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December 2020

Vermont Business Magazine

CHRISTINA NOLAN, US Attorney For Vermont

Punches Above Her Weight, Way Above NEK Economic Report: Manufacturing and Real Estate Strong as Tourism Struggles COVID Regulations Tighten As Cases Grow Hospitals Prepared If Surge Emerges

Special Section:

DECEMBER 2020 $4.95

In This Issue

(number refers to first page of article in which named appears)

A Agency of Commerce and Community Development..................17 B Barr, William................................................................................9 Boston College Law School..........................................................9 Brattleboro Police Department.....................................................9 Burke Mountain Resort................................................................9 Burke Mountain........................................................................17 Burlington Police Department......................................................9 C Carlson, Evan............................................................................20 Central Café..............................................................................17 Champlain Valley Expo..............................................................39 Charter Spectrum......................................................................20 Comcast...................................................................................20 Consolidated Communications..................................................20 D Densham, Steve........................................................................53 DeOliveira, Kevin.........................................................................9 Dolgin, Laura.............................................................................17 Donoghue, Mike..........................................................................9 Donovan, TJ................................................................................9 Doyle, Kevin J..............................................................................9 Dreiband, Eric..............................................................................9 Drescher, Michael........................................................................9 F Fitch, Jennifer MV......................................................................17 Fletcher Allen..............................................................................9 Folks, Brian.................................................................................9 Foster, Owen...............................................................................9 G Ganley-Roper, Nora...................................................................53 H Hallquist, Christine....................................................................20 Hardwick Industrial Park............................................................17 Hart, Ross.................................................................................17 Health Department Contact Tracing Team ����������������������������������39 Hersey, Bob...............................................................................42 Housing Vermont.......................................................................17 HughsNet..................................................................................20

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J Jay Peak................................................................................9, 17 K Kaplan, Mark..............................................................................9 Kasprzak, Joe............................................................................17 Kearns, Sarah............................................................................53 Kimtek Corp..............................................................................17 Kingdom Fiber...........................................................................20 Kingdom Table..........................................................................17 Kingdom Tap Room...................................................................17 Kingdom Trail Association..........................................................17 Kingdom Trails...........................................................................17 Kisch, Jim..................................................................................17 Kunin, Gov Madeleine.................................................................9 L Lane, Rick...................................................................................9 Leahy, Senator Patrick.................................................................9 Levine, MD, Mark......................................................................39 Long, Abby................................................................................17 Lost Lantern Spirits....................................................................53 Lyndon Furniture.......................................................................17 M Mack, Kevin..............................................................................17 Monroe, Richard..........................................................................9 N New Avenue LLC.......................................................................17 Nolan, Christina Elizabeth...........................................................9 Northeast Kingdom Community Broadband ������������������������17, 20 Northeastern Vermont Development Association 17, 20 Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital �����������������������������������42 Northern Border Regional Commission �������������������������������������17 Northern Express Care...............................................................17 NSA Industries..........................................................................17 P Passumpsic Bank.......................................................................17 Polonski, Adam.........................................................................53 Q Quiros, Ariel................................................................................9

R Reiss, Honorable Christina...........................................................9 Restart Vermont........................................................................17 Rice Memorial High School..........................................................9 Rutland Health and Rehab.........................................................39 S Salt Bistro.................................................................................17 Schirling, Michael......................................................................39 Scott, Gov Phil......................................................................9, 39 Smith, Mike...............................................................................39 Snedeker, David.........................................................................17 St Johnsbury Animal Hospital.....................................................17 St Johnsbury Distillery................................................................17 Stenger, Bill.................................................................................9 Strait, Mike...............................................................................17 T Taylor IV, F Dennis.......................................................................9 Tester, Shawn............................................................................42 The Hearth & Home Country Store ��������������������������������������������17 The Vermont Beef Jerky Company ���������������������������������������������17 Three Rivers Trailhead Center.....................................................17 Toland, JJ..................................................................................17 U University of Vermont Health Network ��������������������������������������39 University of Vermont Medical Center ���������������������������������������39 University of Vermont..................................................................9 V Van de Graaf, Paul J.....................................................................9 Vermont Aerospace...................................................................17 Vermont Department of Health..................................................39 Vermont Food Venture Center....................................................17 Vermont National Guard...........................................................39 Vermont Principals Association..................................................39 Viasat.......................................................................................20 VTel. Carlson.............................................................................20 VtSBDC...............................................................................17, 53 W Washington Electric Co-op........................................................20 Whirligig Brewing.....................................................................17

contents december 2020 Volume 48, Issue 14

COVER 9

A Born Advocate For Justice: US Attorney Christina E Nolan by Joyce Marcel. Photos by Randolph T Holhut Glass ceilings are being broken all over America in the wake of last month’s election, but Vermont has always been somewhat — I say somewhat — ahead of the game.

22 SPECIAL SECTION: Vermont Business Magazine’s Holiday Gift Guide featuring Vermont Made Products

HEALTH CARE 39 As Scott urges compliance, stricter COVID guidance announced by Timothy McQuiston Governor Phil Scott as expected has extended his State of Emergency another month to December 15 and issued new restrictions, which 13 include closing bars entirely, limiting restaurant hours to 10 pm, forbidding social gatherings to single households (no multi-family gatherings) and suspending rec and high school sports. 40 Healthcare Newsline 42 Hospitals are vital to health care and the economy by Bruce Edwards One of the Northeast Kingdom’s largest employers remains on sound financial ground. Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital with 625 employees ended its fiscal year in good shape.

NORTHEAST KINGDOM ECONOMIC REPORT 17 The first stimulus was federal, the second is local by Bruce Edwards At the Northeastern Vermont Development Association, David Snedeker has spent much of his time this year helping businesses get the financial help they need to survive a year like no other. 20 Community bands together to boost Internet by Bruce Edwards It’s the most rural area of the state and when it comes to high-speed Internet, the Northeast Kingdom is also the most underserved area of the state.

FEATURES 44 Vermont Universities and Colleges 53 COVID-19 opens up opportunities for independent bottler by Amanda Kuhnert “Despite COVID-19, we were struck by the support we’ve received,” said Adam Polonski, co-owner of Lost Lantern Spirits, a Vermont-based independent bottler of American whiskey. 54 Education Newsline

9 Cover Design: Katie Kittell On the Cover: US Attorney For Vermont, Christina Nolan Photography: Randolph T. Holhut

58 Ranking of Largest Accounting Firms

RUTLAND COUNTY PERSPECTIVE 46 News and information from local business leaders.

Vermont Business Magazine (ISSN 0897-7925) is published monthly (except twice per month in May, August and December), by Vermont Business Magazine, 365 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403, John Boutin, President. Subscription prices $40.00 per year, $60.00 in Canada, and should be directed to Vermont Business Magazine, 365 Dorset Street, So. Burlington, VT 05403-4445. Periodical postage paid at Burlington, VT 05401 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes (form 3579) to Vermont Business Magazine, 365 Dorset Street, So. Burlington, VT 05403-4445. © Copyright Vermont Business Magazine.

DEPARTMENTS Advertisers Index................................................................................57

Editorial Comments..............................................................................6

Business Views

In This Issue...........................................................................................4

Election law reforms worth considering by John McClaughry.....6

News in Brief Roundup of news from last month.............................8

Hospitals prepared to handle surge

Northern Company Newsline Business results, startups, new hires, promotions.......................55

by Jeff Tieman, VAHHS President & CEO........................................7 Commercial Real Estate Newsline

Southern Company Newsline Business results, startups, new hires, promotions.......................56

Business results, startups, new hires, promotions.......................57 Editorial Calendar.................................................................................8



Vermont Company Newsline Business results, startups, new hires, promotions.......................56

December 2020

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EDITORIALComments

BUSINESSViews

It’s been like crazy

Election law reforms worth considering

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bout a year ago there came the first news of novel coronavirus in China. Soon it hit Europe with fast and devastating effect as cases overwhelmed Italian hospitals. Then it hit the New York City area and a nursing home in the Seattle area. Even in late February 2020 we didn’t know what to expect. Now we do. In that one nursing home 23 people would eventually die. As of this writing in late November, 64 Vermonters had died of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) from over 3,700 cases. Most of the deaths are related to older Vermonters and those with more than one illness. At first, of course, no one quite understood what was going on, despite what was happening in China and then Italy. The first press conference on March 13 at the University of Vermont featured no masks and little social distancing, even though CEO John Brumsted, MD, urged the press to spread out. They did not and nor did the hospital staff. The next day featured a press conference held by Governor Scott in the Pavilion building in Montpelier. Again, social distancing was not encouraged and there were no masks. There were mixed messages on mask wearing at the time. In retrospect this is curious because health care workers typically wear masks in cases involving respiratory infections and always do in surgery. There was a question, given what they knew at the time, whether ordinary masks provided either the wearer or contacts any protection. Turns out, they do. N95 masks, which filtered 95 percent of virus, were in short supply and were set aside for health care workers. The weather was relatively warm for that time of year. The UVMMC presser was held outside and people wore jackets, not coats. The ski season was having a great March and expectations were high that it might boast a record year, or at least over 4 million skier visits, which is the gold standard; 4.5 million would be platinum. But the governor invoked a State of Emergency on March 13 and by St Patrick’s Day lunch, he had ordered restaurants and bars closed. On March 24 he issued his Stay Home, Stay Safe order that sent everyone but essential workers home. Many have stayed there. A slog of a spring ensued. Schools would be out for months. The streets were quiet, too quiet. The ski areas lost their profit margins. Restaurants and bars put chairs on tables. In some cases, those chairs never came back down. Or were taken down and are now back up. After a month of political haggling Congress came through with an aggressive recovery package of $2.1 trillion. Even then we believed it to be about a trillion short, but still a solid package. Vermont got a whopping $1.25 billion. It saved jobs and businesses. The initial unemployment here and across the nation was the worst since the Great Depression. And while Vermont’s unemployment rate for October is down to a head-scratching 3.2 percent (just a tenth worse than pre-pandemic, and down from 15.6 percent in April), the real unemployment rate is considered to be more like 8 percent as many who used to work have disappeared from the official Labor Force. Near the beginning of the pandemic we soon learned that social distancing and mask wearing, staying home if sick and “washing your hands like crazy” not only were preached from the governor’s pulpit, but were effective. Chapped hands ensued. COVID numbers fell. A lanky doctor named Mark Levine, who happened to be the state Health Commissioner, became a rock star. As the governor reopened the economy in late spring, certain industries like construction and manufacturing bounced back. Hospitality, however, did not and has not and is not expected to anytime soon, or at least until after there is a vaccine. Even in the early days, Dr Levine told us that there were good indications that a vaccine could be developed and relatively quickly, even though there has never been one for any coronavirus. Its structure and lack of mutation indicated as much. (Vaccines are being developed at a record rate and are expected to be cranked out in early 2021.) Dr Levine warned of a possible second wave in the fall and fretted about “letting our guard down.” But as a nation we did. The ramifications of that are more than 260,000 dead from over 12 million cases. In Vermont we can’t travel in or out without quarantining. A “twindemic” of flu plus COVID is possible, but even Dr Levine believes that is unlikely now if we follow health guidelines. As the General Election approached in early November, the COVID numbers everywhere climbed, including in Vermont. Political and health tension was high. Former Vice President Joe Biden, whom almost no one would have guessed a year ago, was elected president. But the economic damage still lurks just as the coronavirus does. The red-hot construction season will cool off with the weather, but the ski season will not fully be able to pick up the slack the way it usually does. A second stimulus package will come from Congress. But without the stick of a looming election, there is concern that the US Senate will not step up to the plate and hit another CARESlike homer. But they will do something. It will be impactful. Whatever the economy looks like by next summer, it will not look like last summer and it won’t look like the summer before that. Some of those chairs will still be on top of those same tables. It will be a new economy with, yes, new opportunities. Between now and then, stay safe, wear a mask, wash your hands like crazy.

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by John McClaughry

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his turbulent election season is now over, at least for Vermont. It’s a good time to peruse a menu of election law reforms that the next legislature should seriously consider. We should universally require that registering to vote be a solemn civic act. Every new voter should appear before a clerk or justice and take the Freeman’s Oath, promising to act as a citizen “to conduce to the best good of the [State of Vermont], as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person.” Repeal the repugnant Motor Voter law, where a driver casually checks a box on a form to become a voter. Only registered voters should be eligible to run for election to an office. No showboating 15-year-olds, green card foreigners, or persons illegally in our country. Every registered voter should be free to join any political party, hold party offices, and vote to nominate its candidates. Those who don’t care to belong to a party – independents - can work for candidates and vote in general elections, but they have no business barging into a party’s primary to influence its policies and nominees when they don’t choose to actually belong. Candidates should not be allowed to file for more than one office. No more perennial publicity seekers running for multiple incompatible offices in the same election. Redistrict the state next year with single member House districts, and single member Senate districts comprised of five contiguous House districts. That way a challenger can target one incumbent and make him or her defend his or her record over the previous two years. Candidates in multimember districts are reluctant to take on incumbents because some of the incumbent’s supporters might vote for both the incumbent and the challenger. There’s little incentive for a candidate to alienate some potential voters by making an incumbent defend his or her record, which is the whole point of democratic elections. When all of the choices for an office appear to a voter to be unacceptable, allow the voter to mark the ballot for “None Of The Above” (“the turkey ballot”). If NOTA wins the most votes, a special election is called, and none of the rejected turkeys can appear again on the ballot (although they can receive write-in votes.) Amend the Constitution (starting in 2023) to ask voters to make just One Big Choice: which team do I want to lead the state for the next two years? As practiced in 22 other states, the voters would put one X on their ballots to

select among the Democratic, Republican, Progressive and perhaps one or more independent candidate teams. The Lieutenant Governor elected with the Governor would be the Governor’s fellow partisan and trusted lieutenant. That would ensure continuity of policies if the Governor died or resigned. As in Maine, New Hampshire, and Tennessee the Legislature would elect the Secretary of State and Treasurer, and as in Colorado and Tennessee, the Auditor. They would essentially become civil servants, whose performance, like that of judges, would be reviewed by the legislature every four or six years. That would minimize political jockeying by ambitious and often unqualified lower office holders trying to use their office to propel themselves into a higher one. Let the Governor appoint the attorney general to serve at his pleasure, subject to confirmation by the Senate or Executive Council. This is the practice in New Hampshire, New Jersey, Wyoming, Alaska and Hawaii. The attorney general would be accountable to the Governor, instead of running his own public interest law firm at taxpayers’ expense in the hope of climbing the political ladder. Compress the period for early voting. As Ethan Allen Institute President Rob Roper has recently pointed out, “early voting leads to a less informed electorate, necessitates more money in politics, is a boon to telemarketers, direct mail companies, and social media advertisers, reduces accountability by protecting incumbents, and draws out interminably the period in which politicians permeate every facet of our existence.” Finally, discontinue this year’s practice of mailing unrequested absentee ballots out to four hundred thousand names on a list indifferently compiled by the Secretary of State. If voters want to vote absentee, they can request a ballot until a week before the election, to be returned on or before Election Day. That little effort is not too much to ask of a citizen, and those who aren’t willing to make it should not be disturbed in their civic apathy. Will these ideas get serious consideration? Almost certainly not, because incumbents find them thoroughly distasteful and indeed threatening. John McClaughry, who formerly served in the Vermont House and Senate, is vice president of the Ethan Allen Institute (www. ethanallen.org)

BUSINESSViews

Hospitals are prepared to handle surge in COVID-19 cases by Jeff Tieman, VAHHS President and CEO

Courtesy photos

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ospitals around the country are responding once again to a COVID surge. In some states, ICU beds are full and facilities are near or beyond capacity. Caregivers are sick, stressed and burned out. The nation is tired of the pandemic and all its effects: medical, economic, social and even political. Here in Vermont, we were fortunate for the summer months and into fall. Our numbers stayed low and steady. People throughout the state largely followed guidance on masks and social distancing. Governor Phil Scott made tough but wise choices and was thoughtful about re-opening the state. Our health department worked side by side with health care providers and others to ensure we did the right things at the right time. Public health officials and hospital leaders alike, however, knew Vermont was not an island and that the virus could reemerge once the weather turned colder and people began to gather more indoors. Sure enough, our cases increased and the possibility of overloading our hospitals became real once again. It is a difficult and frightening time, to be sure. The next few months will be hard as we continue to need mitigation efforts and await broad availability of a vaccine. Going into winter, when we could see our darkest days yet, hospitals will at least be able to draw on their experience from March and April, as well as lessons from other hospitals here and around the globe. Even when the first coronavirus case hit the state, our providers had experience with emergency preparedness and

Above: Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center campus aerial. Top: Rutland Regional Medical Center.

response. It is part of the role hospitals play – to be ready for anything at any time. For instance, just last year several Vermont hospitals participated in a drill to teach providers how to isolate a patient who enters an emergency room with symptoms of a deadly communicable disease. Fortunately, going into December and 2021, we know more about the virus and more about our hospitals’ capabilities. Staff members understand their facility’s surge plans and negative pressure capacity. Chief medical officers and emergency department leaders are working more closely than ever before to address shared problems and develop solutions and workarounds.

Meanwhile, we now have COVID19 protocols that keep people safe and improve care. COVID patients improve more quickly as caregivers gain experience with the virus and the illnesses it causes. We’ve also benefited from pharmaceutical and therapeutic treatments that minimize severity and symptoms. Today, going into what many are calling a “second wave” of COVID-19, we have a strong supply of PPE and a more reliable supply chain. Hospitals have also worked with the Department of Health and other leaders to improve testing capability. While testing was reserved in the spring for people with clear symptoms of COVID-19, we now have enough tests to

provide one to nearly any Vermonter who wants it. Hospitals are working hard and smart to be ready when needed. Make no mistake, though—these preparations are no easy feat. The pandemic response is an entireteam effort—within each hospital and throughout Vermont’s network of health care providers. The final members of that team are Vermonters themselves. We need your teamwork as well—please stay vigilant, join in the measures Governor Scott and Dr Levine are urging us to take. Care for each yourselves, and for each other, and we will all get through this together.

Decembe 2020

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NEWSBriefs Updated guidance on gatherings, bars and clubs

Governor Phil Scott has updated his latest executive order to clarify household gathering guidance. Individuals who live alone may gather with no more than one other household. Anyone in a dangerous, unhealthy, or otherwise unsafe household may gather with another household. Finally, limited outdoor fitness activities involving no more than two individuals from different households are permitted, provided these activities can be enjoyed while adhering to physical distancing and mask requirements. Otherwise, social gatherings are limited to single households. Travel into or back into the state from anywhere will require quarantining. Bars have been closed and high school sports have been suspended for the time being. Social gatherings, which included Halloween parties, are now blamed for the highest case counts in Vermont over the course of the entire pandemic. The recent spike, which led to five more deaths (64 total) and over 3,700 total cases, accounted for over 70 percent of those November cases.

Joint Fiscal Committee approves $75M for additional business relief The Joint Fiscal Committee has unanimously approved the Scott Administration’s proposal to dedicate $75 million of unallocated remaining Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars to relief grants for the lodging and restaurant industry. Additional economic development grants per Act 137 to enable the food and accommodations sector (as identified in NAICS) a grant award equaling 100% of their unmet need up to a maximum award of $300,000 as calculated and verified in the current grants system of ACCD and the Department of Taxes. All other applicants will receive a percentage of their unmet need based on the remaining available money in the program.

UVMMC able to bring Epic system back online after cyberattack The University of Vermont Health Network has successfully restored access to the electronic medical record system at inpatient and ambulatory sites at UVM Medical Center and to restore the system to ambulatory sites at Central Vermont Medical Center, Porter Medical Center and at the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. The patient portal MyChart was still offline as of the VBM deadline and not all in-patient services at UVMMC are back online.

State tax revenues stay above targets General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund tax receipts were $18.27 million, or 10.1%, above expectations in October. Personal income, the most important General Fund revenue source, was $17.7 million above target (26.3 percent). Corporate income, which tends to fluctuate because of when it is reported, was $13.1 million below or over 400 percent. As for the vital consumer taxes, the sales tax was up a robust 23.3 percent, while the rooms & meals tax, which has been especially hard hit during the pandemic, was up nearly 10 percent. Because of the pandemic, all revenue expectations were revised down by economists in August but have generally been above those expectations since.

Vermont’s unemployment rate falls to 3.2 percent in October The Vermont unemployment rate fell steeply in October as the number of employed went up as the number of unemployed went down. That is tempered again, however, by another decline in

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the labor force. The seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for October was 3.2 percent. This reflects a decrease of one and one tenth percentage points from the prior month’s revised estimate of 4.3 percent. The comparable United States rate in October was 6.9 percent, a decrease of one percentage point from the revised September estimate. Vermont has the second lowest rate in the nation behind Nebraska. The Vermont Labor Department considers the real unemployment rate to be more in the 8 percent range as so many people have left the Labor Force for COVID-related reasons.

Purdue Pharma pleads guilty to felonies related to marketing of prescription opioids Opioid company Purdue Pharma LP has pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, to conspiracies to defraud the United States and to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. Purdue pleaded guilty to an Information charging it with three felony offenses: one count of dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The Vermont investigation revealed that, from April 2016 through December 2016, Purdue made nearly $1 million in payments to Practice Fusion, Inc., an electronic health records company, in exchange for Practice Fusion installing a prompt in its software intending to cause doctors to refer, recommend, and arrange for the ordering of Purdue’s extended release opioid products – OxyContin, Butrans, and Hysingla.

Scott relaunches EV incentive program with nearly $1 million Governor Phil Scott has announced the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) has relaunched the State’s Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Incentive Program with a new round of $950,000 in incentive funding available to income-qualified applicants to purchase or lease new PEVs. The program was first proposed by Governor Phil Scott in his FY2020 budget, and the first round of the program launched in December 2019.

