Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The American College of Surgeons has once again verified the University of Vermont Medical Center, based in Burlington, as a Level I Adult Trauma Center – the highest category for trauma services – as well as a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center. The UVM Medical Center is the only Level I Trauma Center in the state of Vermont, and is one of about 100 in the country. It has been designated a Level I Trauma Center since 1994.

Vermont Business Magazine The work by the Antibiotic Stewardship Committee at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph to address antibiotic resistance, a continuing public health threat across the United States and globally, has resulted in a greater than 50 percent reduction in the use of the drugs with Gifford patients. Overuse of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance, the ability of bacteria to resist the effects of the medications that were once successful in treating them. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “More than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result.”

Vermont Business Magazine A century after they began, the 1920s are roaring back to northwestern Vermont with the addition of The Clothier, a speakeasy that also pays homage to the rich retail history of downtown St Albans. Tom Murphy officially opened The Clothier at 22 North Main Street in early December during a party that attracted customers dressed as gangsters and flappers. The Clothier is adjacent to Twiggs American Gastropub, which Murphy also owns. The businesses are connected by “secret entrances,” and patrons of The Clothier can order food from Twiggs.

Vermont Business Magazine is preparing to publish our 33rd annual Vermont 100+, a ranking of Vermont companies based on revenues. Last year we listed nearly 200 companies ranked by total revenues and also ranked by industry. The rankings will be published in our January 2020 issue. To be considered for this prestigious recognition, enter your 2019 revenue figure (or estimate) in the space provided and mail, fax or email back your survey.

Vermont Business Magazine The Woodstock Inn & Resort, in partnership with Arena Snowparks, is constructing two new terrain parks and freestyle terrain at the resort’s Suicide Six Ski Area for the 2019-2020 ski season. The terrain parks are being installed at Suicide Six to cater to a wide range of ski and snowboard abilities. The mountain’s Milky Way will contain smaller, entry-level terrain while Lasky’s Lot will cater to intermediate skiers and riders. Arena Snowparks built five custom features specifically for Suicide Six. The variety of rails and boxes include a 22 foot fat rainbow rail, 30 foot flat down box and a 20 foot flat rail. Both terrain parks are designed to support snowsports progression while also providing optimal teaching areas for the multiple private and semi-private lessons offered by Suicide Six Ski Area and the Woodstock Ski Runners seasonal programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Carrie walked into the Maple Landmark showroom early on a Monday morning with an idea. An employee at a nearby food storage company, she brought a concept from their design team to see what possibilities might be available. The concept, a simple one-piece toggle, would be used as part of their product packaging. Carrie began explaining the idea to Maple Landmark owner, Michael Rainville, when he came up with an idea of his own: why not make a prototype on the spot for her to show her team?

Vermont Business Magazine Besides reducing their environmental impact and saving money, members who have enrolled in Vermont Electric Co-op’s Co-op Community Solar Program often cite convenience and lack of equipment maintenance as major reasons they participate. Under VEC’s Co-op Community Solar Program, members make an up-front payment to sponsor panels for either 10 or 20 years and receive a guaranteed, fixed, monthly credit on their electric bill. By the end of the sponsorship, the total value of the bill credits exceeds the initial up-front payment.

Vermont Business Magazine Over 150 Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) Corporators and community leaders attended the organization’s annual meeting at Northern Vermont University on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The meeting, which marked the end of NVRH’s 2019 fiscal year, highlighted organizational achievements from the past year and featured remarks from NVRH CEO Shawn Tester, NVRH Board Chair Tom Robinson, and the Executive Director of Lumunos Clinicians Wellbeing Services Doug Wysockey-Johnson. The meeting also included election and re-election of Corporators and trustees for the St Johnsbury-based hospital.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public Radio has been selected by Report For America to host a journalist next year to expand coverage of the Northeast Kingdom. 

"VPR has been working toward more Vermonters hearing and seeing themselves in our coverage and this new reporter will help us do that in the Northeast Kingdom," said Sarah Ashworth, Vice President of News. "Our reporter will live and work in the region and will weave the voices and perspectives of the Kingdom into our broader coverage of issues in Vermont."  

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University in Northfield will host the fifth annual FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Vermont State Championship on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Shapiro Field House, an all-day event beginning at 9 am. Founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST LEGO League is designed to inspire children in science and technology through the use of robotics. Open to 9 to 14-year-old students around the world, teams are tasked with researching a real-world scientific issue and designing and building an original robot.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Ed Sawyer, President and CEO, of SBE, Inc in Barre has confirmed to VBM that SBE is winding down operations and has dispersed the SBE assets. He also confirmed that he is ramping up a new company that is using his patents for electronic components vital to the electric vehicle industry. The new company is called Advanced Power Conversion Solutions, Inc. It will occupy the same relatively new plant at the Wilson Industrial Park in Barre, though on a smaller footprint. Sawyer said he was able to retain 15 of the 19 SBE employees. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senate author and champion of the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 (S.561), praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the House version of this landmark legislation (H.R.4) to remedy the Supreme Court’s Shelby County decision that decimated the Voting Rights Act. Leahy urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to let the Senate vote on the bill so that it can be sent to the President’s desk.  Leahy said the right to vote is “foundational to our democracy” and that the high court’s decision opened the floodgates to systematic efforts in many states to disenfranchise minority voters.  “Our bill is a bulwark against voter suppression,” he said.