Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Widewail of Burlington, the leading customer review and reputation management solution, today announced it has earned a top spot on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. A three-year growth rate of 1,082% earned Widewail the rank of #544 on the annual list. Notably, the company was ranked #4 overall in its home state of Vermont. The ranking is driven by the growing impact of customer reviews and demand for reputation management across a variety of industries.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Law and Graduate School's Entrepreneurial Legal Laboratory (VLSell) has introduced a new legal assistance program supporting businesses impacted by recent flooding. Under this initiative, VLSell has coordinated with volunteer attorneys to provide free legal assistance and education to businesses navigating the legal complexities of flood recovery. VLSell has partnered in this initiative with New Orleans-based Emergency Legal Responders, the only organization in the U.S. focused on disaster rights advocacy. 

Saint Michael's College The 2023 Lake Champlain Boat Festival took place on Sunday August 6, and the Saint Michael’s Dragon Boat team leader, Allison Close ‘01 of the campus mailroom, shared this report: “We had a beautiful day to race. The Saint Michael's College Dragon Slayers team is made up of faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the College. Our first race of the day was against Champlain College and UVM. We did beat UVM by 2 seconds, but Champlain College was the overall winner of the race.

Vermont Business Magazine­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Vermont Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), locally representing ESGR, a Department of Defense agency, announced that Governor Phil Scott has signed a proclamation declaring August 2023 as Vermont Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Month. This proclamation mirrors the spirit and intent of a Presidential Proclamation to be signed later this month, giving gratitude to our many employers who have provided exceptional support to our citizen warriors.

Vermont Business Magazine After decades of service to Vermonters, Howard Center’s CEO Bob Bick announces that he will retire in June 2024. A state and national leader, visionary, innovator, and licensed alcohol and drug counselor, Bob Bick has been Chief Executive Officer of Vermont’s largest human service organization since 2015 and in leadership positions with the agency for 30 years. He has held many board and service appointments and consulted at the state and national level. Over his long tenure, he has led with his heart to advance the care and treatment for mental health, substance use, and developmental services. Known for his compassion, client-centered focus, and the business acumen required to lead a $130M organization in a complex healthcare landscape—with 50 programs, 1600 employees, 60 locations, and serving 19,000 people annually—Bick’s contributions to Vermonters and beyond are numerous. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) today announced changes to statewide vehicle incentive programs for residents whose personal vehicles have been damaged by flooding, in an effort to provide increased financial support to households affected by this summer’s flood events and to expedite the transition to plug-in electric vehicles (EVs).

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is alerting customers about a surge in scam calls to customers today. The scammers claim to be from GMP, demand immediate payment over the phone and threaten power shut off if customers don’t pay right away.  GMP urges customers to hang up on these scammers.

Vermont Business Magazine Fluency, the leading innovator of digital advertising management and automation solutions for agencies and large enterprises, today announced that it ranks number 200 on this year’s Inc. 5000 list. As the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, the Inc. 5000  provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s millions of eligible firms. Fluency earned its place on the list by achieving a 2,747% three-year growth rate, making it the fastest-growing business in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine This morning, Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) addressed the Vermont Council on Rural Development’s (VCRD) 2023 Vermont Community Leadership Summit in Randolph. The Senator spoke to approximately 500 attendees at the Vermont State University Randolph, including small business leaders, organizers, and local leaders, about the importance of building and supporting a strong community, especially in times of great challenge like during the recent catastrophic flooding. 

Vermont Business Magazine Image Relay, delivering a single source of truth for all digital assets and product information, today announced that Inc. has named the company to the 2023 Inc. 5000, its annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses.

Vermont State Police On August 15, 2023, at approximately 1120 hours, the Vermont State Police responded to the Notch for a TT Unit that attempted to pass through and got stuck. The operator was identified as Billy Tolson, 66, of Loraine, Ohio. Tolson advised he ignored all of the signs leading up to the notch as he believed he could make it through. Tolson further advised he was on his way to Franklin Foods in Enosburg. 

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University announced today that their Exercise Science Program has received national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Programmatic accreditation through CAAHEP is specifically intended for Exercise Science or related departments with a professional preparation tract designed for students seeking employment opportunities in the health, fitness, and exercise industry.