Current News

Volz appointed Public Service Board chairman
James Volz, who has served as the Department of Public Service's (DPS) director for public advocacy since 1989, has been appointed chair of the Public Service Board, Governor Jim Douglas has announced.
According to its mission statement, the Public Service Board is a quasi-judicial board that regulates the rates, quality of service, and overall financial management of Vermont's public utilities: cable television, electric, gas, telecommunications, water and large wastewater companies.

David Nichols, Vice President of Climate Systems, Inc. in Williston, has been appointed to a second two-year term on the Board of Advisors of The Unified Group, a national network of 45 pre-eminent heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC).
Headquartered in Chicago, The Unified Group is composed of independent HVAC contractors who share a commitment to remaining independent, while providing quality service to clients. The Board of Advisors oversees The Unified Group's five major business areas including purchasing, business opportunities, membership, training and marketing. Participation in The Unified Group is limited to one member company per geographic area, and companies must have demonstrated a commitment to providing quality service to their clients.
Climate Systems, Inc. is a locally-owned , full service and installation heating, ventilatin, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanical contractor dedicated to customer satisfaction.

Burlington, VT -- Olivia Gorun, of Burlington, VT announced today the launch of Aviva, an image consulting service for people who are transforming themselves. Olivia helps men and women develop a plan to evaluate style, color and wardrobe needs to meet personal and professional goals. As a result, her clients project confidence, feel beautiful, and express themselves in a way that emphasizes their potential. The business is the first of its kind in Chittenden County.
Avivas mission is to help her clients look great at any stage of life. Personal style has little to do with what is considered fashionable in a given season, says Olivia. Instead, it emphasizes the bodys potential. When clothes and makeup complement your coloring, you look natural and exciting.

Maponics, LLC (www.maponics.com), a nationwide provider of custom mapping solutions, has announced the expansion of its sales territory design capabilities. This development enables managers to create territories that make as much sense in the field as they do on paper a key to maximizing profitability and employee satisfaction.

BURLINGTON, Vt.--Champlain College is offering a new Information Security degree that will put students on the front line of the information technology battlefield. Students will learn to fend off information loss and computer intrusions--including threats from nefarious hackers, debilitating viruses, stealthy Trojan Horses and denial-of-service attacks.
Starting in the fall, the program joins Champlains Computer Networking and Computer & Digital Forensics programs to create a unique and comprehensive team of undergraduate offerings in this dynamic IT arena. Information Security professionals keep undesireables out of their networks, said program director Gary Kessler, when describing the difference between the programs. Computer forensics professionals investigate the problem once someone has gotten in.

Citizens Bank Foundation Grant Expands Affordable Homeownership Programs
[Burlington, VT] More than 13,000 Vermonters would qualify for a home mortgage but need help finding affordable homes and financial assistance. Thanks to a significant Citizens Bank Foundation grant contribution, hundreds of low and moderate income Vermonters will be able to attain affordable homeownership with home buyer education and financial assistance.

Governor Announces Changes in Administration
Montpelier -- Governor Jim Douglas has announced that the secretaries
of human services and administration are planning to switch positions in
the next phase of the Governor's efforts to strengthen government
services, save Medicaid and reform health care.
Effective Monday, February 21, Charlie Smith will become administration
secretary, state government's equivalent of a chief operating officer and
Mike Smith will become human services secretary, overseeing the largest
and most costly agency in state government. Both men will work closely
together to ensure a smooth transition of all management and legislative
issues.
Governor Douglas said both men have served extraordinarily well in their
current positions and that each agency will benefit from the change.
"Charlie and Mike are invaluable members of my team and both have worked

The Women Business Owners Network (WBON) welcomes 19 new members:

New Study Results Show Visitor Spending Impact On Vermont Economy
MONTPELIER - Governor Jim Douglas and Vermont's Tourism Commissioner have unveiled the results of a major new study that they say is the most detailed and comprehensive ever undertaken to measure the impact of visitor spending on the Vermont economy.
The survey, conducted by Economic and Policy Resources (EPR) of Williston shows that in 2003, visitors made an estimated 12.8 million trips to Vermont and direct visitor spending totaled $1.46 billion. In addition, the study found that visitor spending, both directly and indirectly, supported more than 36,470 jobs (approximately 1 in every 10) for Vermont workers and business owners and added $181.7 million in tax and fee revenues to state coffers in the General, Education and Transportation Funds.

JB PHILLIPS CONSULTING, LLC, a Vermont-based public finance advisory firm, has been established to serve the capital needs of smaller government and non-profit entities in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
As municipalities, school districts, and non-profits (including hospitals, independent schools and museums) assess the need for improvements, renovations and building projects, alternative funding sources may be considered to avoid deferring facility upgrades.
Judy Phillips, Norwich, the firms founder and Principal, is an experienced public finance professional, with over 20 years experience in both the public (NYC government) and private (JP Morgan, Bankers Trust and Merrill Lynch) sectors. She can assist non-profit issuers with their capital plans, through preparation of tax-exempt issues for project financing and as an advisor for investor relations.

Robert resigns position on hospitals board
Elisabeth Robert, president and CEO of Vermont Teddy Bear, resigned her seat of the Fletcher Allen Health Care's Board of Trustees today (February 9, 2005). Robert issued the following statement: "After discussing the matter with other board members at our meeting yesterday, I have decided to resign form the Fletcher Allen Board of Trustees, effective immediately, because I believe this will be in the best interest of the organization. I believed it was necessary to have a discussion with the entire board before reaching this decision and yesterdays meeting was our first opportunity.

Hanover, NH, February 9, 2005 - UK Architects, PC, has finalized a contract with the Sugar River Redevelopment Company, LLC, to be the Architect of Record for the rehabilitation of the Peterson and Wainshal Mill Buildings in Claremont, New Hampshire. UK Architects will be working in collaboration with the Design Collective, an architectural firm from Baltimore, Maryland. The Design Collective will provide master planning and schematic design services for the project, and UK Architects will be responsible for implementing the design and overseeing the construction. This professional collaboration brings expertise in the area of mill building rehabilitation, along with local knowledge and project oversight experience, to Sugar River Redevelopment and the City of Claremont.