New Business

2002

December

CBM Connecting Body & Mind

Caroline Biddle McKenzie, a personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), has launched CBM Connecting Body & Mind. McKenzie prefers to lay the foundation of exercise away from health clubs and gyms and take advantage of what she calls "the Vermont playground." She combines aerobic activity of the client's choice, such as power walking, jogging, running, biking, hiking, snowshoeing or skiing, with simple strength and flexibility exercises. A Middlebury College graduate, she was four-year captain of the women's cross country running team and received the DenHartog Award for Personal Excellence. She was also a competitive Nordic and alpine skier. Her work at Healthy Living Natural Foods Market gave her experience in helping clients manage diet and nutrition issues or concerns. 117 Hayes Ave., South Burlington. 862-3782.

Northern Meridian

Northern Meridian is an independent living senior community under construction on Lime Kiln Road in South Burlington. It is designed to offer flexible living with all the amenities for the more active senior market. The four-story, 44-unit building offers two-bedroom and two-bathroom units with outdoor terraces and laundry hookups. Other features include an indoor pool, common area, exercise rooms, indoor greenhouse, elevator access and underground parking, all for one monthly fee. Mountain views are visible from some units. Northern Meridian is across from a limestone bluff and cedar forest overlooking the Winooski River. Neville Companies is handling the leasing and will manage the property.

Professional Financial Associates

New England Financial representatives John Bourland, CLU, ChFC; Michael Quinn, LUTCF; and William Skelton have established Professional Financial Associates LLC, a partnership to offer personal and business financial services. They will retain their relationship with New England Financial and New England Securities. P.O. Box 1482, Burlington. 865-4067.

November

All Tucked-Inn

Grady P. Turner, a kindergarten teacher in Essex Junction, has opened All Tucked-Inn, a bed and breakfast in a newly built home in Essex Junction. Turner and his black Labrador retriever, Opal, plan to welcome guests to the inn, which features two guest bedrooms and continental breakfast. 12 Jackson St., Essex Junction. 872-9599. www.alltucked-inn.com

Silverlake Wealth Management

Robert W. Eddy, Theodore M. Riehle III and Jeff Steele are founding partners of Silverlake Wealth Management, a company that provides comprehensive wealth planning and portfolio management services for individuals, corporations and nonprofits. Silverlake is a member of Wachovia Securities Financial network. Eddy, president of the new firm, was with Morgan Stanley for 25 years and was contributing author to the book Personal and Family Finance by Marjory K. Schiller. Riehle, the firm's executive vice president, was with Morgan Stanley for 17 years. He was a Burlington school commissioner, president of the Burlington City Council and a three-term Vermont legislator. Steele, the senior vice president and financial adviser, was with Morgan Stanley for 11 years. He is a volunteer coach with the Burlington Youth Hockey Association. 95 College St., Burlington. 651-0573.

Dan & Sheila's Country Store

The former Waterville Market on Vermont 109 is now Dan & Sheila's Country Store and Deli. Dan and Sheila Lord plan some changes, including take-out deli service, a self-serve Cool Beans coffee center and everyday grocery items.

October

Triosyn Corp.

Doug Nedde of Redstone announced that Triosyn Corp., a biotech company, has opened an office and manufacturing space in a 15,000-square-foot facility at 1191 S. Brownell Road, Williston. The company will produce filters to be sent to the company's headquarters in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. The company's research and development department uses and tests the filters. Nedde was the listing and leasing agent in the transaction.

Vermont Sports Science

Vermont Sports Science Inc., a family-oriented fitness facility, opened in North Ferrisburgh. Owned by Don Cameron, a local builder and designer, VSSI seeks to help rural Vermonters meet their fitness goals. The facility is built around the original structure of an 1800s barn and uses natural lighting and panoramic views of the Adirondack Mountains to motivate and inspire. VSSI offers weight training, cardio-vascular training, aerobics, yoga, Pilates, tanning and massage. 7056 Route 7, North Ferrisburgh. 425-7222. info@vermontsportsscienceinc.com .

Growing Years Pre-School and Development Center

Linda Serrantonio and Erica Hubsch have opened Growing Years Pre-School and Development Center to provide an educational and loving environment for children from infant to pre-school age. Hubsch has degrees in sociology and psychology and brings more than five years of day care and pre-school experience; she also has having two children of her own. Serrantonio has an associate's degree in accounting and a bachelor's degree in business. She also has two children. Growing Years is located in the lower level of the Malletts Bay Congregational Church. 1672 West Lakeshore Drive, Colchester.

