Outstanding young leaders chosen for contributions to the Vermont economy and their community
VermontBiz celebrated the winners of its Rising Stars recognition award Thursday night at The Farmhouse at Sunset Pond in Essex. The list is comprised of 40 winners under the age of 40. Award recipients were selected by a panel of judges for their commitment to business growth, professional excellence, and involvement in their communities.
“We are thrilled by the response to this initiative to recognize these up-and-coming leaders nominated by the Vermont business community. This is our sixteenth year,” said VermontBiz Publisher John Boutin.
“We received over 120 outstanding nominations this year. The total number of honorees over the past 16 years now totals 641,” Boutin said. “The five judges had a difficult time choosing the top 40. These young professionals have chosen to make Vermont home. These honorees over the years have stepped up as leaders, not only at their place of employment but also in their communities,” Boutin said.
The honorees are also be featured in the November issue of VermontBiz.
FAST FACTS: Of the 40 honorees, there is 1 from Addison County, 4 from Bennington County, 1 from Caledonia County, 18 from Chittenden County, 2 from Franklin County, 1 from Grand Isle County, 3 from Rutland County, 9 from Washington County, 1 from Windham County. The average age of the honorees is 34 years old. The oldest is 39 and the youngest is 24 years old.
Rising Stars Class of 2025
| First Name | Last Name | County | Nominee Company | Age |
| Adam | Polonski | Chittenden | Lost Lantern Whiskey | 39 |
| Alex | Hango | Franklin | PC Construction | 35 |
| Benjamin | Lozier | Washington | Union Mutual | 31 |
| Bryn | Loftness | Chittenden | Biobe | 26 |
| Charles | Johnston | Chittenden | DuBois & King, Inc. | 33 |
| Dylan | Watts | Rutland | Heritage Family Credit Union | 30 |
| Elizabeth | Couto | Lamoille | American Nurses Association of Vermont | 39 |
| Emily | Hoffman | Washington | The Vermont Flannel Company & Vermont Teddy Bear | 36 |
| Emily | Malley | Chittenden | Make-A-Wish Vermont & Northeast New York | 34 |
| Emma | Paradis | Chittenden | Common Good Vermont, a program of United Way of Northwest Vermont | 34 |
| Franklin | Cody | Bennington | Office of Governor Philip B. Scott, State of Vermont | 26 |
| Hazel | Brewster | Washington | Vermont Department of Economic Development | 28 |
| Heather | Moore | Chittenden | Shelburne Craft School | 39 |
| Ibrahim | Wilson | Chittenden | EastRise Credit Union | 35 |
| Jay | Dubberly | Addison | Zig Zag Lit Mag | 36 |
| Jennifer | Kaulius | Chittenden | University of Vermont Health Network | 36 |
| John | Mullett | Washington | National Life Group | 34 |
| Jordan | Posner | Grand Isle | CIDER | 36 |
| Julia | Connell | Washington | State of Vermont - Department of Housing and Community Development | 32 |
| Julie | Koehler | Windham | Beaver Brook Children's School, Inc | 35 |
| Kaitlyn | Lewis Keating | Washington | Caffry & Keating PLLC | 39 |
| Kate | Abdelfatah | Chittenden | King Street Center | 29 |
| Katelyn | Hudson | Chittenden | Cushman Design Group of Stowe, VT | 37 |
| Kelly | Brush | Chittenden | Kelly Brush Foundation | 39 |
| Kevin | Chu | Chittenden | Vermont Futures Project | 34 |
| Kevin | Molloy | Rutland | Spring Lake Ranch | 32 |
| Kory | Cantin | Caledonia | Union Bank of VT & NH | 27 |
| Kurt | Naser | Chittenden | PC Construction | 38 |
| Kyle | Guptil | Chittenden | UVM Medical Center | 34 |
| Logan | O’Grady Snow | Bennington | Planned Parenthood Vermont Action Fund | 36 |
| Martina | Anderson | Washington | VAMHAR | 38 |
| Mary | Capparuccini | Chittenden | Hadley Financial Group | 34 |
| Mike | Mitrano | Rutland | Dark Shadows Entertainment, Paramount Theater | 33 |
| Mollie | Lannen | Washington | CW Creative | 38 |
| Nicole | Eaton | Chittenden | Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, Inc. | 24 |
| Sarah | Blizzard | Bennington | Greater Bennington Community Services | 39 |
| Shayna | Sherwood | Franklin | Sherwood Real Estate, FNESU, Doro/Sherwood Casting | 38 |
| Sophia | Rabe | Chittenden | Olive & Milo | 34 |
| Tom | Bazzano | Chittenden | OneDigital | 34 |
| Zoe | Contros Kearl | Bennington | Power Guru; Town of Shaftsbury | 33 |
VermontBiz.com Vermont Business Magazine
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