According to Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, “When viewed in the aggregate, these results point to an economy that is steadily improving, albeit slowly and with the concern attributed to key policy and political issues.  Overall, the positive trends continue and the negative trends are decreasing.“ More than 60 percent of Roundtable CEOs expect to see their sales volumes increase; another 40 percent forecast increases in their capital expense budgets; and, 43 percent anticipate a larger workforce in the next six months. In all three cases, the amount of CEOs responding with negative outlooks is less than 10 percent.

Chair Steve Voigt said “The modest uptick on all three of these key indicators is a positive sign for Vermont businesses and the strength of our economy into 2012. For the second survey period in a row, CEOs have been indicating an increase in economic activity that bodes well for Vermonters. ”

The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers of 118 of the state’s top employers with an aggregate economic impact of $292 billion, with over $1.8 billion in corporate philanthropy, and employing more than 10 percent of the state’s workforce.  The members represent Vermont’s agriculture, construction, education, health services, finance, real estate, insurance, hospitality/leisure, manufacturing, information, utilities, professional/business services, wholesale trade, and non-profit industries.

The response rate for this quarter was 62 percent.  Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent.

1. How do you expect your company’s sales to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

 2. How do you expect your company’s capital spending to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

3. How do you expect your company’s employment to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

 -###-

The Roundtable is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of 118 CEOs of Vermont’s top private and nonprofit employers, representing geographic diversity and all major sectors of the Vermont economy, with an aggregate economic impact of $292 billion, over $1.8 billion in corporate philanthropy, and employing more than 10 percent of the state’s workforce. The Roundtable is committed to sustaining a sound economy and preserving Vermont’s unique quality of life by studying and making recommendations on statewide public policy issues.

 -30-

(South Burlington, Vt.)  The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses appear poised to maintain their growth plans through early 2012, echoing results from the previous survey.  The survey was completed between September 8 and September 22 and released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chair Steve Voigt, CEO, King Arthur Flour and President Lisa Ventriss.

According to Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, “When viewed in the aggregate, these results point to an economy that is expecting to grow, albeit very slowly.  The effects of Tropical Storm Irene and the potential threat of a “double dip” recession are, naturally, causes of great concern to our members. The good news is that 95 percent of CEO respondents expect to see their sales volumes increase or stay the same in the coming six months, which is consistent with the previous survey, and good news for Vermont products and services. Also encouraging news is that 90 percent of CEOs expect to maintain or grow in the size of their workforce through the fall and winter, again consistent with the previous survey results.

Chair Steve Voigt said “Roundtable members are reflecting the reality that we live in strained economic times. Companies have worked very hard to control costs and pump money back into their businesses, which is why we are now seeing almost 60 percent of members with no future changes in capital spending. Those dollars have been invested already. Now, if they plan to grow, they will do it through investing in their workforces.”

The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers of 118 of the state’s top employers with an aggregate economic impact of $292 billion, with over $1.8 billion in corporate philanthropy, and employing more than 10 percent of the state’s workforce.  The members represent Vermont’s agriculture, construction, education, health services, finance, real estate, insurance, hospitality/leisure, manufacturing, information, utilities, professional/business services, wholesale trade, and non-profit industries.

The response rate for this quarter was 52 percent.  Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent.

1. How do you expect your company’s sales to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

2. How do you expect your company’s capital spending to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

3. How do you expect your company’s employment to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

-###-

Image Property of WorldNow and WCAX www.wcax.com

Lisa Ventriss, Roundtable President, recently visited with Anson Tebbetts, WCAX News Director, as invited guest on You Can Quote Me to discuss VBR’s 2nd Quarter CEO Economic Outlook Survey and other Roundtable priorities. If you missed  the interview in real time, be sure to visit WCAX’s You can Quote Me site to view their recording.

Click Here to Watch Video |  Interview Date: August 7, 2011

(South Burlington, Vt.)  The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses appear poised to hold steady their growth plans through the remainder of 2011, when compared against the first quarter survey period.  The survey was completed between June 10 and June 24 and released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chair Steve Voigt, CEO, King Arthur Flour and President Lisa Ventriss.

According to Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, “Overall, these data show an economy that continues to be in a holding pattern as our members wait for clarity and direction on key policy issues at both the state and federal levels. While roughly 60 percent of our members foresee increased sales projections for their companies, that number has declined slightly (61 percent compared to 73 percent in the previous quarter).  An increasing number of CEOs expect there to be no change in either their capital expenditures or employment levels for the rest of 2011. Only one in ten CEOs are anticipating decreases in these key areas.”