City Council, Weinberger support for divesting city from fossil fuel companies The Burlington City Council has unanimously passed a resolution requesting that the city divest from fossil fuel companies. Mayor Miro Weinberger had previously announced he also supported the measure. The resolution requests that BERS provide the Council with a current accounting of the fossil fuel investments in its investment portfolio, including non-stock investments as soon as possible but in any event no later than its last meeting in April 2021. BERS currently holds a little over $3 million or less than 2% of its total equities’ portfolio in fossil fuel assets.

State of Vermont employee health care plan to participate in ACO The State of Vermont has authorized Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to move forward with its plan to support health care payment and delivery system reform by attributing the State Employees Health Plans’ (Health Plans) members to the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) healthcare payment reform model effective January 1, 2021. Over the past year, the Administration took the time to review and understand the ACO model as currently administered by OneCare Vermont with the Benefits Advisory Committee, a joint union/management committee created to advise the Administration on issues related to the State Health Care Plans.

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Vermont Business Magazine (ISSN 08977925) is published monthly (except twice per month in May, August and December), by Vermont Business Magazine, 365 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403, John Boutin, President. Subscription prices $45.00 per year, $60.00 in Canada, and should be directed to Vermont Business Magazine, 365 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403. Periodical postage paid at Burlington, VT 05401 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes (form 3579) to Vermont Business Magazine, 365 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403. © Copyright Vermont Business Magazine. Verified - Founded in 1951, Verified provides nationally recognized, independent circulation audit and research services.

JANUARY Vermont 100 Plus FEBRUARY Top Lawyers Entrepreneurship Lamoille County Economic Report MARCH Travel & Tourism Conferences Banking & Insurance APRIL Construction Commercial Real Estate Best Places to Work MAY Deane C. Davis Business of The Year Windham County Economic Report Agriculture BOB Awards JUNE Business & Environment Health Care Rutland County Economic Report SBA - Small Business Award JULY Central Vermont Profile Chittenden County Economic Report Technology Vermont Breweries AUGUST Industrial Parks Energy Windsor County Economic Report Addison County Economic Report SEPTEMBER Construction; Commercial Real Estate Vermont Business Growth Awards Franklin County Economic Report OCTOBER Travel & Tourism Telecommunications Bennington County Economic Report NOVEMBER Transportation Washington County Economic Report Rising Stars Top 100 Employers; Franklin County Perspective DECEMBER Work Force Development Corporate Wellness Education NE Kingdom Economic Report ANNUALS Spring (May) 2018/2019 Vermont Business Directory Summer (August) 2018/2019 Book of Lists The Vermont Business Resource Guide Winter (December) 2018/2019 Profiles in Business

Second round of the Hazard Pay Grant Program proceeds Commissioner of Financial Regulation Michael S Pieciak has announced several important updates regarding the Frontline Employees Hazard Pay Grant Program. This second round of the program substantially expands the sectors eligible for the grants and includes Vermonters formerly employed in eligible sectors. An additional $8 million of Coronavirus Relief Funds was recently appropriated, bringing the total second round appropriation to $30.5 million. Nearly every large retailer in the state is participating in the program.

Balint nominated as first woman Senate President Pro Tempore The Vermont State Senate Democratic Caucus has nominated Senator Becca Balint (D-Windham) to serve as Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore for the 2021-22 legislative session. She is the first woman and first openly gay person in Vermont history to receive this designation. Senator Balint will be joined in Senate leadership by Senator Alison Clarkson (D-Windsor), who has been elected Vermont Senate Majority Leader, and by Senator Cheryl Hooker (D-Rutland), who has been elected Vermont Senate Majority Whip. This also marks the first time in Vermont history that all three elected positions are to be held by women.

COVID-19 AAP expands to include water and wastewater charges The Department of Public Service has announced that customers of an expanded list of water and wastewater providers can now get help with past due bills. Deputy Commissioner Allen says that “the VCAAP has expanded to include non-regulated water and sewer/wastewater charges from municipal water and sewer/wastewater departments, community water systems, fire districts and other agencies that provide water and sewer/wastewater services to consumers.” This program is available for Vermonter’s primary homes and Vermont-based businesses.

S&P: Credit rating holds at AA+, but outlook goes negative S&P Global Ratings has affirmed the State of Vermont’s AA+ general obligation and AA- moral obligation bond ratings. The affirmation includes a revised outlook from stable to negative. As noted by S&P, Vermont’s demographics and historic population trends have not been favorable. Additionally, the State’s retirement liabilities have grown, despite

ongoing reforms and the General Assembly’s sustained efforts to meet or exceed actuarially determined contribution levels. While the rating has not changed, the negative outlook is an additional wake-up call that we need to address both our demographic changes and pension liabilities.

Pharmacy college will close Vermont campus in June 2021 Vermont is losing another college. The Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) Administration in conjunction with the Board of Trustees will close operations on its satellite campus in Vermont in June 2021. The accelerated PharmD program will be discontinued after the current students have successfully completed the program. ACPHS operates out of office space on Water Tower Hill in Colchester.

UVM Medical Center closes operating rooms at Fanny Allen On November 17, UVM Medical Center closed its operating rooms located on the Fanny Allen campus. As it was previously, the decision was made out of an abundance of caution for patient and staff safety after staff members reported symptoms including dizziness and nausea, and some employees once again reported an odor in the area of the operating rooms even after extensive investigation and upgrades. All employees who experienced symptoms since last fall have been treated and recovered, and patients have not reported symptoms at any time. Air quality data continues to be normal and has been within normal and safe levels during each incident.

FEMA awards over $4 million to AHS to cover COVID-19 housing expenses FEMA has approved $4,131,524 for the State of Vermont to help the Vermont Agency of Human Services defray the costs of preparing for and responding to COVID-19 under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program. In response to the event, the state agency utilized contracts to execute the emergency sheltering as a protective measure to provide sheltering to A) the High-Risk population of Vermont, B) non-congregate housing sheltering for COVID-19.

VSP begins outfitting troopers with body-worn cameras The Vermont State Police has begun outfitting all uniformed troopers with body-worn cameras,

culminating a multi-year process to secure the necessary funding, and fulfilling a commitment to Vermonters to deploy the devices. The state police launched an effort in 2015 to add body-worn cameras for all troopers to supplement the dashboard camera systems that have been in cruisers since 2000. State police leaders have been working with the Legislature ever since to acquire the body-worn cameras along with the required companion systems to store the video footage.

Stonecutter Spirits acquired by Berg brothers, to stay in Vermont

Vermont Law School’s Dean Thomas McHenry to step down

DFR orders Zafa Wines to cease seeking investment for lack of liquor licenses

The Board of Trustees of Vermont Law School and its President and Dean Thomas McHenry have jointly announced his decision not to seek renewal for another term and that he will step down at the end of the current academic year in June 2021. Since his appointment in July 2017, McHenry has directed and overseen a variety of measures that have made Vermont Law School financially stronger and enhanced its educational programs. At the Board’s instruction, McHenry has achieved budget surpluses while increasing employee benefits and maintaining the nationally recognized environmental program.

Stonecutter Spirits, the award-winning Vermont producer of gin and whiskey, has been acquired by Keith Berg and Matt Berg. The two brothers, who live in New England, intend to keep Stonecutter Spirits based in Vermont. Financial terms were not disclosed. Stonecutter ceased production and closed its restaurant nearly a year ago.

Commissioner Michael Pieciak has announced that the Department of Financial Regulation issued an order requiring Krista Scruggs and Zafa Wines LLC (Zafa), of Burlington, Vermont, to cease and desist from offering or selling securities. The Department’s investigation thus far has found that Scruggs marketed Zafa in investment materials without disclosing certain material risks as required by Vermont law.

State gets $1.16M from settlement with Apple over iPhone throttling Attorney General TJ Donovan has announced that Apple, Inc will pay $1.16M to the State of Vermont as part of a $113M settlement with a coalition of over 30 attorneys general. The settlement stems from Apple’s 2016 decision to throttle consumers’ iPhone speeds—artificially slowing them down—to address unexpected shutdowns in iPhones 6 and 7. The coalition alleges that Apple’s concealment of the battery issues and decision to throttle the performance of consumers’ iPhones led to Apple profiting from selling additional iPhones to consumers whose phone performance had been slowed.

Amtrak, VTrans consider new Brattleboro station While the return of passenger service to Vermont is not imminent, there’s promising news that Amtrak is planning for it. Amtrak has announced it is in discussions with the Town of Brattleboro, NECR Railroad and the State of Vermont on its proposal for a new, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)compliant Brattleboro Station, including a new station building, platform and track changes. The new station will feature the first level boarding platform in Vermont.



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December 2020

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Photo: Randolph T. Holhut

United States Attorney for Vermont, Christina Nolan.

A born advocate for justice: US Attorney for Vermont Christina Nolan by Joyce Marcel

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lass ceilings are being broken all over America in the wake of last month’s election, but Vermont has always been somewhat — I say somewhat — ahead of the game. While the state has never followed up on former Governor Madeleine Kunin’s tenure in office with another female governor, nor sent a woman to Congress, since 2017 US Attorney District of Vermont Christina Elizabeth Nolan, 41, has been the first female US attorney in Vermont's history. As an added and celebratory note, she was sworn in by the first female US District Court for Vermont judge, the Honorable Christina Reiss. Nolan, 41, a hard-line law-and-order prosecutor, is a native Vermonter. She was born at Fletcher Allen (UVM Medical Center), grew up in Burlington, graduated from the University of Vermont summa

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cum laude in political science and history and got her law degree — magna cum laude —at Boston College Law School because it had a great reputation and wasn’t too far away from home. She was appointed to her current job by President Donald Trump after being recommended by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Governor Phil Scott. Her nomination was ratified unanimously by the US Senate. Traditionally, the person in her job serves at the pleasure of the president and resigns when he leaves office. Since this is anything but a traditional election year, Nolan's future may be in limbo long after this story appears in VBM. Politics aside, Nolan feels it is “an incredible honor” to be the first woman US attorney for Vermont. “For me, it adds a layer of responsibil-

ity,” Nolan said. “You want to be the first woman and do it well, not the first woman and do it badly. Nobody wants to do it badly. But I think that it added a layer of responsibility to a job that already carries tremendous responsibility. I hope it sends a message to every woman in Vermont — and maybe for any young woman, anywhere — that you can be anything you want to be in life. It’s just as my parents taught me: there is no field that you should consider not open to you because of your gender, including law enforcement. That’s the message I hope it sends. And while it may have taken a while to get to the place of the first woman, I know I won’t be the last woman. There will be others to follow because there’s so many great and qualified female attorneys in Vermont. There are glass ceilings to be broken all over the country — and in Vermont, for sure.”

Nolan sees her job as preventing crime and getting justice for its victims when a crime occurs. “We enforce, here in the US Attorney’s Office, the criminal laws of the United States,” Nolan said. “We also represent the United States in civil actions. I am enforcing federal criminal laws which apply all over the country, including here in Vermont. And there’s an array of them covering everything from money laundering to violent crime, child sexual exploitation and drug trafficking.” Remaining impartial is critical, she said. “You don’t have any improper considerations that go into your charging decisions,” Nolan said. “You’re not allowed to consider anything impermissible. You’re not allowed to charge them because you don’t like something about them, or for a political reason, or any other improper

Photo: Randolph T. Holhut

United States Attorney for Vermont, Christina Nolan during her interview for this article.

reason. But we do represent our side. Does that make sense? You want to administer justice even-handedly and bring charges even-handedly, without any impermissible motives, just based on the facts, and the evidence and the law. You’re representing the United States. And so you’re doing the best you can by the people of the country, the people of Vermont, and the laws that they've enacted.” In distributing cases, Nolan’s office works closely with the Vermont Attorney General’s office. “There are many cases that could go to either place, because we both have potential to bring charges up for the same conduct,” Nolan said. “So we work very closely with the state’s attorneys to decide where it makes the most sense to charge a case. They know what cases to call us on and what cases could potentially be brought federally. We have only 15 full-time prosecutors in this office, so we can’t do them

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all. But we try to do as many as we can, where it makes sense and where we can best support our state prosecutors. There are some cases that can only go one way or the other and we know what those are. On the ones where it could go either way, they know to call us. We figure it out together. What makes the most sense? Who has enough resources? And where will we get the best result?” Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan holds Nolan in high regard. “I knew about her growing up,” Donovan said. “My sisters went to Rice Memorial High School with her. She was a great basketball player, and we’ve known people in common. She’s a great partner and I think very highly of her. Even though we're clearly of different political parties and different political philosophies, when it comes to public safety the differences don’t matter, and we work on the areas that are important to Vermonters. I think she’s

done a really nice job focusing on human trafficking and the heroin epidemic. She's been a very good US attorney. We’ve been able to put our differences aside, and that's how government should work.” Nolan is eminently newsworthy. She recently made national news when she announced her office had broken a “kickback” scandal relating to an electronic medical records company called Practice Fusion, Inc. The company took a $1 million bribe from the infamous drug company Purdue Pharma to quietly, successfully and illegally push its main product, the addictive drug OxyContin, to physicians during the height of the opioid addiction problem — a problem which still haunts Vermont and the entire US. The investigation, which began in Nolan’s office in 2016, resulted in the currently bankrupt Purdue Pharma settling with federal prosecutors for $8 billion. “And I hope that our case sends a message to Big Pharma and Big Tech, that we do have the determination and the talent and resources to investigate these,” Nolan said. “And we're hoping it stops this from happening again.” This isn’t the first time Nolan has been front and center on a big breaking news story. In October her office released information about an 18-month multi-agency operation — colorfully named “Operation Fury Road” — that focused on drug and illegal gun traffic on Interstate 91. It resulted in 82 federal prosecutions. Also this year, Nolan announced that $6 million in federal funding was coming to Vermont nonprofits that support victims of domestic violence. Nolan's been at the center of the Jay Peak EB-5 “Ponzi” scam that involved Miami investor Ariel Quiros and others who bilked millions from foreign investors in a case that is still winding its way through the courts. She has a background in white collar crime, but she’s also good at putting bad guys into prison. In September 2020, her office announced that Brian Folks, a drug dealer

and sex trafficker, was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison. Besides selling drugs, Folks seduced young women, got them strung out on drugs, and then forced them into prostitution. And in April, Nolan was tapped by her boss, US Attorney General William Barr, to be one of two attorneys overseeing Department of Justice efforts to combat sexual harassment in housing during the COVID-19 pandemic across the United States. So, faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? Maybe that’s a good ballpark description of Nolan. She’s definitely something of an avenging angel. She even chose law because of a fierce instinct to protect. “I think I’m just a born advocate for justice,” Nolan said. “I don’t like to see people harmed or victimized or taken advantage of, and I thought that being a lawyer would help address those wrongs, bring justice and hopefully prevent them from happening in the future. Or at least reduce the occurrence of them.” Nolan joined the Department of Justice in Vermont as an assistant US attorney in 2010. She was promoted to the top job in 2017. By all accounts, she has served her state well. “US Attorney Christina Nolan has played a critical role in bringing together our federal, state and local partners to tackle some of the toughest challenges we face in Vermont,” Leahy told VBM. “She has made it a priority to stem the flow of illicit drugs, track illegal gun sales, and support victims whose lives have been upended by criminal acts. Christina has not hesitated to take on complex cases, and in doing so, she has proven herself a highly respected and effective prosecutor.” Judge Reiss also has high praise for Nolan. “I met Christina Nolan when she began practicing in the District of Vermont as an assistant United States attorney on a contract basis,” Reiss said. “Because she did not have a permanent position, she had to

prove herself in order to keep her job. Right from the start, she was thorough, prepared, and ready to learn. She was also more skilled than I would have expected from an attorney of her age and experience level. I knew very little about her other than she had been working in Massachusetts. I was delighted to find out that she was a Vermonter who had returned home.” Reiss stressed Nolan's “quiet confidence” and her “natural courtroom presence: graceful and commanding.” She also said that Nolan is compassionate, intelligent, courageous, committed and has a “steady hand on the steering wheel.” “One thing I have noticed over the years is how incredibly well-spoken she is,” Reiss said. “She is a natural spokesperson for her office and handles difficult subject matters and probing questions directly, without excuses, and in a clear and coherent fashion. She makes it look easy, but it is not. I have not seen her lose her humility since she became US Attorney, so I don’t see a downside. Christina Nolan is competent, calm, even-tempered, confident, and comfortable with who she is. She is committed to the administration of justice, takes her job seriously, and consistently demonstrates integrity and common sense. She has a Vermonter’s common sense and work ethic. I believe that regardless of the heights she reaches in her career, her core values will remain unchanged.” Longtime Vermont journalist Mike Donoghue, who has covered federal prosecutors and federal court in the state off and on for almost 50 years, said Vermont has been blessed with a long line of extremely talented U.S. Attorneys including Nolan. “Christina was an excellent Assistant US Attorney for about seven or eight years before President Trump elevated her,” said Donoghue, who still covers some federal court cases for several media outlets, including the Quiros case for VBM, as part of his semi-retirement. “Christina thinks fast on her feet whether it is a court hearing or a press conference,” Donoghue said. “Her argu-

ments are solid. Her closing statements to the jury have all the elements needed to make a complex case understood. Christina often likes to say her small office gets into legal battles and they aren’t afraid to fight above their weight class. The work to successfully prosecute national pharmaceutical companies and fraud cases shows this. Since taking over the office, Christina has continued to focus on major crime issues in Vermont that attack the quality of life in the state: major drug cases, including overdose deaths; child pornography and human trafficking of children; convicted felons possessing firearms, especially related to domestic violence cases. The only disappointing thing about Christina is that since she became boss, she has put muzzles on her prosecutors, but it may be a directive from the Department of Justice in Washington. She won’t say who ordered it.” From her large and airy office on the third floor of Burlington’s Federal Building, with a beautiful view of the city’s church spires, Nolan oversees a staff of 56 and a budget of approximately $7 million. Seagulls fly outside her windows, and a corner coatrack holds a number of suit jackets she can grab when she needs to look official. She is small in stature but large in intelligence and energy. She is charming, fast-talking, funny and extremely literate. These days, Nolan’s job is mainly managerial. “It’s administrative —setting priorities, making strategic planning decisions about allocating resources, and making personnel decisions,” Nolan said. “It’s also outwardfacing in the sense that I talk to the media. And I have responsibilities in Washington. I sit on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. There are about 12 or so US attorneys who advise the attorney general on all aspects of policy. I chair the controlled substances subcommittee. So I think a lot about drug policy.” Nolan said she enjoys her trips to Washington.

“I think it’s fun to go down to Washington,” she said. “I love seeing my colleagues. I’ve met a lot of people that work at the Justice Department. It’s great to be involved and thinking about these policy questions. I think it’s a privilege to sit on that committee.” Nolan is known for being supportive of her staff; in turn, her staff is supportive of her. “Many in the office agree that Christina’s just been the biggest fan,” said First Assistant US Attorney Kevin J Doyle, who will become a US Magistrate’s Judge in February. “She’s so supportive of the work people here do. She’s a very caring person about each person in the office. She’ll show genuine interest in what’s going on in their personal and professional lives. She acknowledges the work they do, and that’s had a real positive impact on the morale of the office. People really enjoy working for her. She’s a very compassionate person.” Nolan grew up first on a dirt road in Westford and then in well-paved South Burlington. Her father was a carpenter who later on managed the maintenance crew at the Vermont National Guard. Her mother was a homemaker until Nolan was 12. Then, after divorce forced her into the labor market, she became a high school music teacher. Nolan is the oldest of seven children “if you count them all, which you should,” she said, because her father had three children in a second marriage. Essentially, Nolan and three siblings were raised by a single

mother. “It was four kids and a mom, and she had her hands full,” Nolan said. “But I think I learned from both my parents how to treat people well. They certainly did. I think that’s probably the most important thing you can do in life. The other thing I learned from them — that maybe not every kid learns this, but you know, I'm really grateful to them for it — is you can be anything you want to be in life. They always encouraged me. The sky’s the limit. They encouraged me in sports, as well as whatever I wanted to do in life. And so I grew up feeling like I could be anyone I wanted to be.” “Go for what you wanted” was the message she got from her parents. “I think that’s particularly amazing, because they weren’t lawyers, they weren’t doctors,” Nolan said. “But they still recognized that they should instill that ethic in their children.” Behaving well towards others was more important to her parents than accumulating wealth, Nolan said. “They were not focused on money,” she said. “That was always less important. I mean, everybody wants to have some, right? But you know, they never had a lot, and I think they taught me that that is not what makes life rewarding or gives it its joy. It’s other things, like love and friendship and family. And loving what you do for work.” Growing up, Nolan did some babysitting; she also helped with the usual chores around the house. “My dad, like I said, was a carpenter,” she said. “Sometimes I went to work with him. And he would give me odd jobs to do



December 2020

Early Life

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on the properties he was working on. I can remember helping my dad stack wood. I don’t know that I was really paid for that, though. Maybe nominally.” Nolan played basketball in grammar school. At Rice she was a standout at track and cross country, and she especially shone as a point guard in varsity basketball. “You can tell from my height I didn't have any business trying to be under the rim,” she joked. “I did a lot of passing.” She was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame 10 years after she graduated.

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Nolan didn't buy a car until she was in her 20's. “I did want one,” she said. “But my parents were not the type to just buy things. I think they were the type to say, ‘If you want something, you have to earn it yourself.’ Including college and law school. That was all self-financed with scholarships, grants and loans that I'm still paying. And you know, I don't think that’s a bad thing. It makes you value the degree and the experience more when you’re personally financially responsible for it.” A City Mouse Nolan hadn't done much traveling before moving to Boston. “I think the first time I went on a plane was in college for a cross country meet,” Nolan said. “So when I got to Boston, it felt like a big city. But you know, honestly, Boston College Law was the best school I got into. Also, I thought that the smaller size of the school would give it a collegial feel. But mostly, I thought it would be a change.” She loved law school and grew to enjoy Boston. “It was a little intimidating, being in the city and figuring out how to catch the train and which train to catch and where I needed to get off and move to the next one,” Nolan said. “It just felt really big. But there’s lots of things to love about a big city. I like food, and they have a lot of nice restaurants. I started to make friends. So I started to love it after a while, but not as much as I love it here in Vermont.” Nolan went straight from law school to a coveted job clerking for Massachusetts Federal Judge F Dennis Taylor IV.

