Current News

University of Vermont President Suresh Garimella This week’s media coverage of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) into an anonymous third party’s allegations that the university failed to adequately respond to complaints of anti-Jewish, biased behavior at UVM has painted our community in a patently false light. While common wisdom dictates remaining patiently silent as we cooperate diligently with an agency’s investigation, I simply cannot do so. These public allegations and our community’s deeply held values call for a strong and immediate response. UVM is a community with a long, proud history of inclusiveness. We denounce hateful actions and respond briskly and decisively whenever those responsible are identified. UVM is home to a strong and vibrant Jewish community and is recognized as a place where—year after year—many Jewish students, faculty, and staff choose to study, teach, conduct research, practice medicine, and work. As a community, we adhere to Our Common Ground values of respect, integrity, innovation, openness, justice, and responsibility.

Vermont Business Magazine Five seasoned leaders with expertise in education, business, and innovation have joined the Vermont Technology Council. Alex Hernandez, president, Champlain College; Lindsay Kurrle, VT secretary of Commerce and Community Development; Mark Anarumo, president, Norwich University; Kirk Dombrowski, vice president of research, University of Vermont; and Pam Mackenzie, serial technology executive and nonprofit leader, have joined the Council.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center has submitted a request to the Green Mountain Care Board for a Certificate of Need that would allow the hospital to expand its robotic surgical services to meet patient needs through the purchase of an additional da Vinci XI robotic surgical system. Robotic-assisted surgery in areas such as gynecological, urological, thoracic, colorectal, ENT and bariatric specialties can lead to better overall surgical outcomes for patients and reduce blood loss, complications, scarring and length of stay in the hospital. Under Vermont’s regulatory structure, health care organizations must seek approval via a Certificate of Need from the Board for the purchase of a single piece of equipment if its cost exceeds $1,682,693. The purchase price of the new da Vinci XI robot is $2.42 million.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union has announced the grand opening of its eighth branch location and new corporate campus at 275 Kennedy Drive in South Burlington. The new 40,000-square-foot corporate campus will be home to approximately 100 employees and all Vermont Federal Credit Union internal departments. The new retail branch will bring a full array of banking capabilities and services to the local community.

Vermont Business Magazine Hinda Miller and Polly Smith—fellow NYU stage design graduates—have led remarkable, multi-act lives. Miller has been a successful entrepreneur and a Vermont state senator; Smith is a famed costume designer and eight-time Emmy winner. But their professional lives intersected in 1977 at a Shakespeare Festival in Lake Champlain, Vermont. That’s where Miller and Smith—along with Smith’s lifelong friend Lisa Lindahl—came up with the idea that changed women’s sports, and the ready-to-wear apparel industry, forever: the Jogbra.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) Thursday announced the award of a $500,000 grant through the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures program to restore the historic Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms. With the funding, Shelburne Farms will be able to make critically needed fire safety and other building repairs to protect and preserve one of the great barns in America, including completing restoration of the barns’ exterior. The restored barn will contribute to Shelburne Farms’ mission to support community programs and education focused on sustainability. The Vermont delegation sent a letter of support to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in March advocating for the project.

Vermont Business Magazine For the first time in over two years, Rutland Regional Medical Center was able to welcome people into the facility to celebrate a major milestone, the completion of renovations to the Psychiatric Service Inpatient Unit (PSIU). The event took place at 4pm on Wednesday, September 14 in the hospital’s CVPS/Leahy Community Health Education Center on the lower level. Prior to the start of the celebration, Vermont Mental Health Commissioner, Emily Hawes, and Deputy Commissioner Allison Krompf, were given a private tour of PSIU by unit nurse director, Lesa Cathcart.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Thursday issued the following statement after rail carriers and rail workers reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement: “Now it’s up to the rank-and-file union members to evaluate this deal and determine whether it works for them. These workers have not had a raise in three years and continue to work incredibly long hours under brutal working conditions. I will respect and support whatever decision they make.”

Vermont Business Magazine Correlate Infrastructure Partners Inc. (OTCQB: CIPI), a technology-enabled energy optimization and clean energy solutions provider for all North America based in Shreveport, Louisiana, has announced a nonbinding letter of intent to acquire Waitsfield, Vermont-based Aegis Renewable Energy Inc. Aegis is a leading commercial, industrial and community solar company focused on solar project development and EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) services in the eastern United States and is a member of the Amicus Solar Cooperative Network. Financial terms were not disclosed. Employment for the Aegis team is expected to expand.