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VBR and Econcomic & Policy Resources Partner on Business Conditions Survey [6.13.13]

Vermont Business Roundtable and Economic & Policy Resources

Partner on new Business Conditions Survey

6.13.13 – (South Burlington, Vt.)  Today Lisa Ventriss, President of Vermont Business Roundtable and Jeffrey Carr, President, Economic & Policy Resources, announced the launch of their new joint effort, the VBR/EPR Business Conditions Survey. The announcement was made during the Summer Membership Meeting of the Roundtable, which was held at Basin Harbor Club. The Vermont Business Roundtable membership includes some of the key economic drivers of our region. (more…)

Coates & Ventriss Op-ED: Seizing the Opportunity [6.6.13]

Seizing the Opportunity

By David Coates, KPMG (Retired) and Lisa Ventriss, President, Vermont Business Roundtable

Vermont has been faced with the underfunding of state worker and teacher pensions and retiree health care benefits for many years, and we have been reporting regularly to Vermonters on this critical financial issue. To date, nothing of significance has been done to curtail the upward trend of these obligations. We believe that we have a solution. But first, let’s briefly review the current situation. (more…)

Roundtable Supports Greater Burlington YMCA’s Childhood Obesity Effort [5.20.13]

Vermont Business Roundtable wishes to congratulate our member, the Greater Burlington YMCA, on its effort to Pioneer Healthier Communities by combating childhood obesity. The Roundtable is also pleased to offer its support on the Vermont State Alliance Leadership Team. (more…)

To Keep or Drop Insurance Coverage: Considerations for Vermont Small Employers in 2014

To Keep or Drop Insurance Coverage — Considerations for Vermont Small Employers in 2014

Small employers in Vermont have a decision to make before January of 2014 – whether to keep their employer-sponsored insurance or drop it altogether and direct their employees to the state’s new Health Insurance Exchange as individual purchasers. The Administration is recommending that small employers drop their health insurance coverage.  Instead, we encourage businesses to evaluate their options and consider the implications on not only their own bottom lines, but the impact on working Vermonters. We believe there is no single right answer for employers and we feel that many Vermonters may be better off keeping their current employer-based insurance plan. (more…)

OP-ED: Another Year Later and Deeper in Debt

Another Year Later and Deeper in Debt

Opinion Editorial by David Coates, KPMG Partner (retired) and Lisa Ventriss, President, Vermont Business Roundtable
2.20.13

Beginning in 2009 we have periodically written to Vermonters regarding state and teacher pensions and related retiree health care benefits, and the impact they have on our fiscal future. In reviewing the most current Report of the Actuarial Valuation, it is evident that Vermont has made no overall progress on containing these costs.   Instead, we have continued to pile on more debt to be borne by future generations of Vermonters, and have placed additional pressure on future budgets that will crowd out funding of other important and necessary programs. (more…)

Roundtable Applauds Governor’s Education Agenda

Roundtable Chair Mary Powell, CEO of Green Mountain Power, stated that “The Governor’s budget address today strikes the important balance of needed investments in education as the primary driver of economic development strategy, as well as the tough budget decisions that we must make to keep Vermont competitive. (more…)

Roundtable Elects New Officers and Directors for 2013

Mary G. Powell, the Roundtable’s First Female Chair

(South Burlington, Vt.)  At its 26th Annual Membership Meeting held today at Topnotch Resort & Spa in Stowe, the Vermont Business Roundtable elected new officers of the Board of Directors, including: Chair – Mary G. Powell, CEO, Green Mountain Power Corporation; Vice-Chair – Winthrop H. ‘Win’ Smith, Jr. President, Sugarbush Resort; Secretary – Robert E. ‘Rob’ Simpson, Jr., President and CEO, Brattleboro Retreat; Treasurer – G. Kenneth ‘Ken’ Perine, President, National Bank of Middlebury; and Immediate Past Chair, Steve Voigt, President and CEO, King Arthur Flour. Powell represents the first woman chair of the Vermont Business Roundtable. (more…)

Internships: Contributing to Your Successful 2013

School is back in session at Vermont’s institutions of higher learning, which also means the talent pool for Vermont employers is fuller for a few seasons. Why not tap some of that talent, take the opportunity to help hone the next generation’s skills and encourage them to look no further than this beautiful Green Mountain State for their post-graduation employment? (more…)

Transportation Board Schedules Six Public Hearings: Members Urged to Participate

MONTPELIER – The Vermont Transportation Board this fall will hold six public hearings at various locations around the state for the purpose of gathering public comment about transportation-related issues that face the State of Vermont. (more…)

VBR’s Q3 CEO Economic Outlook Survey Highlights Increasingly Stable Outlook into Early 2013

(South Burlington, Vt.)  The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses demonstrated an increasingly stable outlook in their economic forecasts for the coming six months, compared against the previous survey.  The survey, which was completed between September 17 and September 28, was released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chair Steve Voigt, CEO, King Arthur Flour and President Lisa Ventriss.

 

2012 Q3

Increase

2012 Q3

No Change

2012 Q3

Decrease

Quarterly % Change

Increase

2012 Q2

Increase

2012 Q2

No Change

2012 Q2

Decrease
Sales 

62%

28%

10%

-2%

64%

32%

4%
Capital Spending

43%

48%

9%

10%

33%

58%

9%
Employment 

43%

48%

10%

11%

32%

60%

8%

 

“Overall, the Roundtable’s survey results indicate a high level of optimism in the economy when compared against the previous quarter,” said Steve Voigt, Chair of the Vermont Business Roundtable and President and CEO of King Arthur Flour. “Over 90 percent of members who responded are anticipating either increased or stable activity in sales, capital spending and employment. This bodes well for Vermont as we head into the holiday and winter recreation seasons.” These results contrast sharply with the Washington, D.C.-based Business Roundtable, whose similar quarterly survey shows a downshift in sentiments reflecting ongoing uncertainty about the strength of the nation’s recovery. For coverage of those results, click here.

The response rate for this quarter was 68 percent.  Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent.  The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers of the state’s top employers that 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.

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