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“On my first day, he said, ‘Are you ready to be a federal judge?’” Nolan said. “And I’m just out of law school! The reason he said that is because you really do research and draft the opinions of the court. It’s not to say he wouldn’t change them or make edits or even decide it should be a different outcome. But the main job is to sit, watch the hearings, do the research and draft opinions for the judge. That was a really interesting job to have right out of law school. It obviously helped with my legal analysis and my research abilities, but also hugely with writing. The judge was an excellent writer. He said, ‘I noticed as the year went on that your writing has improved.’ And I think that's because when you're being edited by him, the lessons start to take after a while.” While she was still in law school, Nolan worked as a summer associate at a big Boston law firm, Goodwin Procter LLP. According to Wikipedia, it is “a Global 50[2] law firm consisting of more than 1,200 lawyers with offices in Boston, Cambridge, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, New York City, Paris, Santa Monica, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. Goodwin focuses on complex transactional work, high-stakes litigation and advisory services in matters involving financial institutions, intellectual property, private equity, real estate capital markets, securities litigation, white collar defense, technology and life sciences.” This description doesn't make Goodwin sound like a law firm welcoming to a burgeoning avenging angel, but Nolan was still learning and finding her footing. Judge Taylor had been a partner at the firm before he became a judge, so she had the advantage of a strong connection. When Nolan left clerking for Taylor, she took a job at Goodwin. “So if you think it's intimidating to walk into the Federal Building in Burlington, wait till you walk into Goodwin Procter in Boston,” Nolan said. “It’s a big skyscraper building, all glass, massive lobby. It was a great experience, but it was like being thrown into the fire right away at a young age. A big law firm, hundreds and hundreds of lawyers, high-power clients. They did some pro bono work and I did some, too. But the best part of that experience was helping to represent a man named Rick Lane.” Lane had worked for the pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb; he was charged with securities fraud by the US Attorney's Office in New Jersey. “I did think that the government probably overreached in that case,” Nolan said. “Of course, I was one of his lawyers, but the charges ended up being dismissed. There was a deferred prosecution agreement, which basically means, ultimately, if he complies with all the terms of it, the charges are dismissed. So our belief that he was being unfairly charged was actually vindicated.” It was a great experience for a future prosecutor, Nolan said. “I got to know him,” she said. “I went to the meetings where we were preparing for the trial which never happened. I got to see what it’s like to be a defendant, and what it means to charge somebody. Even if the charges are ultimately dismissed, charging somebody changes their life forever. His reputation went overnight from esteemed

businessman who picked himself up by the bootstraps, someone with a great career, to being charged with a serious federal felony. It changed his life, his family’s life, and his ability to get work.” From her involvement in Lane’s case, Nolan learned how important it was to “get it right.” “You always want to err on the side of restraint,” she said. “Now, when I’m approving charging decisions, I always have in my mind that we can't do this unless we’re as sure as we can be, because you don't want to harm somebody's life carelessly in an enduring and indelible way. You’ve got to be extremely cautious in your charging decisions.” Other cases didn't go quite so well. Nolan recalled the first time she went to trial. “When I was at Goodwin Procter I did a six-month externship at the Middlesex County DA’s office,” she said. “They send associates at law firms to do these things because it gives you courtroom experience. So it’s my first week on the job. What happens is that you never know which case is actually going to trial. You don’t have any time to prepare. You read the police report and you meet your witnesses that day. It’s a whole different kind of court. Here in Vermont we prepare endlessly for trials, as we should. There the volume is so high that you just don't have the ability to do that. So I get my first case for trial. It’s in front of this great judge who everybody respects and admires. She was a former prosecutor. I respect and admire her. And I was just horrible. I mean I was terrible. I was nervous. I didn’t really know what I was doing. I ended up being so bad that she threw the case out without letting the jury decide. And I was mortified.” After the jury was dismissed, the judge called Nolan up to the bench and gave her a serious tongue-lashing. Then Nolan slunk back to the office, only to learn that everyone there had already heard what happened. “And after that, I got a nickname,” Nolan said. “At the Middlesex County DA’s office I was called ‘Vinny,’ after the film ‘My Cousin Vinny.’ That one's stuck forever. Even when I went back to work there for six months, they still call me Vinny.” Eventually, she became more comfortable in court. “I did see that judge again, as I got a little bit better,” Nolan said. “And she said, ‘You know, one thing about you I noticed is that you don’t make the same mistake twice. You make a lot of them, but you don’t make the same mistake twice.’ We’re not perfect, right? We’re going to make mistakes, but we use it as an opportunity for growth and maybe even inspiration. Right?” Eventually, Nolan went back to the Middlesex County DA’s office to work, this time for free, as a prosecutor. “I went to the prosecution side because I wanted to be in court, but also because at Goodwin Procter I didn’t feel like I was always on cases that were about advocating for justice,” Nolan said. “It was sometimes about who gets the money. And that just wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wasn't feeling motivated by that work. So I became a state prosecutor in Massachusetts, for no money initially. As I said, my parents didn’t teach

me much about money.” Nolan worked for free for half a year until a position in the Vermont US Attorney’s Office opened up. “It made sense for me, because I was interested in being a federal prosecutor as opposed to a state prosecutor,” Nolan said. “And it’s my home state. So it was a great opportunity, and I’m really glad that I was hired. I love Vermont. I think Vermont is the best state in the union. It’s a special place to live, from its natural beauty to its independent-minded people to its stability. So I’m very happy to be here and have never wanted to be back in Boston since.” Back in Vermont As an assistant US attorney, Nolan was plunged into criminal cases that included things like drug trafficking, money laundering and violent crimes. Some of these cases were heartbreaking; all were motivating. “It goes back to wanting to become a lawyer,” Nolan said. “When I see injustice, when I see people harmed — innocent people, whether it be financially harmed, physically harmed or sexually harmed — it motivates me to want to do something about it, and try to get justice for them. And also to send a message to people who would do this in the future: Don’t do it, because there's going to be consequences. So yeah, it’s sad for any human being who works on these cases, but it’s also what motivates prosecutors, I think, including me.” I asked if she got personally involved in some of her cases and she mentioned a 2015 murder case. “The defendant's name was Richard Monroe,” Nolan said. “He was a UVM student, and the victim, Kevin DeOliveira, 23, was also a college student. Monroe shot him in the eye over a small drug squabble. Monroe thought that the victim, Kevin, owed him several thousand dollars. And he killed him. The reason I mentioned that case is not only because it was a hard case to investigate — it was a circumstantial case that took a while to put the pieces together. That was interesting and challenging, but it was also because of the mother of this college kid who died. I worked with her and got to know her in the process. And she was one of the most good-hearted people I’ve ever met. She loved her son. They were closely bonded. She lived with questions for a long, long time. How did my son die? Who killed him? And to be able to get those answers for her, being able to fight for her and get the certainty that this wonderful woman needed was very, very meaningful and rewarding.” The case was the culmination of a multi-agency investigation begun in early 2015. The effort was led by the Burlington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Nolan and Assistant United States Attorney Paul J Van de Graaf prosecuted the case. Monroe eventually pleaded guilty for possessing firearms in furtherance of his cocaine trafficking, discharging a handgun and killing Kevin DeOliveira. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Attorney Mark Kaplan, who was Monroe’s defense attorney, turns out to be another admirer of Nolan’s. “As a prosecutor, she’s extremely competent and tenacious,” Kaplan said. “She’s

very professional. How the prosecutors treat you as a person makes a difference. The judges really appreciate it up here when the defense and the prosecution treat each other respectfully. Christina is certainly someone who treats her opponents respectfully. I always felt she was above-board and straightforward. She does her job and does it competently. She’s an excellent prosecutor.” Nolan admits she sometimes has a soft spot for the victims she meets. “You do grow to care about the victims, whether you stay in touch with them or not,” Nolan said. “But you have to remember that you're not their lawyer, you’re the lawyer for the United States. I was enforcing federal criminal laws which apply all over the country, including here in Vermont.” Jay Peak In one of the largest financial scandals in Vermont history, Miami businessman Ariel Quiros, the owner of Jay Peak and Burke Mountain Resort in Vermont, and his partners, were charged with enticing over 800 investors to fund a new biotech plant to be built in Newport, as well as to pay millions of dollars for upgrades to the ski resorts. The money came from foreign investors being promised American citizenship under the federal EB-5 Visa program. Under that program, foreign investors who put at least $500,000 into a qualified project are entitled to green cards — permanent residency in the United States — provided the projects create a certain number of jobs. This is where the words “Ponzi scheme” come into play. After a years-long Security and Exchange Council investigation, Quiros was found to be using his investors’ money to fund his own lavish lifestyle; each new investor's money was being used to pay off Quiros's last lavish living expense. The Newport plant never materialized, and somehow, Quiros and his partners misused over $200 million; they were forced to surrender more than $80 million in assets to the SEC, including Jay Peak and Burke Mountain Resort. Both Quiros and his main partner, Bill Stenger, have already reached monetary settlements with federal and state regulators. And Quiros has pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and concealing material information. His partners are still involved in legal wrangling, but Nolan was willing to talk a bit about the case. “That one is a case that only the US Attorney’s office could handle,” she said. “There may be some aspect that could be subject to state charges, but a large, yearslong complex fraud case like that is going to be a US Attorney’s Office case, if anyone’s going to charge it. I will say, I think, that we have such dogged and talented prosecutors in this office that we’re the kind of office that will tackle that kind of case. I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that every office would have the will to do that case, because it took millions and millions and millions of documents and years of investigation. It was very, very challenging. And so I have to be the kind of US attorney that says, ‘Yes, we are not going to back down

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December 2020

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from this. We are going to put the resources in.’ But it would not be possible without the prosecutors on the case who are just so talented and just so determined, and have such a strong work ethic. And of course, the law enforcement agencies that we work with, the FBI, and others, who also had the will and the talent to get that case charged. And we got a conviction.” As of last month, Quiros, who is facing up to 97 months in prison, was living in Miami. In November he went to court to ask permission to move to Puerto Rico and travel overseas for business. “The case is ongoing,” Nolan said. “This is really important. The two defendants who have not entered guilty pleas are presumed innocent still, and it’s a really important thing to emphasize. Until they’re found guilty by a jury, assuming they go to trial, or unless their case resolves in other ways, I want to emphasize that they’re entitled to the presumption of innocence — as is everybody until they're convicted. So just because Mr Quiros entered a guilty plea does not mean those other two men are guilty of anything. We’ll have to see how the case goes. The presumption of innocence is one of the most important principles in the Constitution.” Domestic Violence The pandemic appears to have increased domestic violence in Vermont, and Nolan has made a priority of holding abusers accountable. But she has chosen an unusual way of doing it: by using federal gun laws. In most domestic abuse cases, handled for the most part at the state level, the victim eventually has to confront her abuser in court; this is often a difficult and traumatic

thing for the victim to do “because they've been controlled by the abuser for so long, because they are scared, because they just want to deal with their trauma, all kinds of different reasons,” Nolan told WCAX last year. But in the past few years, almost 40 percent of domestic violence cases have included a gun. That makes them federal cases, especially if the abusers are in possession of a gun with: a previous misdemeanor domestic violence conviction; under a restraining order; a drug user; have a prior felony; or have been found legally mentally defective. And in federal gun cases, the victim does not have to testify in court. “Nearly half of Vermont's homicides each year occur in the domestic setting,” Nolan said. “Most domestic violence cases, by their nature, will be charged by the state prosecutors because the crime is usually the act of violence. There is no federal law per se, on that point. But where we can come in and help — and where I want us to come in and help — is where the person possesses a gun. Whether they use the gun to commit the abuse or they possessed it unlawfully outside the abuse, that can involve federal law because there are all kinds of federal prohibitions on people possessing firearms. And I want to bring those federal firearms charges to help our state prosecutors, take pressure off the victim and get better results.” Nolan is meeting with state prosecutors and police and trying to spread the word that the US Attorney’s office prioritizes these cases. Also, federal laws against cyber-stalking, and traveling to commit certain offens-

es across state lines, could also implicate domestic violence, Nolan said. “My pledge is, if we have the evidence, and we think we can prove it, we will do those domestic violence cases,” Nolan said. “It won’t be, it can’t be all, because we just don’t have jurisdiction overall. But we’ll do them where we can.” In 2019, Nolan's office brought charges against five abusers. In 2020, it’s doubled that to 10. “So we’ve charged more this year, notwithstanding the challenges of the pandemic,” Nolan said. “I think it’s much harder for people to make reports because they’re more isolated in their at home with their abusers. And domestic violence is underreported anyway. So there’s been an increase this year. And that doesn't even count the reports to the victim service providers and non-law enforcement entities. ‘Stay-at-home’ does not mean ‘stay in the crime scene.’ I worry a little bit that the isolation has exacerbated the problem somewhat based on the numbers. So it’s a big problem, and the federal government has a role to play in addressing it.” In September of this year, Nolan announced that more than $6 million in federal grant funds was coming to Vermont to support organizations that help victims of domestic violence. “The grants will help identify victims, support their recovery, and give them a chance at living the rest of their lives free from abuse,” Nolan said in a written statement when she announced the grants. Hard on Drugs The COVID-19 pandemic may have pushed public attention away from the

opioid epidemic, but Nolan has kept up the heat on the drug trade. “About 55 percent of our work is drugrelated,” said Nolan. “Obviously, we have a drug crisis in Vermont. And we have an opioid epidemic. And unfortunately, we’ve got other drugs that are presenting challenges. So I’ve had to focus on that.” She discussed two federal cases that were resolved in October that address both sides of the opioid trade. One was Operation Fury Road; the other was the case against Purdue Pharma. On the illegal drug front, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies from Vermont and Massachusetts recently completed an 18-month enforcement operation, Operation Fury Road, that targeted the “guns-for-drugs” pipeline — guns from Vermont going south, drugs from southern New England going north — which has long been a problem in the communities along Interstate 91. It resulted in the prosecution of 82 defendants in federal court for charges related to drug trafficking, unlawful possession of firearms, using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and other federal criminal violations. In April 2019, Nolan stood in the meeting room of the Brattleboro Police Department. Flanked by representatives of federal, state, and local law enforcement, she briefed reporters on the results of a series of drug raids in the Brattleboro area. “We are coming after those who prey on the lives of Vermonters by peddling poison and profiting from addiction,” Nolan said at the news briefing. “I promise we will be relentless.” Christina Nolan page 28

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Burke Mountain and other ski areas are adjusting to the new reality brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Burke expects far fewer skiers this season along with fewer staff.

The first stimulus was federal, the second is local Manufacturing and real estate are driving ahead as hospitality struggles by Bruce Edwards

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t the Northeastern Vermont Development Association, David Snedeker has spent much of his time this year helping businesses get the financial help they need to survive a year like no other. Those efforts include hiring someone specifically tasked with helping companies through the COVID-19 pandemic, connecting them with Restart Vermont and its technical assistance program, said Snedeker, NVDA executive director. The technical assistance program connects businesses and vendors in a number of areas: business operations, financial management, grant writing digital strategies, architecture and physical space design, reconfiguring manufacturing equipment and processes, incorporating safety measures, technology and software consulting, legal, marketing, and other professional services. “It’s been pretty successful,” Snedeker said. “We ended up in our region connecting about 40 businesses with vendors providing services.” He said businesses also received financial support for those services from the CARES Act. Help Is Here For a small business trying to navigate the perilous financial waters of the cur-

rent times, the Vermont Small Business Development Center is on the front lines ready to help. Since March, the VtSBDC has made more than 1,700 new contacts with more than 200 of those contacts in the Northeast Kingdom and Upper Valley, according to Ross Hart, area VtSBDC business advisor in St Johnsbury. “We’ve been focused on trying to help them respond and react to this in the best possible way,” Hart said. “It could be helping them change a business model, it could be helping them make decisions on how best to handle working capital needs.” The SBDC is also keeping businesses up to speed on federal and state assistance programs.  He said the bottom line for any business is: does it make sense to continue in business or not, given the individual circumstances. Hart said he hasn’t run into worst case scenarios a whole lot “because there’s been quite a bit of stimulus money injected and thank God for that, but I fear what’s coming.”  The state is coming to the aid of the hospitality industry with $76 million in financial assistance.  Hart also said there’s still talk about another federal stimulus package but that is not a sure thing.

One of the challenges Hart faces is convincing people to seek help. He said residents of the Northeast Kingdom “are fiercely independent in many ways and reaching out for help is not something that they do naturally.” Diversified The Northeast Kingdom has a diverse economic base from outdoor recreation and hospitality to craft beverages and manufacturing.  There are industrial parks in Saint Johnsbury/Lyndon, Hardwick, and Orleans. The Saint Johnsbury location is home to NSA Industries, Vermont Aerospace, Lyndon Furniture, UPS and several gas and fuel oil companies. The Vermont Food Venture Center occupies a 15,000-square-foot facility in the Hardwick Industrial Park. The facility serves as a co-packing space for small food producers. The Orleans park in Barton is home to The Vermont Beef Jerky Company and Kimtek Corp, a fire safety technology company. “I think they’re doing OK,” Snedeker said, referring to the manufacturing sector. “They’re still having some workforce challenges, which we had before this whole thing (pandemic) started too.”



To get around the workforce shortage, Snedeker said some companies have invested in new equipment as a way to increase productivity. He said companies like NSA, the St Johnsbury contract manufacturer, are doing well. “When I don’t hear much, I assume everything is going OK,” Snedeker said. He said Lyndon Furniture and Ethan Allen also appear to be doing well. He said Lyndon Furniture is one company that has invested in new equipment. Weidmann, a global electrical component manufacturer, is “super busy,” he said.   NVDA has also supported the fledgling Northeast Kingdom Community Broadband, which formed a communications union district. “We’ve supported that group by applying for multiple funding opportunities,” Snedeker said. “We had two federal grants and one state grant to kind of get that group off and moving on their planning work.” NVDA also received several grants to help fund outdoor recreation projects to build trail networks. “We got $250,000 from the Northern Border Regional Commission which we’ve made ($200,000) available for local community projects,” he said. NVDA is also continuing its work on

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age of 10.2 percent. Both Caledonia and Orleans counties had a poverty rate above 12 percent while Essex stood at 15.5 percent. The three counties have a combined estimated population of 63,193. Banker’s View There’s no doubt that the federal stimulus was a critical lifeline for many businesses during the pandemic, said Jim Kisch, president of Passumpsic Bank, which serves the Northeast Kingdom and New Hampshire. Kisch called the PPP loan program a remarkable success with millions of dollars pouring into the region to “stabilize things.” He also said it created a lot of liquidity, so people are holding more savings.  With the PPP program, the bank made 414 loans totaling $46 million, he said.

obtaining additional funding for brownfields assessments.  The October unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) fell sharply in the three counties that comprise the Northeast Kingdom, according to the state Department of Labor. Caledonia posted an unemployment rate of 2.1 percent (Sept. 3.9); Essex, 2.2 percent (3.9); and Orleans 3.1 percent (5.6). Statewide the October unemployment was 3.2 percent (seasonally adjusted) compared to 4.3 percent in September. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, median family income in all three counties remained below the statewide median of $60,076 (2018). Caledonia’s median family income was $49,348; Essex, $41,045; and Orleans, $47,915. The average poverty rate in the three counties remains above the statewide aver-

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Above: The $15 million New Avenue project in downtown St. Johnsbury will create 40 affordable apartments and 10,000-square-feet of commercial space on the ground floor. Top: Passumpsic Bank commercial banker, Mary Cote (right) works with a business customer. The bank made $46 million in PPP business loans and recently has seen a slight uptick in traditional commercial loans.

