Archive for the ‘The Quarterly: 2nd Qtr 11’ Category

The sun has come out, the lake is receding (enough to declare the state open for business) and the next 2 months’ forecast looks very good for the live life part of our mission, whether it be that bike ride off your usual route, or that destination you’ve been thinking about for years.  We live in one of the great unspoiled destinations on the planet (National Geographic).  Our problems will be here waiting for us when we return. Won’t attacking them refreshed improve the odds of a better outcome?  Wouldn’t it be a shame if we didn’t explore more of VT this summer? (more…)

The 2011 National Business Summit on Early Childhood Investment will be held in Boston on July 21-22, and it will have more than a little Vermont flavor. In addition to Chair Steve Voigt presenting on a panel entitled “New Frames for Early Childhood: STEM Education and Economic Development”, the Roundtable will be represented by another seven members that have made this leadership initiative a priority. The Summit, which is sold out, is designed to bring together CEOs from around the country to share models, research, messages, tools, and techniques that have demonstrated success in developing early childhood policy agendas at the state level. (more…)

Gov. Shumlin explaining the power of the "magic pen" he's holding

As is the Roundtable’s practice, our legislative policy agenda is one that we believe has the strongest possible connection to a long-term positive future for all Vermonters. And because of our small size and limited resources, that agenda is necessarily short, but runs deep. On several fronts, the Roundtable played a leadership role in bringing the employer perspective to bear in the development of education reform policies. Here is a summary of that work in the first year of the 2011-12 biennium.

Governor Peter Shumlin signed S.53, a bill that repeals the statutory cap that limits the number of children in state-funded pre-k, into law on May 19, 2011, at a child care center in St. Albans, Vermont. The Governor, recognizing that the Vermont Business Roundtable was a driving force behind the bill, presented VBR President Lisa Ventriss with the “magic pen” that he used to sign the bill into law.  The bill is now officially Act 38. (more…)

At a meeting with State Business Roundtables in Washington, D.C. last April, representatives of the White House Business Council (WHBC) indicated their intent to convene meetings with business leaders in all 50 states to ask how the Obama Administration can best support their growth.  The Vermont Business Roundtable willingly offered to host the Vermont session and, earlier this month, convened 20 CEOs at Dwight Asset Management’s offices to meet with Jeanne Hulit, Regional Administrator, New England Region, US/SBA, and a member of the WHBC. (more…)

At the Summer Membership meeting, members ratified the election of Don George to the Roundtable Board of Directors. George fills the unexpired term of Pam Mackenzie, Comcast (retired).

Mr. George joined BCBSVT in 1993 and has held various and increasing levels of responsibility during his career with the plan.  Most recently, he was Vice President of the company’s Managed Health Systems division and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of TVHP.  As Vice President of the Plan’s Managed Health Systems division, he led the development of medical management and quality programs which resulted in BCBSVT and TVHP being named among America’s Top 50 Health Plans by U.S. News and World Report.  He also oversaw performance improvement programs at the Plan that were recognized by the Vermont Council for Quality with the Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence. (more…)

In preparation for active discussions around Vermont’s health care reform proposals, the Roundtable is collaborating with other major business organizations to create one standard survey for our respective memberships. The information has been requested by Senator Hinda Miller, a member of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Participating organizations include the Associated Industries of Vermont, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, and Vermont Chamber of Commerce. (more…)

On a stormy summer day with lightening and thunder rattling the property all day long and well into the night, 75 CEO members and guests gathered at beautiful and historic The Woodstock Inn to network and engage in some substantive discussions around health care reform and social media strategies before retiring to the cocktail reception and dinner. (more…)

CONGRATULATIONS TO ROUNDTABLE MEMBERS FOR YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2011!

Pennie Beach, President, Basin Harbor Club

• Celebrating 125^th year anniversary in 2011

Scott Boardman, President, Hickok and Boardman

• Celebrating 180^th year anniversary in 2011

George Chandler, Chairman, Hubbardton Forge

• The oldest and largest commercial forge in the country (started in ’74)

Cairn Cross, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Fresh Tracks Capital

• 2011 SBA National Financial Services Champion

Tom Dowling, Partner, Ryan Smith & Carbine

• Celebrating its 65^th year anniversary in 2011

Dave Gibson, CEO, Propeller Media

• Firm won 4 Horizon Interactive Awards for website designs, and a Gold for mobile website

John Gilbert, President and CEO, Vermont Teddy Bear

• Celebrating 30^th year anniversary in 2011

Ellen Mercer Fallon, Partner, Langrock Sperry Wool

• Appointed by The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to the Vermont State Advisory Committee

Church Hindes, President and CEO, VNA of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties

• Earned the U.S. EPA’s Energy Star rating signifying the building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency.

