Current News

Montpelier, VT USA Risk Group announced today its expansion of its Burlington offices. They have recently hired two experienced captive insurance account managers, Jenny Denison and Judy McNally to assist in the continued captive growth of the Group.
With the two new hires, the Burlington office will be taking new office space in the Gateway Plaza office building at 30 Main Street, Suite 450 in Burlington effective December 12th.
USA Risk Group is a leading alternative risk service provider with offices in Arizona, Bermuda, BVI, Cayman Islands, New York, South Carolina, Vermont, and USVI. Business Insurance recently named USA Risk Group the 2nd largest independent captive manager and 7th largest in the world. Further details on USA Risk Group are available at www.usarisk.com.

GEER Sound & Communications Only Vermont Company to Earn Highest AV Industry Certification
One of 3 in New England and 65 in the World
Milton, VT - December 9, 2005 GEER Sound & Communications today announced that it is the only company in Vermont and one of only three in New England to earn Gold Level certification in the Certified AudioVisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) Program. GEER Sound earned the highest certification level because at least 75% of its employees are Certified Technology Specialists.
The Certified AudioVisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) Program is the industry standard certification program for companies in the professional audiovisual industry. It is administered by InfoComm International® and the International Communications Industries Foundation (ICIF).

Champlain Valley Exposition Receives
National Honors for Fair Photos and Exhibits
ESSEX JUNCTION, VT - The Champlain Valley Exposition (CVE) received five top awards at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) 115th annual conference held Nov. 28-30 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Exposition won first place awards in the IAFE Competitive Exhibits Contest, General Competitive Exhibit Display Photo showing the Winners Circle in the Home Crafts Department and the Competitive Exhibit Display Photo Series categories showing the giant pumpkin weigh-in process. The winning photos were taken by Stephen Mease, CVEs director of public relations.

[Burlington, Vermont] After eight years in Boston, graphic designer Jeffrey Ferland has returned to Vermont and opened his own studio in Burlington, called Ferland Design. Ferland specializes in the full suite of communications materials, including brochures, advertisements, direct mail, Web sites, branding, and packaging.
Located at 113 Church Street, on the 2nd-floor studio, Ferlands clients represent a wide range of industries. His Vermont clients include Armistead Caregiver Services, Duncan Wisniewski Architecture, Kerr Advertising, the Family Center of Washington County, the Vermont Homeownership Initiative, and Alderson Environmental. His Boston clients include Merrimac Mutual Funds and AMW Marketing. Hes also working with NCSI Inc. of Columbia, Maryland.

Church, Engle & Associates Inc, Recruitment Specialist and Human Resource Consultants has opened its office in Shelburne. We provide businesses with Professional, Executive and Key Position Recruitment as well as General Human Resource Consulting. Barbara S. Church and Keith J. Engle each bring over 25 years of Human Resource experience with extensive knowledge of the local business community and personalized and in-depth service. Services include: Search, Recruitment Programs, Employee Relations Assistance including Labor and Sexual Harassment, Performance Management, Management Training, Policy and Procedure Development, Compensation and HR Audits. www.churchengle.com

BURLINGTON, Vt.--One year after rolling out New Englands first bachelors degree in Electronic Game and Interactive Development, Champlain College is launching another innovative gaming major. Starting in Fall 2006, a new bachelors degree in Electronic Game Programming will offer a deep selection of technology courses for students who want to focus on the coding side of this growing industry.
This program allows students to combine their love of games and game theory with their passion for the challenge of programming, said Champlain College professor John Rogate, director of the program. With the video game industry growing at an incredible rate, well-educated and expertly trained programmers are in peak demand.

Montpelier The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (www.vsjf.org) announced today that Ellen Kahler has been named its new Executive Director. I am very excited about this new opportunity, said Kahler. The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund is an innovative, forward-thinking nonprofit that uses an array of sustainable economic development strategies to create livable jobs, promote vibrant, economically diverse communities, develop new market sectors and business networks, and enhance our overall quality of life for generations to come.

Personalized PT debuts a comprehensive new website designed to inform the community about physical therapy techniques, injury prevention, and performance enhancement at work or play.
www.Personalized-PT.com went live this week as part of ongoing effort by Personalized PT (of Stowe and Morrisville) to inform, engage, and enlighten their patients and the community on preventing injuries& and the benefits of manual physical therapy if one should occur.
Stowe and Morrisville, VT November 17, 2005 Personalized PT

Shelburne, November 23, 2005: Armistead Caregiver Services has announced that it has put on a food drive to benefit the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Armistead caregivers were brainstorming during a recent staff meeting on how to make a difference in their community during the holiday season and decided on the food drive.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that one in 10 Vermont families is now considered food-insecure, meaning they lack adequate resources to feed every family member. Since 1999 the rate of Vermont children in the family going with inadequate food has doubled, the largest percentage increase of any state in the country.
Armistead caregivers will help stock the shelves of the Emergency Food Shelf by bringing donations of non-perishable food items from their clients to the Armistead office which will then be dropped off at the Food Shelf. The food drive will last through the New Year.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11-21-05
JULIE RUTH STUDIO & GALLERY OPENING DECEMBER 1, 2005
CONTACT:
Julie Ruth
802-730-2527
[email protected]
Waterbury, VT On Thursday, December 1, 2005, a new gallery will open its doors in Waterbury. Julie Ruth Studio & Gallery is located at 23 South Main Street, above the popular pub and brewery The Alchemist. Julie Ruth, a painter, and her husband Shannon Matthew Long, a sculptor, are the proprietors.

Here are just a few of the topics covered in the manual:
1. Find out the steps you need to take to be sure of a successful used car buying experience.
2. Learn the questions you should ask a dealer or private owner before you even go to look at a used car.
3. Uncover those ýhiddený problems the dealers don't want you to know about, and are not listed on a CARFAX report.
4. Negotiate your best deal, and save the upper hand for last. Literally squeeze every penny out of the sale. Youýll have the dealer crying ýuncle!ý
Her insider knowledge gives Amy a unique and entertaining approach to the car business. Amy makes an excellent interview and guest speaker.
For an entertaining, informative interview, call Amy at 802-223-2253
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November 16, 2005