Friday, January 26 2024

4pm (Business Meeting)

5pm (Social Hour/Awards)

Mt. Anthony Country Club

The Biggest Business Night of the Year!

Join the Southwestern Vermont Chamber for the Annual Membership Meeting and the Biggest Business Night of the Year at the Mt. Anthony Country Club!

Business Meeting Starts at 4pm and includes a recognition of retiring board members, a welcome to new board members and a new slate of officers, as well as the presentation and vote for the 2024 budget.

Awards and Social Hour Starts at 5pm with a complimentary sparkling beverage and includes a welcome from our Keynote Sponsor, our Executive Director and the Annual Award Presentation, followed by a social hour with hors d’ oeuvres provided by Mt. Anthony Country Club and cash bar with beer, wine, cocktails & NA options.

Tickets are: $55 per person (early bird) • $65 per person (after Monday, January 8) • $75 per person (after Monday, January 22 & At Door)

Chamber 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
Shires Young Professional in Business
Shires Young Professional in a Nonprofit
Lifetime Achievement

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED! SEE WHO RECEIVES EACH AWARD ON JANUARY 26TH!

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

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.

Past Recipients:

2021 - Rockwell’s Retreat
2022 - Coggins Auto Group
2023 - Hoffman Real Estate

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

Shires Young Professional in a Business Award

An award given to a young professional in the business sector who demonstrates leadership, vision and innovation, a hard work ethic, an impact on community, an ability to motivate others, and doing all of this with integrity.

Past Recipients:

2021 - Kelly Clarke Harrington
2022 - Sarah Krinsky/Bri Magnifico
2023 - Ahmad Yassir

Shires Young Professional in a Nonprofit Award

An award given to a young professional in the public/nonprofit sector who demonstrates leadership, vision and innovation, a hard work ethic, an impact on community, an ability to motivate others, and doing all of this with integrity.

Past Recipients:

2021 - Michael Cutler
2022 - Alex Figueroa
2023 - Beth Wallace

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

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED! SEE WHO RECEIVES EACH AWARD ON JANUARY 26TH!

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

River Road Farm - James Woodard
PJ Venti
T-Mobile - Coby Lasater
Silver Therapeutics - Brendan McKee
The Gift Garden’s Holiday Cottage - Beth and Dwayne Wilwol
NIX NAX Variety - Anigue Gilpin
Island Flavor - Anigue Gilpin
Caren Simpson McVicker, author
The Vermont Country Store - Ann Warrell
Emily Rose Heyer, LLC
Bennington Community Market
Xtreme Wrestling Alliance Inc. - Jerry Farrington
Blizzard Solutions - Sarah Blizzard
The Sanitizer Squad Pet Waste Removal - Cornelius Tavarres
Prospect Coffee House - Lani DePonte-Disorda
LSWN Bookkeeping & Consulting Services, LLC - Linda Naaktgeboren
Manchester Historical Society - Shawn Harrington
Little City Cider Company - Greg Videtto
The Outpost Foundation Inc. - Ricardo Wilson
Zoey’s Deli & Bakery - Sandy Papanek
North Star Scholarship Corp. - Abby Skidmore
VIP Tires & Service - Gary MacCausland

One Day In July - Michael van Eyck
The Vermont Flannel Company - Emily Hoffman
Arlington Inn & Spa - Cheryl Wright
Seniors Helping Seniors Vermont - Steven Thompson
The Local - Nicole Bozeman
Mount Equinox Skyline Drive - Frank Dyer
Oh Hello Face Painting - Hannah True
Sushi Boat - Ian Liu
Allison Rogge
Equinox Audio Visuals - Doug Kunnath
Monument Arts & Cultural Center - Kristine Lewis
Green Mountain Smart Tech LLC - Samuel R Woods
Genesis Healthcare - Bennington Healthy and Rehab - Christopher Oldham
Main Street Antiques - John Goyette
Comprehensive Computer LLC - Byrom Jomaa
Neighbor To Neighbor - Suzie Eisinger
Burger King/Carrolls Corporation - Sierra Hill
Berriman Web Marketing - Mitchell Berriman
C&C Dry Cleaning - Carmen Reed
Greylock Federal Credit Union - Amy Reese
141 Main Street Hotel, LLC - Clifton Warren

2023 Board of Directors

Board Members:

Tom Dailey of Cummings and Dailey, LLP
Mark Grossarth of Heritage Family Credit Union
Erica Lawrence-Dearstyne of Union Underground
Maru Leon Griffin of the Mount Anthony Country Club
Ron Levene of The Barn at Center Hill and Action for Traction
Mary Morrissey of the Vermont State Legislature
T.R. Paquin of T&M Enterprises
Tammie Reilly of Greater Northshire Access Television (GNAT-TV)
Beth Wallace of The Shires Young Professionals
Lilli Williams of Maple Leaf Realty

2023 Executive Officers

Shannon McLenithan of The Bank of Bennington - President
Brian Maggiotto of the Inn at Manchester - Past President
Nancy Koziol of couch + cork - Vice President
Erica Lawrence of Union Underground - 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 Design and Manager

Gary Dorman - Chamber Custodian

PJ DeVito - State Welcome Center Manager

Kate Coderre - Information Center Representative

Steve Hadden - Information Center Representative

Jennie Hogan - Information Center Representative

Lowre LaCroix - Information Center Representative

John Reed - Information Center Representative

William Rogers - Information Center Representative

Nancy Smith - Information Center Representative

Alan Webster - Information Center Representative

Jett Willard - Information Center Representative

How did we do?

2024 Proposed Budget

Below is a link to review the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 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 26 at the Annual Membership Meeting.

You have can review the budget below. At the annual membership meeting on January 27, the treasurer and executive director will call for a vote via the PollEverywhere app. Please vote “yea” or “nay” when that time comes. We will also do a vocal vote.

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.

Budget 2024 - FOR MEMBERS ONLY