Current News

Cabot Creamery, Hartford Chambers Ottmann Take Top Industry Awards
MANCHESTER, Vt. A total of 312 attendees came away from the 2005 Vermont Travel Industry Conference (VTIC) with new knowledge, new contacts and new strategies for marketing their businesses. In addition, Cabot Creamery received the first ever Governors Award for Tourism Marketing Excellence and industry veteran Gayle Ottmann of the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce was honored as the 2005 Vermont Travel Person of the Year.

JAN MARINELLI JOINS CHITTENDEN BANK AS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Burlington, VT John W. Kelly, President and CEO of Chittenden Bank announces the hiring of Jan Marinelli as Chittenden Banks new Director of Community Development Services.
Every year through the Chittenden Community Fund, the Card for Kids Program, Socially Responsible Banking, sponsorships and donations, Chittenden invests well over $1 million in programs and projects that support our Vermont community. Marinelli will oversee these programs and help Chittenden continue to invest in Vermont and its people.
We are thrilled to have such talent in this very important role at Chittenden said Kelly. Chittenden has been a part of Vermont for 100 years and one of our main goals is to be sure we give back to the communities where we have all chosen to live and raise our families Kelly continued.

Mary Alice McKenzie joins Paul Frank + Collins to lead Employment + Labor practice

VEDA BOARD APPROVES $2.6 MILLION IN BUSINESS
PROJECT FINANCING STATEWIDE
Montpelier, VT A Bennington manufacturer will add almost 100 new jobs within three years and a growing Essex Town company will acquire its own facility with financial assistance approved by the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) Board of Directors. The Directors approved loan financing requests of $2.6 million to support business development projects totaling $7.8 million statewide.
It is gratifying to all of us to see businesses investing in solid growth and good-paying jobs in Vermont, and VEDA is pleased to help these companies achieve their goals, said Jo Bradley, VEDAs Chief Executive Officer.
Projects approved by the VEDA Board are:

Council Authorizes Tax Incentives To Create Snowshoe Manufacturing Jobs In Vermont

MONTPELIER -- The Vermont Economic Progress Council recently approved almost a quarter-million dollars in tax credits to a Williston firm that plans to manufacture snowshoes in Vermont.
The council approved an application from TSL USA, LLC at its meeting on October 27th, 2005, after the firm presented plans to manufacture aluminum and plastic snowshoes in Williston, Vermont and distribute their products worldwide.

The company was authorized for $241,925 in payroll, research and development and workforce development tax credits to add new jobs and invest in research and development and employee training and education. The company was also considering sites in Clinton County, New York.

Morrisville,VT - In the world of candles, consumers have a hard time finding truly natural candles, even in large natural chain stores and food cooperatives. Most candles contain synthetic dyes, fragrances and additives. Add to that, many candles are encased in plastic materials, which conflicts with the ultimate purpose of creating and selling natural products. The folks at Way Out Wax Vermont Naturals (WOW-VN) think differently. That means using natural material in their packaging, not just in their products.

Burlington, VT John W. Kelly, President and CEO of Chittenden Bank announces the hiring of Jan Marinelli as Chittenden Banks new Director of Community Development Services.
Every year through the Chittenden Community Fund, the Card for Kids Program, Socially Responsible Banking, sponsorships and donations, Chittenden invests well over $1 million in programs and projects that support our Vermont community. Marinelli will oversee these programs and help Chittenden continue to invest in Vermont and its people.
We are thrilled to have such talent in this very important role at Chittenden said Kelly. Chittenden has been a part of Vermont for 100 years and one of our main goals is to be sure we give back to the communities where we have all chosen to live and raise our families Kelly continued.

Montpelier, VT USA Risk Group announced today its expansion of its Burlington offices. They have recently hired two experienced captive insurance account managers, Jenny Denison and Judy McNally to assist in the continued captive growth of the Group.
With the two new hires, the Burlington office will be taking new office space in the Gateway Plaza office building at 30 Main Street, Suite 450 in Burlington effective December 12th.
USA Risk Group is a leading alternative risk service provider with offices in Arizona, Bermuda, BVI, Cayman Islands, New York, South Carolina, Vermont, and USVI. Business Insurance recently named USA Risk Group the 2nd largest independent captive manager and 7th largest in the world. Further details on USA Risk Group are available at www.usarisk.com.

GEER Sound & Communications Only Vermont Company to Earn Highest AV Industry Certification
One of 3 in New England and 65 in the World
Milton, VT - December 9, 2005 GEER Sound & Communications today announced that it is the only company in Vermont and one of only three in New England to earn Gold Level certification in the Certified AudioVisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) Program. GEER Sound earned the highest certification level because at least 75% of its employees are Certified Technology Specialists.
The Certified AudioVisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) Program is the industry standard certification program for companies in the professional audiovisual industry. It is administered by InfoComm International® and the International Communications Industries Foundation (ICIF).

Champlain Valley Exposition Receives
National Honors for Fair Photos and Exhibits
ESSEX JUNCTION, VT - The Champlain Valley Exposition (CVE) received five top awards at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) 115th annual conference held Nov. 28-30 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Exposition won first place awards in the IAFE Competitive Exhibits Contest, General Competitive Exhibit Display Photo showing the Winners Circle in the Home Crafts Department and the Competitive Exhibit Display Photo Series categories showing the giant pumpkin weigh-in process. The winning photos were taken by Stephen Mease, CVEs director of public relations.

[Burlington, Vermont] After eight years in Boston, graphic designer Jeffrey Ferland has returned to Vermont and opened his own studio in Burlington, called Ferland Design. Ferland specializes in the full suite of communications materials, including brochures, advertisements, direct mail, Web sites, branding, and packaging.
Located at 113 Church Street, on the 2nd-floor studio, Ferlands clients represent a wide range of industries. His Vermont clients include Armistead Caregiver Services, Duncan Wisniewski Architecture, Kerr Advertising, the Family Center of Washington County, the Vermont Homeownership Initiative, and Alderson Environmental. His Boston clients include Merrimac Mutual Funds and AMW Marketing. Hes also working with NCSI Inc. of Columbia, Maryland.

Church, Engle & Associates Inc, Recruitment Specialist and Human Resource Consultants has opened its office in Shelburne. We provide businesses with Professional, Executive and Key Position Recruitment as well as General Human Resource Consulting. Barbara S. Church and Keith J. Engle each bring over 25 years of Human Resource experience with extensive knowledge of the local business community and personalized and in-depth service. Services include: Search, Recruitment Programs, Employee Relations Assistance including Labor and Sexual Harassment, Performance Management, Management Training, Policy and Procedure Development, Compensation and HR Audits. www.churchengle.com