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Kisch said the real estate market remains healthy with the biggest challenge a lack of inventory. “Our mortgage company is having the largest year in their 21-year history,” Kisch said. “Incredible volumes everywhere even in the Northeast Kingdom.” He said not only is the refinancing market strong because of low interest rates but also the purchase market “is very strong.” Kisch said given the size of the PPP lending there hasn’t been as much demand for traditional commercial loans. He said, however, over the past several weeks the bank has seen an indication that commercial lending is starting to pick up slightly. Despite the economic hardship brought on by the pandemic, Kisch said loan delinquencies remain low. The question is whether delinquencies will spike once the stimulus money dries up. “We’ll remain responsive and responsible to our customers and our community as we go for the next six to nine months and beyond,” he said. Island Pond In the small Essex County town of

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Brighton, it hasn’t been the best of times, but it hasn’t been the end of the world either. “We’ve actually had an OK year,” said Mike Strait, who owns The Hearth & Home Country Store in Island Pond. During the initial shutdown of nonessential businesses, the store’s home decor section on the second floor shut down while the bakery and wine section on the ground floor stayed open. The store’s bakery has gone “crazy” selling a lot of baked goods, Strait said. “It seemed like people were in a mood to eat and they kind of got in the habit and stuck with it,” he said. He said he began opening the store at 7 am instead of 10 to serve a light breakfast of coffee, muffins and cinnamon rolls. During the summer, business at the store was spread out during the week and not focused so much on weekends, he said. “All in all, the businesses in town seem to do OK through all of it,” said Strait, who also serves on the three-member Brighton Select Board. “I mean nobody reported that their sales completely dropped off the map or anything.” He said the five restaurants in town are all doing fairly well. Despite the lack of summer events which were cancelled because of the pandemic, Strait said the area continued to draw hikers and cyclists to town. Known as the Snowmobile Capital of Vermont, Island Pond is hoping to welcome back snowmobilers this season. But that all depends on whether the coronavirus can be brought under control. For now, the state has mandated that anyone visiting or coming back to Vermont quarantine for 14 days. Strait said Island Pond is heavily dependent on out-of-state snowmobilers during the winter. He said the majority of snowmobilers come from Connecticut and Massachusetts. “If they can’t come here, there won’t be a whole lot of snowmobiling.” Saint Jay St Johnsbury’s downtown revitalization program is paying dividends with a number of projects either completed, in process or on the drawing board. “We’ve seen some success both in the hospitality and recreation industry sector, some interest from the manufacturing sector,” said Joe Kasprzak, assistant town manager and economic development specialist. There has also been quite a bit of success in the commercial sector in and around the downtown. Kasprzak ticked off a long list of projects including New Avenue LLC. Housing Vermont is rehabbing the former Depot Square Apartments, creating 40 affordable units. “They were able to find a way to acquire that property, they brought partners to the table and successfully funded the project and now they’re in the midst of their complete redevelopment of that property,” Kasprzak said. “That’s a full $15 million gut rehab and they’re well into having that occupied (winter 2021).” In addition to affordable hous-

Newport  It was a creative way to bring more visitors into the city - allowing ATVs on Newport’s streets. “The premise behind that was that ATVs bring a lot of new money into the area,” said City Manager Laura Dolgin. She said there are 250 miles of trails

around the city, so ATVs were an untapped source to boost local businesses. Although there was some opposition, Newport voters in January approved the use of ATVs on certain city streets.  The designated streets allowed downtown businesses access to ATV traffic as well as a couple of headworks that would bring ATVs past repair shops, motels and gas stations and the Prouty Beach campground, Dolgin said.  “Over the summer we would have visitors from Rutland and Bennington and we’re not talking one or two ATVs,” Dolgin said. “We’re talking groups of ATVs … camping at Prouty Beach, getting breakfast, filling their vehicles to go riding the trails all day and going to restaurants.” She said a proposal to open up all the streets is on the table and there’s an MOU to increase downtown access for snowmobiles during the winter. “This all stems from our philosophy to embrace the outdoor recreational economy,” she said. That philosophy extends to the city’s efforts to improve access to the waterfront. Situated on Lake Memphremagog, which straddles the Canadian border, Newport has been a favorite destination for visitors on both sides of the border. Dolgin said a grant will fund construction of a connector path from the downtown trail system to Prouty Beach and on to Bluffside Farm, a public recreation area, owned by the Vermont Land Trust.  A major challenge facing the city is what is to become of a gaping hole in the downtown - a fallout from the EB-5 visa scandal that also engulfed the Jay Peak and Burke Mountain ski resorts. Dolgin said the state is working on a proposal that could help redevelop the Renaissance Block.  “The Agency of Commerce and Community Development and BGS (Buildings and General Services) are working together and have recently put out an RFP for a 1.5-acre lot as a place to move the two courthouses,” she said. In an email, BGS Acting Commissioner Jennifer M.V. Fitch said a $1.5 million appropriation has been set aside for “the Newport, Orleans County Courthouse, replacement, site acquisition, planning, and design for a stand-alone courthouse with no retail space.” Fitch said the state will request additional funding for design and construction with anticipated occupancy in 2025. According to the RFP, the courthouse must be located in the central business district on a parcel between 1 acre and 1.5 acres. The property must be vacant or any structures on the property must be vacant and easily demolished. Newport like every other community has seen its businesses struggle this year - some more than others. Retail, lodging and restaurants in particular have had a tough time but there are some exceptions. Dolgin said state and federal pandemic aid has helped businesses get by but it hasn’t always been easy.

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ing, he said the ground floor, which had been vacant and boarded up, will create 10,000-square-feet of commercial space.  Other projects: St Johnsbury Animal Hospital will occupy a vacant 12,000-square-foot building on Route 5. Northern Express Care, a new healthcare clinic, will open soon in the downtown. St Johnsbury Distillery renovated and moved into the former hardware store on Eastern Avenue. The location also includes a tasting room. “It’s an incredible addition to our downtown,” Kasprzak said. Another recent addition is Whirligig Brewing on Railroad Avenue. It’s located in the same building with the Kingdom Tap Room and the Kingdom Table restaurant. Nearby is the Salt Bistro and the Central Cafe. “So that whole dining vibe is starting to come alive but of course we believe it to be a bit fragile in the environment we’re in right now, so obviously we’re concerned,” Kasprzak said. Another significant project on the front burner is the former 26,000-squarefoot state office building on Eastern Avenue. The building was vacated several years ago due to potential contamination from what’s believed to be a former drycleaning business. Kasprzak said the property was recently purchased by a party from Morrisville. He said it’s his understanding the owner plans on performing the necessary remediation. With the help of a $500,000 EPA clean-up grant, the town plans its own remediation at the former St Johnsbury Armory on Main Street, which Kasprzak said is contaminated with PCBs, asbestos and lead paint. The related project is the public safety building which has outgrown its usefulness. “We are now embarking on an effort to turn the former armory into a new police station and dispatch center which would include a full remediation of the property,” he said.  There’s also the recent opening of the Three Rivers Trailhead Center. It connects downtown St Johnsbury to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. The town expects significant visitors once the trail connects to Swanton. The town is also looking at ways to redevelop the site of a 2009 fire that destroyed three buildings along Main Street.  Kasprzak said the town has yet to find a suitable project that is financially viable. “We continue to work with the property owners to develop some strategies and theoretical development projects with hopes of being able to attract a developer to that property in the near future,” he said.

Northern Express Care, a partnership between Northern Counties Health Care and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, is scheduled to open this winter in downtown St. Johnsbury.

are adjusting their budgets to project a steep drop in business because of the coronavirus and related restrictions on out-ofstate travel and other protocols. At Jay Peak, the ski resort is staring at a 65 to 75 percent drop in business this winter, said Jay Peak spokesman JJ Toland. With its proximity to the Canadian border, which remains closed, Toland said half of the resort’s business including pass sales relies on Canadian skiers. In addition, he said any number of visitors will “opt out of winter sports altogether” this season. Some resorts like Killington are requiring skiers to make parking reservations online before arriving to ski. Jay Peak, however, is not taking that approach.  “We’ll probably make up a bit of those

folks with people in the state who want to travel up to Jay Peak because they don’t have to worry about a reservation,” he said. Season pass sales for the upcoming season have been “very promising.” But Toland said with the border still closed the resort has offered to refund Canadians who purchased passes, or they can opt to use their passes next season.  “We’ve seen a super majority say hold on to them,” he said. “If we don’t get to use it this year, we’ll take it for next year. So that was encouraging just from a loyalty perspective.” Jay Peak usually logs 300,000 skier visits but this season the resort expects less than half that number to hit the slopes. NEK economic report page 20

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Community bands together to boost Internet by Bruce Edwards

I

the service drops off almost altogether,” said Carlson, who resides in Sutton in Caledonia County. The Northeastern Vermont Development Association helped out with federal and state grants to get NEK Broadband up and running. But to build out the fiber network will take time and a lot more money. Grant money also allowed NEK Broadband to hire Christine Hallquist as district administrator. Hallquist is the former CEO of Vermont Electric Co-op. The initial feasibility study done this year put the cost to serve the first 27 towns that joined the CUD at $75 million, Carlson said. “In order for us to build that infrastructure that we will then own is probably going to be a very incremental process unless the federal government is going to release a huge omnibus broadband infrastructure bill,” Carlson said. The piecemeal approach will require taking advantage of federal and state grants and other funding sources as it becomes available, he said. With some CARES funding, Carlson

said NEK Broadband partnered with Kingdom Fiber, a local ISP, to deploy additional fiber in the Route 14 corridor to connect 100 previously unserved addresses. Carlson said the budget for next year includes a $4 million VEDA loan to begin the Phase I fiber buildout. The exact location of the initial buildout hasn’t been determined, he said.  NEK Broadband would build out the fiber network and then lease the network to Internet service providers. Interested ISPs would submit RFPs to provide service. Carlson said ISPs would have to meet certain criteria, including level of service and affordability. When it comes to the level of service and affordability, the goal is “to provide every E911 business and residential address in northeastern Vermont with access to a minimum speed of 100 Mbps, symmetrical at an affordable price.” Carlson said with a fiber network the sky is the limit with speeds up to a gigabyte depending on how much someone is willing to pay. He also said fiber is the preferred carrier because it can be used for improving

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t’s the most rural area of the state and when it comes to high-speed Internet, the Northeast Kingdom is also the most underserved area of the state. So, in April residents decided to take matters into their collective hands and formed Northeast Kingdom Community Broadband – what is now a 32-town communications union district or CUD. Evan Carlson, chairman of NEK Community Broadband, said 49 percent of the addresses in the three-county region have Internet access below 25 megabytes per second – a far cry from what’s considered high-speed Internet or broadband. “That has been the biggest kind of barrier to being able to stay connected for a lot of these households during the pandemic,” Carlson said. “It was an issue before, but this has really put a new spotlight on a deficiency in our rural infrastructure.” He said the goal is to offer highspeed Internet to more than 25,000 E911 addresses (commercial and residential) in the three counties that make up the Northeast Kingdom. He said beyond the village centers that’s where the problem exists. “As soon as you get into the back roads

Kingdom Trails is a significant economic driver attracting more than 137,000 visitors in a normal year. But with the border with Canada closed and other travel restrictions, the number of users is down by 50 percent.

NEK economic report from 19

That means the resort will need far fewer workers than the normal complement of 1,800 workers. “I would say anywhere between 500 and 700 employees,” Toland said. Although the summer and fall business was off by 70 percent, Toland said business was still better than expected given the current situation.  This summer the resort offered a creative deal to drive business called a “relocation vacation package.” Visitors could rent a condo in 30, 60 or 90-day increments.

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Toland said the resort had hoped to sell 10 packages but instead sold over 100. Fast forward to this winter and the resort is offering a similar package. “For $15,000 you get your own two-bedroom cottage (condo) from Nov. 27 through May 2 and that includes two adult passes and two dependent passes,” Toland said. “Again, we wanted to sell 10 and we’ve sold north of 70 of those.” Toland said almost all the rentals have been purchased by Vermonters. He said the condo rentals have raised more than $1 million in upfront capital for

the resort. In addition, he said the longterm rentals save money on housekeeping labor since the condos don’t need to be cleaned every few days.  Jay Peak continues to be run under the auspices of the court-appointed receiver in the EB-5 fraud case with day-to-day operations run by a resort management company.  Burke  “It’s going to be a challenge this winter for sure,” said Burke Mountain spokesman Kevin Mack. 

cellular service, improve emergency services and enhance electric grid resiliency. He said a survey of residents indicated most would be willing to pay between $70 for 500 MBps and $100 a month for a GBps.  There are several phone and cable companies that already provide Internet service: Charter Spectrum, Comcast, Consolidated Communications and VTel. Carlson said there’s also HughsNet and Viasat, satellite ISPs. However, he said the for-profit ISPs have little interest in extending their service into sparsely populated areas. “With a municipal entity like a CUD our primary mission is not high margins and big salaries, it’s focused on getting people connected, to be able to at the end of the day impact their rural economy in a positive way,” he said  Carlson said there are now nine CUDs in the state representing 152 towns which is more than half the towns in the state. Bruce Edwards is a freelance writer from Southern Vermont.

Mack said the before and after ski experience “will be quite different given COVID and the occupancy restrictions and guidance we have from the state.” Burke is encouraging skiers this winter to boot up in the parking lot. “The axiom this winter is if you’re coming to a ski resort your car is your new base lodge,” Mack said.  He said the resort is prohibiting bags in base lodges along with time and occupancy limits for people seeking shelter and warmth. “It will make it easier for our staff managing the indoor spaces and it will make it safer for both our staff if we see a good deal of compliance,” he said. They’ll be social distancing on the lift lines, but skiers will not be required to ride a lift with someone they don’t know. Mack said it might make lift lines a bit longer on certain days but overall, it shouldn’t be a problem.  “If you’re a group of four and you want to load, great,” he said. “If you’re a group of one or two and that’s how you want to ride, you’re more than welcome and we’re going to accommodate you and allow you to ride the lift in that way.”  Mack said season pass sales are strong which mirrors the demand for outdoor recreation nationwide. However, he added that the question hanging over the ski season is the effect of the state’s travel restrictions which require a 14-day quarantine for anyone visiting the state or returning to the state. “We’re all wondering in the business from Utah through Vermont what’s that

actually going to mean for this winter with COVID and whether people actually use the products that they purchased and how they use it and when they use it,” he said The resort’s summer business was better than projected given the revised budget. But Mack said summer business was still off more than 50 percent from the previous year. As far as staffing for the winter, he said Burke expects to hire fewer than half the usual complement of 300 workers. Kingdom Trails  It may well be considered the recreational jewel of the Northeast Kingdom - 100 miles of trails through four towns that draw hikers, cyclists, snowshoers and cross-country skiers from New England and Canada. Kingdom Trails is a significant economic driver for the region. In a normal year, Kingdom Trails attracts more than 137,000 visitors (2018), the majority, 84 percent, are from out-of-state and Canada. According to the Kingdom Trail Association, those visitors have an estimated annual economic impact of $10 million, with each visitor spending $115 a day during an average visit of 2.75 days. But 2020 has not been an average year. Kingdom Trail Association Executive Director Abby Long said the trail network was open to visitors but with safety protocols in place.  The network traverses the properties of 100 landowners and Long said she did hear some concerns from landowners and community members about out-of-state travelers.

“So that wasn’t the case this year,” Long said. “We lost our neighbors to the north. In addition, she said while there were few out-of-state travelers there was an uptick in Vermont users.  Long estimated that visitations are down 50 percent this year. Although Kingdom Trails had to make some budget cuts, she said thanks to a PPP loan the board of directors did not have to furlough or lay off any of its employees. Kingdom Trails has eight, year-round employees, and 30 seasonal workers during the summer. “We’re proud we were able to keep everybody on,” she said. The organization was also able to keep up its annual mini-grant program - disbursing $25,000 among local communities along the trail. The restrictions on travel also had a negative impact on memberships. Kingdom Trails derives most of its revenue from annual and day memberships, $1.24 million. “We have noticed some dip in numbers compared to 2019 to 2020 and that’s due to the uncertainty of the Canadian border,” Long said.   Long said the board of directors is also looking at creative ways to boost income. Several possibilities include establishing an endowment, applying for grants and recovery loans, or holding a silent auction. Bruce Edwards is a freelance writer from Southern Vermont.

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siness u b re lo p x e o t s n o s a e 5R K E N e h t in s ie it n u t r o p op 1. A skilled workforce. 2. Affordable real estate. 3. Easy highway access (I‐91 & I‐93), with convenient access to major markets in U.S. & Canada. 4. Strong internet, telecommunications & broadband services. 5. The most beautiful place in VT is also the best place to do business.



December 2020

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HOLIDAY GIFT G U I D E

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2020 Holiday Gift Guide

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HOLIDAY GIFT G U I D E

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The first issue of the Holiday Gift Guide

HOLIDAY GIFT G U I D E

Welcome to Vermont Business Magazine’s first annual Holiday Gift Guide, featuring ‘Made in Vermont’ products. The gift guide came about from our annual Made in Vermont Marketplace, which has taken place the past five years. This popular show, unfortunately now postponed until 2021, welcomes over 100 Vermont exhibitors showcasing their products to over 5,000 visitors throughout the weekend. In an effort to continue to support these vendors and their products during this unprecedented time, we felt the best way to proceed was to take the show virtually through this online gift guide in November and December, just in time for the holidays. We will also publish the guide in the December issue of Vermont Business Magazine. I hope our readers enjoy this guide and urge you to please support these businesses by buying locally, not only during the holiday season but all year long. Stay strong, stay healthy and have a great Vermont holiday season.

John Boutin Publisher Vermont Business Magazine

2020 Holiday Gift Guide

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HOLIDAY GIFT G U I D E

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HEALTHCare

The Vermont National Guard rebuilt the surge site at the Essex fairgrounds in late November, just in case the recent surge in COVID-19 cases overwhelms available hospital beds. The site can accommodate up to 200 patients.

As Scott urges compliance, stricter COVID guidance announced by Timothy McQuiston

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overnor Phil Scott as expected has extended his State of Emergency another month to December 15 and issued new restrictions, which include closing bars entirely, limiting restaurant hours to 10 pm, forbidding social gatherings to single households (no multi-family gatherings) and suspending recreational sports. Individuals who live alone may gather with no more than one other household. Anyone in a dangerous, unhealthy, or otherwise unsafe household may gather with another household. And limited outdoor fitness activities involving no more than two individuals from different households are permitted, provided these activities can be enjoyed while adhering to physical distancing and mask requirements. As for bars and clubs, while they are suspended from indoor service, they may still offer curbside service. The governor tightened the guidelines because social gatherings, which recently included Halloween parties and even baby showers, are now blamed for the highest case counts in Vermont over the course of the entire pandemic. The data accumulated by the state’s contact tracers are not finding significant COVID-19 transmission at places like supermarkets, schools or stores. These venues offer structured social distancing and mask mandates.

He said instead it is social gatherings that have led to growing case counts. He made a point to say that alcohol was often involved. The record last spring was 70 cases on one day, but as of VBM’s deadline on November 23, that had been eclipsed several times over just a few weeks and more than doubled the previous record twice in late November. (for daily VDH updates go to healthvermont.gov.) The Vermont Department of Health reported several days of more than 100 cases in November. They peaked with 148 on November 19 and 146 on November 20. Cases spiked in Washington and Orange counties in November. And after not having a single death from COVID-19 in August through October, four people died in November at Rutland Health and Rehab. Through November 20 at that long-term care facility, 26 residents and 14 staff members had tested positive for the coronavirus. There are now 64 deaths attributed to COVID-19 statewide. Over 250,000 Americans have died from it. The restrictions on social gatherings include anyone outside your household, including immediate family members not living with you and "pods" families may have set up with each other earlier in the pandemic. (See full guidance page 41.)

In addition, restaurants and other meeting venues must keep customer logs to provide for contact tracing if needed. Failure to do so could result in enforcement action by the attorney general. Scott is also encouraging businesses to make employees work remotely if possible and not to hold in-person meetings Also, recreational sports are now suspended until further notice. This included high school sports. Except for the customer logs, the governor is not instituting enforcement of these guidelines yet. He emphasized that Vermonters know how to suppress the virus and have done so until recently. He said the US and regional cases of COVID-19 are growing rapidly and putting pressure on Vermont. People coming to Vermont and returning college students must quarantine for 14 days or 7 days with a negative test regardless of where they are coming from. There are no more “green” counties. Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, are encouraging those who are contacted through the contact tracing process to “answer the phone” and provide truthful information. If you don’t recognize the number and don’t answer, tracers from the Health Department will leave a message. Apparently, with the Halloween party-



related cases, those who were contacted were not all forthcoming. This slowed down the process. The governor emphasized that there is no enforcement action targeted toward any individuals. Dr Levine has repeatedly noted that people should not be embarrassed by getting this virus any more than they should be by getting the common cold. And in any case, their names will not be made public. Levine said there is more virus in the state now as the pandemic encroaches on the state, and there are more cases because of the social gatherings and because they are more indoors as the weather gets colder. Social gatherings have been the focus of these new outbreaks, versus say at gyms or salons, with "people letting their guard down," the governor said, thus requiring not just physical distancing but socially distancing. The data indicates that even single household restaurant visits have not been associated with outbreaks, according to Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling. Dr Levine said their three priorities are to keep people safe, keep people at work and keep children at school. He noted that over 70 percent of these COVID page 25

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HEALTHNewslines VDH to receive the 2020 Con Hogan Community Leadership Award In a year when Vermonters’ lives have been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vermont Community Foundation and the organizing committee for the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial, Community Leadership are pleased to announce that the 2020 award will go to the Vermont Department of Health (VDH). The award this year recognizes the department and its staff for their commitment to Vermonters’ safety in this perilous time; their steady, data-driven leadership; and their tenacity in the face of chaos.

VMS Foundation welcomes 2020/2021 leadership cohort The Vermont Medical Society Education & Research Foundation (VMSERF) is proud to announce the 2020/2021 cohort of the Physician Executive Leadership Institute Foundational Course, which will commence this November. The 2020 cohort includes: Erik P Anderson, MD; Steven D Anisman, MD; Catherine Antley, MD; Aida Avdic, MD; Todd Gregory, MD, MBA FACEP FAAEM; Anna Hankins, MD; Heather Herrington, MD; Brad Jimmo, MD; Robin Leight, MD, FACOG; Karen Leonard, MD; John C Macy, MD; Sarah Rich, MD; Amanda Van Straten, MD and Jessica Wagener, MD.

Northern Physical Therapy welcomes Wiswell Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) and Northern Physical Therapy in Lyndonville welcomes physical therapist Mykala

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Wiswell, PT, DPT. After completing her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Lyndon State College, Wiswell went on to get her doctorate at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. “We are excited to have Mykala join our team here at NPT,” says Jesse Dimick, Clinical Director.

NMC Incorporators elect three new members to the NMC board of directors The Northwestern Medical Center (NMC) Incorporators held their annual meeting on November 10, 2020 via teleconferencing and elected three new members to the NMC Board of Directors: Erin Creley; Coleen Kohaut and Matthew Habedank. “We are pleased to have these three community leaders join the NMC Board,” said Jerry Barbini, NMC’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. “Their expertise, experiences, and perspectives will be important as the hospital continues to move forward with enhancing quality of care and ensuring financial stability. We would also like to recognize our outgoing Board members Janet McCarthy, Dr Marietta Scholten, and Dr Lorne Babb for their service and leadership.” In addition, Dawn Bugbee of South Hero, the retired Chief Financial Officer of Green Mountain Power, was approved to resume her service on the NMC Board. The Incorporators also elected their officers for the coming year: Edward J Tyler, III, as Chair and Steve Marshall as Vice Chair. They also added Lisa Hango and Dr Marietta Scholten to their Nominating Committee.

