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Vermont Business Magazine At the recent Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance’s (VOBA) Annual Meeting, US Senator Patrick Leahy presented the Second Annual Trailblazer Legacy Award via video to Marc Sherman and Mike Donohue of Outdoor Gear Exchange (OGE). VOBA selected the founders of OGE as this year’s Trailblazer Legacy Award winner not only because Outdoor Gear Exchange has been recognized as one of the most successful independent outdoor retailers in the country, but because they have done so while giving back to Vermont’s local community.

by Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and Megan Sullivan, Vice President of Government Affairs Each new biennium brings new energy to Montpelier and an invigorated drive for progress. A pivot point in pandemic recovery, 2023 is perhaps a year more anticipated than most. Record-high spending in recent years has been possible due to the influx of federal funding for pandemic relief. As that federal funding is depleted, the ability of Vermonters to absorb the cost of sustained programs will be central to our work.

Vermont Business Magazine Continuing its efforts to better the communities it serves, Healthy Living has committed to giving back this year, with the help of shoppers, through its “Together We Can Help” program. By rounding up purchases to the next dollar, shoppers have contributed to a number of local nonprofit organizations in the South Burlington, Williston, and Saratoga Springs, New York, communities. Those roundups, along with matches from Healthy Living, totaled $91,146.56 as of Dec. 1.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group has been named to the Inc. 2022 Best in Business list in the insurance category. Inc.’s Best in Business Awards honor companies that have made an extraordinary impact in their fields and on society. National Life Group’s values are to “Do good, Be good, and Make good.” These values inform all the company does, including serving middle America, one of the most underinsured segments of the U.S. population, according to Deloitte, with life insurance and annuities to help protect themselves, their families, and their futures. National Life Group also serves the nation’s school employees, helping provide them with retirement solutions as well as through programs like LifeChanger of the Year that recognize the good they do for their students and in their communities.

Vermont Business Magazine The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the Vermont Foodbank. The foodbank was one of 10 hunger-relief organizations around the country to receive a special grant on Giving Tuesday. Local Dunkin’ Franchisee Damartin Quadros visited the foodbank to present a ceremonial grant check to Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles and several volunteers. On Giving Tuesday the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation awarded $100,000 in grants as part of a partnership with national hunger-relief organization Feeding America.

Vermont Business Magazine Last night, Governor Phil Scott was joined by hundreds of Vermonters for the annual State House Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Montpelier. Prior to the event, the Governor also hosted several recipients of his Rays of Kindness initiative, which recognizes individuals and organizations for giving back to their communities through acts of kindness, volunteerism and more. Vermonters can nominate individuals or groups for this recognition at governor.vermont.gov/rays-of-kindness.

Vermont Business Magazine The Council of State Retail Associations (CSRA) is pleased to announce Erin Sigrist has been elected Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for 2023. Sigrist is president of the Vermont Retail & Grocers Association and executive director of the Vermont Specialty Food Association. Sigrist’s role includes leading the CSRA eight-person Board of Directors as the organization builds on its 18-year history of bringing state retail associations together to enhance the representation of the retail industry across the country.

Vermont Business Magazine This holiday season, the American Red Cross Northern New England Region encourages everyone to follow simple steps to prevent home fires from holiday decorations. Most home fires involving candles happen in December, when one in five home decoration fires also occur. “As more of us light candles to celebrate the holidays, we want to ensure everyone stays safe from home fires — the nation’s most frequent disaster,” said John Montes, Regional Disaster Program Officer for the Red Cross Northern New England Region. “Help protect your family by using battery-operated candles, testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute escape plan with everyone in your household.”

Vermont Business Magazine THINKMD, a Vermont-based health technology company, has been awarded a $1.5 million grant by Development Innovative Ventures (DIV), the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) open innovation program. THINKMD’s clinical assessment software and data analytics tool delivers on-demand, physician-based clinical knowledge to allow less-skilled healthcare providers to evaluate and treat patients. This grant provides for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Nigeria to evaluate the tool’s effectiveness in enabling community health workers and nurses to provide a similar quality of care to that offered by medical doctors.

Vermont Business Magazine More than a dozen members of the community attended Gifford Wellness’s free diabetes informational event on Thursday at Gifford’s Conference Center. Gifford’s expert care team of educators, nutritionists, podiatrists, physical therapists and counselors gave presentations on a variety of topics related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Vermont Business Magazine Fifteen years ago, Steven Thompson came up with a plan. An accomplished local businessman and engineer by trade, Thompson decided when he retired, he would start a business helping older people stay in their homes – also known as “aging-in-place”. “I know what it feels like to have elderly parents who want to age in place,” Thompson said. “It bothered me that seniors often feel pressured to go into assisted living, when maybe all they need is a little extra help at home.” After researching a variety of business models, Thompson decided to launch Seniors Helping Seniors Vermont, an in-home care service that hires retirees and older adults as caregivers for less active seniors.