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Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association of Insurance Professionals together with the Champlain Valley Association of Insurance Professionals held a joint meeting in November 2018.  This evening dinner event has been a long standing tradition between the two associations. They were honored to share the evening with the Commissioner of Insurance, Michael Pieciak, who addressed trending insurance concerns in the State of Vermont.  

Vermont Business Magazine The latest small business economic outlook survey, presented by Davis and Hodgdon Associates CPAs and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, revealed that business owners’ attitude about the Vermont economy has become increasing more ambivalent over the last four years, while optimism in the US has generally improved over the same timeframe. However, both in Vermont and the US, optimism has declined since last summer and more so in the US over the last year.

Over 100 Vermont businesses from diverse industries completed the latest semi-annual economic survey in January regarding the outlook of Vermont’s small- to medium-sized businesses. 64 percent of those business owners who responded have fewer than 25 employees. 

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain College (GMC) recently announced that it would cease operations at the end of this academic year, and Marlboro College has expressed a desire to support its students. While GMC established an agreement with Arizona-based Prescott College as a preferred teach-out partner, Marlboro is one of three Vermont colleges that also has a teach-out agreement with GMC.

“We would warmly welcome GMC students who came to Vermont to study in the unique natural backdrop that the Green Mountain State provides,” said Kevin Quigley, Marlboro College president. “Our state offers an optimal experiential learning atmosphere, where students can explore and conduct research in pristine outdoor environments and benefit from a diverse array of academic opportunities. ”

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Vermont-NEA (VT-NEA) President Don Tinney have announced a joint initiative inviting Vermont middle and high school students to create a “See Something, Say Something” video public service announcement (PSA), which will be used by the Agency of Education (AOE) and VT-NEA to promote awareness and reporting of school safety threats across the state.

“Working together to protect Vermont’s kids and ensure our schools are safe places for them to learn and grow is a shared priority as we work to strengthen all of Vermont’s communities,” said Governor Scott. “Vermont is one of the safest and healthiest states in the country, but we can always do more in this area. I want to thank the Vermont-NEA for their partnership on this important initiative and I look forward to seeing what our creative students come up with.”

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) has announced a continued partnership with OneCare Vermont providing its individual and small employer members access to state health care reform programs. BCBSVT and OneCare will engage with providers through programs focused on improving quality, increasing access to care, and ensuring efficient and cost-effective delivery of health care services. This arrangement covers approximately 24,000 BCBSVT members with primary care physicians in the OneCare network. BCBSVT is the only commercial health insurance company to participate in the State’s All Payer Model and the OneCare Vermont Accountable Care Organization (ACO) delivery program.

Leonine Public Affairs Lawmakers and Governor Scott have yet to have a public spat about these money bills but everyone is holding their breath to see if the governor unveils an April surprise similar to the ones he did in the past two years that sent the money bills into a tailspin. The next two weeks are critical. When lawmakers set off for a week away from the State House on March 1, it will be clear what bills have traction and those that didn’t make the cut and have to wait until next year. The day after we pass crossover is best summed up with, yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery.

by Paul Costello Carbon tax. Cap and Trade. Carbon Markets. Depending on our point of view, these concepts might make us nervous about raising the cost of living when we are already struggling to pay our bills. Or we may feel passionately about the necessity of pricing carbon for the future of our climate and our economy. Or both. And a lot of people find it all so confusing that they just tune out.

Rather than choose sides, we need to agree to think together as Vermonters. We need to consider the science around climate change, and work out how we can systematically advance our economy, preserve affordability, incite and inspire the creativity of entrepreneurs while dramatically reducing our carbon impact. No one has all the answers.

Vermont Business Magazine Jamaica Cottage Shop, Inc provides business to consumer wood manufacturing, Internet marketing and online retail. It's also one of the fastest growing businesses according to Inc. 5000. Not only have the companies on the 2018 Inc. 5000 been competitive within their markets, but the list, as a whole, shows staggering growth compared with prior lists. 

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual proudly participated in the Penguin Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Vermont on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 at the Burlington Waterfront. With the widespread support of hundreds of donors, the “Union Mutual Popsicles” were able to set a new high-water mark for the event’s fundraising with a grand total of $44,932. The previous team fundraising record was $30,000, set back in 2012.

“Union Mutual is thrilled to continue its partnership with Special Olympics Vermont and help make the 2019 Penguin Plunge a huge success.  We are truly humbled with the level of support our employees, agency partners, friends and families generated.  Both of our organizations strive to do the best we can to better the lives of those within our communities and we look forward to collaborating with each other for years to come,” Union Mutual President & CEO Michael Nobles said.

Vermont Business Magazine The 24th Annual Burlington & Cool Schools Penguin Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Vermont was held on February 2nd at the Burlington Waterfront. Despite temperatures in the teens, with an even lower wind chill, over 1,200 people braved the elements and plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain. The Penguin Plunge is the largest fundraising event for Special Olympics Vermont, and this year, over $548,000 was raised to support sports training and competition, health screenings, and leadership opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine A Jericho, Vermont, native and 2005 Mount Mansfield Union graduate is serving at the U.S. Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific (NSTCP) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Lieutenant Nicholas Keech has served for nine years and works as a Navy tactics instructor and is serving within the U.S. Pacific Fleet area of operations. The U.S. Pacific Fleet is the world’s largest fleet command, encompassing 100 million square miles, nearly half the Earth’s surface, from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle and from the West Coast of the United States into the Indian Ocean.

by Brandon Arcari The University of Vermont Board of Trustees voted Friday morning to name Dr Suresh Garimella of Purdue University as the university's next president, according to the Vermont Cynic, UVM's student-run newspaper. Garimella was announced February 4 as the sole finalist candidate to replace Tom Sullivan as its next president. Sullivan plans to step down in Summer of 2019. Garimella currently serves as Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships at Purdue University. He is also a PhD in mechanical engineering. Garimella was the presumptive new president and met with the media Thursday.