Bill Stenger, President and Chief Operating Officer at Jay Peak Resort, has been selected as the 2011 Citizen of the Year by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Stenger’s achievements will be toasted at a gala event on December 9, in coordination with the sneak preview of Jay Peak’s nationally acclaimed 50,000 square-foot Pump House indoor water park.
The prestigious Citizen of the Year Award, now in its 48th year, highlights the work of a Vermonter who has bettered the state through self-sacrifice, service and volunteerism.
“I am delighted to accept the Vermont Chamber Citizen of the Year award. The timing could not be better as family, friends, and colleagues come together to celebrate the Pump House, a new dimension in the creation of a four-season, destination resort at Jay Peak,” Stenger noted.
Since 1985, Stenger has focused on growing the resort into a destination for Vermonters and people worldwide, as a source of fun, sport and relaxation. He has transformed the remote ski area to a premier resort, providing social and economic benefits on a regional and statewide basis.
"Bill Stenger's innovation and determination have invigorated the economy in the Northeast Kingdom, providing excellent jobs to many in Vermont's most rural region,” said Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “With each commitment, he has shared his entrepreneurial spirit and savvy business skills throughout the state, emerging as a dean of tourism and economic development. Bill's vision and energy continue to be an inspiration to all.”
Stenger is a champion of the EB-5 foreign investment program, attracting capital at a time when domestic loan opportunities are in short supply. Beyond drawing growth to the Jay area, Stenger has served on a myriad of boards such as the Next Generation Commission, the Travel and Recreation Council, Vermont Ski Areas Association and the North Country Hospital.
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce will honor Bill Stenger on Friday, December 9, 2011, beginning at 5:30 pm at Jay Peak Resort in Jay, Vermont. Tickets are $65 per person and include hors d’oeuvres, a plated dinner and an opportunity to toast Stenger for his many accomplishments. Special tours, and complimentary lift and water park tickets, are also on tap for event participants.