For more Newslines go to www.vermontbiz.com.

COVID from 23

new cases have been caused by social gatherings. Levine said the health guidelines are effective – wear a mask, stay six feet apart, wash hands "like crazy," don't travel – but individuals must comply with them. “We’re definitely moving in the wrong direction,” Scott said of the recent case growth and relaxing of safe behavior by individuals. “We can and must get this under control,” the governor said, or hospitals could get overwhelmed and more people will die. “We all have to step up,” Scott said. "Unless it's in your own household, you shouldn't interact with anyone," Scott said. If you do, you will then have to quarantine. “We’ve had tremendous success thanks to the hard work of Vermonters, but we are at a pivotal moment,” Scott said. “We have an opportunity right now to get our arms around this record growth and return to the case stability we’ve grown accustomed to, but we all have to step up and recommit to following all current health guidance and to limit our contacts as much as possible. At the same time, the State is actively expanding testing and contact tracing protocols, so we are even better positioned to hunt this virus down and stop it in its tracks.” Since October 1, 71 percent of the cases associated with an outbreak are associated with an outbreak from a private party or social gathering. With the spike in cases have come the new restrictions. AHS Secretary Mike Smith has tightened visitation guidance at all hospitals and long-term care facilities back to early pandemic levels. Except in cases where it’s vital for a patient to have someone with them, they cannot have visitors. Governor Scott has directed the Vermont National Guard to again stand up the 200-bed surge site at the Champlain Valley Expo (Essex fairgrounds) just in case it might be needed. All but 50 beds at the site had been disassembled and put in

storage in the early summer. Smith said that the state and the hospitals are much better prepared now than last March, with plenty of personal protective equipment, ventilators and ICU beds. Schirling said even more PPE and ventilators are on order. On top of all that, the University of Vermont Health Network has been working its way through a cyberattack that hit the multi-hospital network on October 28, shortly before the General Election. The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington took the brunt of the cyberattack. UVMMC was the initial target of it. The cyberattack knocked out phones, email and electronic records. Health providers were forced to use paper records. Some procedures were canceled or delayed. Some cancer treatments, which require very precise, ongoing pharmacological or radiological protocols, were moved to other hospitals. UVMMC also expanded its oncology hours so no patients would

We’re definitely moving in the wrong direction.

miss treatment. The hospital has referred questions about the circumstances of the cyberattack to the FBI, which has not revealed who committed it, nor whether this was a ransomware attack, nor whether it was related to cyberattacks at other hospitals across the nation at about the same time. UVMHN has slowly been able to bring the computer systems back online (visit uvmhealth.org/uvm-health-network-cyber-attack). Officials there were not sure when it would all be back online.

New Guidance Governor Scott issued the following COVID-19 mitigation measures effective Saturday, November 14 at 10 pm, unless otherwise noted. Public and Private Multi-Household Social Gatherings Prohibited Attendance at all public and private social gatherings, indoor and outdoor, including social gatherings incidental to ceremonies, holiday gatherings, parties,

Essex | South Burlington | Williston 860.3343 edgevt.com/join [email protected]



December 2020

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and celebrations, shall be limited to participation with only members of a single household. Individuals who live alone may gather with members of their immediate family residing in a different household. Restaurant Hours and Seating Limits Restaurants must close in-person dining at 10 p.m., but may provide curbside and delivery service after 10 p.m. For inperson dining, restaurants must seat only one household per table, in accordance with existing capacity limits and the new restriction on multi-household gatherings. Closure of Bars and Social Clubs Bars and social clubs will be closed for in-person service until further notice. Curbside and delivery service is allowed. Pausing Recreational Sports Youth and adult recreational sports activities, not related to Vermont Principals Association sanctioned school sports, are suspended until further notice. Telework Requirements All businesses, non-profits and government entities shall reinstitute telework policies for all employees to the maximum extent possible. In person meetings are strongly discouraged and should be held by telephone or video conference whenever possible. Contact Tracing and Testing Requirements All restaurants and other businesses hosting non-essential activities shall maintain a 30-day log of employee and guest names and contact information in case contact tracing is required by the Health Department. These individuals are consenting to be contacted by the Health Department Contact Tracing Team. Further, all Vermonters are directed to comply with requests made by the Contact Tracing Team. Finally, college students returning home in Vermont (from in-state and out-of-state schools) shall quarantine for 14 days or seven days with a negative COVID-19 test and testing is strongly encouraged. “We rely on data to guide each and every decision we make, and that data has shown us a clear picture of a rising tide

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that could have serious consequences,” said Health Commissioner Levine. “Whether it’s friends or our own family members, we need to limit any social activities to our own households to protect all these people that we don’t even know we’ve put at risk - where we work, where we learn, where people live in situations that make them more vulnerable. And we need to make these sacrifices now.” These steps add to actions taken over the last several days, including requiring quarantine for all non-essential out-ofstate travel by Vermonters and for all travelers entering Vermont from another state; expanding testing opportunities for Vermonters; and increasing outreach to assess and encourage compliance with travel and gathering guidance. Governor Scott has also directed the state’s emergency response team to prepare to execute existing surge plans, including re-deploying field hospital sites as a precautionary measure. Amended Executive Order (go to governor.vermont.gov to read full document) Executive Order issued June 5, 2020, and all Addenda and Directives issued thereunder, shall continue in full force and effect until midnight on December 15, 2020, at which time the Governor, in consultation with VDH and DPS shall assess the emergency and determine whether to amend or extend the State of Emergency. 2. Temporary Limitations on Business Operations and Social Gatherings; Requirement for Cooperation with VDH Contact Tracing. Effective Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 10:00 p.m.: a. Multiple Household Social Gatherings Suspended. Attendance at all public and private social, recreational and entertainment gatherings, indoor and outdoor, including large social gatherings incidental to ceremonies, holiday gatherings, parties and celebrations, shall be limited to participation with only members of a single household. For the sake of clarity, nothing in this Order prohibits the gathering of members living in the same residence. Individuals who live alone may gather with members of their immediate family residing in a different household. b. Restaurant Hours and Seating Limits. All 1st class licensees (restaurants) must be closed to in-person dining at 10:00 p.m., but may provide food and beverage

alcohol, including spirit-based drinks and malt and vinous product accompanying food orders through curbside pick-up, drive-through, and delivery services for off-site consumption after 10:00 p.m. in accordance with Agency of Commerce and Community Development (“ACCD”) Worksafe Guidance. Restaurants must provide seated dining service only and to no more than one household per table in accordance with Section 2(a) above as well as the occupancy limits set forth in ACCD Worksafe Guidance. c. Closure of Bars and Social Clubs. 2nd and 4th class licensees and licensees other than 1st class licensees who serve food, or partner with entities who serve food, including bars and social clubs shall suspend operations; however, bars and social clubs may offer take-out, curbside pickup and delivery of beverage alcohol, including spirit-based drinks and malt and vinous product. d. Contact Log. All restaurants and other public accommodations which host organized non-essential activities shall maintain an easily accessible, legible log of all employees, customers, members and guests and their contact information, including name, address, phone number and email address for 30 days in the event contact tracing is required by VDH. For the sake of clarity, this requirement applies to all employees and all guests in every party. (For purposes of this Order, “bars and social clubs” means establishments generally held out to be a bar, club, tavern, brew pub, brewery, microbrewery, distillery pub, winery, cidery, tasting room or other place of public accommodation licensed to serve beverage alcohol, including spirit-based drinks and malt and vinous product and, if serving food, only serves snacks, premade food, microwaveable or other food items not required to be prepared in an on-site kitchen equipped to provide menu service.) e. Consent to Contact. All customers, members and guests providing information in accordance with section 2(d) above, consent to be contacted by the VDH Contact Tracing Team f. Contact Tracing Compliance. To preserve the public health and safety, to ensure the health and safety of the State, and to prevent the spread of COVID19, Vermonters are directed to comply with requests made by the VDH Contact Tracing Team. Vermonters who have been

identified as a case or a close contact are required to: i. Promptly answer calls or otherwise respond to the VDH Contact Tracing Team; ii. Provide full, complete and truthful information concerning places they have been, activities they have engaged in and persons with whom the individual has had close contact, including contact information when possible; iii. Comply with all VDH recommended quarantine and isolation periods and testing. Failure to comply with this provision may result in referral to the Office of the Attorney General for enforcement. g. Recreational Sports. All recreational sports programs, including organized and/or informal recreational youth and adult league sports, practices, games and tournaments, are hereby suspended. This suspension shall not apply to schoolsponsored sports activities which are subject to applicable Agency of Education Guidance. h. Returning College Students. All students who are returning home from a college or university, in-state or out of state, shall quarantine at home for fourteen days, with a test for COVID-19 strongly encouraged, or quarantine for no less than seven (7) days at which time they must be tested for COVID-19. i. Telework. All businesses, not-forprofit entities and municipal government entities in the State shall reinstitute, to the maximum extent possible, or reemphasize to the extent necessary, telecommuting or work from home procedures. In person meetings are strongly discouraged and all meetings should be held by telephone or electronically to avoid in person meetings whenever possible. This Addendum 8 to the Amended and Restated Executive Order shall take effect upon signing and shall continue in full force and effect until midnight on December 15, 2020, at which time the Governor, in consultation with the Vermont Department of Health and the Department of Public Safety shall assess the emergency and determine whether to amend or extend the Executive Order. To read the entire story go to: vermontbiz.com/article/december/health-care-scotturges-compliance-stricter-covid-guidanceannounced

Hospitals are vital to health care and the economy by Bruce Edwards

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ne of the Northeast Kingdom’s largest employers remains on sound financial ground. Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital with 625 employees ended its fiscal year in good shape. “Surprisingly good given what we were faced last spring,” said Shawn Tester, chief executive officer of the 25-bed hospital in St Johnsbury. And the hospital’s chief financial officer went even further. “Our year ending Sept. 30, 2020 was the sixth year in a row we had a positive operating margin and the ninth out of the last 10 years we’ve had a positive operating margin,” said CFO Bob Hersey. Hersey said the hospital was able to rebound this year when its patient volumes bounced back once the state gave the go-ahead for elective surgeries to start back up. The state shut down elective surgeries in the early days of the pandemic as a preventive measure. He also said the hospital took advantage of federal money to defray $1.6 million in COVIDassociated costs. “The fact the hospital was in pretty good financial position before COVID helped us weather through that as well,” Hersey said. Tester added that at the outset of the pandemic the hospital invested heavily in emergency preparedness programs. “We really made the changes necessary both to our infrastructure and our staffing protocols, staff training to ensure that if a wave did indeed hit us that we’d be prepared for that,” Tester said. Those investments included expanding the number of rooms that are considered negative pressure rooms (rooms where the air turnover is much higher) to care for patients with a respiratory illness. To guard against a shortage of personal protective equipment this winter, the hospital also ramped up its inventory of PPE .   Tester said the hospital had only two COVID patients in the spring and both recovered. 

Like other hospitals in the state, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is faced with a nursing shortage.  Tester said the hospital has fewer traveling nurses today, partly because the pandemic has driven up demand at hot spots across the country where they’re paid a premium. But Tester also said the hospital has seen some success in recruiting nurses. “I don’t want to say we’ve solved the problem,” he said. “Probably our biggest staffing challenge is nursing staff.” The hospital has a plan to renovate and expand its emergency department and what is essentially the west wing. “Our ED is woefully undersized for the volume of patients we see and that’s been a problem for the last several years,” Tester said. But he said those plans were put on hold as a result of the COVID crisis. “However, right now we are in the process of rebooting that effort and taking a hard look at what our needs really are,” he said. Tester said the pandemic has highlighted the need for what he calls “drivethru healthcare.” For example, he said the hospital has a COVID testing site in the parking lot with a construction trailer and a covered portico. The hospital has also employed a similar process for giving flu shots. “We have also stood up a respiratory care clinic at one of our primary care practices in a similar vein to keep patients who may be infectious out of the rest of the clinic,” Tester said. He said the pandemic resulted in a surge this spring in telemedicine, but usage has dropped off dramatically since then. Tester said the hospital has remained resilient thanks to the dedication of its employees and the community. The hospital’s fiscal 2021 budget is $97 million.

The fact the hospital was in pretty good financial position before COVID helped us weather through that as well.

Bruce Edwards is a freelance writer from Southern Vermont.



December 2020

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Christina Nolan from 15

Nolan also issued this warning: “If you are on Interstate 91 north headed for Brattleboro or St Johnsbury or anywhere else in the state with drugs, turn around and go home. You will be targets of collaborative investigations, criminal charges and stiff penalties. And, by that, I mean jail time.” But that turned out to be just a small piece of a much bigger investigation. Operation Fury Road included three law enforcement surges around Vermont during which federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies flooded into communities hit hard by the effects of the drug crisis and opioid overdose epidemic. The surges targeted drug and firearm trafficking in the Brattleboro area in April 2019; the Northeast Kingdom in November 2019; and the Rutland area in January 2020. It involved law enforcement agencies at all levels in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. “We asked them for help stopping drugs, deadly drugs, from coming to Vermont,” Nolan said. “We asked them for help interdicting dealers before they get here. We have to help them when it comes to Vermont guns, illegally acquired, ending up in crime scenes in their cities, which happens too frequently.” During Operation Fury Road, Nolan said law enforcement seized 128 firearms and 7,511 rounds of ammunition. Of those firearms, 57 were handguns. Several firearms were assault-style rifles and shortbarreled weapons which were not registered as required by the National Firearms Act. Many of the firearms had been stolen from local Vermonters, purchased illegally at Vermont gun stores, or were otherwise illegally possessed. In addition to the firearms, law enforcement also seized approximately 40,200 bags of heroin (which equates to approximately 870 grams), 141 grams of bulk heroin, 1,489 grams of cocaine base, and 78 grams of powder cocaine. Much of the heroin seized during the operation was laced with fentanyl. The opioid battle is one with many fronts, one of them being the abuse of prescription drugs. While Operation Fury Road was impressive, Nolan's biggest success so far has been the $8 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin, after her office discovered the pharmaceutical company was involved in a “kickback“ scheme designed to boost sales of the drug. “I’ve met so many people whose addiction started with OxyContin,” Nolan said. So when Owen Foster, an assistant US attorney in Nolan’s office, discovered that in 2016 Purdue Pharma paid Practice Fusion Inc, a San Francisco-based electronic health records company, to create an alert system in its software to boost Purdue’s prescription sales, Nolan knew this was something big. “Purdue paid Practice Fusion nearly a million dollars to have prompts installed in the software that the health care doctors would see while they were treating a patient; the prompt encouraged the doctors to focus more on pain,” Nolan said, “and it suggested that they select Purdue’s extended release opioids like oxycodone as treatment, even when it wasn’t medically

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necessary or appropriate.” Nolan said the messages were “a clinical suggestion. These prompts, or alerts, can be perfectly legal if they’re clinically based. But these were a form of influence and, I would argue, manipulation.” The manipulation was subtle, “an opioid profit generator masquerading as a clinical tool,” Nolan said. “They knew they couldn’t advertise it as a profit generator,” Nolan said. “They sort of had to masquerade it as a clinical function. But, yes, over time, certain doctors were influenced. The doctors who received the prompts prescribed extended release opioids at a higher rate than those that did not.” Foster and another attorney, Michael Drescher, spent two years on the investigation, starting in August 2018. Nolan would not talk about the specifics, but she was pleased with what their work accomplished. Earlier this year, Nolan reached a $145 million settlement with Practice Fusion to resolve claims against that company stemming from the kickback scheme. And her office’s work led a federal settlement last month, where Purdue agreed to plead guilty in a federal court in New Jersey to two counts of conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute, plus charges of conspiring to defraud the federal government and the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act. The company will pay more than $8 billion in civil penalties. “To be able to be in one of the smallest offices in the country, with comparatively few resources, and get a conviction of that company, that’s something we’re very proud of,” said Nolan. And she also hopes this case “sends a message to Big Pharma and Big Tech that we do have the determination and the talent and resources to investigate these. And we’re hoping it stops this from happening again. Remember, these are opioids that are causing addictions that sometimes end in death. You can’t do one of these prompts just based on selling your opioids, it has to be based in medicine.” When Nolan announced the resolution of the case in a televised press conference in Washington, there was some negative kickback back here at home. The state of Vermont is involved in its own litigations against Purdue Pharma and its former owners, the Sackler family. Vermont Attorney General Donovan said the settlement doesn't sufficiently punish the Sacklers and Purdue for creating the opioid crisis. “I think one of the biggest objections I have is that the settlement allows Purdue Pharma to become a public benefit corporation,” Donovan said. “I don't think Purdue Pharma should be spun off that way. I think it should be put out of business. We're currently in bankruptcy court making sure money comes back to the state.” Nolan declined to discuss Donovan's comments. “All I know is I’m proud to have a first of its kind, first in the history of the country conviction,” she said. “Nobody's ever convicted a pharmaceutical company of having a kickback like this.” While the opioid crisis has taken a back seat to the COVID-19 crisis, Nolan said she believes that the drug trade “hasn’t

abated during COVID” and that during the “lockdown” period, “overdose deaths were actually up from the previous year.” She's right. According to the Vermont Department of Health's weekly opioid report, “As of November 18th, there have been 118 opioid-related deaths among Vermont residents. The number of opioid deaths each month is higher than previous years.” Nolan thought that “another thing that we have to be tuned into is that the isolation, based on the numbers, could be causing people to turn to drugs even more than they were. And they’re getting them from somebody, so the dealing is still happening. We can’t take our foot off the gas even during the pandemic. You have to be as vigilant as ever about crime during this time.” In her role as the state’s top federal attorney, Nolan said the opioid crisis is something more than just a matter of violating the law. “We’re losing these precious lives to this poison and people are profiting from it,” she said. “It’s just wrong. There need to be consequences. And the message needs to be, ‘don’t come to Vermont, if that’s what you’re gonna do.’” Sexual Harrassment In April of this year, Nolan and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband were directed by US Attorney General Barr to oversee and coordinate the Department of Justice’s national efforts to address sexual harassment by landlords during the pandemic. It seems that landlords with tenants who can't pay their rent have been soliciting sexual favors, instead. “This comes in the form of saying, ‘I’ll forgive your rent this month, or I'll lessen your rent this month, or you don't have to pay it this month if you perform these sexual favors,’” Nolan said. Besides being depraved, these requests are against the law. “There's something called the Federal Fair Housing Act,” Nolan said. “It prohibits gender discrimination in housing, and sexual harassment is a form of that.” The Justice Department was bringing similar cases across the country before the pandemic, but reports continued to come during the pandemic. “We had an initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing and we sort of breathed new life into it during the pandemic,” Nolan said. “I was assigned to coordinate efforts amongst all US Attorney’s offices to look for and be on guard for and build cases against landlords who are using the circumstances of the pandemic for exploitative reasons. It's such egregious, awful behavior. I mean, when everyone else was coming together, including people in housing who were doing the right thing and being as generous and caring as they could be, that some landlords continued to take advantage of tenants — and in the worst possible, humiliating and degrading way.” Nolan is helping other state's US attorneys learn how to make the cases stick. “This is an assignment that I was eager to take on, because it is it is just disgusting behavior that also happens to violate federal law in certain circumstances,” Nolan said. “There have been cases brought, not here in Vermont but across the country during

the pandemic. There have been some great settlements on behalf of victims. And so I think it’s going very well. I think the goal was to make sure people know their rights and that the US Attorney’s offices knew the parameters of the law. I don’t think we’ve reached everybody yet, but I think we’re going to keep trying to reach people. We want people in the community to know their rights, know their friends' rights and know how to report it. We also want state and local law enforcement knowing that this implicates federal law. I think the U.S. Attorneys offices across the country are putting a strong priority on it.”  The Future For Nolan, who has accomplished so much during her three years as Vermont’s first female US Attorney, the future as of this writing is vague. The country is transitioning to a new president and a new ruling party, and Nolan is expected to resign so the incoming president can choose his own US Attorney for Vermont. Several people I talked to for this story said they knew of Democrats within the Vermont legal community who were already polishing up their resumes. (When I asked, Donovan adamantly denied being interested.) However, as long as Nolan's boss will not concede that he lost the election, she is in limbo where she must decline to discuss her future. “I’m doing this job the best I can, every day,” Nolan said. “It’s a big, important job. I’m overwhelmed and so honored to have this job. And so I just think about the present. And I just try to focus on doing it the best I can every single day.” She said she's had no offers to go into private practice and has no interest in a political career at the moment. “From the day I started, it’s been the best job I've ever had, being the US Attorney for Vermont,” Nolan said. “I have 56 people that I'm trying to serve and do right by. I have the state of Vermont that's looking for us to enforce the law as best we can. That’s all I think about. If you think ahead, you're not doing justice to the job you have. So I don't know what the future holds. I really don't.” Just before the deadline for this story, more than two weeks after Trump lost the election, I pressed her again for comment about her future. I got this formal statement: “We have never stated anything about my future plans. That is because I’m focused entirely on the very important job at hand. The people of Vermont and the country, and those in my office, deserve nothing less than my complete dedication every day to the job I took an oath to carry out. That is what they will get. The US Attorney serves at the pleasure of the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.” Joyce Marcel is a journalist in southern Vermont. In 2017 she was named the best business magazine profile writer in the country by the Alliance of Area Business Publications. She is married to Randy Holhut, the photographer who took the photos for this story. He is also the news editor/acting operations manager of The Commons, a weekly newspaper in Brattleboro.

