Current News

Catherine McIntyre and Terri Parent, formerly of PDI Creative Communication in Burlington, recently launched Stride Creative Group, a full-service creative partnership specializing in print design, web design and advertising. The two have capitalized on their 5-year working relationship to support the marketing efforts of Vermont-based businesses and non-profit organizations.
Parent, an Art Director for over 8 years, creates marketing and branding strategies for Stride’s clients. She designs corporate identities, marketing materials, web sites, advertisements, and signage — and writes marketing copy and radio scripts. McIntyre, an Editorial and Web Designer for over 6 years, also designs marketing materials, web sites, advertising, and signage, and offers the technical component of web development. She heads up media planning and implementation strategies, and writes marketing copy as well.

Catherine Kronk, Liam Murphy and Brian Sullivan are very pleased to announce the formation of the law firm of Murphy Sullivan Kronk. Located in the historic Peck House in downtown Burlington, MSK will focus its practice on transactions, permitting and litigation in the fields of real estate, land development and commercial law. Jeremy Farkas and Jamie Ha-O’Brien have joined us as associates practicing in the areas of commercial real estate transactions, telecommunications law and litigation.
MSK is proud to have been recognized, at its formation, by Chambers & Partners USA as one of Vermont top tier real estate and land use firms, in its 2004 “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business”:

Joseph M. Finnigan, president and CEO of Vermont Federal Credit Union (VTFCU), is pleased to announce that Sarah Gamer, CPA, has joined the Vermont Federal Credit Union senior management team as Controller.
Sarah brings to the Credit Union over 28 years of professional experience in accounting, finance, administration and consulting. Prior to the credit union, she was Dean of Administration at Johnson State College, as well as a financial and taxation consultant for various firms in the area. She also spent time as the Director of Finance and Administration at the New Brunswick Seminary and the Director of Administrative Service at Western New England College.

April Cornell, co-owner of Cornell Trading in Williston, Vt., will address Champlain College graduates at this year’s Commencement ceremony on May 8. April’s name graces the storefronts of more than 80 clothing and home furnishing boutiques in America, while more than 30 of her stores in Canada bear the name “La Cache.”
April and her husband Chris Cornell started their international business in Montreal. With a shared passion for travel, they headed east and made their first foray into buying while roaming the bazaars in Afghanistan. When the couple opened their first boutique in Montreal in 1975, the nomadic clothing they saw on their travels were among their best selling items.

GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE a 22-year-old international company is celebrating its one-year anniversary in Vermont. The company, which has been on NBC’s Today Show and has received numerous national awards for quality and service, is a leader in non-medical homecare.
The Burlington based office, which serves the 10 northern counties of Vermont, refers carefully screened Caregivers that assist seniors with non-medical personal care, including: bathing and dressing, as well as light housekeeping, cooking, companionship, assistance with self administered medications, and incidental transportation.
The Director and owner of GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE in Vermont, is Barbara Headrick, who for the past 10 years has wanted to open a GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE office, and is delighted to see that dream coming true.

Reflecting the growing demand for classes that can be completed from a
personal computer anytime or anywhere, the Community College of Vermont is
offering over 120 credit-bearing courses during its summer 2004 session.
Registration for online courses offered during the summer session is held
from April 26 to May 14.
For Vermont college students looking to get a head start on the upcoming
fall semester or looking to complete a degree requirement while away from
their home university for the summer, CCV's online courses provide an
affordable and high quality option for meeting their educational goals.
Credits earned at CCV are readily transferable and, with the convenience
of more than 120 online courses, students can enroll in a CCV course from
anywhere in the world. Vermont residents also benefit from CCV's in-state
tuition rates, the most affordable college tuition in the state.

Chittenden Corporation
(NYSE: CHZ) Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul A. Perrault,
announced earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 of $17.5 million
or $0.47 per diluted share, compared to $16.6 million or $0.49 a year ago.
Chittenden also announced a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.22
per share. The dividend will be paid on May 14, 2004, to shareholders of
record on April 30, 2004.
In making the announcement, Perrault said, "By and large, most core
businesses are doing well. However, the volatility of market interest rates
and the timing of their movements during the quarter adversely impacted the
mortgage banking business. On the whole, we consider the quarter's results a
little disappointing, though there is cause for optimism. Commercial loan
growth was particularly good during the quarter and accelerated in the month

Third Sector Systems, a provider of organization-wide software solutions for nonprofits announced today that John Crowl, the former Publisher of the Chronicle of Philanthropy and Louis Raffis, Senior Vice President in the Corporate Treasury Group at KeyCorp have joined its Board of Directors.
Crowl said “I’ve been impressed with Third Sector’s integrated software, which solves a longstanding coordination problem that has plagued non-profit organizations. But I have been equally impressed by the company’s management, its vision, and especially its prospects for the future.”

Kathleen C. Hoyt and Dr. Marc A. vanderHeyden, have been nominated to serve on Green Mountain Power’s Board of Directors. The election will take place at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders in May.
“We very much look forward to having Kathy and Marc serve on Green Mountain’s Board,” said Nordahl L. Brue, Chair of Green Mountain Power. “We welcome the Vermont and national insights and advice that they will bring to our Company as we continue to find new ways to achieve our goal as the nation’s premier electric distribution utility.”
Hoyt was the top cabinet official for Vermont Governor Howard Dean, having previously served in multiple leadership positions in state government. In 1998, she received the National Governors Association Award for Distinguished Service to State Government.

Sooner or later, every growing business will likely need an Act 250 or environmental permits to either move into a new facility, or construct more space. Knowing what to expect, and how to get started are the keys to obtaining your permit as quickly and easily as possible.
The Vermont Small Business Act 250 Fact Sheet is designed for businesses, that are not yet familiar with Vermont's Act 250 process. Created by the Vermont Environmental Assistance Partnership (SBDC, VMEC, VT-ANR, Dept. of Economic Development) in cooperation with the VT Environmental Board.
On the web at: www.veap.org/news.shtml
or by calling 802-728-1423

Hildene has received three grants to help underwrite it¹s premiere
exhibit, Vermont and the North Shire in the Civil War. The Cultural
Facilities Grant Program award of $3,200 will be used to install UV
protective storm windows on the second floor of the house.
It was funded
by the State of Vermont and administered by the Vermont Arts Council on
behalf of the Cultural Facilities Coalition. The remaining portion of the
cost for this project was funded by a gift from David H. and Christina
Nichols and the Nichols Foundation, Inc.
The installation of these
windows will help protect the interior of the building and Hildene¹s
existing collection, as well as, artifacts borrowed from other Vermont
institutions that are highlighted in the exhibit.
The Cultural Facilities
Program assists nonprofit organizations in Vermont to improve facilities

The Horizon Interactive Awards, a leading international interactive media awards competition, announced the 2004 award winners. The annual competition recognizes excellence in interactive media production among firms, individuals and in-house multi-media departments.
Tag New Media was recognized for their excellence in interactive media production with two Silver awards in the Flash™ Category for their latest Rossignol microsites. The microsites for Rossignol’s new Zenith skis and Soft®Light boots can be viewed at www.rossignol.com.
Tag New Media (TNM) is a Web design and development studio based in Burlington, Vermont. Since 1996, TNM has focused on delivering value to their clients through thoughtfully conceived and appropriate interactive design and technology solutions – solutions that address core business objectives.