Astarita Associates

Alice Astarita, CPA, has established Astarita Associates, an accounting and financial consulting service for nonprofit organizations. Astarita serves nonprofits that may not need or have resources for a full-time finance director. She operates from her Jericho home office. 4017 Stage Road, Jericho. 434-2497.

Mental Health Education Initiative

A group of individuals dedicated to improving the lives of people with brain disorders have created the Mental Health Education Initiative. The goal of the group is to eliminate the stigma of mental illness by disseminating, through a team of speakers, unprejudiced information about what mental illness is and what it is not. The group consists of community members who are in recovery from brain disorders plus a clergy member, a provider, a physician and family members. The consumer speakers' team has received training from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

September

UC Lending

AEGIS Mortgage Corp. of Baton Rouge, La., has leased 2,650 square feet at 60 Farrell St. in South Burlington. The company will do business in Vermont as UC Lending. Elizabeth Dilly of Redstone Commercial Group represented the landlord, Sixty Farrell Street Associates LLC, and Chris Bissonette of Foley Real Estate represented AEGIS. Nate Keener will run the Vermont office.

Immediate Care Health Center

Jeffrey S. Allen, M.D., and Susan L. Hetman, M.D., are pleased to announce the reopening of Immediate Care Health Center. Immediate Care was founded by Allen and Hetman and one other partner in 1984 and grew to include clinics in South Burlington and Essex. The new clinic, operated in affiliation with Vermont Occupational & Acute Care, is located at 620 Hinesburg Road in South Burlington. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointment is necessary. 863-9900.

Essex Automotive Services

Bill Black announced that his two previously owned franchised muffler shops at Midas Drive in South Burlington and Pearl Street in Essex Junction have been consolidated into one location in Essex Junction. The new name of this full-service shop is Essex Automotive Services. Black spent 20 years as a franchisee before going independent in May. 141 Pearl St., Essex Junction. 879-1966.

Market Analysis and Planning Services

Michael J. Brown has launched a strategic market intelligence, analysis and planning service, Market Analysis and Planning Services (MAPS), in the Bluewater Center in Shelburne. Brown relocated from Seattle, where he was director of strategic marketing and business development for a research and development firm. 145 Pine Haven Shores Road, Suite 1193, Shelburne. 985-0753.

ForenSec Ltd.

Hugh Pierce of Thetford Center announced the launch of a computer forensics company, ForenSec Ltd. ForenSec offers services for litigation, internal corporate investigations and private investigations. The company recovers protected, deleted or hidden data from computers and provides expert witness services, emergency response services and hacker intrusion investigation along with electronic discovery and information security consultation. 333-4488. http://www.forensec.com . _·

August

HelpDesk

Terry Girouard announced the launching of HelpDesk to bring information technology services and application support to small- to medium-sized businesses in Chittenden County. A Microsoft Certified Professional, Girouard offers support for Windows 98, NT 4.0/Server, Windows 2000/Server, Windows XP and Macintosh. Remote support allows the company to securely log onto computers from HelpDesk and troubleshoot problems or guide clients through software issues. The service supports a variety of applications, including those from Microsoft, Adobe, Corel, AutoDesk and Discreet. 55 Green St., Burlington. 862-4227.

Halal Vermont

Lila Sennett-Mehdaoui opened Halal Vermont, a Middle Eastern/Bosnian/Mediterranean grocery store at 333 N. Winooski Ave. in Burlington. Sennett-Mehdaoui leased 1,360 square feet of the former Vermont Transit Bus Barns for the store. Elizabeth Dilley of Redstone Commercial Group, represented Burlington Community Land Trust, the property owner, in the transaction.

Sprint

The first Sprint Store in Vermont opened at Maple Tree Place in Williston. The store serves the greater Burlington area, Plattsburgh and Rutland. Chris D'Elia, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic Development, officiated at the ribbon-cutting and presented a letter of commendation from Gov. Howard Dean. The store brings six jobs to the area. Frank Akers is the Sprint PCS Vermont market manager. Steve Gunlock of Engelberth Construction Co. and Lou Kiefer of South Burlington Realty represented the tenant, and John Rao and Steve Donahue of Pomerleau Real Estate represented the landlord, Starwood Ceruzzi.

Advanced Engineering and Research Associates Inc.

