Champlain Cable was last year's winner of the Deane C Davis Outstanding Business of the Year Award
Vermont Business MagazineVermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce select the three finalists for the Deane C Davis Outstanding Business of the Year Award: Black River Produce, PC Construction Company, and Vermont Mutual Insurance Group. One of these impressive finalists will be named the Deane C Davis Outstanding Vermont Business of the Year on Thursday, May 26 in an awards presentation ceremony that kicks off the 32nd annual Vermont Chamber Business & Industry EXPO. The award winner will be announced at 10 am in the foyer of the Sheraton Burlington Conference Center.
This year’s finalists exemplify the resourcefulness, innovation and success of Vermont’s statewide businesses. They all share a dedication to their employees, communities and Vermont’s natural environment. Each represents a unique story of vision, commitment and growth.
Black River Produce was created 38 years ago by Mark Curran and Steve Birge who believed that Vermont deserved better quality fresh foods than were currently available. These two made weekly trips in their VW bus to the Boston produce markets to pick up fresh produce for their retail market and early wholesale customers. Over four decades, Mark and Steve built these humble beginnings into regional leadership in the fresh food market. Today the company of 190 employees services over 2500 customers on 40 daily routes in six states with top quality produce, organics, seafood, natural meats, and specialty grocery items. With a focus on environment and a commitment to the community, Black River Produce embodies the business excellence representative of the Deane C. Davis award, making them a strong contender in the race for this distinction.
PC Construction’s success over the past 57 years is due to its employees’ dedication to excellent work, a customer service approach that exceeds expectations, and a safety program that has led to millions of zero-accident hours. Honesty and open communication have empowered PC Construction’s workforce since day one, and it shows in their work today. Founded by the Pizzagalli family in 1958 with a modest $25,000 in sales the first year, PC Construction has grown into a $500,000,000 business and has become a 100% employee owned enterprise employing over 1,100 dedicated employee-owners, all while remaining true to their core values – safety, integrity, personal responsibility, trust, respect, excellence and leadership. Showcasing the essence of business growth while maintaining a strong commitment to the wellbeing of employees and the community, PC Construction Company has risen to the top and easily stands among the top three competitors for the Deane C. Davis distinction.
Vermont Mutual was chartered in 1828, making it the oldest insurance carrier in Vermont and one of the 10 oldest mutual carriers in the country. While they are proud they have been protecting Vermonters since Abe Lincoln was a teenager, they spend most of their time looking forward, not back. This vision allowed Vermont Mutual Insurance Group to profitably grow into one of the top insurance companies in the country, writing over $400 million dollars of property & casualty business, and providing insurance protection to more than 285,000 customers, throughout the Northeast. Over the past five years they have grown their business by almost $110 million dollars, while also growing their surplus, a measure of funds held to pay claims, by 62%. During this five year period they added 42 employees to their team, bringing their total staff to 254, with 230 of them located in Vermont. In part because of these accomplishments, Vermont Mutual is currently rated A+ by A.M. Best, the industry’s premier rating agency. Vermont Mutual Insurance Group strives for continued growth and even further community contributions. Their dedication makes Vermont Mutual Insurance Group a strong competitor in the race for this award.
To recognize and honor Vermont’s best companies, the Vermont Chamber and Vermont Business Magazine created the Deane C Davis Outstanding Business of the Year Award in 1990. Named for the former Governor of Vermont, this annual award honors a Vermont business that shows an outstanding history of sustained growth while displaying an acute awareness of what makes Vermont unique. Commitment to the environment and dedication to employee relations are key components to receiving the award.
Join the Vermont Chamber and Vermont Business Magazine as they unveil this year’s award recipient at the Vermont Chamber Business & Industry EXPO on Thursday, May 26 at 10 am during the Opening Ceremonies.
Vermont Business Magazine is the state's most respected business publication. Since 1972, VBM has published statewide business news, economic and political news and commentary, business and individual profiles, data, analysis and statistics.
The largest statewide, private, not-for-profit business organization, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce represents nearly every sector of the state’s corporate and hospitality community. Its mission is to create an economic climate conducive to business growth and the preservation of the Vermont quality of life.
Burlington, VT (May 9, 2016)—Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce