The Biggest Business Night of the Year!
Monument Arts & Cultural Center - 44 Gypsy Lane, Bennington VT
Join the Southwestern Vermont Chamber for our Annual Membership Meeting and the Biggest Business Night of the Year at the Monument Arts & Cultural Center in Bennington!
The business meeting portion and a special presentation begins at 5pm in the theater of MACCenter. Enjoy a complimentary sparkling beverage upon your arrival as we kick off the evening with a welcome from our presenting sponsor, Executive Director and Board President. This portion will also include a recognition of new board members, slate of officers, as well as the presentation and vote for the 2026 budget.
The award ceremony will follow as we announce the Member of the Year, New Member of the Year, Regional Visionary Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award. Following the presentation of awards and meeting closure, enjoy social hour with hors d’ oeuvres and cash bar offering beer, wine, cocktails & NA options as you browse the open galleries of the Arts Center.
Tickets are $60 per member until January 27 and sponsorship opportunities are currently available.
Chamber annual Awards
An annual Chamber tradition, we will highlight award winners chosen by their peers and colleagues who have gone above and beyond this past year:
Member of the Year
New Member of the Year
Regional Visionary
Lifetime Achievement
New Member of The Year
A new member who joined the Chamber this past year and who has grown their business, customers, community and chamber interaction this past year.
Check out New Members further down!
Past Recipients:
2021 - couch + cork
2022 - Farm Road Brewing
2023 - The Coffee Bar
2024 - Little City Cider
2025 - Shaftsbury Country Store
Member of the Year
Awarded to a chamber member who has gone above and beyond in their business, interaction with their community, and engagement with the Chamber of Commerce this past year.
Check out our member directory for ideas!
Past Recipients:
2021 - Rockwell’s Retreat
2022 - Coggins Auto Group
2023 - Hoffman Real Estate
2024 - Union Underground
2025 - Comprehensive Computing
Regional Visionary
For an individual or organization who has made significant contributions to the improvement of the business environment and quality of life for The Shires of Vermont region as a whole.
Past Recipients:
2020 - Seth Bongartz
2021 - Jonah Spivak
2022 - Joshua Sherman
2023 - Paul Carroccio / Vermont News & Media
2024 - Heritage Family Credit Union
2025 - GNAT & CAT-TV
Lifetime Achievement Award
A special award that is awarded by The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce to an individual or business who, during their lifetime, has made creative contributions of outstanding business leadership and community development to the region.
Past Recipients:
2021 - Art Whitman
2022 - John Shannahan
2023 - Jim Sullivan
2024 - Brenda Jones
2025 - Jay & Joan Zwynenburg
WELCOME NEW 2025 MEMBERS!
Haberdasher Wine & Provisions
Hoffman Car Wash
Iconic Awards & Graphics, LLC
Manchester Capital Management, LLC
The King's Knit-Wit
Oliver Ford of Bennington
Arlington Community House
WAMC Northeast Public Radio
Concrete Impressions
Kurtz Excavating
Adobe Acrobat
WW Building Supply
NBOSS VT (North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture Show)
Bennington Bagel Company
Manchester Direct Family Practice
HWC Financial
Serendipity and Spark Hometown Holdings, LLC
Church Insurance Company of Vermont
Ed Barbeau
The School of Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales
Art Street Design Studio
PerformanceXtra
2025 Board of Directors
Tom Dailey of Cummings and Dailey, LLP
Mark Grossarth of Heritage Family Credit Union
Carolyn Gilbert of The Shires Young Professionals
Sarah Linford of Mettowee Mint
Mary Morrissey of the Vermont State Legislature
Sean Osborne of JK Adams
T.R. Paquin of T&M Enterprises
Tammie Reilly of Greater Northshire Access Television (GNAT-TV)
Lilli West of Maple Leaf Realty
2024 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Shannon McLenithan of The Bank of Bennington - President
Nancy Koziol of couch + cork - Vice President
Erica Lawrence of Union Underground - Vice President
Maru Leon Griffin of the Mount Anthony Country Club - Vice President
Bill Deveneau of William C. Deveneau Attorney At Law - Treasurer
Brenda Jones of KW Vermont Brenda Jones Real Estate Group - Ex Officio
Chamber and Welcome Center Staff
Matt Harrington - Executive Director
Erika Floriani - Membership Manager
Mikaela Lewis - Event Designer and Manager
Luis Lascari - Relocation and Retention Specialist; SYP Program Coordinator
Gary Dorman - Chamber Custodian
PJ DeVito - State Welcome Center Manager
Mary-Lynn Buck - Information Center Representative
Kate Coderre - Information Center Representative
Steve Hadden - Information Center Representative
Tom Haley - Information Center Representative
Lowre LaCroix - Information Center Representative
John Reed - Information Center Representative
Warren Roaf - Information Center Representative
Nancy Smith - Information Center Representative
Alan Webster - Information Center Representative
Jett Willard - Information Center Representative
How did we do?
2025 Proposed Budget
Below is a link to review the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Proposed Budget for the organization. This budget was developed and submitted by the Chamber’s finance committee. The executive committee and the full board have voted to propose this budget to the full membership.
As a paying member in the SWVT Chamber, you have a right to review and vote on the budget. The budget will be voted upon on Friday, January 31 at the Annual Membership Meeting.
You have can review the budget below. At the annual membership meeting on January 31, the treasurer and executive director will call for a vote. Please vote “yea” or “nay” when that time comes.
Please let Matt Harrington (Chamber Executive Director) or Shannon McLenithan (President of the Board) know if you have any questions.
If you are a member of the Chamber you should have received a password in an email; if you have not received a password please reach out to our office.
Thank you 2026 Event Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsors:
Award Sponsor:
Toast SPONSOR:
Bar Sponsor:
EXECUTIVE’S CIRCLE Sponsor:
Media Sponsors:
Small Business Sponsors
LEVELS AVAILABLE NOW!
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:
