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802-479-0167
Fax: 802-479-2867
P.O. Box 342
107 N. Main Street, Suite 7
Barre, VT 05641
E:mail: info
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Images Courtesy of
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Images Courtesy of
Image Relay
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Entrepreneurship Week Special Edition March 2008
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An Alternative Financing Source
for Vermont Entrepreneurs
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In This Issue
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Celebrations!
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Greetings!
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From Emily Kaminsky, Director
Welcome to our Entrepreneurship Week Special Edition!
The week of February 23 through March 1st marked Vermont's second annual Entrepreneurship Week. Businesses, policy leaders, educational institutions, and economic development organizations joined efforts throughout the week to highlight the contributions that entrepreneurs make every day to our economy and communities. Click here to read some of the press from the week.
This edition of our e-newsletter focuses on Community Capital's celebration of entrepreneurship. We hosted a 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year Dinner and Awards Ceremony on February 28th to honor one special entrepreneur - read below for the full story!
Although Entrepreneurship week has passed, celebrating entrepreneurship hasn't. Visit our Quick Links section for business plan competitions around the state and award ceremonies honoring entrepreneurs.
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Photo taken by Andrew Kline. Community Capital is pleased to announce Janice DeGoosh of The Pink Shutter in Montpelier as our 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year!
"We are thrilled to present Janice with this award," said Community Capital Director Emily Kaminsky. "Her achievements as a business owner, particularly in the wedding floral side of her business, is a great example for so many budding business owners."
DeGoosh began working in the floral business nearly 30 years ago. Although she thought about owning her own store, she said, "It's tough to be the owner of a floral business when you have kids because it takes up so much of your time during the holidays. But I still had so many of my own ideas, and when you're working for someone else it's hard to do those things."
Janice eventually moved to Montpelier and began working at The Pink Shutter. When the previous owners decided to sell, Janice had been there for six years and felt it was the right time to pursue her dream of owning her own business. "My kids were grown; I owned my home, so it seemed like a good time to do it." She wrote a business plan and did all of the other necessary groundwork, and then met with a bank and Community Capital who supplied her with her first loan.
Under Janice's management, the store continued to prosper - rapidly in the wedding and events area - and three years ago, at the urging of her daughter, Karen, Janice expanded the store and began a home goods section in her new space. "Community Capital has been there for every bump in the road. After working with them, it's almost hard to imagine how you can't succeed!" The Pink Shutter celebrated its 50th year, five of those under Janice's management, in 2007.
Congratulations Janice!
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Photo taken by David Heath. On February 28th, at The Capital Plaza Hotel in Montpelier, Community Capital and 130 guests celebrated Entrepreneurship Week by honoring Janice DeGoosh of The Pink Shutter as the 2008 Vermont Entrepreneur of the Year.
The group was large enough to fit in the Governor's Ballroom, which was a surprise to Community Capital Director Emily Kaminsky and awardee Janice DeGoosh who remarked in her acceptance speech, "I didn't realize there were so many of you who supported Community Capital and me! Thank you to you all!"
Janice was this year's awardee in recognition of the "quintupling" of her wedding floral business in 2007. Janice attributed her success in part to Community Capital's flexibility and support, including the expert assistance provided by post-loan technical assistant consultant Bill Farr. "I have taken advantage of Community Capital to the fullest. I want to thank them for all of their support," she said.
The Governor was on hand early on in the evening to welcome guests to the dinner. He congratulated Janice on her award, thanked Community Capital for its work, and lauded Community Capital for taking over the Job Start program, a state-funded microbusiness loan fund currently at the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) that will soon be transferred to Community Capital.
Students from Green Mountain College's entrepreneurship class attended with Professor Jacob Park who is also a Community Capital loan committee member. Several students shared the dinner table with Community Capital lender Chris Rottler and Small Business Development Center counselor David Rubel. When asked if they were having fun, Chris answered "I think I'm going to have five business plans on my desk next Monday!" This year's National Entrepreneurship Week had a special focus on youth entrepreneurship. Community Capital's event was an appropriate out-of-classroom opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship in Vermont.
Key note speaker Jeanne Morrissey of J.A. Morrissey Inc. in Wililston inspired guests with her story of start up and her employment philosophy. She also shared some of her most harrowing entrepreneurial moments. Now 15 years into business ownership, Morrissey attributes some of that longevity to her "good luck." But, her success, she says, is a result of knowing she could achieve her dreams. "It's not enough to believe in yourself," she said. "You have to know that you'll succeed." All on hand were inspired by her speech. Representative Bill Botzow from Pownal said after her presentation, "You've got it right." Entrepreneur and Community Capital borrower Ed Williams said, "Her message really hit home."
Community Capital used the dinner as an opportunity to also present plaques to the following recent contributors at the Community Catalyst and Community Idealist levels. Northfield Savings Bank, Union Mutual of Vermont, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group, and Peter Hood of Noyle W Johnson Insurance Company. Thank you to these and all of our other contributors who are listed on our website.
Thanks to the following sponsors for making this event possible: Com munity National Bank, Chittenden Bank, Green Mountain College's Business Department, Johnston & Lord Consulting, Kimball Sherman Ellis, Merchants Bank, National Life Group, and VSECU.
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If you have news that you would like featured in any of our upcoming e-newsletters, please contact me at 802-479-0167 or [email protected]. Until next time...
Sincerely,
Emily Kaminsky , Community Capital of Vermont
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