Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On November 14, over 150 community members joined with Howard Center to celebrate Gretchen Morse as the 2018 Help is Here Award honoree. Now in its third year, the award recognizes an individual or organization whose contributions personify the agency’s mission and demonstrate a passion for helping the people served by Howard Center. Past award recipients include Lisa Steele (2016) and Whit Smith (2017).

Gretchen was chosen for her long-time support of Howard Center through her work as Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, Executive Director of the United Way of Chittenden County, and in the Vermont House of Representatives. Her efforts have helped to improve the lives of Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and members of his Cabinet will be in Lamoille County on Wednesday, December 5 for its tenth Capitol for a Day visit. The initiative has brought the governor and members of his cabinet and extended cabinet to Rutland, Caledonia, Windsor, Franklin, Bennington, Addison, Chittenden, Orleans and Windham counties since the start of the summer.

“These visits have been tremendously valuable to me and my entire Cabinet, as we work to learn more about each region’s opportunities, challenges and the positive impact we can have when we work together,” said Governor Scott. “As we look towards the upcoming legislative session, better understanding the needs of each community is critical.”

by Julie Lowell, Public Assets Instutute Vermont has a fairer tax system than most states, but we still have work to do. That’s the message from “Who Pays?” released by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) in October. The report looks at how well states distribute taxes based on family incomes. In most states lower-income families pay a higher percentage of their income in state and local taxes than those at the top. That’s the definition of a regressive tax system. Vermont’s is one of the least regressive in the country.

Vermont Business Magazine Community National Bank and Community Bancorp President and Chief Executive Officer Kathryn M Austin has announced the appointment of Jeffrey Moore to the Boards of Directors of Community Bancorp and Community National Bank. Moore was appointed to the Boards on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, to be effective January 1, 2019. He will serve on the Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee of the Company’s Board and the Risk Management Committee of the Bank’s Board.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) announces a new partnership with Business Resource Services (BRS) that allows VBSR members access to BRS’s new association health insurance plans. VBSR members located in Vermont with fewer than 100 FTEs can now access BRS health insurance plans to provide healthcare insurance for employees. VBSR members will automatically become BRS members, and they will be able to choose from four BRS Blue Cross Blue Shield association health plans, some which are HRA & HSA compatible. VBSR/BRS members can take advantage of these plans during open enrollment, November 1st through December 15, 2018, with the help of their own broker or through BRS.

by John McClaughry On November 23 the U.S Government ‘s Global Climate Research Program delivered a Congressionally-mandated “National Climate Assessment” report. “Grim” is too weak an adjective for the terrors that the Report describes. Here’s an attempt to summarize the document: The earth is steadily getting hotter. “Human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of the observed climate changes in the industrial era, especially over the last six decades. Over the last century, there are no credible alternative explanations supported by the full extent of the observational evidence.”

Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday, November 17, Vermont Federal Credit Union was the presenting sponsor of the Feed Your Neighbor Food Drive to benefit the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Vermont Federal Credit Union once again joined radio stations 99.9 The Buzz and 106.7 WIZN at Costco in Colchester to support the Feed Your Neighbor Food Drive. Credit Union staff spent the day collecting non-perishable food items as well as cash donations to benefit the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Staff volunteers provided suggested items to donate and those who contributed received reusable grocery and wine totes provided by the Credit Union as a thank you.

Vermont Business Magazine Two members of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (D-HH) leadership team are among 18 women from 16 health organizations nationwide chosen for the prestigious Carol Emmott Fellowship. Vice President for Financial Planning Wendy Fielding and Vice President of Regional and System Integration Mary Oseid were chosen for the Emmott Fellowship, for “their ability to deliver results within their organizations and potential to advance to senior executive roles in health.”

The Emmott Fellowship expands the connections and experiences that top leadership candidates require to have the most influence in improving health for all.

Vice President for Financial Planning Wendy Fielding

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA) in Rutland has announced its 2018 service results in conjunction with the release of its 2018 annual report. “Our fiscal year wrapped up earlier this fall and we’re now able and excited to share some of the key results of our various programs and services from the past year,” said Chris Adams, development and communications director with SVCOA. “These results illustrate not only the impact that SVCOA has on the communities it serves in southwestern Vermont, but also the tremendous efforts of our dedicated staff and supporting community partners to make it all happen.”

Vermont Business Magazine Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS), southeastern Vermont’s community mental-health agency, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2018 Jim Bartley Community Partnership Awards. The awards were presented at the agency’s annual meeting on November 7 to the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust and to Robin Rieske, Prevention Consultant for Vermont’s Alcohol & Drug Abuse Programs in the Brattleboro District. The awards honor the relationships built over many years between the non-profit agency and these community partners as they work to meet the mental health and substance abuse needs of individuals and families in southeastern Vermont.

Robin Rieske with HCRS CEO, George Karabakakis, Ph.D. Courtesy photo

Vermont Business Magazine Community Mutual announced in a press release Monday that Thomas A White, president, will be retiring from his position effective December 31, 2018. The Troy, NY-based insurer is part of the Union Mutual group, which is headquartered in Montpelier. On October 1, 2003, White joined Community Mutual as Executive Vice President. After Robert Carpenter’s retirement in March of 2005, the Board of Directors elected White as Community Mutual’s next president.

White was instrumental in a number of key initiatives including Community Mutual’s affiliation with Union Mutual in 2013. Under his oversight, the Company has subsequently grown its Direct Written Premium 85% and Surplus nearly 230%.

Vermont Business Magazine Leonine Public Affairs, Vermont’s largest government relations and strategic communications firm, announced today the addition of Maggie Lenz to its team. Lenz, an experienced lobbyist and political organizer, will be joining Leonine’s public affairs group in Vermont, which provides lobbying and strategic communications services to both in-state and national clients.

“I am excited to be joining the Leonine team,” said Lenz. “I am passionate about the dynamic nature of Vermont politics and the issues that are at the forefront right now. The wide array of lobbying, public relations, strategic communications and campaign services Leonine covers is a great fit for my skillset and interests.”

Maggie Lenz