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by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 327 cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday (297 Tuesday, 157 Monday, 100 Sunday, 186 Saturday, 233 Friday, 243 Thursday, 216 Wednesday, and 219 last Tuesday.) The VDH reported no additional deaths this week for 623 statewide. As cases have risen over the last couple weeks, Chittenden and Washington have reported both the most total and the highest rate per capita. Officials urge those who take a COVID home test to report those results whether positive or negative.

Vermont Business Magazine Financial Regulation Commissioner Michael S Pieciak today announced that he has approved the first-ever payment from Department of Financial Regulation’s (DFR) Victim Restitution Fund. Under recent legislative authority, Act No. 57 of 2019, the Fund allows DFR to pay securities fraud victims a portion of their losses when full restitution is not paid by the perpetrator of the fraud. Monies in the fund are derived from settlements in DFR enforcement cases. Early in the pandemic, a Vermont resident was defrauded of $21,250 by William J. Therieau, an unregistered individual purporting to be an investment professional.

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Ready to get back into the workforce? Looking for a new job? Considering a career change? Look no further! On Tuesday, April 26^th, over 100 local recruiters will be at Champlain Valley Expo ready to interview and hire, so bring your resume and your “A” game!

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Law School (VLS) Board of Trustees today announced that it has named Rodney A Smolla incoming VLS president. The higher education leader and legal educator, litigator, scholar, and author will become the school’s president on July 1. Professor Smolla’s appointment represents the first in a series of personnel and operational transformations called for in a board-adopted strategic plan aimed at elevating the school’s world-renowned environmental program and first-of-its-kind restorative justice program, and growing enrollment and institutional reputation by appealing to a wider audience of prospective students and donors.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Power Company Board Chair Larry Reilly and President and CEO Tom Dunn announce the elections of Maura Collins as Board member, Jaime Smyrski as Corporate Secretary, and Colin Owyang as Chief Operating Officer. These elections were unanimously approved by the company’s Board of Directors on April 14, 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Bond Bank hosted the first Vermont Capital Planning Forum on April 7th and April 8th. Extraordinary resources and extraordinary unknowns face Vermont’s towns and school districts in the post-pandemic era. The Bond Bank sought to highlight the importance of the capital plan in making a community’s vision tangible while also prudently using citizen resources.

Vermont Business Magazine In its continued effort to revitalize correctional facilities and recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vermont Department of Corrections is announcing the reopening of in-person services and visitation at all six state correctional facilities. In addition, the practice of intake quarantine is set to end on April 18. This practice served as one of the Department’s strongest mitigation tools in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus to general population housing units.

Vermont Business Magazine Mariah Choiniere of Franklin is among a select group of student leaders nationwide to become 2022 Truman Scholars.

Choiniere is one of 58 Truman Scholars selected from 705 candidates nominated by 275 colleges and universities. Truman Scholars demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.

Mariah Choiniere photo by Bailey Beltramo

Vermont Business Magazine In an announcement made on March 31, 2022, the Rochester-based law firm of Relin, Goldstein & Crane, LLP was selected by The State of Vermont as statewide counsel to represent the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources in its debt collection efforts and judgment enforcement proceedings. In order for the department to maintain its mission to the state and its constituents, the organization must ensure that it has legal representation to handle collection matters when they arise.

Vermont Business Magazine This spring, great minds will gather for a week of free events as part of the 16th annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS). VORS coincides with International Compost Awareness Week (May 2-6), the largest and most comprehensive education initiative of the compost industry. This year’s theme, “Recipe for Regeneration: COMPOST!”, celebrates the value of compost and organics recycling, and the many ways it supports regenerative agriculture, the health of the environment, communities, and the economy. The free online and in-person events include topics like on-farm composting, infrastructure, organics diversion, different technologies, inspiring the next generation, and more!

Vermont Business Magazine The 2022 Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) conference, Our Clean Energy Future in a Changing World: Resilient, Inclusive, Secure will take place October 27 & 28 in South Burlington, Vermont. The largest comprehensive renewable energy event in New England, REV's annual conference and expo convenes business, policy, and finance experts from across the region. This year, REV’s fall conference will be focused on moving forward, taking action, and addressing the steps needed to make Vermont a leader in the clean energy movement once again. Being the leading renewable energy event in the region, the REV Conference & Expo brings together and showcases the renewable energy industry.

Vermont Business Magazine One of the state’s premier wildlife watching opportunities is taking place in Vermont. The steelhead rainbow trout have started their upstream migration to leap up waterfalls in a spectacular display of determination on their way to their spawning grounds. Steelhead can be spotted moving up the falls during warmer days in mid-to-late April and sometimes into early May.