The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses seem cautious over capital expenditure and employment levels for the summer and fall when compared against expected increases in their sales volumes for that same timeframe. In general, however, the attitude of the business community appears to have stabilized from the last quarter. The mood was assessed at the end of the second quarter and released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chair Bill Stritzler and President Lisa Ventriss. (more…)
Mary Powell, President and CEO of Green Mountain Power, and Tommy Harmon, President and CEO of Sonnax Industries, were elected to the Board of Directors by the members at the Roundtable’s summer meeting on June 18th. (more…)
Tim Volk, President of Kelliher Samets Volk and Immediate Past Chair of VBR, honored us with his presentation on “The End of the Marketing World as We Know it” at our Summer Celebration Member Meeting on June 18th.
Here are some highlights Tim posted on YouTube.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOvsOIvLSdc
Please visit Tim’s blog for more observations on the marketing world at large. http://unplanned.ksvc.com
In creating the Vision Award, the Roundtable Board of Directors wished to make a statement by honoring the lifetime contributions of a leader who shares a commitment to the ideals that are embedded in the Roundtable’s vision statement “to make Vermont the best place in America to do business, be educated and live life.” In 2007 the Roundtable presented the award for the first time to Mr. David Coates, retired Managing Partner of KPMG.
The Vision Award celebrates the long view; the contributions of an individual over a lifetime that have benefited the people of Vermont. In this year, the Roundtable recognizes Fred Hackett, a humble man of unique moral character, significant accomplishment, and universal respect. (more…)
Although Sherra originated in the flats of Indiana, she grew up in Northern Virginia just outside of Washington D.C. and moved to pastoral Vermont in 1999.
Once here, Sherra tapped into a fine education at Champlain College. She interned at Kelliher Samets Volk in 2004 and graduated summa cum laude and first in her degree (Multimedia/Graphic Design) in 2005. (more…)
Senior political correspondent Juan Williams of National Public Radio and other national media will be the keynote speaker at the summer meeting of the Vermont Business Roundtable, which will be held on June 18 at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center. Williams will deliver “The Latest from Washington – An Insider’s View” following dinner and a brief awards presentation.
Roundtable members and government leaders from across the state are expected to attend the event, and non-members are also encouraged to participate. Dubbed a “Summer Celebration,” the regular meeting of the Roundtable’s membership will culminate in an evening of social networking, celebrating leadership and learning political insights from one of the nation’s leading political analysts. (more…)
Op – Ed by Bill Stritzler, Smugglers’ Notch President and Vermont Business Roundtable Chair
Many of today’s visitors to Smugglers’ Notch Resort are too young to remember when Gov. Phil Hoff’s administration launched their enormously successful “beckoning country” campaign in the 1960s. Their actions threw open the state’s doors to down-country people yearning for fresh air, open space and a slower pace of life. They came in droves back then, and they still do today. This influx of visitors generates an economic bonanza, bringing in over $1.5 billion per year to this state and supporting over 33,000 jobs. (more…)
The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses seem cautious over sales prospects and employment levels for the spring and summer when compared to their fourth quarter 2008 forecasts, and they are unlikely to make broad capital investments. But the attitude of the business community appears to have stabilized. The mood was assessed at the end of the first quarter and released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chair Bill Stritzler and President Lisa Ventriss. (more…)
Op – Ed by David Coates, KPMG (Retired Managing Partner) and Member, Vermont Business Roundtable
Paul Cillo may be correct in his recent article (School Funding Far from “Broken”) whenhe describes the Education Fund as “it ain’t broke.” But, I would suggest that the General andTransportation Funds are just about on life support due in large part to our high level ofmandatory educational-related expenditures. (more…)
In three months the state will begin FY 2010 with a budget deficit of $200m+ and the administration and legislature are counting on Vermont’s share of the stimulus package to bridge any major gaps, along with budget cuts and layoffs. To strategically address the immediate deficit issue and position ourselves for future sustainability, a reduction in the size of state government is necessary. How it happens is a function of thoughtful stewardship and innovative thinking on the part of agency heads.
In one case, the Agency of Human Services, which employs 3,500 people, was told to cut $6.8m (or roughly 285 positions.) Secretary Hoffman and his team are working hard to hit that budget amount with as minimal impact on workforce or service delivery as possible. So far, he’s identified 5% of his staff positions for elimination, or 195 people. For a front-line agency that sees the clash between economic crisis and human suffering, and where caseloads are skyrocketing, that’s a tough assignment. Nonetheless, Hoffman, whose experience in the financial sector and tenure in corrections, is an experienced and capable leader; one who understands the risks from both sides of the challenge.
To date, proposals from the state employees’ union have not yielded the kind of savings necessary to avoid further workforce layoffs within the state workforce of 8,400+. But cut we must, otherwise the four constituents of state government ~ citizens, businesses, employees, and other levels of government ~ will suffer death by a thousand paper cuts. It is in everyone’s best interests that the union negotiators and administration find creative ways in which to achieve cost savings and avoid layoffs. Keep talking and sharpen those pencils.
30 Kimball Avenue, Suite 300
South Burlington, VT 05403
