Current News
by tim
BERLIN'S KAREN AND BRIAN ZECCHINELLI NAMED CHAMPIONS OF SMALL BUSINESS
Karen and Brian Zecchinelli, owners of the Wayside Restaurant and Bakery in Berlin, have been named the 2005 Vermont Champion of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
Karen takes pride in the continued operation of her independent family business as well as providing her 75 full and part-time employees excellent wages and benefits, said Shawn Banfield, state director of the NFIB/Vermont chapter.
The national honor was conferred on the Zecchinellis by the Leadership Council of the NFIB/Vermont chapter. Each year, NFIB singles out a small-business owner in all 50 states for special recognition and honors them with its prestigious Small Business Champion award. This is the second year the national NFIB has awarded small-business owners who go the extra mile for Main Street businesses and mom-and-pop companies.
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The Vermont Chamber departs this Friday, March 11, for a 14-day trade mission to Shanghai and Taiwan. Vermont Chamber Vice President of International Trade Curtis Picard is leading the delegation, which is comprised of business people, employees of Vermonts higher educational institutions, and a representative of the state.
While in Shanghai, the group will meet work with Vermont Chamber international trade liaison Chris Barbieri to finalize plans for a reverse trade mission slated for June 2005. The June reverse trade mission, one of the first of its kind, will bring Chinese individuals who are interested in doing business in the Green Mountain State, to Vermont. Attending a large semiconductor trade show, meeting with the Bureau Chief of Forbes Magazines Shanghai division, and arranging internship opportunities for Vermont students in China will round out the groups trip to Shanghai.
by tim
National Life Records Strong Gains
In Financial Results and Sales in 2004
Montpelier, Vt. (March 4, 2005) - The National Life Group recorded a strong increase in net income in 2004, along with solid growth in total sales and positive investment returns.
Net income on a consolidated basis, including all the companies within the National Life Group, was $86 million, an increase of more than 11% over the previous year and a record level for the company.
Results across most product lines were also strong, with each of the Group's sales divisions posting increases over the previous year. Annuity sales increased 29%, the company's Sentinel Funds sales again exceeded $1 billion, with life sales down slightly from the previous record year. An overall life milestone was reached by the company in 2004, however, when it reached a total of $50 billion in life insurance in force.
by tim
United Way Community Campaign Exceeds $3.8m Goal
Investments Impact all of Chittenden County
United Way of Chittenden County announced today it expects to meet and exceed its goal of $3.8 million for its 2004 Community Campaign. By the end of March, it anticipates having reached 102% of goal.
"These are challenging times for everyone," stated volunteer Community Campaign Chair Kevin Dwyer, who is Senior Vice President of Hackett Valine & MacDonald. "Amidst those challenges, our community came together to create relief for those that struggle the most. It wouldn't be possible without the enthusiastic support of more than 500 campaign volunteers."
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IBM Joins Vermont Energy Partnership
Vermont's Largest Employer Concerned About State's Energy Future
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The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Tom Shampnois of Burlington will join the staff as the Director of Advertising Sales and Marketing.
Tom is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of diverse experience in the travel and tourism industry. Most recently, Tom was the Group Sales Manager for the Best Western Windjammer Inn in South Burlington, Vermont.
Tom will begin his duties with the Vermont Chamber on March 28th.
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BURLINGTON, Vt.--Carolyn Schmidt of Whiting is participating this month in an international conference on corporate responsibility which will take her to Salvador, Brazil. Schmidt is a member of the staff and board of directors of ECOLOGIA, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Middlebury, and an adjunct professor at Champlain College in Burlington.
From March 7-11, she will meet with representatives from around the globe to create the first draft of a social responsibility standard for the ISO (International Organization of Standards).
The task is to set a framework for the 21st century for how well treat people and the environment, Schmidt said. Whatever the ISO does, it will probably become the global standard.
The conference will address two main categories: social responsibility of business, including the treatment of workers around the world, and environmental responsibility, including pollution and sustainable development.
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After a very successfull 2 years with V/T Commercial Real Estate, Jed Dousevicz has been named an owner/principal in the firm. Jed has an extensive background in sales, small business management and has been involved in real estate for 10 years. In the past 2 years, he has been focusing on commercial real estate sales and leasing and business brokerage, which he will continue to concentrate on as a partner.
by tim
PilatesSpace opens a Studio in Burlington, Vermont
New Studio Features Vermonts First Access to the Gyrotonic® Expansion System
Burlington PilatesSpace, a fitness and physical therapy studio, announces today the opening of its new space at 208 Flynn Avenue in Burlington. PilatesSpace offers private, semi-private and group sessions in Pilates. Pilates, a conditioning program developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, uses specialized equipment and mat exercises to improve strength, flexibility, breathing function, posture and coordination. PilatesSpace also offers Gyrotonic®, yoga, massage, and physical therapy.
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Business Roundtable's survey shows little change
The Vermont Business Roundtables First Quarter 2005 CEO Economic Outlook Survey, show that projections for both sales and employment levels are virtually unchanged from the previous survey period, however a greater percentage of CEOs is projecting an increase in capital expenditures over the coming six months.
Higher capital expenditures are forecasted for the next six-month period (10% above last quarter), but still down from this time last year. Sales projections are virtually the same as last quarter, but down from responses from this time last year. And, projected employment levels are down slightly from last quarter, though by and large, very similar to this time last year.
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Gardner selected Small Business Person of the Year
Oliver J Gardner, owner and president of Four Seasons Garden Center in Williston has been selected as the US Small Business Administrations (SBA) 2005 Vermont Small Business Person of the Year. Nominated by Bob Blanchard, Vice President of Charter One Bank, Burlington, Gardner was selected for outstanding leadership related to his companys staying power, employee growth, increase in sales, innovative ingenuity, response to adversity and contributions to the community.
Four Seasons is a regional, independent retail garden center specializing in an extensive inventory of ornamental trees and shrubs, perennials, annuals and garden accessories. Through repeated demonstrations of revenue-generating ability paired with environmental accountability, Four Seasons set standards that changed the garden center industrys paradigm for success.
by tim
Governor signs reimportation legislation
Governor Jim Douglas has signed a drug reimportation bill that will allow a small number of Vermonters access to pharmaceuticals from Canada and other nations, and urged the Legislature to move on to more pressing issues.
The governor said that even those who campaigned heavily on the issue of drug reimportation, and who claimed that it would be a significant step toward lower drug prices and affordable health care, now concede that this bill will help only a handful of Vermonters.
The governor added that the Legislature must take action to save Medicaid and pass health insurance reforms that make progress toward our goal of universal coverage this year.