Around the Chamber September 2024

AROUND THE CHAMBER September, 2024

In This Issue 2 - Annual Awards Announced 6 - VT Chamber News 15 - Member Spotlight ( LONDON-middlebury) 27 - Vergennes Day 39 - Chamber Briefs

Connect With Us!!

Bristol Harvest Festival

s n o i t a l u t a Congr 2024 AWARD AWARD WINNERS & HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Business of the Year Bristol Works & Stoney Hill Properties

Please Plan to Attend!!

2024 Annual Awards, Hall of Fame Induction and Meeting

Thursday Evening October 24th 5:00 - 8:00 PM Dinner, Annual Meeting, Awards, Hall of Fame Induction The Historic Vergennes Opera House, Vergennes, VT.

REGISTER HERE

Non-Profit of the Year Addison County Relocalization Network Buster Brush Citizen of the Year Brian Carpenter, Champlain Valley Equipment Young Professional of the Year Nathaniel Klein, Charter House Coalition Hall of Fame Inductees Jim Douglas Fred and Judy Danforth

Around the Chamber

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Info@addisoncounty.com

ACCOC publishes Around the Chamber monthly and it reaches thousands of business, non profit leaders and their employees in Addison County and beyond. Around the Chamber boasts an average 52% open rate with an average read time of 8:32 Members are encouraged to supply their announcements and events by emailing phil@addisioncounty.com. For ad availability and rate card email phil@addisoncounty.com.

Addison County Chamber of Commerce. 2024, All Rights Reserved

WORKFORCE POLICY WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED AT SOLUTIONS SUMMIT Workforce solutions are critical to advancing Vermont’s economy. The Vermont Chamber’s Solutions Summit is Vermont’s premier workforce development conference dedicated to transforming how we approach and address the challenges of the modern job market. This dynamic event will be held on September 25, 2024, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington. The Solutions Summit is designed to address the most pressing issues in workforce development and provide actionable solutions to advance Vermont’s economy. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of shaping the future of work in our state. https://www.vtchamber.com/workforce-solutions-summit/ BUSINESS CLIMATE SURVEY 2024 The Vermont Chamber continues to work diligently on behalf of the Vermont business community, even while the Legislature is not in session. As we speak with our members around the state, there is a troubling theme growing about the mounting challenges within Vermont’s business climate. We encourage you to take five minutes to complete our business survey to provide crucial insights for our advocacy team as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session. https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=rjgHCBMxNEy6QfavnyGNG THE 2024 MANUFACTURING SUMMIT Join the Vermont Chamber at the Manufacturing Summit on November 13-14, 2024, where Vermont's manufacturing sector takes center stage. This reimagined event offers a unique opportunity to connect with industry peers, suppliers, and potential business partners from across Vermont, New England, and Canada. Discover actionable strategies and resources to enhance your business operations, explore new growth opportunities, and gain insights into the latest trends shaping the future of manufacturing. Don’t miss this chance to build a more resilient supply chain and drive your business forward. https://www.vtchamber.com/vermont-chamber-announces-2024-manufacturing-summit/ VERMONT CHAMBER PRESIDENT AMY SPEAR EARNS IOM CERTIFICATION The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that President Amy Spear has earned the IOM credential from the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management. This certification highlights her completion of 96 credit hours in nonprofit management, further enhancing her leadership at the Chamber. https://www.vtchamber.com/vermont-chamber-of-commerce-president-amy-spear-earns-iom-certification/ BEGAP APPLICATION IS OPEN Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Department of Economic Development will open the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) application portal on Thursday, August 29, at 8:00am. This grant program supports businesses, nonprofits, landlords, and farms affected by floods in 2023 and 2024. Prior to applying, applicants are encouraged to understand the program and gather necessary information for the online application process. https://accd.vermont.gov/BEGAP SUBSCRIBE TO VERMONT CHAMBER NEWSLETTERS https://www.vtchamber.com/news-subscriptions/

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

By Matt Haefele, Partner at LONDONmiddlebury In our small corner of Vermont, we've been on a journey of discovery in the world of marketing for over a decade. It began with Ashley Sandy, then the Director of International Visitors for the Vermont Council on World Affairs, engaging in thoughtful lunchtime conversations with a colleague who would become her business partner - the London to her Middlebury. They discussed the state of marketing for local and national brands. These discussions revealed a common thread: traditional marketing approaches were falling short, and there was a pressing need for fresh perspectives. Ashley and her colleague, Phil, saw numerous opportunities to streamline processes and breathe new life into marketing tactics for businesses of all sizes.

In 2014, driven by this vision, LONDONmiddlebury was born. The name symbolized the fusion of global thinking with local understanding that would come to define the company's approach.

In 2016, a significant transition occurred when Ashley made the decision to buy out Phil's share of the business. Though the parting was amicable, it marked a new chapter for LONDONmiddlebury. It was at this juncture that I joined Ashley, stepping into a landscape ripe with both challenges and opportunities.

The first few years we were a grind. Like most small business owners, we applied intuition with our experience and training to develop effective strategies, create exciting brands, and embracing a "figure-it-out" mentality that served us well in addressing the diverse challenges our clients presented.

