Vermont Business Magazine The Lake Champlain Chamber today announced its 110th Annual award recipients via YouTube Live. Five awards were presented recognizing businesses and business leaders for their accomplishments and contributions to our community. An in-person celebration will be scheduled at a later date.
Awards were presented to:
Emerging Leader Award - presented to Kim Anderson with Community Health Centers of Burlington. This award recognizes an emerging leader who combines professional success with community leadership. Kim’s tireless work at Community Health Centers of Burlington has allowed her to collaborate with many external committees and collaborations, including the Chittenden County Opioid Alliance, Community Health Needs Assessment, and AgeWell. Kim is also a performer, starring in several Lyric Theatre productions and serving as an emcee for various community events, including the 109th LCC Annual Dinner. Kim is a 2018 Vermont Business Magazine Rising Star and currently serves on the board for Leadership Champlain.
Community Impact Awards – presented to GlobalFoundries and Leslie McCrorey Wells with Pizzeria Verità, Trattoria Delia and Sotto Provisions. This award recognizes an organization and/or an individual that has demonstrated consistent, meaningful impact in their community. Two awards were presented this year, one to a business and one to an individual.
Business: GlobalFoundries furthered its commitment to Vermont during the COVID-19 pandemic. They manufactured PPE, donated over $70,000 to local non-profit organizations and provided iPads and laptops to both the UVM Medical Center and students in need.
Individual: Leslie McCrorey Wells is a distinguished business leader and inspiring advocate for social justice and education. She has served on various boards and committees such as the Vermont Commission on National & Community Service, the UVM Coming Home Project, the Burlington School District Strategic Planning Committee, Burlington Mayor Clavelle’s Anti-Racism Task Force, Mercy Connections, Intervale Center, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and the University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum. Even though the pandemic hit her industry particularly hard, she launched Sotto Shares to help feed families in need.
A. Wayne Roberts New Business Award - presented to Burlington Code Academy. This award recognizes Wayne Robert's dedication to the Chamber. It is awarded to a Vermont business with a promising future and strong commitment to our community. Burlington Code Academy teaches adults the skills they need to start a career in coding and user experience (UX) design in 12 weeks. Since being founded three years ago, Burlington Code Academy has graduated over 150 students and placed 90% of its graduates in tech jobs. This 2018 LaunchVT Investor Award winner has experienced continued growth, hiring new employees and partnering with over 50 tech companies in Vermont as well as VSAC and the Vermont Department of Labor to advance its mission and support Vermont’s workforce.
Workforce Innovation Award - presented to Rhino Foods. This award is presented to a business that is ahead of the curve in retaining and building their future workforce. Rhino Foods is a leading manufacturer of ready-to-eat cookie doughs and baked products with over 200+ employees. For the past ten years, they have partnered with the United Way of Northwest Vermont through the Working Bridges program to provide Resource Coordination services to their employees. The program brings a Working Bridges Resource Coordinator with specialized training in financial coaching, mental health first aid and community resources onsite to provide personalized, judgement-free, confidential support to employees. By giving employees a strong voice, Rhino has developed a suite of programs and benefits that directly address the barriers to employee retention and satisfaction including open book management, employee exchange program, refugee hiring, and Resource Coordinator. Their Income Advance program guarantees employees access to $1,000 in cash to help them cover medical or housing emergencies or other immediate needs. Through the important work of nurturing an employee-centric culture, Rhino has lifted employee engagement to better serve our business and our community.
Business of the Year - In a typical year, the Lake Champlain Chamber Business of the Year award honors a business that has demonstrated growth in its employment, production, and operations, one that has a substantial history of success, significant achievements in innovation, and superior community involvement through the commitment of time and resources, all demonstrating their positive social and economic impact on the Lake Champlain region.
In light of business's contributions to combatting a worldwide pandemic, their continued achievements, and care for their communities, it was decided that all businesses deserved recognition. We were honored to bestow our 2020 Pivot Award to all businesses in Vermont.
To join in the celebration of our business community, visit https://www.vermont.org/chamber/chamber-news/2020-achievements/
The Chamber also recognized the following companies for their generous support of the our annual awards celebration: People's United Bank, REM Development, and Sheehey Furlong & Behm P.C.
The Lake Champlain Chamber believes that together, we make Vermont work. Our mission and programs are best summed up by five distinct points: seeking economic opportunity for all; celebrating business ownership and entrepreneurship; promoting a robust, diversified visitor economy; cultivating community leadership; and nurturing emerging talent. For more information about the Lake Champlain Chamber, visit www.lccvermont.org
Source: Friday, January 29, 2021- Burlington, VT: LCC