Around the Chamber May 2022

Around the Chamber Addison County Chamber of Commerce E-Magazine

MAY, 2022

IN THIS ISSUE 5 - Meet the Board 7 - Directors Cut 10 - Focus on Non-Profits 16- Behind the Scenes 23 - Support our Members 26 - New Member Closeup 30 - Updates from Montpelier 33 - Member Spotlights

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Around the Chamber

ACCOC publishes our e-magazine monthly and reaches thousands of business, non profit leaders and other decision makers in Addison County and beyond.

Members are encouraged to supply their announcements and events by e-mailing phil@addisioncounty.com. For ad availability and rate card email phil@addisoncounty.com.

Addison County Chamber of Commerce. 2022, All Rights Reserved

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Meet the Board Every month "Around the Chamber" will introduce our readers to a member of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors In this issue, we introduce you to ACCOC Board Treasurer, Bethany Dever How long have you lived and/or worked in Addison County?

I was born and raised in Bristol, but was determined to leave Vermont to go to college out of state. I attended Clark University in Worcester, MA and then took some graduate classes there as well, thinking I might get my MBA. Most of the classes were geared toward finding a career in corporate life and I knew that wasn’t the right avenue for me. However, there was one class that was quite unique in its teachings called Business and Spirituality. We studied businesses that had soul and were off the beaten path in comparison to public corporations. After taking that class, I quit grad school and joined the Peace Corp.

Tell us about Dever Accounting Services.

My first job in public accounting was auditing municipalities all over Vermont. I visited towns I had never been to and got to see a lot of the state, but it required more travel than I ultimately wanted so after three years I switched jobs and found a firm that focused on tax preparation. I moved to Burlington for this new job and really liked living and working there as a young adult.

When I got married I moved into my husband’s house in Lincoln and decided to work on my own.

In 2010 I started Dever Accounting Services, located in Bristol. We focus on individual and small business tax planning and preparation, as well as provide accounting services to a limited number of non-profits in our area.

Bethany Dever

How long have you volunteered with the Chamber’s Board?

I joined the Board in 2017 when Sue Hoxie reached out and asked if I would consider being the Treasurer of the Chamber. The role has ebbed and flowed in responsibility while we actively searched for a bookkeeper interested in taking on the job.

In 2022, what do you see as the most challenging issue(s) facing business in Addison County?

The lack of employees available to fill the demand of open jobs is hurting business in Addison County. I hear it all the time from clients and other business owners that they can’t fill open positions.

The Chamber of Commerce’s role in supporting business and non-profits in Addison County is always evolving. In your view, what should be the Chamber’s strategic direction in 2022?

For me, the Chamber has always been a great way to learn about what other businesses are doing in the area. It’s great to have a source of communication to connect us and promote all that is happening in the area.

Director's Cut Phil Summers - ACCOC Executive Director

ACCOC to Introduce Hall of Fame in October The ACCOC Board of Directors approved the creation of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame at last month's board meeting.

The Hall of Fame will honor prominent members, both past and present who have made extraordinary contributions to the Addison County business or nonprofit communities. Individuals inducted into our Hall of Fame will have demonstrated the following characteristics: business or non-profit excellence, courageous thinking, vision, innovation, and inspirational leadership. They will have worked to lead the Addison County business or non-profit communities to a stronger, higher level.

Nominations will begin to be accepted in August and the inaugural HOF class will be inducted as part of the 2022 Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation that will be held on Thursday evening October, 27th 2022 at the Vergennes Opera House. Additional details will be forthcoming over the next several months.

Phil Summers is the Executive Director of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to ACCOC, Phil was the Executive Director of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association and earlier held senior marketing positions at the National Football League, Sirius Satellite Radio and MSG Varsity where he was a two time Emmy Award winner (2011 & 2012) and two time Silver Addy Award winner (2013). Phil has also taught undergraduate courses in advertising and marketing at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia.

Focus on Non-Profits

Message from Rachel Lee Cummings, Executive Director Welcome to Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC)! I’m delighted to share the work of CSAC in the Chamber’s May magazine, as May is Mental Health Awareness month. CSAC is committed to promoting community wellness by helping people live emotionally healthy and satisfying lives. We strive to provide the best mental health, substance use, and developmental services to improve the quality of life for all community members. We work collaboratively with community organizations to help individuals and families achieve maximum wellness.