Advanced Engineering and Research Associates Inc. (AERA), an engineering, logistics, training and information technology services company, opened an office at the Innovation Center of Vermont, 128 Lake St., Burlington. The building is formerly the Queen City Cotton Co. mill and the current home of General Dynamics' regional headquarters. As program manager for AERA, Suzanne Schmitt runs the office. AERA provides logistic products, including technical manual development, safety planning and supply support analysis, for General Dynamics. The office has three full-time employees and eight engineering consultants on its team. Phone: 863-8920. Kevin D'Arcy of Pomerleau Real Estate facilitated the transaction. The landlord, Gilbane Properties, is undertaking a complete restoration of more than 46,000 square feet of the building to office space with on-site amenities, including a health facility and cafe. The University of Vermont Department of Alumni Relations will occupy 7,290 square feet. Steve Donahue and John Rao of Pomerleau represented the landlord; Tony Blake of V/t Commercial represented the tenant. British Aerospace has committed to leasing 2,575 square feet. Bob Marlowe of Pomerleau represented the owner.

Vermont History Center

The Vermont Historical Society opened the Vermont History Center in Barre July 20. The VHS collects artifacts, books and documents that reflect the history of the state, including every chronological period. The VHS Library is housed in the new history center at 60 Washington St., Barre. The VHS museum in Montpelier will reopen in March 2003 in expanded space. Information about the new history center can be found at http://www.vermonthistory.org. 479-8500.

July

Strategic Performance Consulting

Eric H. Killorin has launched Strategic Performance Consulting (SPC), a new advisory service that aims to help specialty automotive companies needing to expand their customer base, develop initiatives to retain profitable customers and drive profitability. The company's Web site, http://www.strategic-perform.com , lists more than 50 formulas for success that focus on acquiring and retaining profitable customers, particularly in the on-line world. Killorin was founder and CEO of a print and on-line resource for the specialty automotive merchandise sector. His team developed one of the first specialty automotive Web sites in 1994. In 1983, he founded a computer industry research firm with publications focusing on networks, personal computers and data communications. SPC is based in Middlebury. 545-2831.

Big Heavy World

Big Heavy World announced the commencement of its Vermont Music Library project. It has been gathering Vermont music since 1996 and holds a CD collection of nearly 400 commercial and demo titles. Previously made available to independent film producers for scoring films and videos, the archive is now being promoted to the public at large by appointment between 6 and 8 p.m. The office is at 215 College St. on the third floor, above Pure Pop. A catalog of the collection can be found on-line at http://www.bigheavyworld.com/library_collection.html .

Community Financial Services

Community Financial Services Group LLC (CFSG) has been granted full regulatory approval to commence business. A single-purpose Vermont bank, the new company will offer trust and investment services to customers in Vermont and New Hampshire. Community National Bank of Derby, National Bank of Middlebury, and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank of Woodsville, N.H., own the new company jointly. Michael H. Venuti is president. CFSG will have full-time trust and investment personnel at 100 Main St., Newport, at the National Bank of Middlebury and in New Hampshire. The new company also has an office at 135 Washington St., Barre.

Kaleidoscope Yarns

Jill Bujold of Williston has opened Kaleidoscope Yarns in Essex Junction. The shop continues the tradition of providing a haven for knitters that was started 62 years ago by Mary T. Booth Yarn Shop of Essex Junction. When Mary T. Booth Yarn Shop announced it would be closing its doors in April, Bujold, an avid knitter with a retail background, decided to approach the owners, who were retiring, about opening a shop that would support the shop's customers. Kaleidoscope Yarns, 15 Pearl St., Essex Junction. 288-9200.

Fairfield Inn by Marriott

Marriott International Inc. has opened a 105-room Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Williston. Located at 2844 St. George Road, the inn will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Olympus Real Estate Corp. of New York and managed by Paramount Hotel Group of Fairfield, N.J. 879-8999. _·

June

Vermont Link.Net

Vermont Link.Net has expanded its co-op subscription offer to Vermont Electric Cooperative and Washington Electric Cooperative. VEC and WEC join Lyndonville Savings Bank in offering Internet services to their members at a discounted price through a partnership with VTLINK. Anyone having an account with LSB, Vermont Electric Coop or Washington Electric Coop may sign up directly and save even more on their Internet connection. Karen Cayer, CEO and president, founded Vermont Link in January 2000.

Eating Well: The Magazine of Food and Health

FreshTracks Capital, LP, of Middlebury announced the completion, along with three co-investors, of a $750,000 round of financing to enable the re-launch of Eating Well: The Magazine of Food and Health. Joining FreshTracks Capital are Boston Community Venture Fund, Village Ventures Inc. and EW Partners, LLC. The magazine’s publisher, James Lawrence, says he believes the “combination of an experienced, locally based investor group and the growing national awareness of the vital inter-connections between nutrition, good food and personal health provides a great opportunity to provide readers with the news and recipes they need.” The re-launch of Eating Well is creating more than 20 full- and part-time job opportunities for Vermonters. Offices and test kitchen for the publication are located on Ferry Road in Charlotte, where the magazine was conceived in 1990, before its sale to Telemedia Communications (USA) Inc., which later sold controlling interest to Hachette Filipacchi Magazines Inc. The first issue will be distributed in late June; a trial subscription to the charter issue, priced at $16.97 per year, can be ordered on the eatingwell.com Web site.

