to be scrutinized heavily, and backed with data.”

VDC asked if the show will continue examining crime and business trends in Burlington, both which have been going in the wrong direction since the defunding of their police force via attrition by the City Council in 2020.

“We’re absolutely continuing that dialogue—and we’re going to sharpen it.

“Burlington is a textbook example of what happens when political ideology overrides operational strategy. The city defunded the police through attrition, and what happened? Crime rose. Businesses fled. Foot traffic dropped. Confidence collapsed.”

He noted that when crime goes up, businesses suffer.

“This isn’t just a public safety issue—it’s an economic issue. And as someone who works with struggling businesses, I can tell you: perception is reality. If people don’t feel safe downtown, they won’t spend money there. It’s that simple.

“On Morning Drive, we’re considering launching regular crime-data updates so we stop debating anecdotes and start facing facts. We’ll also bring in business owners, landlords, and law enforcement—people on the ground with skin in the game. And we’re going to track progress—or the lack of it—with real metrics: commercial vacancies, tax base erosion, retail recovery.

Because if Burlington fails, other cities in Vermont are next.”

VDC lastly asked what are the biggest challenges to hosting a popular live show with both guests and callers who can get very passionate on the air.

“The biggest challenge? Turning emotional rants into intelligent conversations. And you can’t do that unless you anchor everything in data.

“We don’t pre-screen callers, so I’ve got to be quick—redirecting emotion-driven arguments into fact-driven ones. That’s where my background in crisis consulting helps. I’m trained to find clarity in chaos. If someone’s off-base, I’ll challenge them with “no-oriented questions” and redirect until we get to substance.”

There are some new elements that can be expected on the show, including a rapid response segment.

“We’re considering introducing a weekly ‘Rapid Response’ segment, where we verify or correct popular narratives with hard data—live, on air. It’s about time someone held up the receipts.

“Ultimately, this show isn’t about being popular. It’s about being useful. If we want better policy, we need sharper public debate. And that’s exactly what I plan to deliver.”

Lastly he said that the show is not going to play favorites when it comes to political parties.

“This isn’t left vs. right—it’s results vs. rhetoric. And I’m here to hold both sides accountable.

“Some will say I’m too blunt, too aggressive, too focused on data. They’re right. Because Vermonters deserve clarity, not spin.”

VDC Editor Guy Page will be a guest on Morning Drive at 8 AM on Tuesday, August 12.

Michael Bielawski is a freelance writer who has published with Vermont Daily Chronicle, True North Reports, and Vermont Watchdog among other outlets over the past decade