Now, ten years later, we are a proud team of Thinkers + Doers who bring experience from so many clients and projects that there are few business challenges we haven’t seen. And, when we find ones we haven’t run across yet, we roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Ashley Sandy

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

What We Do Over time, LONDONmiddlebury grew into a full-fledged integrated marketing and branding company. Our riverside Winooski office is a hub of creativity and collaboration for our in-person team. We developed a comprehensive suite of services spanning from high-level strategy to onthe-ground implementation, including marketing strategy development, market research, digital advertising, website design and development, graphic design, and social media management.

One of the key insights we gained over the years was the value of unifying strategy and execution under one roof. When we design a strategy and implement it, great things happen. Why? There's no gap or miscommunication between strategic planning and tactical execution. This seamless transition ensures that the original vision is accurately translated into actionable steps. What’s more, it maintains a cohesive brand voice and message throughout all stages of the marketing ecosystem, from conception to delivery. This consistency is crucial for effective brand building and communication.

Winooski Offices

It also gives us the flexibility to make rapid adjustments when market conditions shifted, creating a dynamic and responsive marketing ecosystem for our clients.

How We Do It We invest in building strong relationships because seeing our clients grow and thrive is why we do what we do. We believe that our success is intrinsically linked to the growth and prosperity of those we serve, whether they be pro bono clients in Kenya or our favorite small-batch ice cream company just down the road. From day one, we've aimed to distinguish ourselves in a competitive landscape through exceptional customer service, top-tier deliverables, and innovative approaches to marketing and branding.

Pro-Bono collaboration-Kenya

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Our methodology is rooted in a holistic view of each client's needs. Whether we're tackling tactical tasks or developing overarching strategies, we always consider the broader context of a client's business ecosystem. This comprehensive approach begins the moment we engage with a new client. We listen intently, seeking to understand their unique challenges and aspirations.

This allows us to craft bespoke solutions that transcend conventional boundaries of platform, process, or communication channel, ensuring a best-fit strategy for each client's distinct circumstances.

What We Can Do For Addison County We’re excited to be working in Addison County with clients from a variety of industries and backgrounds. I sat down with Ashley before writing this article to talk about opportunities and challenges for businesses and nonprofits in the area.

"As we look toward 2025, Addison County businesses are facing tough competition. They're all working hard to offer the best value, whether to tourists, community members, grantors, online consumers, donors, or others. But there's also a growing entrepreneurial energy here. More and more local businesses are aiming to make an impact beyond our county, reaching across Vermont and even globally."

Addison County has a unique character that fits our mentality of thinking + doing.

Creative session at Winooski Offices

“The business owners I know in Addison County are real grinders. They have this amazing ability to adapt and find solutions, no matter what. But I think there's room for us to help them spot new opportunities they might not see on their own. Some businesses are happy with their local customer base, and that's great. But we want to make sure they're not slowly leaking locals without realizing it. We also want to make sure they’re prepared when new competitors come to town with a more compelling message or cheaper option.”

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Let's Connect and Grow Together At LONDONmiddlebury, we're passionate about helping businesses and organizations in Addison County thrive. Our experience, combined with our innovative approach to marketing and branding, positions us uniquely to support your growth journey.

Whether you're looking to expand your local presence, reach new markets, or simply refine your brand message, we're here to help. Our team of Thinkers + Doers is ready to roll up our sleeves and tackle your distinct challenges.

10th Anniversary Celebration

Exclusive Offer for Chamber Members:

FREE 60-Minute Marketing Consultation

As new members of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, we're excited to offer our fellow members a complimentary opportunity. We can: Assess your marketing approach Identify areas for improvement Provide actionable recommendations

Let's Explore Your Potential Together Book Your Consultation hello@londonmiddlebury.com 802-497-0462

42nd Annual Vergennes Day Weekend

Thousands descend on the Little City for the Chamber’s Annual Community Event

42nd Annual Vergennes Day Weekend

CHAMBER BRIEFS

Join us 3pm September 20th

DID YOU KNOW?

Has welcomed over 2,350 visitors this year!

As a member of the Chamber you can post your job openings on our job board for

FREE!

For more member benefits visit www.AddisonCounty.com/benefits

2024 COMMUNITY EVENT SPONSORSHIPSle Thank you to the organizations below that have already secured their sponsor positions for 2024!

Vergennes Day Vermont Gas Systems Gaines Insurance Porter Medical Center Kennedy Brothers Grand Senior Living Bristol Harvest Festival Mountain Community Health Vermont Gas Systems Bristol Financial Waitsfield Telecom Porter Medical Center Middlebury Car Show & Fall Festival Stone Motors IPJ Real Estate Silver Maple Construction Vermont Gas Systems Cambio Roasters Porter Medical Center National Bank of Middlebury Sweet Cecily Champlain Valley Equipment Mr. Ups

Promote your organization and support our community events in 2024! Limited Sponsorships are still available. Click on the icon above to learn more!

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

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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

Kathryn Torres, Better Middlebury Partnership Renny Perry, Addison County Economic Development Corp.

Renny Perry, Vergennes Partnership Bill Sayre, Addison County Regional Planning Commission Courtney Radford, Bristol Core