Vermont Business Magazine Another healthcare leader is leaving the state. Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems announced today that president and CEO Jeff Tieman will depart the organization in June to lead the hospital association in his home state of Colorado. Tieman has led the association representing Vermont’s non-profit hospital system for almost six years, successfully navigating the country’s most complex regulatory environment, and serving as the key point of contact for Vermont hospitals in the state's pandemic response. NMC recently announced that its CEO, Dr Dean French, is leaving for a position in Kentucky.  

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets Save the date for this year's Open Farm Week, taking place August 7-14, 2022. Open Farm week creates an opportunity for folks to visit farms and connect with Vermont's working landscape. This event has proven to be a great way for farmers to meet their customers and community! For seven years, farmers have been inviting the public behind the scenes to experience and celebrate Vermont’s agricultural heritage. During Open Farm Week, farms across the state will offer a range of events from on-farm dinners and workshops to tours and tastings that are uniquely crafted at every farm. This is a great opportunity to show people the places where their food comes from and the farmers who make it happen.

Vermont Business Magazine No winter was in sight on a balmy high 50 degree day as the crowds enjoyed the 5th Annual Winter Homebrew Festival in downtown Bennington, Vermont.  The festival was once again organized by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Hopridge Farms and topped out at over 500 attendees. The Saturday festival opened its doors at noon to exclusive VIP ticket holders for a private tasting of both regional food and brews. The general ticket holders were able to attend from 1pm - 4pm. 

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens announced today that the national Citizens Business Conditions Index fell five points in Vermont in the most recent quarter, but remains over the crucial 50 mark. Meanwhile, the CBCI nationally reached 59.5 for the first quarter of 2022, up markedly from 54.4 at the end of 2021 and reaching its highest level since Citizens began tracking the data in 2014, suggesting that lessons learned by businesses during the pandemic coupled with strong consumer demand were a potent combination. The CBCI has been in expansionary territory (above 50) for six consecutive quarters, but the latest value exceeds even the first “reopening rebounds” that emerged in early 2021 and signals that resilient businesses that streamlined operations during early waves of the pandemic were able to benefit from a super-charged post-Omicron bounce.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University celebrated commencement and commissioning with April 30 ceremonies in Shapiro Field House in which 531 students graduated from 32 undergraduate programs and one master’s program and 134 graduates commissioned into the U.S. armed services. The 10 am commencement ceremony included graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021, who joined members of the Class of 2022, which graduated 518 bachelor’s degree recipients and 13 master’s degree recipients.