Current News
by tim
Barre, Vermont, February 2007.
The Harley-Davidson Motor Company recently released the 2006 Harley-Davidson Owner Satisfaction Survey Ratings for the United States and ranked Vermont business, Wilkins Harley-Davidson number 3 out of 669 dealers nationwide.
Wilkins Harley-Davidson sells, customizes and rents motorcycles while employing a staff of 15.
Wilkins Harley-Davidson and is located in South Barre, Vermont off of Route 14.
The business is celebrating its 60th year in business and was founded by the late Harry J. Wilkins. Harry J. Wilkins' wife Barbara, their daughter Ann Lyon and their grandson John Lyon run the business.
For more information, contact John W. Lyon at (802) 476-6104 or visit www.wilkinsharley.com for information about the family.
by tim
Craig Hill and Devi Hill, the owners of Regional Homebuilders LLC of Burlington have continued in the footsteps of former HCJS Inc. With ten years of carpentry experience and backgrounds in business, Craig and Devi continue to provide quality products and services to their customers.
Regional Homebuilders has a small crew and both owners are part of the building experience from start to finish. Regional Homebuilders specializes in custom additions, remodels and new homes. www.regionalhomebuilders.com Office: (802) 864-2485.
by tim
BURLINGTON, Vt. Robert Dean Botjer of Charlotte has been named to the Board of Trustees at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. Botjer is the chairman of Eurowest Inns, Inc., which owns the Inn at Essex, and he is the retired senior vice president and division head for Latin America for Citigroup.
Volunteer activities include serving as a board member and past chairman of the Greater Miami Tennis and Educational Foundation. Botjer holds a bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a master's from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Botjer joins the board of a private, baccalaureate college that offers professionally focused programs balanced by a strong core curriculum. Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a leader in educating students to become skilled practitioners, effective professionals and global citizens.
by tim
Council Authorizes $1.5 Million Of Incentives Under New Program
MONTPELIER, Vt. The Vermont Economic Progress Council has approved more than $1.5 million in job creation incentives under the states new economic development program, including assistance to the new owners of Specialty Filaments.
At its meeting last week, the Council reviewed and authorized the first incentives under the new Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI) program, making three companies eligible to receive up to $1,329,404 in job creation incentives and $240,496 in property tax incentives.
We are very pleased that one of our first authorizations under the new Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program was to assist the Monahan Company in preserving the jobs at the former Specialty Filaments facility, said Karen Marshall, Chair of the Vermont Economic Progress Council. Vermonts economic incentive program is going to work to keep Vermonters at work in Middlebury.
by tim
VT's Everything Equine Continues to Grow
National Experts & Entertainment Highlight 'The Versatile Horse'
By Stephen Mease
ESSEX JUNCTION, VT -- One of the largest equine educational event in New England continues to grow as plans are finalized for the 2007 Everything Equine show on April 28-29 at Champlain Valley Exposition (CVE).
The always popular annual "Horsin' Around" Variety Show is expanding to two shows this year, and a new stallion service auction on Sunday afternoon will benefit the Vermont 4-H Horse programs. National expert Lynn Palm will be on hand to offer training tips that will make both the horse and its owner happier. Palm is a renowned competitor, trainer and instructor with dozens of World and Reserve World Championships.
by tim
DISTRIBUTED ENERGY COMBINING NORTHERN POWER & PROTON ENERGY
TO STRENGTHEN OPERATIONS, REDUCE COST
WALLINGFORD, CT, January 31, 2007 -- Distributed Energy Systems Corp. (NASDAQ: DESC), today announced it will combine its two subsidiaries Northern Power Systems and Proton Energy Systems -- to reduce cost and strengthen systems sales, engineering, production, service and technology development.
by tim
Peak Pitch 07 Gives Entrepreneurs a Lift
We invite entrepreneurs to tune their skis- and their pitch!
Middlebury, VT & Bolton, VTJanuary 15, 2007FreshTracks Capital announces the return of Peak Pitch Vermont on March 1st, an event that gives entrepreneurs and investors an opportunity to network on the slopes of the Bolton Valley Resort. Peak Pitch brings entrepreneurs and investors together for a unique version of the classic "elevator pitch." In the traditional elevator pitch, entrepreneurs take advantage of an unexpected opportunity to share an elevator ride with a potential investor and present their business idea.
by tim
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VERMONT ANNOUNCES DISTINGUISHED EMPLOYEE FOR NOVEMBER 2006
Berlin, VT Mike McAdams, a resident of Orange, VT, has been chosen as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermonts distinguished employee for the month of November 2006.
Mr. McAdams is a maintenance crew member in the facilities department and has been with Blue Cross and Blue Shield for nearly thirteen years. He is cited for his can-do attitude, his willingness to help in any situation, and his dedication to his co-workers and the facility. A co-worker stated, With all of his hard work in the past and his continued contributions, Mike is a very suitable candidate for Employee of the Month.
by tim
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- A partnership of state and federal entities is teaming up to provide small businesses a unique opportunity to discover their true love: More customers.
The Vermont Agency of Transportation and Department of Economic Development, the U.S. Small Business Administration; and the Vermont Small Business Development Center are presenting their fourth annual Strategies for Winning Government Contracts event on Feb. 1.
The highlight of the day is the matchmaker sessions that allow Vermont businesses to introduce their firms and products in one-on-one, ten-minute appointments with various state and federal agencies as well as large companies who already contract with the government.
We like to call it, speed dating for businesses, said Greg Maguire, who runs the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center, formerly the Government Marketing Assistance Center, at the Vermont Department of Economic Development.
by tim
Randolph Center, VT -- The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has announced the election of manufacturing executives John Goodrich and Scott McCreary to their Advisory Board. In addition, Board Member and manufacturer Mike Rainville has been elected Chairperson of the 12-member Board for 2007.
by tim
South Burlington, January 24, 2007---Overall, Vermont CEOs are confident about the economyexpecting sales, capital spending, and employment to increase in the coming six months, according to a quarterly survey conducted by the Vermont Business Roundtable.
Since the last quarterly survey, the number of CEOs predicting a rise in sales climbed six percentage points to 73 percent. Fifty-six percent of respondents forecast a rise in capital spending, compared with 40 percent in the third-quarter. The number of CEOs expecting to add employees jumped 23 percent in the 4th quarter, landing at 53 percent.