March 2007 Press Releases

2007 Centennial Business Awards Ceremony Scheduled for March 13, 2007 - March 7, 2007
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz teams up with the Vermont Business Magazine and Vermont Chamber of Commerce to honor some of Vermont's oldest businesses.
                                                                  

Vermont’s Oldest Businesses Share Success Stories 

Burlington, VT—March 7, 2007---Ben and Jerry’s and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters are business legends that most Vermonters know by heart.  It’s less often that the smaller business success stories, which are present in communities across the State, have the opportunity to be shared. The Vermont Business Centennial Award ceremony offers an ideal showcase.  On March 13, 2007, leaders from several of Vermont’s oldest companies will compare notes about what has kept them in business for the past 100 plus years.   

“It is exciting and rewarding to be recognized for this award.  It allows us an opportunity to reflect on the wonderful relationships which have been shared with our customers, our suppliers and most importantly, our employees”, said Mark Foley Sr, President and CEO, Foley Services, Inc.  “It also reinforces our belief that we must continually adapt to the changes in the marketplace in order to provide the best value proposition to the markets and customers we serve”.   

According to the Secretary of State’s office, Vermont is home to more than 70,000 businesses and on average 9,000 new businesses are established each year. But many new start-ups don’t make it, and are part of the 883 that reportedly closed in 2006.  This year 13 businesses will be honored for having survived not only in 2006 but for the past century in the competitive and often-unforgiving business landscape. 

Secretary of State Deb Markowitz says it’s very important to showcase these quiet success stories, in addition to the ones that are high profile. “Each business being honored has made a tremendous impact on Vermont’s economic landscape,” said Markowitz. “We know that it is not easy to endure in an ever-changing economy and that those who have succeeded for 100 years or more have exhibited an extraordinary ability to remain flexible, entrepreneurial and to change with the times.” 

On March 13^th at 4 p.m. Governor James Douglas will join Markowitz, Vermont Business Magazine, and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce to present The Vermont Centennial Business Awards at UVM’s Billings Student Center. The award acknowledges Vermont’s oldest businesses for enriching the economic heritage and enhancing community life during the last century and beyond.  From all across Vermont, these honored businesses represent a wide range of entrepreneurs from a dairy farm/museum and custom granite memorials to telephone companies and manufacturers. Food and beverages will be served from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the award ceremony beginning promptly at 5:30 p.m. 

Interviews are available with honored Centennial business leaders prior to the 5:30 p.m. award ceremony. To schedule an interview contact: Ginny Colbert, Secretary of States Office by phone at 802-828-2148 or email at gcolbert@sec.state.vt.us.

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Click here to find out more information about these awards and to apply for 2008!

PRESS RELEASE 

(available digitally at www.sec.state.vt.us)

Contact:  Ginny Colbert                                                                                 March 23, 2007
(802) 828-2148                                                                                   

Secretary of State Deb Markowitz Serves as Keynote Speaker
at National Voting Symposium

Yesterday, Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz provided the keynote address at a national symposium held in Sacramento, California, Facilitating Voting As People Age: Implications of Cognitive Impairment.   Markowitz said, “Election officials need to be proactive to ensure voting remains accessible as people age - while continuing to preserve voter integrity and preventing voter fraud.”  Markowitz says this will be especially important as demographics shift - the number of Americans over 55 years old is expected to double by the year 2030, while the number of Americans over 65 will double even sooner.

Markowitz spoke to a group of over 60 invited participants, including key federal and state officials, legal experts, psychiatrists, geriatricians, long-term care professionals, social scientists, and aging and disability advocates.  The ultimate goal of the symposium is to facilitate voting by older persons with cognitive disabilities and to clarify, refine, and improve law, public policy and practice standards.

The event was sponsored by the Borchard Foundation Center on Law and Aging; the ABA Commission on Law and Aging; and the Capitol Center for Government Law and Policy, Pacific McGeorge School of Law.   The planning committee also included representatives from AARP, the National Senior Citizens Law Center, the University of Virginia School of Law, and the University of Pennsylvania Institute on Aging.

The conference continues through Saturday, March 24.  Proceedings and recommendations will be published in a special symposium issue of the McGeorge Law Review.  These recommendations may form the basis for proposed legislation, regulations, administrative guidelines, institutional practice, professional practice and curricula for professional and public education.

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