VERMONT UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES ALBANY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES 261 Mountain View Drive Colchester VT, 05446 President: T. Gregory Dewey, Ph.D. Regional Dean of Vermont Campus: Jennifer Mathews Director of Public Relations: Shannon Hutton Phone: 802-735-2601 Fax: 802-654-0701 Website: www.acphs.edu Employment: 25 Programs Offered (on VT Campus): Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Highest Degree Awarded: Doctor of Pharmacy, M.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences Continuing Education: Yes Enrollment: 100 Tuition & Fees: $36,745 Pre-Pharmacy and B.S. Programs, $41,780 Professional Pharmacy Program Year Established: ACPHS (1881), VT Campus (2009) BENNINGTON COLLEGE One College Drive Bennington, VT 05201 President: Laura R Walker Acting Dean of College: Oceana Wilson Acting Provost: John Bullock Communications Contact: Alexandria Dery Snider Phone: 802-442-5401/800-833-6845 Fax: 802-440-4320 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bennington.edu Annual Budget: $43M Employment: 264 Programs Offered 4-year undergraduate, graduate programs (MFA in Writing, MFA in Performing Arts, MA Dance, MA Public Action), postbaccalaureate premedical program Highest Degree Awarded: Master’s Continuing Education: Yes Enrollment: 650 Tuition& Fees: $58,124 Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: $74,964 Year Established: 1932 CASTLETON UNIVERSITY 62 Alumni Drive Castleton, VT 05735 President: Dr. Jonathan Spiro PR Contact: James Lambert Phone: 800-639-8521 Fax: 802-468-6470 Email: [email protected] Website: www.castleton.edu Annual Budget: $56 Million (FY 2020) Employment: 243 FT, 174 PT (FY 2020) Programs Offered 2-year & 4-year, CAGS, Master’s Continuing Education: Yes Enrollment: 2,400 (including full-time, graduate and part-time) Tuition & Fees: $11,832 VT - $28,800 - OOS Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: $24,989 VT $41,946 OOS Year Established: 1787 CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE 163 So. Willard St Burlington, VT 05401 Interim President: Benjamin Ola Akande Phone: 802-860-2700,800-570-3459 (Cont. Ed.) Fax: 802-860-276, 802-865-6447 (Cont. Ed.) Email: [email protected] Website: www.champlain.edu Employment: 400 FT Faculty and Staff Programs Offered Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate degrees. Certificate and fully online undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Highest Degree Awarded: Master’s

Continuing Education: Yes (Master’s, Bachelor’s and Certificate programs) Enrollment: 2,129 traditional undergraduate students, 488 graduate and 958 Cont. Ed. Tuition & Fees: FT $41,828 Cont. Ed and Graduate tuition varies by program. Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: FT Undergraduate-- $57,594 Year Established: 1878 COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF VERMONT PO Box 489 Montpelier, VT 05602 President: Joyce M. Judy PR Contact: Katie Kaszey, Email: [email protected] Phone: 802-828-2800, 1-800-228-6686 Fax: 802-828-2805 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ccv.edu Annual Budget: $30 Million Employment: 700 PT faculty, 160 staff members Programs Offered 2-year Highest Degree Awarded: Associate Continuing Education: Yes Enrollment: 10,000 annually Tuition & Fees: $8,554; $280/credit VT, $5,844; $560/credit NR, $100 Registration Fee Year Established: 1970 GODDARD COLLEGE 123 Pitkin Rd. Plainfield, VT 05667 President: Bernard Bull, PhD Admissions Director: Lucy Bourgeault Phone: 802-468-4888, 800-906-8312 Fax: 802-454-1029 Email: [email protected] Website: www.goddard.edu Highest Degree Awarded: Masters Continuing Education: Yes Year Established: 1938 Annual Budget: $5 Million Employment: 90 staff, 90 faculty Enrollment: 357 Tuition & Fees: $8,500-9,200-15k per semester undergrad, $10,500 masters, depending on program. Fall 2020 all classes are virtual Programs Offered Goddard offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), along with several concentrations and Licensures. Highest Degree Awarded: MFA LANDMARK COLLEGE 19 River Road South Putney, VT 05346 President: Peter Eden, Ph.D. Vice President of Enrollment Management: Kevin Mayne Phone: 802-387-6718 Fax: 802-387-6778 Email: [email protected] Website: landmark.edu Annual Budget: $25,700,000 Employment: 221 faculty and staff Programs Offered 2 and 4-yr programs (Associate Degrees in Liberal Studies, Life Sciences, Computer Science, and Business Studies; Bachelor’s Degrees in Liberal Studies, Life Sciences, Studio Art, Computer Science, Psychology, and Communications & Entrepreneurial Leadership) Highest Degree Awarded: Bachelors. (Certificate in Universal Design: Technology Integration, Learning Differences (LD) and Neurodiversity) Continuing Education: Yes, for educators, a 3-credit post-baccalaureate professional certificate in Learning Differences (LD) and Neurodiversity Enrollment: 450 Tuition & Technology Fee: $60,280 Tuition, Technology Fee, Room & Board:

$73,700 Year Established: 1985 MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE Middlebury, VT 05753 President: Dr Laurie Patton Media Relations: Sarah Ray Phone: 802-443-5000 Fax: 802-443-2110, 802-443-2056 (ADMISSIONS’ fax) Email: [email protected] Website: www.middlebury.edu Annual Budget: $334.9 Million (FY 2017) Employment: 1,200) Programs Offered 4-year Highest Degree Awarded: Master of Literature Enrollment: 2,561 Undergrad / 750 Graduate Tuition & Fees: $53,790 (2019-20) Tuition, Room, and Board: $72,248 Year Established: 1800 NEW ENGLAND CULINARY INSTITUTE 7 College Street Montpelier, VT 05602 President: Dr Milan Milasinovic Phone: 877-223-NECI (6324) Fax: 225-3286 Website: www.neci.edu Employment: 125 Programs Offered 26 Week Certificate in Professional Cooking, Certificate in Professional Baking and Pastry arts, 24 month Associates in Occupational Science in Culinary, Baking & Pastry, and Food and Beverage Business Management, 39 month Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts, Bachelor in Baking and Pastry, Bachelor in Food and Beverage Business Management, 24 month Bachelor of Arts finish off program in Food and Beverage Business Management, finish off program in Culinary Arts, and Baking and Pastry, Online Bachelor of Arts finish off in Culinary Arts and Hospitality & Restaurant Management, Highest Degree Awarded: Bachelor’s Continuing Education: Yes Enrollment: 250 Tuition & Fees: $21,400 (degree) certificate: $17,200 (Relative of October Start) Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: $33,576 (Includes uniform and knife kit) Certificate - 8 months, Certificate in Food and Beverage Business Management Associates in- culinary, baking and pastry, food or beverage business management changed to 16months Bachelor’s- culinary, baking and pastry, food or beverage management changed to 32 months All Degrees are available online as well with short residencies Year Established: 1980 NORTHEASTERN BAPTIST COLLEGE 104 Kocher Drive, Bennington, VT 05201 Mailing address: PO Box 4600, Bennington, VT 05201 President: Dr. Mark Ballard Contact: Dave King Phone: 802-753-7233 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nebcvt.org Programs Offered BA in Biblical Studies (with tailored studies in areas of Pastoral Ministry, and Church Planting/Entrepreneurial Leadership) Christian Education, BS in Business Administration, BS in Christian Counseling, and Associate Program. Highest Degree Awarded: BA Degrees Continuing Education: ACSI approved Enrollment: 50 Year Established: 2013 NORTHERN VERMONT UNIVERSITY Johnson | Lyndon | NVU Online Johnson Campus



(listed alphabetically) 337 College Hill Johnson, VT 05656 Phone: 800-635-2356 Fax: 802-635-1463 Lyndon Campus PO Box 919 Lyndonville, VT 05851 Phone: 800-225-1998 Fax: 802-626-6335 President: Elaine C. Collins Director of Marketing & Communications: Silvia Plumb Email: [email protected] Website: www.northernvermont.edu Annual Budget: $58.5 million Employment: 500 (ft and pt) Programs Offered: (On-campus and 100% Online) 2-year, 4-year, graduate, masters, certificates Highest Degree Awarded: Master’s Continuing Education: Yes (NVU Online and Center for Professional Studies) Enrollment: 2,365 Tuition & Fees: $12,804 VT, $26,892 NR (fall ‘20-21) Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: $24,498 VT, $38,586 NR (fall ‘20-21) Year Established: 2018 (formerly Johnson State College, 1828; Lyndon State College, 1911) NORWICH UNIVERSITY 158 Harmon Drive Northfield, VT 05663-1035 President: Col. Mark C Anarumo USAF (Ret) Director of Media Relations & Community Affairs: Daphne Larkin Phone: 485-2000 Fax: 485-2032 Email: [email protected] Website: www.norwich.edu Annual Budget: $103.6 Million Employment: 541 FT Programs Offered 4-year Highest Degree Awarded: Master’s Continuing Education: Yes Enrollment: 2512 Undergraduates, 1502 Graduates, 761 Online Tuition & Fees: $39,234 Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: $58,945 Year Established: 1819 SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE One Winooski Park Colchester, VT 05439 President: Dr. Lorraine Sterritt Director of Marketing and Communication: Alessandro Bertoni Phone: 802-654-2000 Fax: 802-654-2701 Email: [email protected] Website: smcvt.edu Annual Budget: $72.8 million Employment: Total Regular Fulltime - Faculty and Staff: 316 Total Regular Part Time - Faculty and Staff 51 Programs Offered 4-year & Masters Highest Degree Awarded: Master’s Continuing Education: Yes Enrollment: Undergraduate: 1585 Graduate Fall: 293 Tuition & Fees: $48,175 Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: $61,175 Year Established: 1904 SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAINING/SIT 1 Kipling Road, PO Box 676 Brattleboro, VT 05302-0676 President and CEO: Dr. Sophia Howlett Phone: 802-258-3510, 1-888-336-1616 Vermont Colleges & Universities continued on page 38

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EDUCATIONNewslines

Kevin Chu

Sara Byers

UVM to research COVID-19 thanks to American Lung Association With more than eight million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and an ongoing surge this fall, the American Lung Association is funding promising research through its COVID-19 Action Initiative to accelerate the search for COVID-19 solutions. Joining the American Lung Association’s research team is University of Vermont (UVM) Professor of Medicine Daniel Weiss, MD, PhD. Dr. Weiss joins 11 other awardees for the inaugural COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Research Award, who are funded at $100,000 a year for two years.

Bennington College president Walker honored by Restoration On November 16, President Laura Walker was

A Verona Dorch

Ken Minklei

honored at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation’s Restore Brooklyn Virtual Gala. Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (Restoration) is committed to disrupting and closing the racial wealth gap, and this gala pays tribute to outstanding professionals and civic leaders, while celebrating the deep-rooted connection between Restoration and Central Brooklyn. “Restoration has a tangible impact on thousands of lives,” said President Laura Walker.

Chu and Kemp join the UVM Office of Engagement The University of Vermont has hired two administrators to help lead the new UVM Office of Engagement. Kevin Chu was named managing director, and Kathleen Kemp joins the office as program support generalist. The Office of Engagement, directed by Professor of Community Development and Applied Economics Chris Koliba, was created

Raj Rawal

this year by UVM President Suresh Garimella to build upon the University’s land-grant mission and collaborate with private, public and non-profit entities and communities in Vermont looking to access UVM’s many strengths and capabilities.

Champlain College adds four new members to its board of trustees Champlain College announced the addition of four members to its Board of Trustees. The new members include Sara Byers, A Verona Dorch, Ken Minklei and Raj Rawal. Dr. Benjamin Akande, President of Champlain College, said, “We are thrilled to welcome this impressive group of business and community leaders who will further enhance the breadth of experience on our Board of Trustees.”

UVM’s BME program granted ABET accreditation The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BME) degree program at the University of Vermont was recently granted ABET

VERMONT UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES Fax: 802- 258-3296 Contact: [email protected] Website: https://www.sit.edu Annual Budget: $121,232, 833 World Learning, $46,308,002 SIT Employment: 133 Programs Offered The Experiment in International Living; SIT Study Abroad; SIT Graduate Institute Highest Degree Awarded: MA Continuing Education: Yes (graduate and professional development courses) Tuition & Fees: The Experiment in International Living - $5,600 Avg.; SIT Study Abroad - $15,500 Avg.; SIT Graduate Institute - $35,000 Avg. Year Established: 1932 SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE, SCHOOL OF HUMAN SERVICES 347 Emerson Falls Rd/Ste 2 St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 President: Mary Beth Cooper Director of Vermont Campus: John Cipora, PhD PR Contact: Alex Bloomer - Regional Campus Recruiter Phone: 802-748-5402 Fax: 802-748-5719 Email: [email protected] Website: http://springfield.edu/stjohnsbury Employment: 4 (current full-time faculty/staff) Programs Offered: Bachelor of Science in Human Services (concentrations in: Early Childhood Education, Community Youth Development and Leadership, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, and Criminal Justice). B.S. in Business Management, B.S. in Recreation Management, B.S. in Criminal Justice. MBA with concentration in Nonprofit Management. Masters in Organizational Leadership Highest Degree Awarded: Master’s Level Continuing Education: Yes, non-matriculating courses offered. Enrollment: 4,000+ (total enrollment across multiple locations) Tuition: Bachelor’s: $500 per credit hour; Master’s: $680 per credit hour. Financial aid available for qualifying students. Year Established: 1885 STERLING COLLEGE PO Box 72

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16 Sterling Dr Craftsbury Common, VT 05827 President: Matthew Derr Dean of Advancement: Christina Goodwin Phone: 802-586-7711 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sterlingcollege.edu Annual Budget: $5.6 million Employment: 57 FT Programs Offered 4-year Highest Degree Awarded: BA Continuing Education: offered Enrollment: 125 Tuition & Fees: $39,000 Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: $49,400 Year Established: 1887 THE CENTER FOR CARTOON STUDIES P.O. Box 125 94 South Main Street White River Junction, Vermont 05001 President: Michelle Ollie Phone: 802-295-3319 Fax: 295-3399 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cartoonstudies.org Annual Budget: $1 M Programs Offered MFA in Cartooning, One- and Two-Year Certificate in Cartooning Highest Degree Awarded: Master of Fine Arts Continuing Ed: Summer Workshops Enrollment: 30-35 Tuition & Fees: $25,000 Year Established: 2005 University of Vermont 85 South Prospect Street Burlington, VT 05405 President: Suresh Garimella, PhD Phone: 802-656-3131 Fax: 802- 656-8611 Email: [email protected] Website: www.uvm.edu Annual Budget: $703 million Employment: 4,233 Full and Part Time Programs Offered 4-year, grad, professional, certificate Highest Degree Awarded: PhD. Continuing Education: Yes

accreditation. ABET is the ISO 9001 certified organization that accredits college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. UVM’s BME program is now one of a handful of accredited BME programs co-located on the same campus as a medical school. Berkshire Bank Foundation announces 2021 NeXt Gen Scholarship Program Berkshire Bank announced its Foundation is now accepting applications for its annual NeXt Gen Scholars Program. High school seniors, college students and adults who live in or attend a school in select communities served by Berkshire Bank in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, and are pursuing an undergraduate degree from an accredited non-profit college or technical school in the fall of 2021 are eligible to apply. A total of $100,000 in scholarships will be awarded to 40 individuals.

Enrollment: 10,700 undergraduate, 1,627 graduate, 478 Medical, 743 Non-Degree Tuition & Fees: $19,062 (in-state) Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: $32,416 VT, $57,304 Non Resident VERMONT COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS 36 College St. Montpelier, VT 05602 Interim President: Leslie Ward Director of Alumni Relations: Sabrina Fadial Phone: 802-828-8600 Fax: 802-828-8649 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vcfa. edu Programs Offered MFA in Visual Art MFA in Writing MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults MFA in Music Composition MFA in Graphic Design MFA in Film MFA in Writing & Publishing MA/MAT in Art & Design Education Highest Degree Awarded: Master’s degree (MFA/ MAT/MA) Continuing Education: No Enrollment: 267 Tuition & Fees: MFA in Visual Art: $22,554 MFA in Writing: $20,431 MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults: $24,142 MFA in Graphic Design: $23,714 MFA in Music Composition: $24,142 MFA in Film: $24,142 MFA in Writing & Publishing: $27,500 MA/MAT in Art & Design Education: $27,000 Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: MFA in Visual Arts: $26,488 MFA in Writing: $24,302 MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults: $24,302 MFA in Graphic Design: $27,244 MFA in Music Composition: $27,2716 MFA in Film: $27,716 MFA in Writing & Publishing: $30,320 + $575.00/month for living MA/MAT in Art & Design Education: $27,772 Year Established: 2008

For more Newslines go to www.vermontbiz.com.

(listed alphabetically) VERMONT LAW SCHOOL 164 Chelsea Street PO Box 96 South Royalton, VT 05068-0096 President and Dean: Tom McHenry Director of Media Relations: Ben Jervey Phone:802- 831-1000 Fax: 802-831-1174 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vermontlaw.edu Annual Budget: $28.1 Million (FY 2014) Employment: Staff/Admin: 115 FT, 10 PT; Faculty: 44 FT, 9 visiting Programs Offered 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year (optional) Highest Degrees Awarded: Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Environmental Law and Policy (MELP), Master of Laws in Environmental Law (LLM in Environmental Law), Master of Laws in American Legal Studies (LLM in American Legal Studies) (FY 2014) Continuing Education: Summer Session (FY 2014) Enrollment: 660 Tuition & Fees: JD $ $48,234 per academic year, MELP/LLM $48,259 for the 1-year degree program Year Established: 1972 VERMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE PO Box 500 Randolph Center, VT 05061 President: Pat Moulton Dean of Institutional Advancement: None Phone: 802-728-1000 Fax: 802-728-1390 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vtc.edu Annual Budget: $47,388,749 Employment: 83 FT Faculty, 117 PT Faculty, 102 PT, 168 FT Non-Instructional Programs Offered BS, AS Highest Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science Enrollment: 1,621 Tuition & Fees: $15,971 Tuition, Fees, Room & Board: $26,961 Year Established: 1866 Source: Vermont Business Magazine 2020

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utland Economic Development Corporation and the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce merged to form the Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR). The new organization is proud to be working on behalf of all businesses and communities to make Rutland County the most collaborative, innovative, and friendly place in Vermont to live, work, play, and grow a business. Following the merger, CEDRR staff personally delivered masks to businesses in Rutland County. The masks, sponsored by Casella Waste Systems, Heritage Family Credit Union, Green Mountain Power, Rutland Regional Medical Center, and Foley Distributing are a telling sign of how different times are right now, as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The personal distribution allowed the CEDRR staff the opportunity to connect and learn more about the needs of the businesses in the region. A survey sent to CEDRR membership asked for feedback regarding what resources would be most beneficial for businesses in the Rutland County community. Over half of the responses identi-

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fied a need for regional marketing efforts and workforce development. “It is important that we connect with our members and the Rutland County business community to learn more about what services, tools, and resources we can provide going forward to help them see this through – and to come out stronger than before,” Said Lyle Jepson, Executive Director of CEDRR. CEDRR responded to the survey results with the Growing Business Series. The Growing Business Series is intended to provide free webinars focused on topics and resources businesses are currently seeking. Regional experts will be leading the webinars, which are specifically designed for the Rutland Region Business Community. Topics covered in the Growing Business Series range from cybersecurity in a remote work environment to local financial opportunities. In October, CEDRR and four other economic development partners from across the Rutland Region were awarded a Restart Vermont Regional Marketing Grant to benefit businesses that had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The group teamed up to form ‘Real

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REDC and chamber merge to Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR)

CEDRR staff delivers masks to businesses in Rutland County.

Bucks’; a program offered at participating local businesses providing customers who spent $30 or more, $10 off the purchase total. The program, with a total grant amount of $50,000, proved to be a success. Tyler Richardson, the Operations Direction of CEDRR has been working diligently to connect businesses in need of additional grant money. Richardson served as CEDRR’s Recovery Navigator in the Restart Vermont Technical Assistance (ReVTA) program, assisting and connecting more than 30 local businesses with grants averaging $3,000. CEDRR has also partnered with Castleton University to focus on enhancing internship and career opportunities as

well as increasing community engagement in the Rutland area. Kimberley Rupe, Business Development & Community Engagement Manager of CEDRR will work alongside Castleton’s Pathway to Graduation team to engage Castleton students in a diverse range of opportunities, including job experiences, internships, and workplace readiness skill programming. Vermont has struggled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEDRR is prepared with renewed energy and creativity to help the Rutland County community. We are proud to be working on behalf of Rutland County’s businesses, communities, and families. ■

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Makerspace in Rutland: Make, innovate, network, tinker wood shop, metal shop, 3D printers, laser cutter, stained glass lab, electronics lab and jewelry lab. Access to all our tools and equipment, plus free training, is included in a monthly $50 membership fee for individuals. Membership levels are also available for families and businesses. Members get access to members-only events and special pricing on classes. All our classes are also open to the general public. The MINT is a shared workshop and classroom for anyone interested in making things. As an all volunteer organization, The MINT is truly community-based. We are looking forward to continued growth in our region. Future plans include a continuation of our entrepreneurship development mentorship group, OnRamp, expansion of

school-based and homeschool programming including a mobile makerspace, a collaboration with VT Works for Women, a summer institute for teachers and much more. We also offer studio and incubator spaces from 80 to 1500 square feet for small businesses who are looking for more space to grow, but aren’t ready for their own building, or who need access to our tools and equipment while they continue to grow. Learn more about The MINT at rutlandmint.org and follow us on Facebook for up to date information from the Rutland maker community.

MINT members collborating in a shared workshop.

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he MINT (Make, Innovate, Network, Tinker) Makerspace in Rutland is a collaborative workshop and learning space with shared tools and equipment. Our members include hobbyists, DIY enthusiasts, educators, students, entrepreneurs, non-profit, and for-profit companies. We are dedicated to sharing knowledge, building relationships, and fostering entre-

preneurship. We provide opportunities for individuals to find hobbies they are passionate about, create meaningful art, start a business, develop job skills and solve realworld community challenges, such as our recent project making and donating PPE for Rutland Regional Medical Center. The MINT has over 8300 sq ft of workspace and equipment including a



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Rutland area robotics prepares students for the future

Students in the region take part in a mentor-based global challenge to design and build robots to compete with teams from around the world.