Cambium Group

Cambium Group, a new business planning and marketing strategy company, has opened its doors in Montpelier. Its president and co-founder, Rob Smart, says the company was formed to help Vermont companies establish and grow the core business and marketing strengths required for sustainable growth. Cambium Group provides strategic business and marketing planning and development, marketing communications, Web site design and Internet e-commerce solutions to small and medium-sized growth-oriented companies. 58 E. State St., Montpelier. 223-6234. The firm’s Web site is www.cambiumgroup.com

New England Windpower

Central Vermont Public Service and its subsidiary Catamount Energy have announced partnerships that will develop wind projects in New England and the British Isles. Catamount owns interests in two wind farms in Germany and has several projects under development and consideration. Catamount Energy has entered into a joint venture agreement with North American Renewables Corp., forming a company called New England Windpower, which will develop, own and operate wind projects in New England. New England Windpower’s principal office will be in Rutland. Catamount will partner with force9energy Ltd. of Amersham, England, to develop wind projects in England, Scotland and Wales. Catamount will fund and manage the venture, which includes an experienced development team headed by David Butterworth, former head of international development for National Wind Power. The goal is to develop at least 300 megawatts of wind power during the next four years.

May

Workplace Safety Solutions Inc.

Lee Marchessault has opened Workplace Safety Solutions Inc. in Williston. Its mission is to provide safety services, including employee training, workplace assessments and program development to companies of all sizes for the purpose of reducing losses. Marchessault is president of the non-profit organization Vermont Utilities for Electrical Education Inc. and is a past director of safety for the Civil Air Patrol and Vermont Safety & Health Council. He is chairman of the Occupational Safety & Health Committee for the Electric Council of New England and is an active member of the National Safety Council. He is offering a free initial consultation. P.O. Box 1531, Williston 05495. 288-9441.

Learning Objects Network

Brian Degen has launched a new Internet infrastructure company called Learning Objects Network (LON) to enable secure commerce in high-value digital content. The company offers services to assist organizations in adopting the SCORM™ (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) learning technology specifications. These services are designed to help defense contractors, major publishing companies, training companies and defense agencies understand the implications of SCORM on their businesses and in achieving SCORM conformance. SCORM was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative to help development of effective large-scale, Web-based learning solutions to meet the education and training needs of the military and the nation’s work force. SCORM conformance is rapidly becoming a purchasing requirement in many DoD on-line training, documentation and reference initiatives. 496-9940, www.LearningObjectsNetwork.com

Plato’s Closet

Burlington area sisters Roberta Hipes and Stephanie Longshore, along with their mother, Grace Plante, have opened Plato’s Closet, a teen resale store, in Williston. The family brought America’s largest children’s resale chain, Once Upon a Child, to the Burlington area eight years ago. Both shops are in the Taft Corners Shopping Center northeast of U.S. 2 and Vermont 2A. Plato’s Closet features trendy clothing at nearly 70 percent savings, including brand names Abercrombie & Fitch, Structure, Tommy Hilfiger, American Eagle, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Polo and Old Navy. The average price is $8.75. Plato’s Closet is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. 878-0001.

Explorer Courier Services

Thomas S. Sherman has begun Explorer Courier Services Inc. The company delivers in Vermont, Canada and across New England. Sherman handles ground transportation for other courier services around the state, particularly Vermont Courier in Williston. Explorer Courier Services can track urgent shipments, check flight departures and arrivals and cross-check time zones, address spellings and ZIP codes. Service is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 860-0231; pager 351-7479; cell 233-0444.

Computer Tutors

Michele Corona has launched Computer Tutors, a computer training service for residents of the Stowe area. Computer Tutors offers customized and personalized one-on-one training on popular software programs, the Internet and e-mail, and basic computer skills in the privacy of the customer’s home. Training sessions are customized to fit the client’s set of goals and level of understanding. Computer Tutors offers a complimentary initial consultation followed by recommendations on how best to proceed. Pricing is computed by the hour and is estimated at the time of assessment. 2530-830, www.thecomputertutors.net.

April

Place Creative Co.

