Current News

Saint Michael's College will begin construction of two new residence halls
on June 30. This project, which will cost $14.9 million, including access
roads and landscaping, will complete a program begun in 1999 to replace
some existing housing and expand capacity in order to insure the college's
ability to house close to 100 percent of its undergraduate students on
campus. Currently some 90 percent of Saint Michael's students reside on
the campus of the liberal arts residential Catholic college located in
Colchester, five minutes from Burlington.
"Saint Michael's commitment to the liberal arts is predicated on education
in and out of the classroom," said Saint Michael's President Marc
vanderHeyden. "Therefore we need residences that provide congenial
settings for group study sessions, as well as for small, faculty-led
informal seminars, and these new residences will cultivate this

Vermont parents, grandparents and others have another
incentive to join, or continue contributing to, the Vermont Higher
Education Investment Plan (VHEIP), the state's "529 plan." Starting with
the 2004 tax year, VHEIP participants will be able to receive an income
tax credit of 5 percent of the first $2,000 contributed to an account, or
up to $100 per year per beneficiary. The provision was approved by the
2003 Legislature and signed into law by Gov. James Douglas on June 16.
Vermont joins 24 other states and the District of Columbia in enacting an
up-front incentive -- many states use a tax deduction -- for taxpayers
enrolled in the state's "529 plan," as the programs are known under the
Internal Revenue Code. Unlike a tax deduction, which reduces your taxable
income, a tax credit reduces the amount you owe in taxes. A deduction
generally favors taxpayers who can afford sizable contributions to an

Julie Gauthier, formerly of Valley
Rent-All in Waterbury, Vermont, has accepted the position of Event Rental
Specialist with Vermont Tent Company in South Burlington, Vermont. “I’m
looking forward to becoming a part of the Vermont Tent Company Team”, said
Gauthier. “Vermont Tent Company is the leading Tent and Event Rental
Company in New England, and this position offers many unique
opportunities. I have the chance to utilize my event planning capabilities
and work with the most educated and professional organization in the
industry, you can say I am very excited!”
Gauthier brings with her over 18 years of event planning experience and a
passion for creating the perfect event. She also holds two of the highest
certifications in the industry, Certified Event Rental Professional and
Certified Event Rental Manager. “We are thrilled with the recent addition

WCAX-TV in Burlington, Vermont has been awarded first place honors in the small market television category of the 2003 Edward R. Murrow Awards Competition. WCAX-TV was honored for The Channel 3 News at 6:00.
The Edward R. Murrow Awards represent national competition among television and radio stations across the United States. Only regularly scheduled newscasts are eligible for entry in the “Best Newscast” category, and only one entry is allowed per news organization. The entry must represent the news organization's best effort at producing a newscast.
The RTNDA states, “The Radio-Television News Directors Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Murrow's pursuit of excellence in journalism embodies the spirit of the awards that carry his name. Murrow Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession.”

Silicon Graphics, Inc. (NYSE: SGI), the world leader in high-performance computing, visualization and storage solutions, has selected UPS Supply Chain Solutions (NYSE:UPS) as its third-party logistics provider for service parts logistics in Asia and Latin America.
SGI already relies on UPS Supply Chain Solutions for service parts logistics in North America.
SGI service parts now will be distributed from UPS Supply Chain Solutions distribution centers and field stocking locations in Asia and Latin America. SGI’s customers will be able to use computer technicians trained by UPS Supply Chain Solutions, who can provide on-site repair service of selected SGI systems. SGI also will make use of UPS’s extensive small package network in Latin America.

Do you know someone who continuously steps forward to help advance and strengthen our Vermont communities? Your ideal civic leader could be the next person to be honored with the statewide Vermont Chamber Citizen of the Year Award.
Presented annually for nearly four decades, the Citizen of the Year award is given to a person who: 1) Has made major contributions to the betterment of Vermont; 2) Has distinguished himself or herself through outstanding service to the community; and 3) Typifies the true spirit of service and self-sacrifice in representing the finest ideal of Vermont Citizenship.
The 2003 Citizen of the Year will be honored with a special recognition banquet in the fall. The application includes a nomination form, a brief biographical sketch of the nominee, and supporting testimonials. A Selection Committee comprised of Vermont Chamber Board Members and past award winners will select the winner.

Individual Solutions Options / Quality Services, Inc., a high technology management, quality, and environmental consulting firm headquartered in Austin, Texas announces the opening of its New England office in Burlington, Vermont. Robert C. Greenlese has signed on as Senior Consultant to head this office. The New England office will specialize in process improvement consulting, including implementation of quality and environmental management systems (and their integration) as well as process improvement techniques to improve an organization’s bottom line results.
Mr. Greenlese previously worked at IBM Microelectronics as a staff engineer in quality, reliability, and process development. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University, a Bachelor or Arts in Physics from SUNY at Potsdam, and a Masters of Science in Mircoelectronic Manufacturing Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Dr. Sandra Steingard has been appointed Medical Director of The Howard Center for Human Services, with specific responsibilities for the adult division. She served as acting agency medical director since late fall, and has been Medical Director of the Community Support program at Howard since 1995.
Steingard was trained at Harvard and Tufts Universities. She is currently Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UVM College of Medicine and Medical Advisor to NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)

Miles E. Waite, PhD, Principal Hydrogeologist and Owner of Waite Environmental Management, LLC, announces the opening of an environmental consulting firm in Burlington. The firm specializes in hydrogeological investigations, environmental site assessments, water supply permitting, and wastewater design and permitting.
Waite has several years experience as a consulting hydrogeologist, operating in California, Colorado, and Vermont. He received his PhD in Geology from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1998. Since that time, he has been working in the consulting field in the Burlington area. In addition to being a hydrogeologist, Miles is a Vermont liscenced Site Technician and designs residential wastewater systems.

On Wednesday, May 21, amid a flurry of anticipation at the Vermont Business EXPO opening ceremony, Governor James Douglas presented NRG Systems, Inc of Hinesburg with the Deane C. Davis Oustanding Business of the Year Award.
Named after former Governor Deane C. Davis (1900-1990) and co-sponsored by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Vermont Business Magazine, the award is given to the Vermont company that embraces the unshakeable values that Davis brought to his office: enhancing the economy and championing the environment with the help of business and satisfied employees.
Now in its fourteenth year, the award is cloaked in secrecy, with three finalists hoping to hear their name at the moment the winner is announced. This year’s finalists include CVPS and The Vermont Teddy Bear Company in addition to the winning company, NRG Systems, Inc.

Northern Power sold to Connecticut energy firm for $27.5 million

Come join the first Business Leadership Network event to learn how local and national businesses use successful strategies to employ people with disabilities. Events will include a networking breakfast, keynote speaker, Q&A session and group discussions.
Cost: $15.00