Friday, January 31 2025

4pm (Business Meeting)

5pm (Social Hour/Awards)

Kimpton Taconic

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 Kimpton Taconic in Manchester, VT!

Business Meeting Starts at 4pm as we share our 2027 Vision with our membership. This portion will also include a recognition of new board members, slate of officers, as well as the presentation and vote for the 2025 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 Kimpton Taconic and cash bar with beer, wine, cocktails & NA options.

Tickets are: $55 per person (early bird) • $65 per person (after Monday, January 6) • $75 per person (after Monday, January 27 & 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

  • Lifetime Achievement

Nominations close on Tuesday, December 24th

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

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

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

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

 

Nominations close on Tuesday, December 24th

SEE WHO RECEIVES EACH AWARD ON JANUARY 31ST!

WELCOME NEW 2024 MEMBERS!

  • Burger King/Carrols Corporation

  • Berriman Web Marketing

  • C&C Dry Cleaning

  • Greylock Federal Credit Union

  • The Hotel Vervana

  • Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty

  • Beth Wallace

  • Ardent Flame Candles - Vermont's Premier Candle Company 

  • Cummings & Dailey, LLP

  • The Dailey Company

  • Southern Vermont Standby Power

  • Huluppu Bookshop LLC

  • Magnetworks

  • Vermont Storage Group

  • The Gate House

  • Mettowee Mint

  • JJ Hapgoods

  • Rosie Wolf Williams

  • Northshire Rescue Squad

  • Shaftsbury Historical Society

  • Sexy Llama Coffee Roasters

  • Blizzard Solutions, LLC

  • NeverTechLate

  • Union South

  • Stratton Resort

  • Catamount Radio

  • Goodwill of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont, Inc.

  • Temblor Creative Group

  • The Apple Barn and Bakeshop

  • Nancy Koziol-Author, Journalist, Freelancer

  • Aflac 

  • Shaftsbury Country Store

  • Jean E. Haywood

  • Made For The Mountains by Teaselwood Design

  • Passion Enterprises

  • Starr Luxe Day Spa 

  • Mission Care at Bennington

  • ZenBusiness

  • New York Press Service

  • Green Mountain Sprouts

  • Devlin Funeral Home (LLC) 

  • Vermont Children's Alliance

2024 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 Design 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 2024 Event Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsors:

Award Sponsor:

Toast SPONSOR:

Bar Sponsor:

Entertainment Sponsor:

Media Sponsors:

Small Business Sponsors:

 

The Gamer’s Grotto Carpenter & Costin Charlie's Coffee House couch + cork Mahar McCarthy Real Estate

 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO: