Friendship Turns Into Business Partnership
2 minute readBy Amanda Kuhnert Longtime friends Deb Emerson and Emily Rinkema both had family members living with different forms of dementia and struggled to find meaningful ways to connect with them. After their loved ones passed away, Emily reached out to Deb with an idea to start a business that would help other people in the […]
Welcoming Vermont’s Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners: “North by Northeast” event aims to connect, celebrate and inspire on Sept. 30th
< 1 minute readRegistration is now open for North by Northeast: Navigating Your Small Business, a unique conference taking place at Vermont State University’s Randolph Center campus on September 30, 2023 that focuses specifically on Vermont’s small businesses and solo-preneurs. To learn more and to register for the free event, visit: https://www.vtsbdc.org/north-by-northeast/ Attendees will experience a day of […]
Vermont Couple Finds Niche in High-End Leather Crafting
2 minute readBy Amanda Kuhnert “We are growing very rapidly,” said Amanda Farrell, who co-owns Bergamot Amor, a Williamstown-based leather goods company, with her partner Peter Shangraw. “We’ve shocked almost everyone, including ourselves.” The company produces made-in-Vermont bags and gear using U.S.-sourced boot leather. Amanda, who grew up in East Montpelier, was laid off from her marketing […]
Fifty Goats and Counting at Danz Ahn Dairy
2 minute readBy Amanda Kuhnert In 2000, Juliana Danyew visited a local goat farm on a field trip with the nursery school where she worked. This visit sparked her interest in developing a dairy business that would enable her to put her 12 acres of land to use while working from home. “These dairy goats were smaller […]
A Warm Welcome to VtSBDC’s Summer 2023 Interns
2 minute readVtSBDC is proud to introduce our outstanding summer 2023 interns: Daniel Hibbs, Joshua Moore, and Lili McKinstry. They each have brought a fresh perspective to our work and the team enjoys two-way, intergenerational learning that navigates challenges, enhances resources, and creates dynamic futures. Daniel is a senior at the University of Vermont and is majoring […]
Vermont Small Business Development Center Announces 2023 State Star: Heather M. Gonyaw
2 minute readRANDOLPH CENTER, VT (July 20, 2023) – Linda Rossi, State Director of the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC), announced that Heather M. Gonyaw has been named the organization’s 2023 State Star. The award, presented annually and recognized nationally, celebrates a member of the organization’s team for remarkable commitment to small business success. Gonyaw joined […]
Students explore opportunities in Vermont’s business community, expanding confidence in their goals
4 minute readThe Governor’s Institutes of Vermont (GIV) hosted their ninth year of the Entrepreneurship: Creativity and Innovation Institute, one of eight specialized areas of interest they offer for Vermont teenagers and highschoolers throughout the summer. Each residential institute is an adventure that focuses on a topic and offers an in-depth experience built around learning, interacting, and […]
Scaling Back to Find Success
3 minute readFor Bobolink Yarns founder Katie Sullivan, letting go of her big idea was the best business decision she made. By Kelly Nottermann, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund “I think we’re done,” Katie Sullivan, owner of Bobolink Yarns in Irasburg Vermont, told her business coach in January 2023. Carolyn Cooke agreed. “She did the work, followed every […]