Scott Johnstone, Executive Director, VT Energy Investment Corporation

• Celebrating 25^th year anniversary in 2011

John King, President and CEO, VPT

• Producers of “Headline Vermont” won Emmys at the 34th annual Boston/New England awards held last month.

Ron Liebowitz, President, Middlebury College

• Middlebury Magazine was honored with awards for design, editorial, and general excellence by the judges in the CASE 2011 Circle of Excellence Awards.

Gregg Marston, President, VBT Bicycling Vacations

• Celebrating 40^th year anniversary in 2011

Mary McLaughlin, SVP of Western NE Division

• Ranked #9 in 2011 Best Places to Work in VT

Tim Mueller, President, Okemo Mountain Resort

• SKI Top 50 Reader Resort Survey named Okemo Mountain Resort one of the top 10 resorts in the East: ranked #1 for service, #2 in the East for grooming, and #3 for snow.

Jack Neuhauser, President, Saint Michael’s College

• Received the United Way of Chittenden County Annual Affinity Award (Best of the Best) recognizing “exemplary service to the people of our community while having the most significant influence on the positive results in their industry, by percentage of participation in their campaign.”

Ken Perine, President and CEO, National Bank of Middlebury

• Celebrating 180^th year anniversary in 2011.

Mary Powell, President/CEO, Green Mountain Power

• 2011 finalist, Deane C. Davis Award

Rob Simpson, President and CEO, Brattleboro Retreat

• Named  “Grassroots Champion” by American Hospital Association – VT hospital leader who did the most to broaden base of community support for hospitals

Win Smith, President, Sugarbush Resort

• In 2011, Sugarbush received the National Ski Areas Association “Best Marketing Campaign” award for innovated First Timer to Life Timer season pass program, which awarded free passes to over 200 first-timers who completed the program during winter 2010/11. In 2010, Sugarbush was voted #1 in Terrain/Variety, #2 for Overall Satisfaction, and #3 for Service in the SKI Magazine Reader Resort Survey. Visitors to OnTheSnow.com named Sugarbush their “Favorite Downhill Terrain in the Northeast.” The Times Argus Best of the Best Readers’ Choice survey named Sugarbush the “Best Downhill Ski Area,” “Best Snowboard Area” and “Best Downhill Ski Trail” (FIS). And, Outside Magazine named Sugarbush’s valley town of Waitsfield the “Best Ski Town in the East.”

Richard Stammer, President and CEO, Cabot Creamery

• At the U.S Championship Cheese Contest, Cabot Creamery Cooperative’s Seriously Sharp Aged Cheddar and 75% Reduced Fat Cheddar were crowned “Best of Class” during the largest dairy competition in U.S. history.

Bill Stritzler, Managing Director, Smugglers’ Notch Resort

• In 2010 voted: Top 20 Family Ski Destinations; #1 for Family Programs; top ten rankings for terrain variety & challenge, value, service, lodging, off-hill activities, scenery and overall satisfaction SKI Magazine Reader Survey 2010; Fodor’s Choice 2010 Recipient Fodor’s Travel 2010; Top Ten Resorts for Teens

Larry Sudbay, President and CEO, SymQuest

• Received United Way’s Live United Award which recognizes organizations that give back to the community at all levels.

Steve Voigt, President and CEO, King Arthur Flour

• In 2011, America’s oldest flour company was named one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Vermont this year, the fifth year running.

It is our great pleasure to highlight your accomplishments and news, so please include us in your media release distribution list, and send to sherra@vtroundtable.org.

Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute
August 23 – 25, 2011  |  The Essex Resort & Spa
www.innovationengineering.info/vermont

The world is changing and you need to be changing faster than the marketplace to stay ahead of the market. As the leader, it’s your responsibility to install and implement systemic solutions. Thus, if you don’t have a reliable SYSTEM for growth you owe it to yourself and to your employees to learn about Innovation Engineering.

If America does not innovate, our children will not realize the American Dream. American workers, managers and business owners need to transform from a culture that fears failure to an offensive culture focused on growth!

Click Here for More Information

Still not convinced? Reach out to Roundtable Directors,  Steve Voigt (King Arthur Flour) or Tommy Harmon (Sonnax Industries), who have experience with this powerful training event.