Steve Crafts, Keri Piatek and David Speidel have formed a partnership, Place Creative Co., located in the old Hood dairy plant. Crafts is creative director; Piatek is design director; and Speidel is marketing director. Crafts studied communication design at Syracuse University. Before founding Place, he worked with Griffin Design and Brick House Creative Co. His work includes creative solutions for Revlon, Bruegger’s Bagels, Rossignol, Autumn Harp and Bertelsmann Media Systems. Also a Syracuse University graduate, Piatek worked for New York City design firms where she led strategic design projects for Sundance Film Centers, Seagram’s, A&P, St. Louis Blues, Disney and Austin Nicolls. She was senior art director at Kelliher Samets Volk working on projects with Rykä Sneakers, Seventh Generation, Timberpeg and Beeken-Parsons. Speidel earned a bachelor of fine arts from Tyler School of Art at Temple University and worked for agencies in Philadelphia and Boston. He co-founded Visual Design, which evolved into Brick House Creative Co., and produced designs for clients such as IBM, Rossignol, Bariatrix International, Landmark College and Smith Bell & Thompson Insurance. 187 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington. 660-2051. www.place-design.com

Chryssa O’Toole Insurance Agency

Chryssa O’Toole Insurance Agency, a State Farm agent, has opened in South Burlington. O’Toole brings 15 years of insurance experience in underwriting, agency development and product development. The agency will offer State Farm insurance and financial products, including personal and commercial auto/fire insurance, life and health protection, retirement planning, banking services and mutual funds. O’Toole is a graduate of Duke University. She is joined by her partner and husband, Tim O’Toole, in providing service to her customers. Talbot’s Shopping Center, 1350 Shelburne Road, Suite 145, South Burlington. 865-0222.

John McGinnis - Exclusive Buyer’s Agent

John McGinnis Real Estate Services Inc. is doing business as John McGinnis — Exclusive Buyer’s Agent. His practice exclusively represents buyers in their search for homes, condos, apartments and land. The home office has moved to 311 Weed Road, Shelburne. 482-5500.

March

Cambium Group LLC

Rob Smart and Scott Wells have launched Cambium Group LLC, a strategic marketing and Internet channel development company headquartered at 45 State St., Montpelier. Their goal is to help Vermont businesses establish and grow core business and marketing strengths required for sustainable growth. Services include strategic planning, business development, marketing communications, Web channel development, e-commerce and hosting. Smart and Wells bring 25 years of business development, marketing and creative design experience working for Intel, National Life, Altera Corporation, and others.

SEMbotics

SEMbotics is the name of a new engineering firm in Williston founded by Jim Pitman, Jamie Gravelin and Tim Cosentino. The company provides automation and robotic solutions. The partners, who also provide engineering consulting, have more than 60 years of combined experience in software, electrical and mechanical engineering. 310 Hurricane Lane, Suite 4, Williston. 288-9293.

Total Marketing Solutions

Margo Livingston and Catherine Stevens have launched Total Marketing Solutions to provide marketing, copywriting and design services to small and mid-size companies. The partners, operating from Shelburne and Jericho, have more than 20 years of experience directing marketing communications activities for a variety of Vermont businesses and colleges. 802-925-2360.

February

A Wild Hair Electrology

Stacey Corwell opened A Wild Hair Electrology in Blair Park in Williston. The business offers permanent hair removal, electrolysis and waxing. Corwell received a loan for the working capital from Northern Vermont Lending Partners, an institution that offers assistance in the areas of business plan development, marketing and finance.

Signature Properties of Vermont

Hank Gintof has opened Signature Properties of Vermont, a full-service real estate company in The Essex Towne Marketplace in Essex. Gintof has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate industry. Cathy Wood, Tom Cline and Lorraine Jean are affiliated with Signature Properties. Wood was ranked in the top two percent of all real estate agents in the world within the Century 21 system. Cline is a buyer specialist. Jean is a licensed Realtor and trained sales coordinator.

January

Hadley Financial Group, Colchester

Scott Hadley has opened Hadley Financial Group in Colchester. Hadley has been a licensed life ad health agent since 1998. He is a registered representative with NYLIFE Securities Inc., 463 Mountain View Drive, Colchester, VT 05446, 655-8300.

Green Mountain Global

Charlie Kremer has opened Green Mountain Global, a full-service satellite communications company in Shelburne. Emergency communication is the backbone of Globalstar and coverage is worldwide. Kremer has more than six years’ experience in cellular with Cellular One, National Mobile Communications and Globalstar. 44 Steeplebush Road, Shelburne, VT 05482, 985-2666.