Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Deb Markowitz, who led Vermont’s top environmental agency, has joined the Gund Institute for Environment at UVM as Director of Policy Outreach. Markowitz’s distinguished public service career spans nearly 20 years as Secretary of Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources (2011-2016) and Vermont Secretary of State (1999-2011). She is currently a Gund Affiliate and visiting professor at UVM’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR).

Former ANR Secretary Deb Markowitz, left, with current ANR Secretary Julie Moore. ANR photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Legislators Senator Chris Pearson (P/D-Burlington), Representative Sarah Copeland Hanzas (D-Bradford), Representative David Deen (D-Putney), and advocates from the Energy Independent Vermont Coalition today announced Vermont’s participation in the Carbon Costs Coalition. This multi-state coalition is focused on reducing carbon emissions, ensuring equity in policy proposals, developing market-based solutions, creating resilient local and regional economies, and improving public health.

Vermont Business Magazine Mobile Medical International in St Johnsbury is implementing strategic workforce development to enhance employee skills and increase productivity through a recent $43,668 matching grant awarded from the Vermont Training Program. Mobile Medical International CEO Jeffrey T. Paquet said, “Mobile Medical International Corporation is involved in a highly specialized field that requires expertise not easily found in any labor market, much less a small rural market like Vermont. Investing in the continued training of new and existing employees will ensure that the company can continue to be successful and grow in its current location.”

The Vermont Training Program (VTP) works together with their partners, employers, and training providers to train Vermont employees for the jobs of tomorrow.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters filed 5,233 scam reports with Attorney General TJ Donovan’s office in 2017. Most scam reports are for the IRS scam, with 1,337 reports in 2017. The IRS scam involves scammers who claim to be government officials collecting back taxes. Over the past year, scammers also tried to get money or personal information from Vermonters by posing as online tech support, credit card services, lotteries such as the Publishers Clearing House, grant disbursers for the government and even grandchildren.

Vermont Business Magazine AM Best has removed from under review with positive implications and upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “a-” from “bbb+” of Eastern Dentists Insurance Company (A Dental Society Risk Retention Group) (based in Burlington and regulated by Vermont's Captive Insurance Division). The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings of EDIC were placed under review in October 2017 in conjunction with the release of the updated Best’s Credit Rating Methodology (BCRM). The ratings have been removed from under review, as A.M. Best has completed its analysis of EDIC under the updated BCRM.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan announced a settlement of consumer protection claims against MD Cosmetics Medical Spa and its owner, Erin Jewell. The settlement resolves the Attorney General’s claim that MD Cosmetics engaged in unfair and deceptive conduct by closing in September 2017 without warning and failing to refund its customers’ outstanding gift certificates and unfulfilled pre-paid services.

In the settlement, MD Cosmetics and Jewell acknowledge that $118,145 in restitution is owed to Vermont consumers, and the Attorney General assessed a $58,000 penalty for their conduct. Due to Jewell’s bankruptcy, she will only be required to make payments towards these amounts if her financial situation improves in the next five years. Jewell will also be banned from owning, operating, or managing a similar business in Vermont for five years.

by Meredith Vaughn With their hands resting on the piece of paper in front of them, everyone closed their eyes and awaited instructions. Tara Lawyer, a School-Based Behavior Consultant (SBBC) from Northwestern Counseling & Support Services (NCSS), delivered sloppy and ambiguous directions, quickly moving from one ask to another, while eyeing the hesitant participants. They folded and unfolded, creased and pressed.

Some giggled at their gross misunderstanding of the task; others sighed in exasperation and quit folding their papers altogether. Murmurs could be heard throughout the room.

“I can’t follow along.”

“What did she say?”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Okay, open your eyes,” said Lawyer.

With raised eyebrows, one participant reviewed his amorphous creation. “What is it?”

Vermont Business Magazine This week Secretary Condos was appointed to serve as a member on the Executive Committee for the Council of State Governments (CSG). CSG, a national organization, was founded in 1933, and works to foster the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. The Executive Committee and Leadership Council oversee the business affairs, policy and program development of CSG.

Vermont Business Magazine John K Benson, PE, has been named Vermont’s 2018 Engineer of the Year. Mr Benson, is an owner of Dubois & King, Inc. Erin Parizo, PE, has been named Vermont’s 2018 Young Engineer of the Year. Ms Parizo is a traffic design project manager at the Vermont Agency of Transportation. They will be recognized at the annual Engineers Week banquet on February 23. The Engineer of the Year and the Young Engineer of the Year are selected based on technical accomplishments, stature in the engineering profession, contributions to professional organizations, and contributions to their community.

by Public Assets Institute A new education funding plan taking shape in the House Ways and Means Committee is being billed as a move toward simplicity and greater reliance on the income tax to support education. In fact, the plan appears to make the connection between school spending and taxes less transparent, and it will take Vermont back to the days when only wealthy communities could afford to pay the property taxes necessary to support a good education.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Northfield Savings Bank (NSB) announced that Rob Wheeler of Burlington recently joined its experienced Commercial Business Banking team as Vice President of Commercial Banking. Wheeler brings over 25 years of extensive, customer-focused banking experience in commercial lending and credit analysis in Chittenden County, where he will continue to support Northfield Savings Bank’s expanding commercial business base.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Rob Wheeler to the Northfield Savings Bank family,” said Al Flory, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at NSB. “Rob has a wealth of experience in commercial lending, and as a longtime Burlington resident, he understands Chittenden County. This will serve our current and future clients well.”

Vermont Business Magazine The landmark Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center in South Burlington is now DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington. The 309-room, state-of-the-art, full-service, conference center hotel, located just five minutes from downtown, is the latest addition to the growing portfolio of DoubleTree by Hilton, one of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) 14 market-leading brands. The former DoubleTree east up Route 2 is now branded Trader Dukes, but is expected to become a Marriott.