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utland Area Robotics is a community organization in Central Vermont dedicated to inspiring students in

the Rutland region to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and

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Math. As Rutland looks to compete in the global marketplace, a generation of highly skilled employees is needed to build the workforce of tomorrow. Rutland Area Robotics has several programs to

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In the coming years, Vermont businesses will need to focus on innovation, automation and quality to compete in industries where other entities are not restricted by wages or environmental protections.

Students in the region take part in a mentor-based global challenge to design and build robots to compete with teams from around the world.

teach real world, hands-on skills such as CAD, machining and fabrication, electronics, and programming. Students in the program also learn soft skills, such as teamwork, project management, procurement, and meeting deadlines. Each year, dozens of K-12 students in the region take part in a mentorbased global challenge to design and build robots to compete with teams from around the world. Over half a million students from more than 100 countries will work together to meet the challenges provided by FIRST Robotics. The season runs for several weeks and has a deadline where all teams must stop building and go to competition. At these events they face off against teams from the New England, where they have the chance to qualify to compete at the Northeast and the World Championships. There are over $80 million dollars from 200 institutions available to participating kids, and many of the competition events are held on prestigious college campuses where students can meet faculty and take tours of universities they hope to attend. The program is designed to promote creativity and problem solving and build confidence. In the coming years, Vermont businesses will need to focus on innovation, automation and quality to compete in industries where other entities are not restricted by wages or environmental protections. Advanced manufacturing including robotics is a growing sector that is desperate for workers with the skills to design, build, and maintain them. Rutland Area Robotics focus is not only on creating that generation of employees, but working to change the culture to recognize and appreciate the role that engineers and scientists play in improving our quality of life. Rutland Area Robotics is financially supported by the community and run by volunteers. We would like to thank GE Aviation Volunteers, Alderman’s Toyota and Chevrolet, First Light Technologies Inc., and the Hayes Foundation for their support of the organization through the years. ■



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Rutland Young Professionals.

Rutland Young Professionals

S

ince our founding in 2013, Rutland Young Professionals has strived to accomplish two things. The first is

to find creative ways to connect people, jobs and volunteer opportunities, profes-

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sional development, and fun. The second is to make our corner of the world a better place to work, live, learn, and play. Rutland Young Professionals is an allinclusive, all-volunteer organization. Our

mission is to engage with our community, create social and professional networking opportunities, and work to build a Rutland area that attracts and retains young professionals. We rely heavily on our 11-person board of directors and dozens of other energetic volunteers to keep us going and live out our mission. Rutland Young Professionals offers a number of programs and initiatives to engage with young professionals not only in Rutland County, but across the state and beyond. Research suggests that one of the most significant factors that influences where someone decides to take root is the social factor. The Mix – our monthly networking opportunity – and more casual Meet-Ups are our hallmark programs and have continued virtually in the wake of COVID19. Local employers often struggle to recruit high-quality talent, so we offer Let’s Dish. This program allows us to meet job candidates and bring our friends from the community with us to welcome

them and answer any questions they have about living and working in the Rutland Region. One of the greatest barriers to career advancement for young professionals is a lack of professional development opportunities. We offer lecture series, workshops, and summits, to support them. Our professional development grant provides financial support for those who complete career-focused education and professional development programs. Most of our offerings are free and open to all, but some initiatives – like the professional development grant – are only available to members. Our membership is all-inclusive, with a Friend of RYP option for those with different zip codes, but the same goals. Membership costs just $25 a year. To learn more about Rutland Young Professionals and how you can get involved, visit rutlandyoungprofessionals.org, find us on Facebook or Instagram, or email info@ rutlandyoungprofessionals.org.

COVID-19 opens up opportunities for independent bottler by Amanda Kuhnert

COVID-19: Setbacks and Opportunities In February, Adam and Nora submitted a traditional SBA loan application. But, due to COVID-19, a process that

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“

Despite COVID -19, we were struck by the support we’ve received,” said Adam Polonski, co-owner of Lost Lantern Spirits, a Vermont-based independent bottler of American whiskey. “From our bank to VtSBDC, it’s evident how supportive Vermont is towards young entrepreneurs.” Polonski and his partner Nora GanleyRoper recently relocated to Weybridge, Vermont from New York City. Prior to founding Lost Lantern Spirits, Adam was the senior whiskey specialist at Whisky Advocate, where he saw a wave of new US distilleries opening in recent years and a shortage of independent bottlers. “There are now around 2,000 distilleries in the United States, and there’s no easy way for whiskey lovers to discover the best and most exciting ones,” Nora said. “We realized that somebody was going to do this sooner or later and that, between Adam’s experience and contacts at Whisky Advocate and my palate and background in startups and operations, we were the ones who should do it.” So Adam and Nora hit the road. They spent eight months visiting distilleries across the United States, literally taking in the full landscape of American whiskey. “Adam’s contacts through his time working at Whisky Advocate has given us access to whiskey that isn’t generally available to other companies,” Nora said. When they returned home from their travels, they realized they needed help fleshing out their business plan and exploring financing options. So they reached out to the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) and set up a meeting with business advisors Sarah Kearns and Steve Densham. “We loved working with both Sarah and Steve,” Nora said. “Steve was my numbers dude, and Sarah was the big picture person. Steve stress-tested my numbers a lot. He would call me at 8 a.m. on a Saturday and we’d go way into the weeds together. Steve also made introductions to the banks we worked with, which gave both parties immediate credibility and confidence. I felt like once Steve had put me through the wringer, we could do anything. Sarah would ask high-level questions and make sure that when we were writing our business plan, we were covering all the bases. “Neither Sarah nor Steve will pull any punches,” Nora added. “They will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. And that is invaluable.”

Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, co-founders of Lost Lantern Spirits, a Vermont-based independent bottler of American whiskey

normally takes no more than a couple of weeks took almost six months. “We were truly so impressed by our experience with the bank,” Nora said. “They reached out almost once a week to reassure us that they wanted to work with us, they just needed some time to process the PPP loans that were coming through.” With the financing hurdle finally behind them, Nora and Adam planned to release their first bottles in May. But the spirits industry came to a sudden halt when stay-at-home orders went into effect across the country. “Some states kept liquor stores open, but it was nearly impossible to get new products on the shelves,” Nora said. Luckily, COVID-19 soon opened a new distribution opportunity. “Before COVID hit, there wasn’t really a demand to ship whiskey directly to consumers because it’s historically been a logistical nightmare,” Nora said. “But that all changed almost overnight. In the last six months, we’ve seen a huge demand for platforms that allow you (the business) to interface with local retailers and ship directly to consumers.” Along with the way they bring their product to market, the pandemic has also changed how they connect with potential customers. “Traditionally, marketing a new product would entail going to NYC with a backpack of whiskey, talking to media, and meeting with buyers at a bar,” Nora said. “It was a completely hands-on approach to sales. But now things have moved to Zoom tastings, accessible to people all

across the country. Actually, this really democratizes the way the spirits industry works.” In October Lost Lantern Spirits released its first whiskey—a single-malt blend from six U.S. distilleries the couple visited in person during their cross-country whiskey tour. “We did a ‘sneak peek release’ completely online,” Nora said. “It’s a total departure from our initial plans, but it just goes to show you how much and how quickly an industry can adapt,” Nora said. American Vatted Malt Edition # 1 was soon followed by four other unique whiskeys—a bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, corn whiskey, and single malt. Nora and

Adam purchase whiskey from distilleries all over the country and release them as single casks or blends, with full transparency of their origin. “We’re taking a model that existed, and thrived, in Scotland for over a hundred years and applying it to the U.S. market,” Nora said. “We’re part blending house and part whiskey curators.” Lost Lanterns Spirits is available for purchase in 40 states through lostlanternwhiskey.com and Seelbachs.com. Success story by Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC). We Know Business. Find an advisor near you. View our training workshops. Visit: www.vtsbdc.org

TIME TO ACT SUBMIT YOUR INFO FOR VERMONT BUSINESS MAGAZINE’S

VBM ranks the largest Vermont-based companies in the state by annual revenues. The list will appear in VBM’s January issue.

There is no charge to be listed in any of our rankings or directories. CALL 802-863-8038 or EMAIL: [email protected] for a form!



December 2020

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NORTHERNCompany Newslines

Josh Chafe

Delaney Vartanian

Alyssa Frederick

Michael Havemeyer

Mamava, category creator of lactation pods, now in all 50 states

experience in institutional, education and hospitality projects. Delaney Vartanian is an interior designer of hospitality and workplace interiors projects.

Women-owned, American-made, and essential in supporting breastfeeding, Mamava, the lactation suite category creator, is thrilled to announce that, with lactation pods recently placed in Montana and West Virginia, they will be available in all 50 states. The company placed its first pod at Burlington International Airport in 2013. Today, there are 1,350+ Mamava pods across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, in spaces including airports, hospitals, schools, corporate offices, sports stadiums, zoos, museums and military bases.

HSCC welcomes new board members

Community Bank NA supports Race to the Top of Vermont Community Bank NA recently supported the Race to the Top of Vermont by sponsoring its annual fundraiser. Due to COVID-19, this year the event went virtual and seven Community Bank employees participated. The event was a fundraiser for The Catamount Trail Association to support its efforts to protect and preserve the Catamount Trail while also creating opportunities for people to get outside, have fun and be active.

Reconciled acquires Tallahassee-based accounting firm Reconciled is excited to announce the acquisition of Bean Team, welcoming accounting professionals, and clients of the local Tallahassee accounting firm. Reconciled, the online bookkeeping firm for entrepreneurs continues to expand nationally with a platform strategy starting with Bean Team. Bean Team’s customers will continue with the same great support and service that has made Bean Team a success, but with the added value of Reconciled’s accounting team and resources.

TruexCullins announces new associates TruexCullins Architecture and Interior Design is proud to announce the appointment of Josh Chafe and Delaney Vartanian as Associates. These promotions recognize two design leaders who have made significant contributions to the firm. Josh Chafe, AIA, LEED AP is an architect with a focus on contemporary residential design, with additional

Joyce Cameron, President & CEO of the Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC), is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Caroline Canning; Yvonne Lockerby and Maureen Schake.

Freeman French Freeman welcomes Frederick to their team The Burlington architecture and design firm of Freeman French Freeman is thrilled to welcome Alyssa Frederick to our Burlington, Vermont practice. Alyssa joins the firm after working for over a decade in Burlington’s vibrant hospitality industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in visual arts from Wells College in Aurora, New York.

Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation makes Adventure Scholar awards Flyin Ryan is proud to announce the addition of three new Adventure Scholarship recipients to their Adventure Scholar family! Maisie Wagner and Ellie Huff will be using their award to fund an all-women ski movie for IFSA that will inspire young athletes to join big mountain skiing and Rocco Jones’ dream is to become a competitive snowboarder and compete in the X Games.

Buley joins FSC executive team FoodScience Corporation (FSC), a locally owned leader in human and pet nutritional products announces the hiring of David Buley as Vice President, Manufacturing and Supply Chain. “We are fortunate David has decided to join our team. He is a leader with a customer-service and safety mindset. He will leverage his knowledge and experience in manufacturing and supply chain to continue our creation of high quality, innovative products and deliver excellent service to our customers,” said Tammy Johnson, Vice President of the Human Supplements Business Unit.

Kinney Pike Insurance welcomes a new commercial lines account executive

Abbe Ramanan

Lisa Mitchell

Kinney Pike Insurance has added Michael Havemeyer as a new Account Executive handling Property & Casualty Insurance and expanding the Business Insurance sale teams in their Williston office. “Adding Michael will help strengthen our organization and reinforce our commitment to being a key resource for our business clients,” said Doug Corman, one of three Kinney Pike Insurance Principals.

Aaron Scowcroft

boots. When the pandemic began earlier this year, much of Chittenden County’s homeless population was moved from traditional homeless shelters, where social distancing is nearly impossible, to the Holiday Inn Emergency Shelter managed by CVOEO. “Lenny’s has brought warmth and kindness to people experiencing homelessness during this winter season,” said Adam Hall, CVOEO Holiday Inn Housing Advocate and Resource Manager.

Lund board of trustees welcomes four new members

Marble Trail Financial welcomes LaLonde

Lund is excited to welcome four new members to its Board of Trustees. Board Chair Christine Oliver stated, “It is a testament to Lund’s impact in Vermont that we are able to attract these talented community leaders to our Board. We look forward to working with them to advance Lund’s critical mission for the State of Vermont.” The four new members include: Sarah Andriano; Bob Morgan; Andrew Pallito and Karen Vastine.

Marble Trail Financial is pleased to announce the addition of Eden LaLonde to its team. Eden recently relocated to Middlebury with her family, bringing with her over five years of tax experience in public accounting. Eden was most recently Tax Director for Paragon Advisors in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where she specialized in tax planning and review of high-net-worth individual clients and large multi-state investment partnerships.

Ramanan joins Clean Energy Group

Vermont attorney receives award for advancing INTA’s objectives

Clean Energy Group, a Montpelier nonprofit is thrilled to announce the addition of Abbe Ramanan as Project Manager. Abbe recently received a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where she wrote a master’s thesis on state models for improving access to solar energy for LMI communities.

The International Trademark Association (INTA) is proud to announce Anne Gilson LaLonde, Gilson on Trademarks, South Burlington, Vermont, as the recipient of its 2020 INTA Service Award for the Advancement of Association Objectives. An attorney and active Association volunteer for 15 years, Ms Gilson LaLonde has served as chair of INTA’s Legislation and Regulation Committee, United States Subcommittee (USLRC) since the beginning of 2020, as vice chair of the Subcommittee from 2018 to 2019, and as a member of the Subcommittee most terms since 2006.

PC Construction helps fight food insecurity during COVID-19 pandemic The employee-owners of PC Construction prioritized hunger-fighting organizations in their 2020 corporate giving to help combat food insecurity across Vermont, totaling well over $90,000 in donations since March. “We are very concerned about the impact the pandemic is having in our communities, especially related to food supply for our most vulnerable families around the state,” said Jay Fayette, President & CEO of PC Construction.

The National Bank of Middlebury proudly supports local businesses & nonprofits National Bank of Middlebury has awarded $100,000 in twenty $5,000 grants to small business and nonprofit organizations. These grants, made under the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Jobs for New England Recovery Grant Program, were designed to help businesses that were adversely affected by COVID-19. Upon notifying one of our award recipients, Town Hall Theater, Executive Director Lisa Mitchell said, “Town Hall Theater is grateful to our incredible community bank, National Bank of Middlebury, which has done so much to support small businesses during this challenging time.”

Bringing warmth to Vermonters experiencing homelessness this winter Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel has joined the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity to support people experiencing homelessness by donating 145 pairs of warm winter

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Eden LaLonde

NEFCU announces third quarter community giving donations for 2020 Four times each year, New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) selects recipient organizations at random to receive $625 each, for a total of $10,000 annually. NEFCU’s community giving donations for the third quarter of 2020 were: The Snelling Center for Government and Berlin Elementary School.

Aaron Scowcroft joins MRC MRC is pleased to welcome Aaron Scowcroft to our team. With a strong background in marketing and years of real estate experience he will be a great addition to our Boutique Brokerage.

Barr Hill Gin named 2020 Spirit of the Year by USA Spirits Ratings USA Spirits Ratings, a global spirits competition featuring hundreds of entrants from over 45 different countries, handed Barr Hill Gin its first ever 100-point score at this year’s event. Produced by Vermont-based distillery Caledonia Spirits, Barr Hill Gin was awarded several prestigious medals by the competition’s panel of expert judges, including 2020 Spirit of the Year and Gin of the Year. All three of Caledonia Spirits’ flagship spirits – Barr Hill Gin, Tom Cat Gin, and Barr Hill Vodka – took home major awards in 2020. For more Newslines go to www.vermontbiz.com.

VERMONTCompany Newslines

Sabrina Milano

Dave Barash

ESGR announces Milano as ESGR State Chair for VT Employer Support Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense program, is pleased to announce the selection and swearing in of Ms Sabrina Milano of St Albans as the new ESGR State Chair for Vermont. She joins 49 others who oversee the ESGR mission in the 50 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia.

MENTOR Vermont convenes 5th annual and 1st virtual symposium MENTOR Vermont recently convened the 2020 Vermont Mentoring Symposium, its annual conference that serves as the only professional development and networking opportunity of its kind focused on youth mentoring in Vermont. Typically a one-day in-person event, due to the pandemic, the 2020 Symposium was held virtually throughout the week of September 28-October 2. This year, the Symposium featured a keynote address from Dave Anderson, PhD, a clinical psychologist and the senior director of national programs and outreach at the Child Mind Institute.

Top VT & NH construction projects honored Associated Builders & Contractors New Hampshire Vermont Chapter (ABC) recognized

Marina McCoy

Michael Studin

the best of the best construction projects at the 22nd Annual “Excellence in Construction” awards program on October 29th. “We were thrilled by the quality and caliber of projects recognized at the event,” said Josh Reap, president & CEO of ABC. “On display was the best of the industry, the projects and the local companies that built them are truly world class.” The top award, called the “Chairman’s Award,” was presented to DEW Construction Corporation for their work on the Windham School District SAU #95. Excellence Award winners from Vermont also included ReArch Company for their work on Burlington Emergency & Veterinary Specialists (BEVS).

AOT announced winners of the highway safety message contest The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) announced the winners of the highway safety message contest. Cheryl Murray, 57, of Benson, submitted the winning entry in the fall round of the contest: “Don’t take the bait. That text can wait.” AOT wishes to thank the Agency of Natural Resources for providing park passes for the contest prizes. AOT also announced the winter contest winner. Maria Peña, 30, of Stowe, entered the contest with this message: “No need for speed. You can’t outrun winter.” The Agency also would like to thank Elle Reid of South Hero for sending in our favorite Thanksgiving message: “Gobble gobble. Go easy on the throttle.”

VBSR hosts 19th Annual Awards Ceremony Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) is pleased to honor three outstanding individuals and businesses who are leading by outstanding example and developing successful socially responsible business models. VBSR’s 19th Annual Awards Ceremony recognized: Dave Barash (1955-2020) with the Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement, Working Fields with the VBSR Innovation and Inspiration Award, and Marina McCoy of Waste Free Earth with the VBSR Young Changemaker Award.

Studin promoted to Criminal Division Support Commander Col Matthew T Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police, is pleased to announce the promotion of Detective Sgt Michael Studin with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation – Troop B East, to detective lieutenant with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation – Criminal Division Support Commander. Lt Studin has served the people of Vermont since 2003, when he began his career as a trooper assigned to the Rockingham Barracks.

$22,283 raised to fight hunger in VT and NY On Saturday, October 24th, locals shopped till they dropped, and raised more than $22,000 to fight hunger in our area. During the 10th annual Charity Sale, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel and customers collectively raised $22,283 for the Vermont Foodbank and JCEO Plattsburgh Foodshelf. “During the pandemic, the Vermont Foodbank has nearly doubled the amount of food it is distributing to meet the need,” says Vermont Foodbank CEO, John Sayles.

VOBA expands board of directors At its second annual Membership Meeting held virtually on November 11th, the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA) elected a slate of board directors that include three new members: Wendy Knight, Laura McLaughlin and TJ Whalen. Other directors re-elected to the board are Mark Yardley, Jordan Jiskra and Greg Manning. Industry leaders continuing on the Board through 2021 include Marc Sherman, Corinne Prevot, and Miguel Reda. Executive Committee Directors are: Chair: Drew Simmons, Vice Chair: Michael Schmidt, Secretary: Lisa Lynn, and Treasurer: Jordan Jiskra.

‘Energy Leaders’ honored at conference More than 150 participants from commercial and industrial operations around the state joined Efficiency Vermont for a week of learning, idea sharing, and networking at this year’s Best Practices Exchange (BPX). Efficiency Vermont produced a video celebrating the work of some of the BPX Leadership Award winners. The full list of awardees includes: Burke Mountain Resort: Energy Leadership Award– Commercial Sector, Commonwealth Dairy: Energy Leadership Award–Industrial Sector, Mount Ascutney Hospital: Energy Leadership Award–Institutions, Landmark College: Energy Leadership Award–Innovation, NSK Steering Systems: Energy Leadership Award–Impact, R Soule & Son: Energy Leadership Award– Partner of the Year and Patrick Giordano, Gifford Medical Center: Energy Leadership Award–Energy Champion. For more Newslines go to www.vermontbiz.com.

SOUTHERNCompany Newslines

Dan Kinney

Holly O’Connor, CPA

Renewable energy veteran Kinney to lead RunTime Solar Norwich Technologies, Inc announced the launch of its new division, RunTime Solar, to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services to solar energy projects across New England. RunTime Solar will be headed by renowned renewable energy veteran Dan Kinney. Dan Kinney won Renewable Energy Vermont’s 2017 Jim Grundy Award for 20 years of bringing renewable energy to the community.

O’Connor joins the Rowley Agency, Inc The Rowley Agency, Inc is pleased to announce the addition of Holly O’Connor, CPA as Controller. She replaces Bruce Langley who recently retired from the 54-year-old insurance agency after 36 years, serving as Treasurer and Partner. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Holly join our team. The experience she brings is vital to the day-to-day operations of our company, and she has proven to be more than capable,” says The Rowley Agency’s CEO, Daniel E Church.

Martha Staskus

Charles Van Winkle

BDCC’s SVEP receives award Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) won a Bronze Award for the Southern Vermont Economy Project (SVEP) in the Resiliency, Recovery and Mitigation category of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)’s 2020 Excellence in Economic Development Awards Program. The honor was presented at an awards ceremony during the IEDC Annual Conference.

Berkshire Bank promotes White to Executive VP, CIO Berkshire Bank, a purpose-driven community bank with locations throughout New England, New York and the Mid-Atlantic, announced the promotion of Jason White to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Mr White previously served as Senior Vice President (SVP) and Chief Technology Officer at the Bank. “Jason is a proven technology leader, whose strategic perspective, commitment to operational excellence and collaborative leadership approach will accelerate our transformation into a 21st-century community bank,” said Sean Gray, Acting CEO & President of Berkshire Bank.

