Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) has designated Allison Hooper, Co-Founder of Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery, as this year’s recipient of the Terry Ehrich Award for Social Responsibility in Business.
VBSR annually honors one of its members for outstanding dedication to socially responsible business practices. Named in honor of Terry Ehrich, the late owner of Hemmings Motor News and a founding member of VBSR, the award is given to a VBSR member who best exemplifies Ehrich’s commitment to the environment, workplace, progressive public policy, and community.
“Allison Hooper has been a skillful and tireless advocate for fostering sustainable economic development in the agricultural and forestry sectors here in Vermont,” said Andrea Cohen, executive director of VBSR. "This recognition has been a long time coming and recognizes Allison for her commitment to successfully developing Vermont’s artisanal cheese making community and is in large part responsible for positioning Vermont as the ‘Napa Valley of Artisanal Cheese’. Allison is a shining example of how social responsibility and successful business go hand in hand."
“I am humbled by this award in Terry Erich's name. Terry was a visionary, mentor, and a friend. He set lofty standards, inspiring us in our separate businesses to realize that we could attend to business and contribute to our Vermont community at the same time. Every business has a division of labor. In my 28-year business partnership with my friend and ally Bob Reese, I got lucky. While Bob, in many senses, minded the store, crucial to growing our business, I got to be the emissary, going out and trying to "do good" while selling good cheese. Without Bob Reese, this award would not have been possible for me. I thank you and him for this giant honor”, said Allison Hooper.
The award will be presented to Allison Hooper on May 14, 2012 during the Ninth Annual Terry Ehrich Awards Reception, which will be held at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will include hors d’oevures, desserts and a cash bar. Scott Buckingham, VBSR Development & Communications Manager, encourages people interested in attending to register early to secure a spot. “It’s a very popular event, and we expect an exceptionally strong turnout this year.” Advance registration is strongly encouraged.
The Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) is a non-profit, statewide business organization with a mission to advance business ethics that value multiple bottom lines – economic, social and environmental. It strives to help members set a high standard for protecting the natural, human and economic environments of the state’s residents, while still remaining profitable. Founded in 1990 by a group of business people who believed businesses have as much responsibility to workers, communities and the environment as they do to being financially successful, VBSR is the oldest and largest regional association of values-led businesses in the country. It has over 1,200 members, who collectively employ over 13% of the state’s workforce.