Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) today announced the retirement of Sandy Bigglestone, deputy commissioner of the Captive Insurance Division and one of the most respected leaders globally within the captive insurance industry. Bigglestone officially retires on January 1, 2026, concluding a distinguished career in state government that began in 1997 and helped solidify Vermont’s position as the internationally renowned domicile for captive insurance. As Deputy Commissioner, Bigglestone led the administration and regulation of Vermont’s captive insurance companies and risk retention groups—an industry that has become a cornerstone of Vermont’s financial sector and a model of regulatory excellence worldwide. Under her leadership, the Division earned a reputation for robust oversight, responsive regulation, and a collaborative approach that balanced industry innovation with strong solvency protections. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Pieciak, NorthCountry Federal Credit Union, and the Department of Corrections announced a new partnership to provide financial education and banking services to incarcerated individuals preparing for reentry. The initiative will help ensure returning citizens can achieve financial stability, supporting a more successful transition back into their communities and strengthening Vermont’s workforce and economy. The program will initially be offered at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, VT. The first session took place Friday, November 14, 2025. 

Vermont Business Magazine October brought encouraging signs for the housing market, with home sales up 3.2% compared to October 2024 across 51 metro areas surveyed, according to remax.com. It was the fifth month in 2025 where sales exceeded last year's levels. Month over month, homes sales also increased, rising 1.7% from September defying traditional seasonal dips. The Burlington, Vermont, metro market showed strong increase in inventory and sales, with the third highest increase in median sales price year-over-year.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remain low after an increase in cases that began in August and ran into early fall. Other indicators like wastewater virus show an increase in COVID-19 and Norovirus in Vermont and nationally, while COVID outbreaks also edged higher. 

VermontBiz A first-of-its-kind initiative, funded by a National Institute on Drug Abuse grant, will conduct an ambitious study to better understand trends in drug use and barriers to health care services in New England, including Vermont. The grant will provide approximately $12 million in funding over five years.

Researchers from the University of Vermont Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, Brown University, the University of California–San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and Brown University School of Public Health will evaluate how individuals with substance use disorder in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are impacted by new state programs to prevent HIV, hepatitis C, and overdose syringe services and overdose prevention centers.

VermontBiz In the last few weeks, more than sixty of Vermont’s healthcare leaders gathered centrally at Rutland Regional Medical Center for the Healthcare Leaders Workforce Summit, a pivotal working session to design employer-led education pathways that make it possible for more Vermonters to enter healthcare careers without leaving the state. Across Vermont, hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health and home health providers face critical staffing shortages in essential healthcare occupations: Registered Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Laboratory Technology, and Surgical Technology. Most of these roles require a two-year associate degree at the community college level and are vital to patient care. When vacancies go unfilled, employers rely on contracted “traveler” staff, often costing up to 2.5 times more than a full-time employee with benefits.

VermontBiz Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) recently celebrated its annual VNA Week, a dedicated time to honor and appreciate the remarkable staff who embody the organization’s mission of compassionate, high-quality care. The celebration culminated with the annual Employee Recognition Dinner, a special event recognizing team members whose commitment, compassion, and excellence consistently go above and beyond in caring for patients and their families.

During the event, VNAHSR proudly recognized its HEALTH Matters Award winners and honored the Employee of the Year. The HEALTH Matters Awards reflect the organization’s core values—Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Leadership, Teamwork, and Helpfulness—which serve as guiding principles in fulfilling its mission and vision.

Vermont Business Magazine PCC (Physician's Computer Company), the Burlington-based leader in pediatric software solutions, has announced an AI scribing solution coming in 2026. Developed by PCC with direct input from pediatricians, this innovation will help practices return to what matters most: face time with patients and high quality, convenient documentation. PCC has the tools and unique expertise to create a tailored AI Scribe solution that focuses on workflow efficiency, security, and trust, while providing a path for future AI advancements. PCC's AI Scribe will be directly embedded within PCC EHR, removing the need for third-party tools.

Vermont Business Magazine Landmark College held its first Neuroinclusive Career Fair in late October as part of its commitment to supporting both employers and students who learn differently as they enter the workforce. While most career fairs simply connect potential employers with potential workers, the Landmark College Office of Career Connections takes a unique approach—supporting both sides of the employment equation to ensure that neurodiverse talent is put in a position to thrive. The event featured 15 employees, including both organizations from the Connecticut River Valley region as well as nationwide companies such as EY Inc. Notable local employers included Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Chroma Technology Corporation, Stratton Mountain Resort, and The Richards Group.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, has appointed Estevan Garcia, MD, as its CEO and president. He will succeed Thomas A. Dee, FACHE who will departing early January 2026. Garcia, a specialist in pediatric emergency medicine, has most recently supported Dartmouth College in addressing the student mental health crisis by utilizing a public health preventative approach. Prior to this, he served as chief medical officer for the Massachusetts Department of Health. His role has included significant fundraising and outreach for new services, centers and buildings.

Vermont Business Magazine Generator Makerspace will host a community sewing workshop over two days in December dedicated to supporting breast cancer patients receiving care at the University of Vermont Medical Center's Oncology Unit. The workshops will take place Saturday, December 13, and Sunday, December 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Generator Makerspace in Burlington. The goal is to produce as many shower bags as possible in support of patients recovering from breast cancer surgery. The bags provide a simple but meaningful way to offer comfort, dignity, and convenience during treatment and recovery—allowing patients to shower hands-free while managing post-surgical drains.

VermontBiz U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) partnered with U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) and Joe Wilson (D-SC-02) in calling on the Trump Administration to continue working to free political prisoners in Belarus, and use caution in future negotiations with the Putin-aligned Lukashenka regime.  

In a letter sent recently, the bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers commended the Trump Administration for working to free political prisoners in Belarus, including several U.S. nationals. The lawmakers also encouraged the Department of State to continue to hold Strategic Dialogue with the Belarusian democratic movement and their exiled leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.