Hannah Boudreau

Brendan Malley

Norwich Solar Technologies announces hires and promotions Norwich Solar Technologies (NST) is proud to announce the addition of two new members to its team and the promotion of two veteran members of the management team. CEO Jim Merriam says, “These changes and additions to our team strengthen our customer service and position NST for growth across New England.” Martha Staskus has been promoted to Chief Development Officer, Charles “Charlie” Van Winkle is the new Vice President of Operations, Hannah Boudreau is the company’s new Solar Project Coordinator and Brendan Malley has been promoted to VP of Project Finance.

The Born to Run Foundation makes 10th prosthesis donation The Born to Run Foundation made its 10th prosthesis donation, a running blade, to amputee David Hiler of Brattleboro, Vermont, at the outdoor waterfront Bier Garten at Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery in Brattleboro on Thursday, November 5. At the event, Hiler also announced the creation of a special-label craft brew, RUN, that will support the Foundation’s mission of providing specialized athletic prostheses to ampu-



Noelle Lambert and David Hiler

tees to help them lead active lives. “We are very excited to make our 10th prosthesis donation to David Hiler,” said Noelle Lambert, Founder of The Bord To Run Foundation. “Donating these prostheses is like adding someone to a family and creating a new bond with each other. We are excited to give David his new running blade so he can beat me in a long-distance race.”

Downs Rachlin Martin announces new trust and estates attorney Attorney Timothy P Connors has joined the northern New England law firm of Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC. Tim Connors comes to DRM as Of Counsel after having been a partner at a Coloradobased trust and estate planning law firm. “Through his experience in private practice, the Coast Guard and the banking industry, Tim brings a diverse background and deep knowledge of trust and estate planning that will serve our clients very well.” Director and Business Law Vice Chair Willemien Dingemans Miller said. “We are excited to have him on our team.” For more Newslines go to www.vermontbiz.com.

December 2020

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COMMERCIALReal Estate Newslines Unsworth Properties acquires industrial space from REM Development Unsworth Properties, LLC and their select investors have closed on the acquisition of over 277,000 SF of industrial/manufacturing real estate from REM Development. REM Development Company, represented by Brad Worthen of Pomerleau Real Estate, began their process of identifying a purchaser in November of 2019. The portfolio consists of 9 individual properties in Williston and Essex, Vermont. REM’s reputation for well cared-for buildings, and helping tenants successfully grow their businesses, will be continued by Unsworth Properties. This huge undertaking was brought to fruition with help from attorneys Daly and Daly, PC, MSK Attorneys, and Fox Law PLLC, for the buyers, and Doremus, Kantor & Zullo, Attorneys, for the sellers. Community Bank NA, represented by Patrick Calecas and Bruce Bernier, financed the transaction for Unsworth Properties. Unsworth Properties would like to recognize the life, business success, and philanthropy of Robert “Bobby” Miller, who grew REM Development from the ground up. Mr Miller began the transaction with the Unsworths prior to his death in February 2020. Mr. Miller’s children, Stephanie and Tim, finalized the transaction following their father’s passing.

Nedde Real Estate transaction Nedde Real Estate is pleased to announce the sale of 55-65 Harrington Terrace, Burlington, VT. 14,025 SF, 9 2-bedroom Multifamily. Fernando Cresta represented the seller Catamount/Harrington, LLC and Cindi Burns of BHHS VT Realty represented the buyer Harrington Terrace, LLC in this transaction.

V/T Commercial real estate transactions Marvell Semiconductor leased 52,215 square feet at the Innovation Center, 128 Lakeside Avenue, Burlington Noventi Properties, LLC acquired  the former Papa John’s Pizza building at 135 Pearl Street, Burlington Liberty Mutual Insurance relocated its offices to 463 Mountain View Drive, Colchester, leasing 4,203 square feet AARP renewed its lease of 4,665 square feet at

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the Courthouse Plaza, 199 Main Street, Burlington RE/MAX North Professionals leased 2,325 square feet at 553 Roosevelt Highway, Colchester Stelleta Hair Salon relocated to a new space at 32 Seymour Street, Williston Wrenegade Sports lease office space at 159 Pearl Street, Essex Vermont Open MRI acquired a building at 3000 Williston Road, South Burlington for its new Vermont location GBG Indian Kitchen leased 471 Riverside Avenue, Burlington for its new restaurant Laurie Dion sold a commercial flex building at 110 Elm Court, Colchester Farmers to You leased warehouse and office space at 31 Welch Park Drive, Middlesex Invictus Chiropractic opened a facility at 4 Pearl Street, Essex VIP Tires and Service acquired a building at 133 Strongs Avenue, Rutland McFadden Academy of Irish Dance moved to a new location at 179 Commerce Street, Williston Marlboro College, located in Marlboro, Vermont, was sold to Democracy Builders Fund Dedalus Wine Shop opened a new location at 1031 Mountain Road, Stowe DC Property Maintenance leased space at 47 Gauthier Drive, Essex Sea Bags, LLC opened a new store at 63 Church Street, Burlington Highball Social sold its business at 71 South Union Street to Wallflower Collective, LLC Rolling Meadows leased retail space at Complex 159, Pearl Street, Essex Monelle Vermont opened a second retail store at 5597 Shelburne Road, Shelburne Chandler’s Dry Goods leased 1,980 square feet of retail space for its new store at 230 College Street, Burlington Hero’s Welcome sold its ongoing business and real estate in North Hero

For more Newslines go to www.vermontbiz.com.

ADIndex Client.................................................................................Page 95 Triple X.............................................................................15 Baldwin Photography...........................................................15 Bees on Broadway.........................................................HGG3 Belle Savon Vermont......................................................HGG4 Billings Farm & Museum................................................HGG4 Blake Hill Preserves.........................................................HGG4 Blooming Light Botanical Alchemy................................HGG5 Boys and Girls Club of Burlington.......................................41 Branon's Barrywilde Maples LLC.................................HGG15 Brave Coffe & Tea...........................................................HGG4 Caledonia Spirits.............................................................HGG3 CCV.......................................................................................29 Chamber & Econ Dev of Rutland Region...........................31 Community Health Centers of Burlington..........................24 COTS.............................................................................HGG22 Davis & Hodgdon.................................................................58 Desrochers Crane Service.....................................................21 Downtown Rutland Partnership..........................................32 enewsletter...........................................................................39 Facey Goss & McPhee.........................................................36 FarVision Consulting.............................................................13 Fire Fire..........................................................................HGG12 Florence Crushed Stone.......................................................30 Fortuna's Sausage & Italian Market..............................HGG5 Four Seasons Sothebys........................................................31 Front Porch Forum........................................................HGG22 Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP........................................43 Grand Senior Living..............................................................26 Gravity Rules Design......................................................HGG5 Green's Sugarhouse ......................................................HGG6 Groennfell Meadery LLC..............................................HGG11 Hall Communications...................................................HGG22 Heritage Family Credit Union...............................................32 Hillside Botanicals...........................................................HGG6 Kalow Technologies LLC......................................................33 KBS........................................................................................42 KeyBank................................................................................43 Laurie's All Natural Products LLC...................................HGG7 Mad River Distillers.........................................................HGG6 Maple Landmark Inc......................................................HGG7 Maple Ridge Essex...............................................................24 MOCO - My Organic Coco..........................................HGG13 Morgan Orchards Senior Living Community..............HGG14 Morris Consulting...........................................................HGG9 Mutual of America...............................................................11 MVP......................................................................................44 Nancy Stone, artist..........................................................HGG6 NE Delta Dental....................................................................26 NEK Chamber.......................................................................21 Nomadic Kitchen............................................................HGG7 North Country Hospital..........................................................3 Northfield Savings Bank.................................................HGG3

NVDA....................................................................................19 NVRH....................................................................................21 Only Vermont/Vermont Maple Granola......................HGG13 Passumpsic Bank..................................................................21 Pin Up Pickles...............................................................HGG14 Pratt Vreeland Kennelly Martin & White LTD......................30 Prescott Galleries at Verde Mountain............................HGG8 Rick & The All-Star Ramblers.........................................HGG8 Rockledge Farm Woodworks.......................................HGG15 Runamok Maple............................................................HGG8 Rutland Regional Medical Center.......................................34 Rutland Young Professionals...............................................36 SeaComm.............................................................................12 Shadow Productions............................................................16 Sherpa Foods LLC...........................................................HGG8 Sign-A-Rama........................................................................25 SILO Distillery................................................................HGG14 Small Batch Design Co................................................HGG11 Spates Construction.............................................................18 SunCommon................................................................HGG15 Terra Dona Skincare.......................................................HGG9 The 251 Club of Vermont..............................................HGG3 The Body Lounge.........................................................HGG12 The Edge...............................................................................25 The Sticky Brand...........................................................HGG10 Third Generation ..................................................................10 Total Fitness Equipment.......................................................13 Trow & Holden...............................................................HGG9 True North Granola......................................................HGG10 United Way of Northwest Vermont.......................................4 UVM CDE...............................................................................2 VBM Holiday Subscription...................................................14 VBM Product Guide ...........................................................42 VEDA.....................................................................................13 VEDA.............................................................................HGG16 VELCO...................................................................................32 Vermont 100........................................................................37 Vermont Almanac........................................................HGG14 Vermont Artisan Designs.............................................HGG12 Vermont Awards and Engraving.................................HGG11 Vermont Country Deli..................................................HGG13 Vermont Distillers, Inc...................................................HGG15 Vermont Flannel Co.......................................................HGG2 Vermont Woodshop.....................................................HGG10 VNA SW Region...................................................................35 VT Commercial.....................................................................12 Wild Hart Distillery Inc..................................................HGG13 Wow Toyz.............................................................................14

ACCOUNTING FIRMS RANK

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

(ranked by full time employees)

COMPANY ADDRESS PHONE, FAX Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP 55 Community Drive, Suite 401, South Burlington, Vermont 5403 (802) 863-1331 fax (802) 651-7305 AM Peisch & Company LLP 401 Water Tower Circle, Colchester, Vermont 5446 (802) 654-7255 fax (802) 654-8808 Johnson Lambert LLP One Lawson Lane, PO Box 525, Burlington, Vermont 5402 (802) 383-4800 fax (866) 521-6837 Davis & Hodgdon Associates, CPAs, PLC 33 Blair Park Road, Suite 201, Williston, Vermont 5495 (802) 878-1963 fax (802) 878-7197 KPMG LLP 463 Mountain Drive Suite 400, Colchester, Vermont 5446 (802) 651-5600 fax (802) 651-5678 McSoley, McCoy & Co. 118 Tilley Drive Suite 202, South Burlington, Vermont 5403 (802) 658-1808 fax (802) 658-1779 Grippin Donlan Pinkham 3 Baldwin Avenue, South Burlington, Vermont 5403 (802) 846-2000 fax (802) 846-2001 Bilodeau, Wells & Company, PC 20 Main St, Essex Junction, Vermont 5452 (802) 879-1117 fax (802) 879-1016 Downey, Pieciak, Fitzgerald & Co PO Box 79710 Park Place, Brattleboro, Vermont 5302 (802) 257-1307 fax (802) 257-2115 Fothergill Segale & Valley, CPAs 143 Barre Street, Montpelier, Vermont 5602 (802) 223-6261 fax (802) 223-1550 Kittell, Branagan & Sargent 154 North Main Street, Saint Albans, Vermont 5478 (802) 524-9531 fax (802) 524-9533

FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT WEB SITE

PRESIDENT & TITLE YEAR ESTABLISHED

80

Phil Lapp, Mike Keller Co-Managing Partners 1959 Todd J Burgess, CPA, CGMA Managing Partner 1920 John Prescott Managing Partner 1986 John Davis, CPA, CVA, CFP

https://www.gfc.com/ 45 www.ampeisch.com 32 www.johnsonlambert.com 25 www.dh-cpa.com 25

1990 Renee Bourget-Place Office Managing Partner 1918 John McSoley, Connie Fellion, Tom Stretton Partners 1990 David C. Grippin, CPA, CVA Managing Partner 1998 Joseph Bilodeau, CPA, CGMA Principal 1984 Joseph S. Pieciak, Jr. CPA 1983 John Fothergill CPA

www.us.kpmg.com 25 www.cpavt.com 23 www.gdp-cpa.com 20 www.bwc-cpas.com 20 www.pieciak.com 20 www.fsv-cpas.com 20

Gregory Sargent Managing Director 1986

www.kbscpa.com

DESCRIPTION Certified Public Accountants and Business Consultants

Certified public accounting, financial planning, trusts and estates, divorce planning, audits, compilations and reviews Audit, Tax, Consulting Services

Provides a broad range of services to business, individual and nonprofit clients. Audit, Tax and Advisory Services

Litigation support, business valuation, employee benefit plan audits, tax planning and return preparation CPAs and Business advisers

CPA, litigation support, tax planning, business consultations and evaluations, employee benefit plan audits, management advisory, energy incentives Certified public accountants.

CPA, audits, individual taxation, estates, trusts, financial planning, bookkeeping services, business evaluation, partnerships. Auditing; Accounting; Corporate & Personal Taxes; Estate Planning; Pension & Profit sharing

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December 2020

43

ACCOUNTING FIRMS RANK

12

COMPANY ADDRESS PHONE, FAX O’Brien Shortle Reynolds & Sabotka, PC P.O. Box 100, 54 North Main St, Rutland, Vermont 5701 (802) 773-8344 fax (802) 773-6351 Sullivan, Powers & Co

13

JMM & Associates

Stevens, Wilcox, Potvin, Cassidy & Jakubowski

Danaher Attig & Plante, PLC

HerrickGlobal

Salvador & Babic

1987

17

Rick Brigham, CPA Managing Partner

www.sullivanpowers.com

1980

15

Jeffrey Morin CPA, Managing Partner

www.jmmcpa.net

1981

15

James Potvin CPA President

www.stevenswilcox.com

1949

12

Cathy Attig

Marckres Norder & Company

www.dapplc.com

2007

10

Claude R. Schwesig

www.HerrickGlobal.com

1980

10

Tom Lauzon, Dennis N. Perrault & Reta M. Sanders

Siliski & Buzzell, P.C. CPAs 21

9

Graham & Veroff 22

Love, Cody & Co 23

Batchelder Associates PC 24

Hall & Holden, PC

Angolano & Company CPA PC

PriceWaterhouse Coopers

Robert E. Buzzell, Jr., CPA, CVA Contact

www.vermontcpa.com

1978

8

Jeffrey A. Graham CPA, CFF, CSEP Managing Officer

www.grahamcpa.com

Strategic Wealth Coach LLC

www.lovecody.com/

1990

7

Bonnie K Batchelder CPA

www.batcheldercpa.com

1991

7

Doug L. Hall Partner, CPA

www.hall-holden-pc.com

1974

6

David H. Angolano Owner, CPA

www.angolanoandcompany.com

1981

6

Bob Moritz

30

6

President Michael Viens, CPA

(802) 879-1120 fax (802) 879-3606

www.bvacpa.com/

1980

Bottom Line Bookkeeping Services

5

Cindy Tetrault

47 Park Street, Suite 2, Essex Junction, Vermont 5452

CEO

One Towne Marketplace Suite 14, Essex Junction, Vermont 5452

Owner

Misasi &Co., PC 32

Rosen Valente & Wilhaus CPAs

Scheer & Hickey PC 34

441 Watertower Circle Suite 200, Colchester, Vermont 5446 (802) 862-1006 fax (802) 860-6779

Source: Vermont Business Magazine November 2020.

44 vermontbiz.com

Randall D. Northrop

www.corrette.com

1986

5

Steven Misasi

CPA, tax preparation and planning, business valuation, litigation support, estate, trusts and probate, forensic accounting & auditing,elec utility audits, municipal accounting & auditing, non-profits, trusts, business expansions, probate and guardianship Certified public accountants serving manufacturers, wholesale & retail merchants, automobile dealers and individuals. Provide accounting and auditing, tax planning and compliance, consulting, personal financial planning. Business & Personal Income Tax, Financial Management Services, Accounting & Auditing, Financial & Business Planning, Realworld Software, Member AICPA & Vermont Society of CPA’S Accounting, auditing, business & personal tax planning & preparation, computerized accounting programs, financial planning & non-profit organizations Business planning and consulting; financial planning; tax planning and preparation; accounting. CPA firm

Wealth coach, financial and investment; tax and accounting services. Also in Derby, Vermont: (802) 334-5453 and Fax: (802) 334-1231 and Enosburg (802) 933-4449. CPA services with concentration on across the border taxes and business support. Includes tax and business planning and payroll service bureau. Full bookkeeping & payroll services specializing in small & medium size businesses. Public accounting.

Certified Public Accountants

Owner/CPA www.misasicpa.com

2008

5

Peter Valente, CPA, CFT

92 Grove St, Rutland, Vermont 5701 (802) 775-2341 fax (802) 775-8208

Accounting, auditing, business valuations, business consulting and tax services

Partner

5 Court St., Middlebury, Vermont 5753 (802) 388-6307 fax (802) 388-6300

33

2005 5

PO Box 4039, Saint Johnsbury, Vermont 5819 (802) 748-4858 fax (802) 748-2497

CPA (certified public accounting) firm; Business and personal returns; Audits; Accounting services

2004

(802) 872-1822 fax (802) 872-8322 31

CPA firm.

Robert Hudson

5

Corrette, Bruce A. & Associates

Accounting Firm

www.pwc.com

1 Market Place, Unit 23, Essex Junction, Vermont 5452 Belisle Viens Associates PC

Accounting, Tax consulting.

U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner

(802) 878-6155 fax (802) 878-6818 29

1982

8

1 National Life Dr., First Floor, Montpelier, Vermont 5604 (802) 229-7553 fax (802) 229-7295

28

1985

9

PO Box 639, Shelburne, Vermont 5482 (802) 985-8992 fax (802) 985-9442

27

www.cpa-vermont.com

P.O. Box 1427, 705 Millbrook Rd, Waitsfield, Vermont 5673 (802) 496-3140 fax (802) 496-5902

26

Pamela Douglass, Kevin Markowski & April Jamieson Partners

1 Conti Circle, Barre, Vermont 5641 (802) 476-9490 fax (802) 476-7018

25

Julie Marckres

115 Elm Street, Bennington, Vermont 5201 (802) 442-5552 fax (802) 442-7314

Accounting

2015 9

368 River Street, Springfield, Vermont 5156 (802) 885-5340 fax (802) 488-5680

Accounting and Auditing, Tax Compliance, Estate Planning, Business Consulting, Succession Planning, Litigation Support, Forensic Accounting

Owner, CPA

PO Box 802, Rutland City, Vermont 5702 (802) 775-7132 fax (802) 773-3810

Local CPA firm providing auditing & accounting services, management advisory services, financial, estate, tax planning, tax return preparation, computerized accounting services, small business set up, weekend & evening hours available.

www.salvadorandbabic.com

66 Grove Street, Rutland, Vermont 5701 (802) 775-3221 fax (802) 775-1850

Auditing, accounting, tax preparation and planning, bookkeeping/payroll services, quickbooks

Principals

(802) 888-7781 fax (802) 888-3943 20

Accounting & auditing; Tax planning & compliance; Business advisory services; Personal finance planning; Estate Planning; Business Valuation; Litigation Support

President

1072 Laporte Road, Morrisville, Vermont 5661 McCormack, Guyette & Associates, PC

DESCRIPTION

Partner

PO Box 593, Barre, Vermont 5641 (802) 476-8673 fax (802) 479-5165

19

www.vermontcpa.com

72 Main Street, Burlington, Vermont 5401 (802) 864-4514 fax (802) 860-2210

18

Jim Reynolds Mgr Partner

PO Box 2166, South Burlington, Vermont 5407 (802) 383-0399 fax (802) 383-0398

17

17

204 S Main Street, Rutland, Vermont 5701 (802) 775-7102 fax (802) 775-8206

16

PRESIDENT & TITLE YEAR ESTABLISHED

336 Water Tower Circle, Suite 801, Colchester, Vermont 5446 (802) 655-5665 fax (802) 655-5666

15

FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT WEB SITE

PO Box 947, Montpelier, Vermont 5602 (802) 223-2352 fax (802) 223-3578

14

(ranked by full time employees)

CPA firm

Partner www.vtcpas.com

1963

5

John Scheer

www.scheercpa.com

CPA, Managing Partner, Founder 1992

Business and Tax consulting.

The Vermont Business Growth Awards celebrate the achievements of the top businesses throughout Vermont, in various categories, over the last 5 years based on growth. We highlight two companies from the Business Growth list each issue. All 25 companies were honored at a special virtual celebration in September.

SERVICE

CONSTRUCTION

66.70%

61.10%

CHT’s success and growth can be attributed to creative partnerships to address the unmet housing needs of people in our region. We are proud that the businesses and communities seek to work with CHT, valuing our proven track record of tackling complex challenges.

Two of the biggest attributes to Engelberth Construction’s success is our relationships with clients and our hard working employees that foster these relationships. Each and every day our staff goes the extra mile in all types of weather conditions to ensure our clients are 100% happy and satisfied.

Champlain Housing Trust Address: 88 King Street Burlington, VT 05401 Phone: (802) 862-6244 Web: www.getahome.org

Engelberth Construction, Inc Address: 150 Water Tower Circle Colchester , VT 05446 Phone: (802) 655-0100 Web: www.engelberth.com

CEO: Brenda Torpy Total Employees: 100 Sales 2019: $22.48M Five-Year Growth: 66.70%

Presented by

President: Pierre LeBlanc Total Employees: 180 Sales 2019: $153M Five-Year Growth: 61.10%

Sponsored by GALLAGHER, FLYNN & COMPANY, LLP Certified Public Accountants & Business Consultants

46 vermontbiz.com