Chair Steve Voigt said “Overall, Roundtable members are signaling that they are either growing slowly or holding steady, but it also appears that many Roundtable members ~ especially those in financial or professional services, which are dependent on business growth in other sectors ~ are reluctant to make significant investments in their company’s physical or human resources until they have a better picture of the future costs associated with those investments, namely health care and budget issues at the state and federal levels.”

The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers of 115 of the state’s top employers with an aggregate economic impact of $279 billion, with over $693 million in corporate philanthropy, and employing 10 percent of the state’s workforce.  The members represent Vermont’s agriculture, construction, education, health services, finance, real estate, insurance, hospitality/leisure, manufacturing, information, utilities, professional/business services, wholesale trade, and non-profit industries.

The response rate for this quarter was 53 percent.  Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent.

1. How do you expect your company’s sales to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

2. How do you expect your company’s capital spending to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

3. How do you expect your company’s employment to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

-###-

Forecast is Steady for Next Six Months

(South Burlington, Vt.)  The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses appear poised to hold steady for the spring and summer months of 2011, when compared against the previous survey period.  The survey was completed between April 1 and April 15 and released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chair Steve Voigt, CEO, King Arthur Flour and President Lisa Ventriss.

According to Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, “Overall, these data show an economy that is taking its breath and assuming a “wait and see” posture.  The most positive growth indicator continues to be our members’ sales forecasts which showed a slight uptick over the previous period (73 percent compared to 71 percent).  And while a plurality of our members are forecasting growth outlooks for capital expenditures and employment levels, (47 percent and 44 percent, respectively), another segment of members is projecting no change in those indicators from the previous quarter (38 percent and 41 percent, respectively),Ventriss said.

Chair Steve Voigt said “We believe that these data also reflect a hesitation among our CEOs that is related to the current debate around health care reform in Vermont and the nation. We polled our members on this topic and found it to be a major source of concern; there are still many cost-related reform questions yet to be answered, and this makes future investment decisions regarding people or plant difficult to make at best. We must remember that while growth indicators have been trending upward nicely since early 2009, these changes are still fragile.”

The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers for 120 of the state’s top employers with an aggregate economic impact of $135 billion and employing 15 percent of the state’s workforce.  The members represent Vermont’s agriculture, construction, education, health services, finance, real estate, insurance, hospitality/leisure, manufacturing, information, utilities, professional/business services, wholesale trade, and non-profit industries.  The response rate for this quarter was 58 percent.  Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent.

1. How do you expect your company’s sales to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

2. How do you expect your company’s capital spending to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

3. How do you expect your company’s employment to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

-###-

According to Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, “Overall, these data present an important upswing in economic outlooks among the state’s leading CEOs and we’d have to go back to our pre-recessionary surveys of 2006 to find similar percentages for growth expectations.  Specifically, our members’ strong sales forecasts (71 percent of respondents expect an increase compared to 59 percent in the previous survey); capital expenditures (49 percent compared to 37 percent, previously) and employment (51 percent compared to 35 percent, previously) tell a positive story,” Ventriss said.

Chair Stritzler, the Managing Director of the Jeffersonville-based Smugglers’ Notch Resort, says the results of the CEO survey reflect encouraging attitudes across all sectors of the marketplace. “These data tell us that business leaders are prepared to again invest not only in physical infrastructure but, more importantly, in their workforces. This is very good news for Vermont and Vermonters. But at the same time, we must remember that these changes are fragile; there are still areas of concern in the numbers.“

“In sum, we are encouraged by these results and believe that the economy continues to strengthen.” said Stritzler.

The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers for 120 of the state’s top employers that have an aggregate economic impact of $135 billion and employ 15 percent of the state’s workforce.  Vermont’s agriculture, construction, education, health services, finance, real estate, insurance, hospitality/leisure, manufacturing, information, utilities, professional/business services, wholesale trade, and non-profit industries are represented.  The response rate for this quarter was 65 percent.  Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent.

1. How do you expect your company’s sales to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

2. How do you expect your company’s capital spending to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

3. How do you expect your company’s employment to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

According to Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, “Overall, these data represent the third straight reporting period in which indicators have been trending positively for sales, capital expenditures, and employment levels. In particular, a strengthening in the sales forecasts from our CEO members; now more than two-thirds (69 percent) of respondents expect their sales to increase in the next six months, compared to 63 percent from the first quarter. That bodes well for Vermont products and services.” Ventriss said.