CSAC is here to help. We offer a variety of services to help improve the lives of individuals and our community at large including emergency and crisis, substance use services, adult mental health, developmental services, case management, youth and family services, and employment services. You’ll learn more about Steve Reigle’s work as CSAC’s Supported Employment Operations Coordinator in this spotlight. Supported Employment is one of the many services we provide to help people achieve maximum wellness.

I want to invite you to join us: CSAC is hosting the June 16th chamber mixer, and we’d love to see you there! I also invite you to learn more about CSAC at www.csac-vt.org and sign up for our newsletter, Reaching You. Finally, I hope you will join us on September 17th for the return of CSAC’s beloved Bocce tournament!

Staff Spotlight: Steve Reigle Steve is CSAC’s Supported Employment Operations Coordinator. He and his team provide supported employment services to CSAC’s consumer community. Steve has been with CSAC for almost twelve years. Prior to joining CSAC, Steve worked at Middlebury College, where he trained and employed many of our consumers. Want great employees? Read on to find out how CSAC’s Supported Employment team can help!

Focus on Non-Profits

Supported Employment is a service that helps individuals find and maintain meaningful jobs in our community. Led by Steve, CSAC’s team offers competitive job placement and consulting services to individuals with disabilities and, by doing so, provide the business community with quality employees. We match the needs of businesses with the skills and interests of individuals with disabilities, providing support and consultation for a successful working relationship. Steve’s team has placed employees at 61 distinct employers since March of 2020.

Researchers have studied different types of programs that help people with barriers to employment find and keep employment.

These studies consistently find that the Supported Employment model assists more individuals in getting and keeping a job than any other approach.

CSAC supports people in finding meaningful employment.

CSAC’s Supported Employment services team focuses on competitive employment and community jobs that anyone can apply for, pay at least minimum wage, and include both part-time and full-time positions. Choices and decisions about work and support are individualized based on the person’s preferences, strengths and experiences.

Follow-along supports continue as long as the individual wants the assistance. CSAC’s Employment Team also provides ongoing support for our employers. Employer supports include job coaching and consultation, training and re-training assistance, job customization, site modifications, and coordination of benefits (tax credits, etc.).

Across all programs, CSAC supported employment assists an average of 185 individuals each year to find or keep paid employment in the community

Supported Employment includes benefits planning. Steve and CSAC’s other employment specialists help individuals understand how benefits such as Social Security or Medicaid are affected by working.

Most people can work and continue to receive some benefits.

Focus on Non-Profits

Are you looking for great employees?

For more information about supported employment please contact Steve by phone (802) 989-3261, or by email sreigle@csac-vt.org.

Know someone looking for a great place to work?

CSAC is a place where your compassion gives comfort, your talent drives innovation, and your care makes a difference! www.csac-vt.org/careers.

Join us for Bocce! September 17th— Middlebury Recreation Field.

CSAC’s beloved Bocce tournament returns September 17th! Businesses, community members, CSAC families and clients come together for a fun day of camaraderie, competition, and goodwill. We’d love to see you there.

Join as a sponsor, send a team, or both! Your taxdeductible sponsorship is a great way to gain visibility for your company or organization, reward your staff, or have a great day with friends. And it’s a great way of personally making a difference by supporting CSAC’s work to promote community wellness by helping people live emotionally healthy and satisfying lives. Contact Beth Tarallo at btarallo@csac-vt.org or 802-388-0302 x 413 to learn about the many sponsorship opportunities (sponsor a team, a court or more!). Stay tuned for registration details on our website, www.csac-vt.org.

s e n e c S e h t Behind with gent Alicia Gran

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 Alicia Grangent, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Vergennes Where did you grow up?

Robinson, Illinois

Where did you go to college?

MacMurray College- BSW Social Work; Lewis University - MS Criminal and Social Justice

First ever job?

Corn Detasseling

Who do you most admire?

No one specific; I like Ted Talks that deal with overcoming an issue despite the odds. Look for the inspiration in others and inspire them!

