Current News

Merchants Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph L. Boutin today announced the appointment of Darcy L. Cunningham to the position of branch president of the bank’s Winooski office. Cunningham succeeds Darlene Cooper, who is preparing for a direct role in the Bank’s retail banking expansion plans. Cunningham will assume her duties as branch president on October 15, 2002, leading the branch staff that includes Customer Service Representatives Cindy Gilhooly, Kelley Kimball, Lisa Dudley, and Marina Kaye.
“Darcy is a fine example of Merchants Bank’s idea of a community banker,” said Joseph L. Boutin. “She provides outstanding service to her commercial and retail customers and has built strong relationships in her community. I am confident that our Winooski customers will benefit from her expertise and her commitment to the community banking ideal.”

The federal government has renewed two grants that enable the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. (VSAC) to help disadvantaged Vermonters prepare for education beyond high school. The grants normally run for four years, but a perfect score on one of its applications qualified VSAC for a five-year grant. The awards are:
· $1.9 million over four years for the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) program, which serves adult students.
· $2.2 million over five years for the Talent Search program, which serves students in grades 6 through 12.

The Equinox Resort has announced the
appointment of Courtney Lowe as Director of Sales and Marketing. He comes to the Resort from the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville Virginia where he served in the same capacity. "We are fortunate to have attracted someone of Courtney's caliber." said Resort General Manager Gary Thulander. "His enthusiasm is infectious. Courtney's knowledge of the region, coupled with his marketing and sales acumen will help us take the Resort to the next level. It's all part of our quest to be the number one Resort in New England."
This is a homecoming of sorts for Courtney. He worked at the Equinox as Director of Sales between 1992 and 1998. "It very exciting for me to have the opportunity to return to the Equinox." commented Lowe. "We have family
and friends in the area. Personally, I'm looking forward to being closer to them. Professionally, my goal is to bring the Equinox Resort to a new

The Community Economic Development Program of Central Vermont Community Action Council is please to announce the opening of the new Vermont Women’s Business Center. Housed at Woodbury College, the center will provide business counseling services and technological assistance for women owned businesses or for women considering starting their own business.
In partnership with the Small Business Administration, the center will serve a diverse population of women from all across the State of Vermont to help them develop their business skills. It will provide individual counseling, classes, and internet-based support. Additionally, the center will offer a series of network luncheons, roundtable, and other network events in locations around the state to provide ongoing education and support for growing business.

Granite Hills Credit Union announced the expansion of its Community Charter to Orange County. Already open to anyone who lives or
works in Washington County, the Credit Union recently received approval from Vermont's Department of Banking and Insurance to offer its services to anyone who lives or works in Orange County.
"In this highly competitive marketplace, we see this as a positive step towards insuring the continuity and viability of the Credit Union," said Granite Hills CEO Susan Poczobut. "We look forward to providing our own personalized brand of financial products to the folks in Orange County."
Granite Hills Credit Union offers a wide array of personal financial products and services, including free checking, savings, money market
accounts, debit and credit cards, low-rate vehicle loans, home loans, online banking, electronic bill pay and a network of close to 100 Falcon® ATMs throughout Vermont.

Spencer Putnam has been named the new Executive Director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. Putnam was formerly the General Manager of Danforth Pewterers and Vice President of Operations at Vermont Teddy Bear Company.
“Now, more than ever, business people need to think beyond the bottom line. We’ve seen what happens when people focus on the short-term gains of a values-less marketplace. The most successful companies have learned how to integrate profit with concern for their environment, community and workforce,” said Putnam. “Vermont companies have known this for years."
Founded 12 years ago by companies such as Ben & Jerry’s, Seventh Generation and Gardeners Supply Co., VBSR is the oldest and largest regional organization of socially responsible companies in the country. Over 400 business members are committed to the organization’s mission “to set a high standard for protecting the natural, human and economic environments” of Vermont’s citizens.

The Vermont Tax Practitioners Association (VTPA) will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, September 17th from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn just off Exit 10 of I-89 in Waterbury, Vt.
The morning session will be on “Employee Issues” and will be presented by Michelle Guilmette, a Sr. Tax Specialist with the Internal Revenue Service in the Taxpayer Education & Communication Division. Her talk will focus on employee versus subcontractor designations and related issues.
The afternoon session will be on “Special Taxes” and will be given by Gloria Hobson of the Vt. Dept. of Taxes, or her designee. Ms. Hobson is the Department’s Taxpayer Advocate. She will discuss Vermont’s special taxes, various tax credits and some tax planning tips regarding the State’s new income tax structure.

The WIB (Workforce Investment Board) Annual Statewide Retreat is being held at the Killington Grand Hotel on Tuesday, September 24th. from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The one day retreat includes breakfast, workshops, lunch
and a forum with the three major gubernatorial candidates. The cost is $50 per person. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions of the
candidates about the economy and workforce development.
If you are interested in attending or want additional informaiton, please contact
Anne Ginevan at 802-388-7951 or email her at [email protected] The registration deadline is Sept. 16th, so please don't delay.
Addison County will be well represented during the workshops with a presentation by Richard Reed from DET on Work Ethics and Sue Harding from the Parent Child Center and Anne Ginevan on Developing a Youth Council. We would be pleased to have your participation.

Vermont-based organizational consultant Dale Guldbrandsen recently gave the keynote address to over 100 first-year students at American University's International MBA Student Preparation program. The Manchester, Vt. executive addressed the group on Aug. 22 in
Washington D.C. His presentation, 'The Master Navigator: Leveraging Leadership," guided the new business students on the principles of leadership and corporate ethics, a timely topic amidst the ongoing corporate ethics crisis. His program focused on the importance of achieving clarity of thought and purpose as the business students prepare for careers in international business.
Guldbrandsen guided the students through a focused examination of executive principles and values. He led them through an analysis of "True

John Marshall of Peacham has been elected chair of the board of directors of Vermont Public Television, the statewide public television network. He is director and CEO of Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC in St. Johnsbury.
He succeeds Helen Riehle of S. Burlington, who served as chair for three years and continues on the board for another year. Her colleagues honored her recently for her 13 years of service to VPT.
William Stritzler of Jeffersonville, managing director of Smuggler's Notch, was elected vice chair.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce cordially invites you to our Annual Meeting, scheduled for September 12, 2002, at the Cortina Inn in
Killington. The keynote luncheon speaker is Dr. Daniel Fogel, President of the University of Vermont.
The Vermont Chamber recognizes that higher education is a critical element in the development of a strong economic future for Vermont. Dr. Fogel stated, "The University of Vermont is an institution in which the people
of Vermont ought to take enormous pride. They are getting a very, very high return on their investment." Founded in 1791, the University of
Vermont is the largest educational institution in the state, with nearly 300 buildings and a 425-acre main campus.
Please join us to welcome Dr. Fogel as he engages the audience in a discussion about the importance and future direction of the University of

The Vermont Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (Vermont NETS) and The Governor's Highway Safety Program will present a conference titled Defensive Driving: The Cost Savings Factor, Thursday, October 3, 2002, 8:00am-12:00pm at the Clarion Hotel Burlington.
Find out how traffic safety can save your company money. This conference is designed for Human Resource Directors; Safety Officers; managers and business owners. Traffic crashes can create personal and financial havoc with your business! Find out how you can confront this issue. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death and injury in the work place.
When you attend the conference you will understand traffic safety from the law enforcement perspective. You will take the Distracted Drivers Test. Learn about occupant protection-it IS the law. Learn about the overall traffic safety picture in Vermont and learn about benefits of defensive driving techniques.