Current News
by tim
IBEW will host an open house style event on Wednesday, Dec. 3 from 6-8 pm. It is open to all electrical contractors and vendors who want to learn about the union;s new solar photovoltaic energy systems training, the only year-round course of its kind in the state.
IBEW Local 300 staffers Jean Watkins and Matt Lash will present about the solar training and the union as a whole. Renewable Energy Vermont Executive Director Andrew Perchlik is also scheduled to speak about the green economy and the importance of the IBEW Local 300 solar initiative. Contractors and electricians that already completed the program will be there as well.
The program recently began solar training as an enhancement to its existing five-year electrical regimen. Utilizing framework developed by the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, trainees learn about the fundamentals, design and installation of solar photovoltaic technology through both classroom and hands-on components.
by tim
Tim Williams, president of Mesa Contract Inc., announced the acquisition of Intellaspace from office furniture manufacturer, Weber Knapp. Mesa will continue the Intellaspace brand, providing office furniture dealers with soltuions to meet or exceed ergonomic standards for the workplace. The company will also expand on its portfolio of ergonomic office solutions.
Mesa Contract is a manufacturer/distributor of premium ergonomic office accessories, wood desk solutions and steel components.
For more information visit www.intellaspace.com and www.mesacontract.com.
by tim
Tim Williams, president of Mesa Contract Inc. announced Chris Echo has achieved ownership status and is now a vested partner in the company. Echo will continue to focus on existing client relations for Exterus Business Furniture, a Mesa Contract Inc. subsidary.
Echo has over 14 years of direct commercial experience in the office and furnishings industry. He holds a BA in Business Management from Champlain College.
Mesa Contract is a manufacturer of premium ergonomic office accessories and wood desk solutions. Exterus is a supplier of over 100 quality office furniture manufacturers.
by tim
National Governors Association chair Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell, and vice chair Gov. Jim Douglas will host the nations governors in Philadelphia for a discussion with President-elect Obama and Vice president-elect Biden about the challenges facing states during this economic crisis. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 11:45 am.
They will urge the incoming administration, as well as Congress, to provide a recovery package that will spur job growth, support infrastructure projects and ease the burden of Medicaid costs. This will bring immediate relief into states to stabilize their economies and help deter from cuts to essential programs.
Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation's governors and one of Washington, D.C.'s, most respected public policy organizations.
by tim
The SHRM Vermont State Council Earns 2008 SHRM Pinnacle Award
(Alexandria, Va., November 21, 2008) - The SHRM Vermont State Council has received a 2008 Pinnacle Award, sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) for excellence in state council and chapter, professional and membership activities.
The Pinnacle is the most prestigious council/chapter award offered by the SHRM, which represents more than 250,000 human resource (HR) professionals around the world.
In 2008, only one of the 52 State Councils and eight of the more than 570 SHRM chapters nationwide were selected for this annual award, which recognizes outstanding programs that demonstrate excellence in the human resource profession. The Pinnacle Awards were established in 1991. The SHRM Vermont State Council received this honor because of its "Working Bridges out of Poverty Project".
by tim
The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) announced its three recipients for the 2008/2009 Broadband Grant Program, designed to create demonstration projects to test viable models for providing high speed Internet access to all Vermonters. The recipients were the Northern Community Development Corporation, the town of Stratton and the towns of West Fairlee and Topsham.
Jon Freeman, president of the Northern Community Development Corporation, said that the grant award will help deliver broadband to much of eastern Essex County and improve the economy and overall lifestyle of the area.
Rob Giunta of the town of Stratton said that broadband is equivalent to electricity in that both are essential to modern life. He also said that the grant will allow everyone in the town to interact with each other and the rest of the world, making life easier and more efficient.
by tim
FAIRPOINT DELIVERS NOTICE OF CUTOVER READINESS; EXPECTS CUTOVER AT THE END OF JANUARY 2009
by tim
BRESS, FREY AND GRIFFIN HONORED WITH
VERMONT WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION ANNUAL AWARDS
Vermont Women in Higher Education (VWHE) recently announced its award recipients at the organization's annual conference held at the Lake Morey Resort last month.
The awards are named after three outstanding women leaders in Vermont higher education: Sister Elizabeth Candon (former president of Trinity College), Jackie Gribbons (former Dean of Women at UVM), and Peggy Williams (former president of Ithaca and Lyndon State Colleges).
by tim
Dworkin's Leadership Wins National Recognition
Former Vermont Public Service Board Chairman Michael Dworkin has won a national award recognizing his work in founding the Vermont Law School's Institute for Energy and the Environment.
The Mary Kilmarx Award is given annually by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' Energy Resources and the Environment (ERE) Committee to someone whose work reflects the Committee's goals of promoting good government, clean energy and the environment.
by tim
KELLIHER SAMETS VOLK RECOGNIZED WITH DIGITAL & PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARDS IN 2008
Agency Awarded for Work With Efficiency Vermont, Stowe Mountain Resort, Unicel, Concept2 and Crane & Co.
November, 2008 - Burlington, Vt. - Kelliher Samets Volk (KSV), a full-service marketing firm headquartered in Burlington, has been recognized this year with a number of prestigious awards from around the country.
KSV's digital group's work was honored by a number of national organizations, including the 2008 W3 Awards (3 awards), the Web Marketing Association, the Magellan Award from Travel Weekly magazine, the Web Marketing Association (3 awards), and Adobe Systems Inc.'s "Adobe Site of the Day." The public relations group at KSV also received numerous awards for its work from the Publicity Club of New England.
W3 Awards. In October, KSV was awarded one gold and two silver awards at the 2008 W3 Awards, a competition honoring creative excellence on the web.
by tim
Week Ending November 22, 2008
There were 1,562 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, an increase of 355 from the week before. Altogether 9,492 new and continuing claims were filed,1,065 more than a week ago and 2,293 more than a year earlier. In addition, the Department processed 1,126 claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008, an increase of 49 from last week.
The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at:
http://www.vtlmi.info/
Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at:
http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc
by tim
Snelling Center Issues Report on Strategies to Fund Road and Bridge Repairs
November 25, 2008 - -
The Snelling Center for Government reported today that surveys of business leaders and the public indicate that Vermonters want action to fix Vermont's deteriorating roads and bridges.