Chair Stritzler, who is managing director of the Jeffersonville-based Smugglers’ Notch Resort, says the results of the CEO survey reflect encouraging attitudes of the marketplace.  “The anecdotal information from Roundtable members over the past several months is now being validated by our survey results and that is continued good news for those seeking employment.  Forty-six percent of respondents expect to increase their workforce in the next six months, compared to 40% in the previous survey.”

Capital spending was the one area in which the rate of change from the previous quarter saw the least change. A majority of CEOs continued to forecast an increase in capital expenditures (51% v. 50% in 1Q), and roughly 10% expect to decrease spending in the next six months, up slightly from the previous quarter (11% v. 8% in 1Q).

“In sum, we are encouraged by these results and believe that the economy continues to strengthen as we move into the busy summer and fall seasons”, said Stritzler.

The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers for 110 of the state’s top employers.  Vermont’s agriculture, construction, education, health services, finance, real estate, insurance, hospitality/leisure, manufacturing, information, utilities, professional/business services, wholesale trade, and non-profit industries are represented.  The response rate for this quarter was 67 percent.  Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent.

1. How do you expect your company’s sales to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

2. How do you expect your company’s capital spending to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

3. How do you expect your company’s employment to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

# # #

The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses appear increasingly optimistic toward all three of the survey’s metrics:  sales prospects, capital expenditures and employment levels for the spring and summer months, when compared against third quarter 2009 forecasts.    The mood was assessed near the end of the first quarter and released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chair Bill Stritzler and President Lisa Ventriss.

“The strongest change that we saw was in the area of sales, in which 63 percent of respondents expect their sales to increase in the next six months, compared to 34 percent from the previous survey. That tells me that our CEOs expect consumer behavior to improve through this summer.” Ventriss said.

Chair Stritzler, who is managing director of the Jeffersonville-based Smugglers’ Notch Resort, says the results of the CEO survey reflect encouraging attitudes of the marketplace.  “The anecdotal information from Roundtable members over the past three months is now being validated by our survey results and that is good news. Fifty percent of respondents expect to increase their capital spending, compared to 31% in the previous survey, and this is also a good sign for Vermont’s economy.”

In terms of employment levels, there is also encouraging news to report. While 52 percent of respondents indicated no change in their employment levels for the next six months (up from 46 percent)  , a much smaller percentage of respondents expect to decrease their workforces in that time frame  (8% compared to 20% in the previous survey).

The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers for 110 of the state’s top employers.  Vermont’s agriculture, construction, education, health services, finance, real estate, insurance, hospitality/leisure, manufacturing, information, utilities, professional/business services, wholesale trade, and non-profit industries are represented.  The response rate for this quarter was 65 percent.  Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent.

1. How do you expect your company’s sales to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

2. How do you expect your company’s capital spending to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

3. How do you expect your company’s employment to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses appear optimistic for long-term growth and a gradually improving employment environment.  According to the most recent Vermont Business Roundtable survey, business leaders expect to invest more in both capital expenditures and personnel compared to the last quarter.  While most respondents predict that sales will remain unchanged for the coming quarter, there are businesses that are already experiencing an increase in sales.  Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, said “The forecasts gathered this quarter indicate an economy in transition and activity that is trending upward nicely. It complements what we are hearing anecdotally from our members.”

Carolyn Edwards, CEO and President of Competitive Computing says, “We have been experiencing a healthier market in recent months and are actively working with a number of clients on their technology investment plans for the coming year.  We are still being conservative with our own growth plans but are confident enough to move ahead with hiring for a few key positions.”

“The survey reflects what we are seeing in our business.  Those commercial and industrial clients that are optimistic about their futures are making investments in their physical plants to take advantage of unusually low, very competitive construction costs,” notes Mark Neagley, President of Neagley & Chase Construction Co.

The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers for 100 of the state’s top employers.  All sectors of Vermont’s economy and all geographic regions are represented.  The response rate for this quarter was 35 percent.

“Interestingly, in all three areas of sales, capital expenditures, and employment levels, our members’ responses appear to be slowing moving in a more positive direction, which suggests that employers may be starting to feel better about their future prospects”, said Ventriss. Chair Stritzler, who is managing director of the Jeffersonville-based Smugglers’ Notch Resort, says “The results of the CEO survey echo similar results of the National Business Roundtable. Though economic conditions are still difficult, conditions appear to be improving among our members and we’re finding fewer negative outlooks.”

The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers for 100 of the state’s top employers.  All sectors of Vermont’s economy and all geographic regions are represented.  The response rate for this quarter was 47 percent.  Historically, rates have varied from 40 to 73 percent.

1. How do you expect your company’s sales to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

2. How do you expect your company’s capital spending to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.

3. How do you expect your company’s employment to change in the next six months?

Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.