Current News

Vermont Business Magazine VEC will not seek a rate increase for January of 2019, marking the fifth consecutive year that VEC has kept electric rates flat. “I’m very proud of the work our entire team has done to keep rates flat since January 2014,” said VEC Chief Financial Officer Michael Bursell. “It’s taken a great deal of creativity, negotiation, and careful budgeting and everyone has pitched in,” he said. “That’s the beauty of the co-op model – if we do well, all our members do well.”

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center was awarded an ‘A’ grade from The Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2018 Hospital Safety Grade. Rutland Regional Medical Center was one of 855 in the United States awarded an “A” for its efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards. The Leapfrog Group is a national organization committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms among patients in their care. Rutland Regional is the only hospital in Vermont to receive an “A” rating this fall. Since 2013, Rutland Regional has the distinction of earning at least one “A” rating each year for patient safety.

Vermont Business Magazine Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology based in Amsterdam, today announced an agreement with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (D-H) to implement Philips' eICU program technology. The program aims to help reduce mortality, length of stay, and ventilation days while providing patients the care they need, wherever they are located. D-HH is the latest health system to work with Philips to implement a tele-ICU program, further demonstrating the growing global momentum and interest in virtual health care and remote monitoring solutions like Philips eICU.

Vermont Business Magazine Vail Resorts, Inc (NYSE: MTN) today took major steps in its 'Commitment to Zero,' as the company announced a long-term wind energy contract to purchase the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power 100 percent of its estimated FY 2019 North American operations by 2020. Those operations include the Stowe Mountain and Okemo ski resorts in Vermont. The virtual wind energy will come from the new Plum Creek wind farm in Nebraska.

Vermont Business Magazine People’s United Bank announced that it has awarded $2,000 to Rutland Mental Health Services (RMHS) in Rutland. This donation will be used to train licensed clinicians allowing for the expansion of the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy program (PCIT), which provides treatment for young children with behavioral problems. RMHS is a key partner in Rutland County, working closely with the local hospital, primary care physicians, the school system and other local service providers. In 2017, RMHS provided services to over 3,200 individuals, of which over 1,000 were children and youth. Services were provided in 48 programs through their Behavioral Health Services, Child and Family Services and Developmental Disability Services.

Vermont Business Magazine Unsafe sleep environments are responsible for four to six infant deaths in Vermont each year. To help avoid these tragedies, the Vermont Department of Health has launched its Infant Safe Sleep campaign – sharing information, tips and guidance for everyone who takes care of babies. A safe sleep environment means ensuring there is nothing where the baby sleeps that could prevent their ability to breathe because something covers their mouth or nose. Some of these things may be blankets, pillows, bumpers, toys, loose clothing, or even pets and other people. Babies can get also accidentally become wedged in mattresses, recliners or between couch cushions and pillows.

Vermont Business Magazine Chef Shawn Calley, the Executive Chef of the Burlington Country Club, was named the Culinary Cup Champion for his smoked chicken stuffed with apples, goat cheese, and sage. This is the third win for Chef Calley. Chef Evan Leavy of the Jericho Cafe & Tavern won the People's Choice Award for his house smoked brisket with blackstrap molasses, apple relish, and cornbread crumble. Other chefs competing this year included: Chef Christian Kruse, Vergennes Laundry by CK; Chef Donnell Collins, Leunig's Bistro & Café; and Chef David Hoene, Pauline's Café.

Vermont Business Magazine Stephen F Kenney, MBA, CPA, was recently named chief financial officer for Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) after an extensive nationwide search, President and Chief Operating Officer Anna T Noonan announced November 9. Kenney, a native of Maine, returns to New England and brings to CVMC more than 25 years’ experience in health care, finance and enterprise resource planning. His most recent role was senior director for Weill Cornell Medicine in New York.

Kenney’s experience also includes prior service as chief administrative officer for Weill Cornell Medicine operations in Qatar and as chair of Weill Cornell’s Strategic Planning Committee, developing its current five-year strategic plan (2014-2019). His direct reports were responsible for business services, environmental health and safety, facilities management, finance, human resources, information technology services, process improvement and risk management.

Vermont Business Magazine Managers of the Bennington McDonald's have presented the Learning Tree Child Care Center, part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care in Bennington, a $4,423 grant for new classroom furniture courtesy of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region.

Vermont Business Magazine This week Vermonters across the state will participate in Hunger Free Vermont’s 8th Annual 3SquaresVT Challenge as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Challenge participants have been asked to eat on the average 3SquaresVT budget for the full week, a day, or a meal - approximately $37 for the week for one person, $5.22 for a day, or $1.74 per meal. The purpose of the Challenge is not to emulate the reality of food insecurity for Vermonters - many of whom may rely on a variety of programs and resources to meet their families’ needs - but to instead draw attention to the experience of living on a strict food budget and how that may or may not change your daily life both physically and psychologically as a participant.

WHAT: Vermonters take the 3SquaresVT Challenge and eat on a SNAP budget for a week to learn about hunger in their community

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Grossman School of Business’ Sustainable Innovation MBA program has once again been named the No. 1 “Best Green MBA” program by The Princeton Review. This 2019 distinction marks the second consecutive year in which the program has topped the annual list. With its first-place ranking, the UVM program led Ivy League schools including Cornell University and Yale University, which ranked second and third on Princeton’s list, respectively.

Vermont Business Magazine Facebook will host an event in Burlington on Monday, November 12 at 5:30 pm. Facebook employees are traveling around the country to hear from people about what the company can do to improve the Facebook News Feed experience. The company chose Burlington as one of the first stops on their listening tour.