Current News

The numbers are just coming in for Small Dog Electronics' new flagship store and by all measurements, it's an undisputed winner.
The Apple Specialist (#1 in New England, #3 in the nation) opened its doors in Burlington, Vermont and it was clear that customers voted with their feet - and their wallets.

Jon Isaacson joined Caleidoscope Communications as the company Controller. Isaacson was previously employed locally by RingMaster Software and lived and worked in Oregon where he was the Controller for the Mandala Agency for ten years. Jon graduated from the University of Connecticut, lives in South Burlington, and serves as a soccer referee for northern Vermont youth leagues

Laura P. Dagan, the president, CEO and chairman of Dwight Asset Management Company in Burlington, has been named to the Board of Trustees at Champlain College.
Dagan, a resident of South Hero, Vt., is an active member of the Vermont Business Roundtable, Institutional Investors US Institute, Old Mutual Top Leadership Group, the Stable Value Investment Association and the international and Vermont CFA Institutes. Volunteer activities include serving as the treasurer of the Humane Society of Chittenden County.
Dagan is a Chartered Financial Analyst. She graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and she earned her bachelor's degree at Bucknell University.

The Windham Foundation, one of Vermont's largest foundations, has awarded nine Vermont non-profit organizations $70,000 in grants in its fourth grant cycle for fiscal year 2006. It also pledged a $100,000 donation to the University of Vermonts Rubinstein School of Natural Resources.
Windham Foundation is an exempt foundation whose mission is to undertake and support historic restoration and preservation throughout the state of Vermont, as well as to develop projects and support charities to benefit the welfare of Vermonters. One of the ways it supports this mission is through its grants program.
Every quarter, grants are awarded to non-profit organizations primarily in the areas of social services, the arts and education with active programs that focus on the needs and quality of life in Vermont, its citizens and its communities. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided more than $10 million in funding to hundreds of non-profits across Vermont.

Calkain Institutional Advisors, a division of Calkain Companies, a national real estate investment brokerage firm, has been chosen by R.P.M.
Realty Trust as the exclusive listing agent to sale two fully leased properties located at
198 & 200 Main Street in Lewiston, Maine.
Joel Kahn, CCIM and Michael OMara will represent R.P.M. Realty Trust in the
disposition of these properties which houses the Department of Human Services for the
State of Maine. 200 Main Street, consisting of 50,823 square feet on four floors, was
completely renovated/expanded to comply with the states requirements for office space.
The State of Maine currently holds a Standard and Poors credit rating of AAA, the
highest rating the service offers. Additionally, the abutting 198 Main Street building was
simultaneously renovated as a two story, 11,700 square foot multi-tenanted building fully
occupied by several well known regional tenants.

Craig E. Isvak, CPA, PLC, a provider of accounting and tax services to businesses and individuals in the Mad River Valley and the Waterbury/ Stowe area, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Associates in Accounting, P.C. located at 6 Pinecrest Drive, Essex Junction, VT. Under the previous owner, Michael LeBoeuf, Associates in Accounting has been doing business in Essex Junction since 1989. The staff consists of both full-time and seasonal personnel with many years of experience, who will remain through the acquisition.
The new firm of Associates in Accounting, PLC, will be led by Craig Isvak and will offer tax and accounting services to both businesses and individuals. Mike LeBoeuf will remain involved at the 6 Pinecrest Drive location and will focus on financial planning as a registered representative of HD Vest.

The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) Board of Directors approved $8.5 million in financing assistance to support manufacturing, business incubator and small business projects around the state. Total costs of the projects approved for VEDA financing are $15.6 million.
These loans will help expand production capacity at several existing manufacturing facilities, said Jo Bradley. In addition, new incubator space will be created for entrepreneurs who have moved beyond the early stages of commercialization, and have begun manufacturing and producing new products and services.
Approved for financing by the VEDA Board are:

A Vergennes Union High School teacher who has inspired
students for 22 years has been named Vermont's humanities educator of the
year for 2006. The Vermont Humanities Council has chosen Roberta
Steponaitis, a teacher of history and geography, to receive its annual
Victor R. Swenson Humanities Educator Award. The award is the fourth given
out by VHC since inaugurating the award in 2003.
"Roberta Steponaitis is the teacher they [students] will remember when they
think back to their high school days, as having made a pivotal difference in
their lives," said Dr. Carol Spencer, Director of Curriculum and Staff
Development of the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union, in her nomination
letter. "She touches the lives of the students she meets in a personal and
influential way."
Vermont Humanities Council Chair Melissa Hersh will present the award at

Vermont's Strategy to Change Its Health Care Delivery System Explored at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont Issues Conference
Vermont's initiative to provide its residents with chronic conditions the information, tools and encouragement they need to successfully manage their health was addressed Monday by a panel of experts who met in Burlington.
The components of Vermont's 'Blueprint for Health' and how the initiative will change the delivery of healthcare were described by the panel at a half-day conference held as part of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont's annual health issues symposium series. More than 400 Vermonters attended, including employers, health care providers, legislators and consumers.

Reuse and recycling, energy conservation measures, and use of an alternative fuel vehicle have lead to State recognition for a local eBay drop-off and consignment store.

BURLINGTON, Vt.--Champlain College in Burlington has established a new Conference and Event Centera one-stop shop that coordinates a full range of services and amenities for conferences and group events. The new center puts a special emphasis on educational and corporate training events with coordinated use of the College's high-tech facilities.
An experienced professional planner coordinates events on campus at any time of year, including the summer months. Facilities serve 5-500 people, with convenient proximity to downtown Burlington.

Burlington, VT - g.housen, a premium beverage distributor, is pleased to announce the following promotions.
Jamey Magowan, who has been Northern Team Leader for the past two years, has moved into the role of Field Marketing Manager. In this role he will be working closely with the Sales Manager and helping grow the companys brands.
Magowan attended the University of Southern Maine. He is originally from Portsmouth, NH now currently residing in Winooski, VT with his wife and daughter.
Lisa Strausser, who joined the g.housen team six months ago as a sales representative for the Stowe, Waitsfield, Montpelier, and Burlington area will be moving into the role as Fine Wine Specialist. In this new role she will be working on new account development, training staff, and contributing to the fine wine portfolio development.