Alicia Grangent

Greatest inspiration growing up?

My mentor Jodie - I was a little in the Big Brother/Big Sister program growing up. She taught me things that I never would have experienced like horseback riding which I love still to this day Favorite TV Show/Movie?

I grew up in the 80’s, any John Hughes film, some tissues and popcorn. It’s movie night … also acceptable Goonies and National Treasure!

s e n e c S e h t Behind with gent Alicia Gran

Favorite vacation spot??

Favorite type of music?

Vegas– I’m a foodie.. love the different options and shows

I really listen to everything, I grew up with soul , gospel , country and rock

Biggest career challenge?

Previously, I worked with government contractors - I never knew where I would end up or for how long. It was a blessing to experience so many different states and learn new areas. It eventually got old

College years-grunge and musicals. Music has the ability to bring people together; embrace it!

Typical work week?

Monday through Friday 9-5 Greatest risk taken in your career?

Leaving a job that didn’t fit my needs to restart in a different position with far less pay. Money isn’t everything- and you should never compromise on your morals.

What's the one thing you would change about your industry/mission?

Ask me this question in a year.. Right now, I’m learning the ropes of a network that has been operating for over a century.

Longevity is a Bonus!

Thank you!

Thank you!

ACCOC would like to thank the following organizations who renewed their 2022 memberships this month.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!

Bee's Wrap Deppman Law PLC Farm Credit East Kennedy Brothers Middlebury College Multy Builders Speedi Lube & Car Wash Two Brothers Tavern Vergennes Animal Hospital Waterhouses Campground & Marina Wells Physical Therapy Service WOKO/WKOL/WIZN/WBTZ/WJOY

Each month in "Around the Chamber" we will recognize new and renewing members for their support in helping ACCOC enhance and improve the business and non-profit communities in Addison County.

RESERVE YOUR FREE BENEFITS HERE

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Support Our Business Members!

Each month we select a new group of members for recognition and encourage our readers to support Chamber members

SPEEDI LUBE AND CAR WASH

Support Our Non-Profit Members!

Each month we select a new group of non profit members for recognition and encourage our readers to support them

John Graham Housing & Services

New Member Closeup Every month, New Member Closeup features a recent addition to the Addison County Chamber of Commerce Master Kellie Thomas of TaeKwon Do K.I.C.K.S. held its first class at a private school for 8 students in 2006 after teaching an athletics class to her daughter’s school and a couple moms told her that their sons wanted to train with her.

K.I.C.K.S. is also open to people of varying abilities and works regularly with students who are nonverbal and those who live with Down syndrome, autism, epilepsy, septo-optic dysplasia and ADHD.

Master Thomas, who is a 6th degree Black Belt in International TaeKwon Do, had originally thought her martial arts days were over.

She started in 1981, received her 1st degree black belt in 1992 and taught at her school until moving to Addison County for a new job in 1999.

Flash forward 16 years, K.I.C.K.S. has over 250 students, 4 locations, recently won the Best of Business Award for Fitness Clubs in Addison, Grand Isle & Franklin Counties. In 2016 Middlebury Parks & Recreation gave Master Thomas the Robert E. Collins Award. The Robert E. Collins award recognizes a community member who exemplifies recreational teaching, volunteerism, and community spirit.

K.I.C.K.S. stands for Keep fit, Inner strength, Confidence, Kinship and Self-defense – all things Master Thomas hopes her students walk away with after each class. K.I.C.K.S has classes 6 days a week in Vergennes, Middlebury, Orwell and Hinesburg for people of all ages (current ages range from 2 to 71).

Besides teaching the normal evening classes, K.I.C.K.S. also goes to preschools to teach weekly classes, teaches P.E. classes throughout the school year, does various after school programs and teaches weekly at local summer camps.

Master Kellie Thomas also teaches separate selfdefense workshops as either basic self-defense or specific women’s only self-defense classes under the name of i-STRIKE ( I am Self-confident, Tough, Resourceful, Intuitive, Kind and Extraordinary).

These workshops are done for the general public or for specific businesses (most recently through Access CVU; National Bank of Middlebury and The Isley Library).

