Honors & Awards

March 2013

Franklin County Home Health Agency elected Bridget Howrigan Rivet, Marie Speer, Fern Mercure, and Michael Gawne to its board of directors. Officers elected were Gina Clark, chair; Barbara Murphy, vice chair; Vanessa Madden, secretary; and Andrew Bachand, treasurer.

Easter Seals Vermont announced the addition of two members to its board of directors: Nancy Griffin of Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction, and Raymond Stroutson, a Rock of Ages retiree.

Two Vermont breweries won medals at the 16th annual Great International Beer Festival. Winners were chosen in 44 categories after blind tasting 470 beers and ciders from around the globe. Otter Creek Brewing Co. brought home a gold, a silver, and two bronze medals. Earning gold was Wolaver’s Unfiltered Brown Ale (a product of the company’s Wolaver’s Fine Organic Ales); silver went to the company’s flagship Copper Ale; and bronze was won by Hop Session Ale and Stovepipe Porter. Long Trail Ale won a gold medal in the German Altbier category.

Paul Frank + Collins announced that attorney David M. Pocius received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Don Vickers, who will retire in June after 25 years as chief executive of Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, was chosen to receive the Eleanor M. McMahon Award for Lifetime Achievement from the New England Board of Higher Education. The Johnson State College External Degree Program received the organization’s Vermont State Merit Award.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties announced the appointment of two members to its honorary board: Gretchen Morse, recently retired head of the United Way of Chittenden County, and Delight Wing, M.D., of Jericho.

Dr. Lauren Shanard, owner of Contemporary Dental Arts, is one of 350 dentists worldwide who have achieved Accredited status with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce announced its annual awards. Dealer.com was named Business of the Year for its “steady growth” guided by “principles of community service and philanthropy.” David Provost of Champlain College received the Community Excellence Award for service to the community. The Rising Star Award recognizing an up and coming leader went to Jason Williams of Fletcher Allen Health Care. PMG Public Relations received the A. Wayne Roberts Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, given to a business started in Vermont that has a bright future. Gardener’s Supply took home the Creative Edge Award, which recognizes innovation.

The Governor’s Cheddar, made by Vermont Farmstead Cheese Co. and named for Gov. Peter Shumlin, was rated the Number 1 cow’s milk cheddar aged 12 to 24 months in the United States at the 2012 American Cheese Society’s annual conference and competition.

Kelliher Samets Volk was chosen to appear in Communication Arts magazine’s Advertising Annual for its “Smoke Baby” public service campaign on behalf of the Vermont Department of Health. It is one of 142 projects chosen from 4,423 entries.

Lake Champlain International (LCI) was designated a Top-Rated Nonprofit by GuideStar and GreatNonprofits. The two organizations provide an online service where people familiar with nonprofits rate and review them. LCI also received a national marketing award for its tagline “Clean Water. Healthy Fish. Happy People.”

John Olson, CLTC, of Beacon Wealth Management LLC, was named Associate of the Year by the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Northern Vermont.

Sarah Lemnah, director of development and communications for Champlain Valley Agency on Aging, was named president of the Vermont Elder Resource Group.

The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center announced the election of three members to its advisory board: Philip A. Conroy Jr., Ed.D., of Vermont Technical College; Eric Hounchell of Revision Military Ltd.; and Dick Keiling of Concepts NREC.

Beth Wagner of Phoenix Books Burlington and Essex was awarded a full scholarship to the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute. The scholarship is sponsored by Candlewick Press, an independent children’s book publisher.

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy announced new members of its board of trustees: Peter Kriff of Vermont Statewide Independent Living Council; Amanda Levinson, ThirdSpace Consulting; Jacob Colie, a digital strategy consultant; and Karen Paul, Certified Financial Planner and a member of the Burlington City Council.

The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce announced its 2013 board of directors: Julie Bowyer, CTM Media; Dan Cote, Inn Victoria; Liz Crowley, CZ Construction Management; William Dakin, Dakin & Benelli PC; Donald Dill, Images by Donald Dill; Teresa DiNapoli, Vermont Country Properties, Sotheby’s International Realty; Brian Halligan, Okemo Mountain Resort; Layne Herschel, Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts; Mary Knight, Knight Tubs; Ed Matulionis, The Richards Group; Natalie Rosa, Hawk Inn & Mountain Resort; Jim Szabo, The Vermont Country Store; Ronald J. Theissen, CPA, CFP, Skygate Financial Services; Mark Verespy, The Killarney; and Julie Woods, The Golden Stage Inn.

Burlington Business and Professional Women presented its 2012 Employer of the Year award, given to a local business that “provides outstanding opportunities for upward mobility, training, development, and benefits for its female employees,” to Dealer.com. Stephanie Hainley, BPW president, presented the award to Colleen Sugrue, who accepted the award for Dealer.com. Janice Santiago of Women Helping Battered Women received the Woman of Achievement Award.

The Vermont Business Roundtable announced the election of officers: Mary G. Powell, Green Mountain Power Corp., chair; Winthrop H. Smith Jr., Sugarbush Resort, vice chair; Robert E. Simpson Jr., Brattleboro Retreat, secretary; G. Kenneth Perine, National Bank of Middlebury, treasurer; and Steve Voigt, King Arthur Flour, immediate past chair. Powell is the first woman to chair the organization. Elected to their first three-year terms were Renee Bourget-Place, KPMG; Christopher Dutton, VELCO; Pierre LeBlanc, Engelberth Construction; Leslee MacKenzie, Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty; Paul Millman, Chroma Technology Corp.; Nicole Ravlin, PMG Public Relations; and Michael Seaver, People’s United Bank. •