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by Mike Smith Several years ago, I compiled a list of leadership qualities from own my experiences as a former Navy SEAL, town manager, state administrator and regional executive for a telephone company. I expanded the list as I talked with groups about how best to lead organizations. Much to my surprise, a friend told me recently that this list was posted on a popular social media website where thousands of people read it and hundreds indicated they liked the advice.

I thought I would share my list with VBM readers and solicit your opinions.

Below you’ll find a list of leadership qualities and approaches I’ve found to be effective.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that City Market, Onion River Coop has become VBSR’s newest Champion Member. “We are thrilled to welcome City Market as a Champion Member of our organization,” said VBSR executive director Jane Campbell. “They have long supported member colleagues, helping Aqua Vitea launch on-tap Kumbucha, joining Citizen Cider’s tanker club, and serving as a retail outlet for McKenzie Country Classics, Groennfell Meadery, Lake Champlain Chocolates, August First and many more. They use their business to support countless nonprofits each year, have continually led the way in environmental well-being, and work diligently to offer creative and competitive benefits to their staff.”

Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael’s College will host China’s leading human rights lawyer in exile, Teng Biao, for a presentation titled “No Country for Justice” at 5 p.m. on September 27, 2017 in the Dion Family Student Center Roy Room (third floor). Professor Rowena He of the Saint Michael’s history faculty will be moderator of the presentation as well as a contributor based on her own experiences.

Professor He explained why she invited the speaker, and what will be distinctive about this presentation: “Dr. Teng has given over 100 talks during the past two years of his life in exile, including at Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Oxford universities,” she said. “But this one at Saint Mike’s -- our college -- will be different. Dr. Teng and I will engage in a personal dialogue about our shared struggles for human rights in post-Tiananmen China.”

Vermont Business Magazine The author of a new study showing slow but consistent progress in the experiences of LGBTQ students on college campuses over the past 70 years is concerned that for the first time since 1944, that trend may be reversing. The article, recently published in theJournal of College Student Development,shows generational progress and improved perceptions of campus climate for LGBTQ undergraduates from 1944 through 2013, based on data form the National LGBT Alumni Survey. Key factors included support by LGBTQ faculty, co-curricular involvement with peers, choice of major, and geographic location.

Vermont Business MagazineThe National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) announced that it has elected Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce as its 2018 President during the association’s annual conference in Boston. Treasurer Pearce will succeed outgoing President Ken Miller, the State Treasurer of Oklahoma, onJanuary 1, 2018.

Vermont Business MagazineAs Vermonters and visitors alike take to the roads to enjoy the fall colors, they’ll notice a new addition along the Route 100 drive between Waterbury and Stowe. It is the state-of-the-art, custom built 15,000 square foot big brilliant red barn with a shiny silver coffee silo, new home to Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea, Companyand its sister companies, Coffee Lab International and CLI’s School of Coffee. And they are open for business.

Founder Mané Alves, a renowned coffee taster, consultant, and coffee entrepreneur, has spent the last three years overseeing the design, construction, and every detail of the new facility.

Vermont Business Magazine One in four Vermonters struggles with food insecurity and today as part of Hunger Action Month, VSECU expanded their commitment to help meet the needs of hungry Vermonters by announcing their adoption of the Point to Point charity cycling event. VSECU, a member-owned cooperative and not for profit credit union, is accepting the leadership role from Harpoon Brewery in the popular fundraising event that has raised awareness and more than $1.5 million over 16 years for the Vermont Foodbank’s mission to fight hunger.

The transition will allow the event to grow further, reaching more people and continuing to raise funds for this urgent need.

Vermont Business Magazine A Vermont estate designed by award-winning architect Brad Rabinowitz will sell to the highest bidder at auction on October 5th through leading global auction firm Concierge Auctions. Set on more than 208 acres, 2295 Moretown Mountain Road isdesigned to seamlessly integrate with its surroundings, boasting floor toceiling windows andpanoramic nature views.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and Senator Patrick Leahy today issued the following statement on President Trump's nomination of Christina Nolan to be Vermont's next US Attorney. Leahy and Scott recommended the Burlington attorney to the president in June.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell under 300 claims last week and remain at a historically low level. Claims have been falling steadily since early July. Claims also are lower than they were the same time last year, which has been the case for most weeks in 2017. For the week of September 16, 2017, there were 294 claims, 12 fewer than than they were last week and 56 fewer than they were a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has announced the availability of over $1M in grants for the FY18 grant cycle.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Safety (DPS) has received a $329,378 Fire Prevention and Safety grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Vermont’s congressional delegation announced Friday. This grant will help DPS’ Division of Fire Safety implement “Fire Safe 802,” a statewide, rural home fire safety education project to protect Vermont’s most vulnerable residents, including children, seniors and people with disabilities.Working with local fire departments, the Division of Fire Safety will conduct home safety surveys, provide education on safety hazards and install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in homes that need them.

Fire Safe 802 will build on past fire prevention efforts and is designed to minimize the incidence of death and injuries caused by fire and fire-related hazards.