Current News

LeCOUNT Inc., a White River Junction tool manufacturer, has been named Exporter of the Year by the Vermont International Business Council (VIBC), a standing committee of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. LeCOUNT expanding mandrels and hydraulic workholding tooling are purchased by gear manufacturers in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, India, Japan, Canada, and China. The company is named after Charles W. LeCount, who patented his expanding mandrels in 1847.
Presented to a company that has contributed significantly to Vermont’s international trade stature, the Exporter of the Year award recognizes the hard work, innovation, and vision displayed by companies competing in the global marketplace.

On May 10 at Champlain College, Governor Jim Douglas led the kick-off of an educational assault in the name of computer and information security. He joined the volunteers of the Vermont chapter of InfraGard to introduce an initiative called VT INFOSAFE--an information security education effort targeted at home and small business computer users.
Computer security experts from InfraGard announced they will volunteer their time to deliver 20 free training sessions around the state—from Bennington to Enosburg Falls. The security experts say Vermonters must become more vigilant in protecting their small business and home computers to prevent falling victim to identity theft, viruses, cyberstalking, Trojan Horses, intellectual property theft, and other cybercrimes.

Cambium Group, a leading web site development firm based in Montpelier launched a new e-commerce web site today for Strategies Publishing Group, Inc. The new site, www.strategies.com offers an online shopping system, seminar/event registration and ‘members only’ area with exclusive content for Strategies Magazine subscribers.
Located in Centerbrook Connecticut, Strategies Publishing Group, Inc. (Strategies) is the professional beauty industry’s largest provider of business education through printed media, seminar events and consulting services. Strategies was founded in 1994 by Neil Ducoff, one of the most respected minds in the professional beauty industry for over twenty-five years.
Neil had this to say about the new web site:

The Telework Impact & Opportunities: Best Practices and Current Issues Conference will be held on June 3 & 4, 2004 at the Stoweflake Resort & Spa in Stowe, Vermont.
This national conference will focus on the need for employers to create work at home employment opportunities geared to meet the changing needs of the workforce. As employees demonstrate a need for greater balance between their professional and personal lives, working at home is proving to be one of the more important opportunities that an employer can offer as part of a successful work/life program. At the same time, as the number of self employed persons continues to rise, niche markets are being created for new assistive technology applications and specialized training to prepare individuals for the work at home experience.

WCAX-TV has been awarded Station of the Year honors by the Vermont
Association of Broadcasters. In addition, the Creative Services
Department of WCAX-TV in Burlington, Vermont has been honored with first
place honors for Commercial Production. The awards were presented at
ceremonies during the Association's annual meeting in Killington, Vermont
on May 7, 2004.
Station of the Year honors are based upon a radio or television station's
commitment and importance to the community it serves. WCAX-TV is proudly
celebrating 50 years of service to the Vermont, New York, and New
Hampshire. WCAX-TV has been honored as Station of the Year numerous times
by the Vermont Association of Broadcasters.
WCAX-TV was awarded first place in the television commercial category for
a spot produced for the Center for Technology, Essex, written and produced

Edwin Colodny was awarded the 2004 Champlain College Distinguished Citizen Award during the college’s 126th Commencement Ceremony.
Each year the College singles out an individual from the community who displays exceptional personal and professional achievement, a strong record of community service, and dynamic leadership.
In his remarks at Commencement, the chairman of Champlain’s board of trustees, William G. Post, Jr., described Colodny as a humble leader who has been a vital force in the economic, intellectual and artistic life of the area over the course of six decades.
The Burlington native was president, CEO, and chairman of the board of US Airways, and chairman of the board of Comcast Corporation. He was on counsel in a high-powered Washington law firm and he was a sought-after corporate board member.

A program that marks a milestone for Champlain College—-as its first master’s level offering—-is celebrating its first graduates.
Master’s hoods were presented at a ceremony in the College’s historic Morgan Room on May 7 to four master’s graduates. These professionals are the first to graduate of the 50 adults currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Managing Innovation and Information Technology (MIIT) program, a business-and-technology program which began in the fall of 2002 and is delivered completely online.
Champlain officials and faculty members in academic regalia formed a procession into the Morgan Room and presented the graduates with blue and tan academic hoods to mark their achievement. The College President and program directors placed the hoods over the shoulders of the graduates while their families looked on.

The Micro Business Development Program is offering a free
8 week course for people interested in starting a childcare business or
expanding their existing business. The course begins on Wednesday, May
17, 2004, at 6:30 pm at our office in The Maltex Building, 431 Pine
Street, Burlington, VT.
Childcare has proved a pivotal industry in Vermont over the last two
decades by providing a substantial income for households where both
parents want to work. Many providers go into the field because of their
care and skills with children. The class aims to assist those providers
excel in the field by enabling them to effectively deal with business
issues.
The course is based on a curriculum developed by the Marion Ewing
Kauffman Foundation, a reputable organization devoted to
entrepreneurship and education. It addresses two key components of a

Green Mountain Power Corporation (NYSE: GMP)announced consolidated earnings of $0.72 per share of common stock, diluted, for the first quarter of 2004 compared with consolidated earnings of $0.80 per share, diluted, for the same period in 2003.
“First quarter earnings were on target, and reflected strong growth in retail sales,” said Christopher L. Dutton, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Earnings are lower than the first quarter of 2003 only because of a one-time benefit from additional energy deliveries in 2003 that occurred at a time when we could sell excess power in the wholesale market at unusually high prices. Forecasted earnings for 2004 remain in the range of $2.05 per share to $2.15 per share.”

Catherine McIntyre and Terri Parent, formerly of PDI Creative Communication in Burlington, recently launched Stride Creative Group, a full-service creative partnership specializing in print design, web design and advertising. The two have capitalized on their 5-year working relationship to support the marketing efforts of Vermont-based businesses and non-profit organizations.
Parent, an Art Director for over 8 years, creates marketing and branding strategies for Stride’s clients. She designs corporate identities, marketing materials, web sites, advertisements, and signage — and writes marketing copy and radio scripts. McIntyre, an Editorial and Web Designer for over 6 years, also designs marketing materials, web sites, advertising, and signage, and offers the technical component of web development. She heads up media planning and implementation strategies, and writes marketing copy as well.

Catherine Kronk, Liam Murphy and Brian Sullivan are very pleased to announce the formation of the law firm of Murphy Sullivan Kronk. Located in the historic Peck House in downtown Burlington, MSK will focus its practice on transactions, permitting and litigation in the fields of real estate, land development and commercial law. Jeremy Farkas and Jamie Ha-O’Brien have joined us as associates practicing in the areas of commercial real estate transactions, telecommunications law and litigation.
MSK is proud to have been recognized, at its formation, by Chambers & Partners USA as one of Vermont top tier real estate and land use firms, in its 2004 “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business”:

Joseph M. Finnigan, president and CEO of Vermont Federal Credit Union (VTFCU), is pleased to announce that Sarah Gamer, CPA, has joined the Vermont Federal Credit Union senior management team as Controller.
Sarah brings to the Credit Union over 28 years of professional experience in accounting, finance, administration and consulting. Prior to the credit union, she was Dean of Administration at Johnson State College, as well as a financial and taxation consultant for various firms in the area. She also spent time as the Director of Finance and Administration at the New Brunswick Seminary and the Director of Administrative Service at Western New England College.