New Member Closeup For every $10 a student raises they get to break up to 20 boards, with all proceeds going to different charities each year. This year was our best as we raised over $16,000 and donated to Turning Point Center of Addison County, Hinesburg Community Center and to a young girl who lost her mom to cancer. Since 2014, K.I.C.K.S. has donated almost $60,000 to various charities.

K.I.C.K.S. believes strongly about giving back to the community by hosting events like food drives in January (this year they donated over 350 pounds of food); assigns community “homework” for promotional testing to young students – such as Secret Ninja Missions (students had to do 10 random acts of kindness for different community members) and the annual Break-A-Thon to support local charities in Addison, Rutland and Chittenden Counties.

For more information about K.I.C.K.S programs, including free trial classes and birthday parties, please contact Master Kellie Thomas at tkdkicks101@yahoo.com or call 802-377-0476.

Check out our website at www.tkdkicks.net.

enjoy a meal out!!

Updates from Montpelier These updates summarize current Statehouse activity with the potential to impact Vermont businesses and nonprofits. These updates are provided to us by the Addison County Economic Development Corporation and the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and Downs, Rachlin, Martin.

The Senate unanimously overturned the Governor’s veto of S.286, the pension reform bill, this week.

S.287 is on its way to the Governor and will make historic changes to Per-pupil weighting.

The Committee of Conference for S.53, the corporate tax bill, met again after multiple delays and agreed to pull items not related to corporate tax from the bill. The House members remained committed that the outcome of all the items in the bill needs to be revenue positive.

The Clean Heat Standard is headed to the Governor and he will likely need to sign H.715

by May 9th. Many think that the legislative checkback added to the legislation will be The governance changes in H.492, now in S.234, will enough to ensure he allows the legislation to undo common-sense reform and give anti-housing become law. obstructionists more opportunities to weigh down The House passed S.234 and it will now head to housing projects and eventually stop them. the Senate, where at least one large portion of We are in the middle of a housing crisis that is holding the bill will see significant headwinds. S.234 got our state back from its full potential and we cannot significant pushback from mayors, local afford to make housing more difficult to build. governments, as well as non-profit and for-profit developers because it contains H.492. H.492 The Senate was right not to take action on Act 250 would bifurcate the consolidated appeals governance in their version of S.234 and should stand process established back in 2004 and create two by their position to further study the issue. tracks for appeals to be heard.

I stand by the position of many Mayors as well as nonEmail your Senator and tell them to stay with the governance language that they passed in S.234 earlier in the session and not allow H.492 to pass in S.234.

profit and for-profit developers in the letter you’ve likely received outlining their issues with H.492, which has now been added to S.234.

HERE

HERE

Member Spotlights

Deppman Law PLC Member Since 2017

SMART MOVE STORAGE MIDDLEBURY

Member Since 2017 Member Since 2011

Member Since 1984

Member Since 2016

Member Since 2020

Every month "Around the Chamber" features six ACCOC members for recognition.

Members who would like to be considered for future issues should contact Executive Director Phil Summers at phil@addisoncounty.com

Officers Robert Feuerstein, Kennedy Brothers (Chair) Bethany Dever, Dever Accounting Services (Treasurer) Meaghan McLaughlin, National Bank of Middlebury (Secretary) Adam Rainville, Maple Landmark (Past Chair) Phil Summers, ACCOC (Executive Director) Directors Dickie Austin, Black Sheep Bistro Amy Carlin: Middlebury College Gretchen Cotell, Hannaford Career Center Nancy Foster, Champlain Valley Properties Judson Hescock, Putnam & Menard, PLC Ned Horton, Otter Creek Bakery and Deli Marty Kulczyk, Robert Frost Mountain Cabins Megan Mandigo, Marble Trail Financial Article IV, Section D Designate Directors Karen Duguay, Better Middlebury Partnership Kate Bentley, Bristol Core Renny Perry, Addison County Economic Development Corp.

Renny Perry, Vergennes Partnership Bill Sayre, Addison County Regional Planning Commission

Coming Next Month

- Behind the Scenes - Meet the Board - Focus on Non-Profits - New Member Closeup - Member Buzz - Community/Member Highlights - Updates from Montpelier - and more!!