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by Mike Smith Governor Peter Shumlin often dubs himself as the “transparency governor.” But proclaiming yourself as transparent and actually being transparent are two different things. You can claim transparency by simply stating it. However, definitive action is required to accomplish the task of being transparent no matter how much you try to hype the claim. In December of last year, Shumlin traveled to Paris to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Upon his return, he reported that the cost of the trip was just $1,251 — the cost of travel for one aide. The administration reported that Georgetown University picked up the tab for the governor’s trans-Atlantic flight and lodging.

Vermont Business Magazine Two financial-service firms in Middlebury’s Marble Works are coming together to create Marble Trail Financial, which blends asset management and planning with certified public accounting to offer the most complete service package of its kind in the area. Since 2010, principals Don Devost and Matt Wootten of Addison Advisors have brought a personalized, holistic approach to helping area residents manage their assets and achieve their financial goals. They’ve formed the new venture with Steve and Louise Misasi, whose firm Misasi & Company CPAs dates to 2004 and has offices in both Middlebury and Dorset.

“This meets a strong demand among our clients, for a one-stop shop,” said Devost. “No one else in the area is providing such a full range of financial services.”

Vermont Business Magazine At the first-ever LaunchVT Collegiate Competition, teams from Champlain College and Middlebury College were awarded cash prizes to help launch their businesses. First prize winner, Thermouse from Champlain College will also have the opportunity to compete as a finalist in the LaunchVT competition on May 5 in Burlington. Tom Torti, President of the Lake Champlain Chamber which helped organize the competition, was impressed by the quality of the pitches “It warms the heart to see the talent and creativity the teams brought to their business ideas and presentations today. I hope these students walk away knowing that if they do start a business in Vermont, there is a great network of people to support them.”

Vermont Business Magazine The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has announced today that it has awarded $2,500 to Mobius for their Quality Mentoring System (QMS). This brings the Foundations giving in Vermont during February to $45,000, including the Graham Emergency Shelter, Samaritan House, Zack’s Place, The Mentor Connector, and the Vermont Foodbank.

QMS is a national evaluation system developed by MENTOR (The National Mentoring Partnership) to ensure that mentoring programs are meeting all of the best practices in the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring. In collaboration with Vermont mentoring programs, Mobius - a statewide nonprofit supporting more than 140 adult-to-youth mentoring program sites serving 2,300 mentor pairs - has adjusted this national system to fit the local needs of the Vermont mentoring community.

Vermont Business Magazine HNI Corporation (NYSE: HNI), based in Iowa, has announced sales for the fourth quarter ended January 2, 2016, of $596.9 million and net income of $32.2 million, or  $0.71 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share improved 40 percent from the prior year quarter to $0.91, which excludes restructuring, goodwill and intangible impairment and transition costs. The Vermont Castings Group acquisition increased sales $62.7 million. HNI acquired Vermont Castings from its Kentucky-based owner in 2014. It subsequently closed the Bethel assembly plant in 2015, while the Randolph foundry remains in operation.

Fourth Quarter and Year End Summary Comments

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board has committed $3,953,500 to develop, rehabilitate and preserve 220 affordable homes in settings ranging from shared elderly housing in Rochester, to new construction in White River Junction, redevelopment of deteriorated public housing in Rutland, energy retrofit and rehabilitation of apartments in Bennington, Bradford, and Wilder, and mobile home parks in Hardwick and Ludlow.  The VHCB commitments of state funding will leverage $32.6 million in other public and private funds.

Vermont Business Magazine Bernie Sanders on Saturday congratulated Hillary Clinton on her victory in Nevada’s closely-contested caucuses and looked ahead to carrying his campaign for the White House to primaries and caucuses across the country. With 95 percent of precincts reporting by Sunday morning, Clinton won 19 delegates with 52.7 percent of the vote and Sanders won 15 delegates with 47.2 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press.

“I just spoke to Secretary Clinton and congratulated her on her victory here in Nevada. I am very proud of the campaign we ran. Five weeks ago we were 25 points behind and we ended up in a very close election. And we probably will leave Nevada with a solid share of the delegates,” Sanders said.

Gen Z's Changing World and 2025 Insights for Marketers

by Joan Goldstein The objective? Jobs — good paying, clean jobs to help fuel economic growth. States throughout the country engage in fierce competition for job creators and economy builders. They throw huge sums of money at the problem hoping to attract a big company. Vermont takes a very different approach. In Vermont, our small scale, rural landscape, and small population means we have to find other ways to grow our economy.

And now, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities just released a new report that validates Vermont’s economic development approach. The report fully endorses the economic development strategy and programs in place in Vermont. Here’s what Vermont does, and what the report says is the right thing to do:

Vermont Business Magazine On March 1, 2016, New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) will begin accepting applications for its 2016 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarships. Three scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded. To be eligible for NEFCU STEM Scholarships, applicants must be New England Federal Credit Union members. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in the six counties of northwestern Vermont is eligible for membership. In addition to NEFCU membership, applicants must be pursuing one of these fields of study:

• Biological Sciences

• Physical Sciences

Vermont Business Magazine The Peace Corps has announced that the University of Vermont ranked No. 6 among medium-sized schools on the agency’s 2016 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list. This is the fifth straight year that UVM has ranked among the top 10 medium-sized schools, with 31 Catamounts currently volunteering worldwide. “The Peace Corps is a unique opportunity for college graduates to put their education into practice and become agents of change in communities around the world,” Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “Today’s graduates understand the importance of intercultural understanding and are raising their hands in record numbers to take on the challenge of international service.”

Vermont Business Magazine With 10 graduates currently volunteering worldwide, Saint Michael’s College in Colchester ranked No. 11 among small schools on the Peace Corps’ 2016 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list, the agency announced Thursday. Saint Michael’s, which became an official Peace Corps Prep site last year, leapt up in the rankings, having held the No. 20 rank among small schools in 2015. Alumni from more than 3,000 colleges and universities nationwide have served in the Peace Corps since the agency’s founding in 1961, including 191 from Saint Michael’s.

St Michael's campus by Jeff Clarke.