Around the Chamber - March, 2024

AROUND THE CHAMBER March, 2024

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9 - Chamber Briefs 12 - Behind the Scenes (Nicole MacTavish) 25 - Best Practices (Social Media) 34 - Eclipse Mania!

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In This Issue

Around the Chamber

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CHAMBER BRIEFS CHAMBER WELCOMES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS Ben Fuller Ben grew up in Essex, CT where proximity to the CT River and Long Island Sound led to early interests in boating and water sports. He graduated from Trinity College with degrees in Philosophy and Psychology, then enrolled in a doctoral program for Cognitive Psychology at Lehigh University. There, he met his future wife, Celina, with whom, after earning their master’s degrees, he decided to leave academia and start a life together in VT where they have lived for the past 20 years. Professionally, Ben is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and he works as an agent with the Richards Group, focusing on commercial and non-profit clients. In addition to serving with the Chamber Board, Ben is an active Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Middlebury, he is a member of Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department, and he serves on the Board of MREMS In his spare time, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, puttering at home, and paddling on Dunmore.

Nicole MacTavish, Ed.D.

Nicole has served in the public education and non-profit sector for over 25 years. While married to an active duty Naval Aviator, Nicole had the opportunity to work around the world, serving students. Nicole now serves as the Superintendent of the Patricia A. Hannaford Regional Technical School District in Middlebury, Vermont. Hannaford offers cutting edge Career Technical Education (CTE) Programs to the high school students and adult learners of Addison County, Vermont.

Nicole has two bachelor’s degrees, one in English Literature, and one in Communications, as well as a master’s degree in education, from the University of Washington. Nicole earned her doctorate in education from Seattle University, and her Urban Superintendent credential through a joint program of the American Association of School Superintendents and Howard University. Nicole is also credentialed in Human Resources and as a CTE Director.

s e n e c S e h t Behind with Tavish Nicole Mac

Each month, "Behind the Scenes" features an interview with a leader in our community designed to provide readers a glimpse into his/her interests and passions inside and outside of the workplace This month, "Behind the Scenes" sat down with Nicole MacTavish What is your hometown?

Kent, Washington. The real Washington. The one with evergreens, orcas and Bigfoot.

Where did you go to school?

I attended the University of Washington for my Master’s degree, and Seattle University for my Doctorate.

First ever job?

Making plaster teeth from rubber impressions, for a dentist who made gold crowns. Looking back, it was a super strange job for a high school student. It was meticulous work. Any tiny bubble would ruin a client’s very expensive crown.

Who was your greatest inspiration growing up?

Carol Hasse, a sailmaker in Port Townsend, Washington https://ptshipwrights.com/ptsails/ who I met through a summer sailing program in high school, where we sailed a 101foot wooden schooner https://ptshipwrights.com/ptsails/ .

“Hasse” as we all called her, has an amazing backstory of starting her business on her own as a young woman, traveling the world by wooden boat, and making world class sails. She was a true inspiration to me as a young girl.

Nicole MacTavish

Who do you most admire?

I admire teachers. We all count on them to teach and love our children every single day. They have to be instructional experts, empathetic and understanding coaches, expert communicators, intuitive planners, Marie Kondo-level organizational gurus, and joyful collaborators.

Teachers are superheroes.

Favorite Vacation Spot?

I love a rustic mountain cabin, surrounded by snow, with a big crackling fireplace. I think my favorite spot might be any given mountain in Vermont!

Favorite movie, TV Show?

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with Ben Stiller is excellence on the big screen

enes c S e h t d n i Beh with Tavish Nicole Mac

Typical work week?

Being a Superintendent is more of a lifestyle than a job. The workday happens inside our district, and also throughout the community and region. I absolutely love going to work every single day. I love the kids, I love the staff, I love our community, and I love our Board. The Hannaford Center is a very special place, with an uplifting and positive culture. It was one of the most important drivers of accepting this position. I also love seeking out organizations and businesses in Addison County that we can partner with to offer our students opportunities to learn cutting edge skills, and to have embedded workplace experiences. Career Technical Education is about identifying what careers, services and skillsets are a priority for Addison County, and creating pathways for high school students and adult learners toward those high demand, high wage careers.

Biggest Career Challenge?

My biggest challenge is finding the resources we need to build out our CTE programs. CTE is expensive, but completely worth it. Our machinery, equipment, and industry credentials are expensive to purchase, service, and insure.

The specialized training and industry credentialing is expensive. Supplies and materials for our students to learn on are expensive. However, CTE is a fantastic investment for a community! 97% of CTE students go directly into postsecondary education, join the military, or into the workforce upon graduation. 94% of students in CTE programs graduate in Vermont, compared to 85% of all students. In Vermont we anticipate needing over 10,000 additional workers per year by 2040.

In CTE we are preparing students for those careers. The US Department of Education did a longitudinal study in 2019 and found that eight years after graduation, CTE students were employed at a higher rate, and had higher median annual earnings, than their non-CTE peers.

What's the greatest career risk you have taken?

The biggest career risk I’ve taken is to quit my cabinet level job in a large, complex, urban school district in the middle of COVID and move my family, literally across the world, to the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to take a job with the US Army overseeing the small school district on Kwajalein Atoll. It was a leap of faith, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. I loved living and working in the Marshall Islands, which is a tropical paradise, and I had a once in a lifetime adventure working with the warm and welcoming Marshallese community.

What's the one thing you would like to see change in your business/industry?

If I could, I would ensure that every single high school student in the State of Vermont had the opportunity to take a CTE course at some point in their high school career. Even students who do not go into the trades learn things they can use their entire adult lives. I would also love to see more adults in our community take Adult Education courses. Right now, we are offering courses in phlebotomy, Licensed Nurse Assistant (LNA), tractor safety, small engine repair, welding, dental assistant, CPR, CNC Wood Routing, CNC Plasma Cutting, and Glowforge Laser Cutting. How cool is that?

Addison County

CHAMBER

of Commerce

After NETWORKING MIXERS Hours Attention Members!

Sign up to host a 2024 Networking Mixer Dates will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

For details and to register go HERE

937 West Shore Road Salisbury, Vermont 05769 (802) 352-4433

Join the Addison County organizations below and advertise in 2024 at the Addison County Visitor Center For complete information visit us HERE

2024 Total Solar Eclipse in Vermont APRIL 8, 2024 Addison County from Middlebury and North to see several minutes of totality.

GO HERE FOR INFO

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Officers Robert Feuerstein, Kennedy Brothers (Chair) Megan Mandigo, Marble Trail Financial (Treasurer) Nancy Foster, Champlain Valley Properties (Secretary) Phil Summers, ACCOC (Executive Director) Directors Dickie Austin, Black Sheep Bistro Amy Carlin: Middlebury College Doug Dewitt, Bristol Financial Services Meaghan McLaughlin, National Bank of Middlebury Ned Horton, Otter Creek Bakery and Deli Marty Kulczyk, Robert Frost Mountain Cabins Ben Fuller, The Richards Group Dr. Nicole MacTavish, Hannaford Technical School District Article IV, Section D Designate Directors Open, Better Middlebury Partnership Renny Perry, Addison County Economic Development Corp.

Renny Perry, Vergennes Partnership Bill Sayre, Addison County Regional Planning Commission Open - Bristol Core