Schedule
Plan our your day at the VermontBiz2Biz EXPO! Get ready to immerse yourself in a day filled with opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate the vibrant business community of Vermont. Explore our diverse lineup of events, including engaging seminars, prestigious awards ceremonies, and invaluable networking sessions. Discover how you can be a part of this dynamic event that reimagines the power of business in Vermont.
| 8:00 – 9:30am | Breakfast and the 2024 Vermont Business Growth Awards Presented by VermontBiz & TD Bank Sponsored by Chroma Technology Corp & Gallagher, Flynn & Co, ReArch and Twincraft Skincare |
| 9:00am | Exhibition Hall opens to the public |
| 9:20 – 9:55 am | Coffee Break: TD Safe Seminar |
| 10 – 10:45am | Session 1: AI Literacy: What Decision Makers Need To Know About Artificial Intelligence |
| 10: 50 – 11:05am | Coffee Break with State Treasurer Michael Pieciak: Housing Investments |
| 11:15 – 12pm | Session 2: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work |
| 12 – 1:30pm | Senator Peter Welch Luncheon: Fireside Chat |
| 1:35-1:55 | Coffee Break with Bytes.co: Boost Your Website in 5 Minutes Quick Wins for Better Performance |
| 2 – 2:45pm | Session 3: The New Hybrid Workplace |
| 2:50 – 3:05pm | Coffee Break with Vermont Treasure’s Office Director of Economic Empowerment, Becky Wasserman: Vermont Saves |
| 3:15 – 4pm | Session 4: Business “Resiliency” |
| 4pm – 5pm | Networking Reception |
Breakfast & Vermont Business Growth Awards
Presented by VermontBiz & TD Bank
Time: 8am – 9:30am
Speakers: TBD
This breakfast session will include networking plus VermontBiz and TD Bank will present the 2024 Vermont Business Growth Awards.
The Vermont Business Growth Awards celebrate the achievements of the top businesses throughout Vermont, in various categories, over the last 5 years based on growth.
Coffee Break: TD Safe Seminar
Time: 9:20 – 9:55 am
Speakers:
Steve Crockwell, Commercial Relationship Manager, TD Bank
Barbara Rosendahl, Retail Store Manager, TD Bank
Join TD Bank’s Steve Crockwell, Commercial Relationship Manager and Barbara Rosendahl, Retail Store Manager for a fraud prevention seminar focused on keeping your business safe. Learn valuable tips and strategies to protect your business from potential threats and fraud. TD Bank experts will provide essential information on safeguarding your assets and preventing financial loss. Don’t miss this opportunity to ensure the security of your business.
Session 1: AI Literacy: What Decision Makers Need To Know About Artificial Intelligence
Time: 10am – 10:45am
Speaker: Dave Gibson, President of Propeller Media Works and Accessibility
Setting aside the existential debates over AI, in this session, Dave Gibson, President of Propeller Media Works and Accessibility, will focus instead on why AI literacy is the essential skill right now for any manager or decision maker.
We’ll discuss practical ways AI can be utilized at every level of your organization to empower even the smallest teams to punch well above their weight. You’ll learn how teams in practically any department can use AI to work better, smarter, and faster. And we’ll discuss policies, training, and safeguards to consider as well. When you leave, you’ll have a whole set of new superpowers to share with your teams.
Session 2: Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work
Time: 11:15am – 12pm
Moderator: Dave Gibson, President of Propeller Media Works and Accessibility
Panelists:
Emelia Brogna, Founder & CEO, Wayfinder Wellness and Physical Therapy
Lindsay DesLauriers, President and CEO, Bolton Valley Resort
Sara Mellinger, AI Implementation Strategist, OnLogic
In this panel, Dave Gibson, President of Propeller Media Works & Accessibility.works will guide a panel of regional business leaders who will share their experiences using AI. You’ll hear answers to your questions and those such as
- What areas of your company are using AI and how?
- Examples of how the use of AI has benefited individuals, teams and the company overall?
- How has the use of AI been received in your company?
- How have you approached security and privacy?
- Does AI benefit small businesses more?
- How do you create a culture that accepts AI as a coworker?
Coffee Break: Housing Investments
Time: 10:50 – 11:05am
Speaker: Michael Pieciak, Vermont State Treasurer
Join State Treasurer Mike Pieciak for a discussion about his office’s recent investments in housing through the 10% in Vermont local investment program. In September 2023, Treasurer Pieciak awarded a $55.5 million loan to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Vermont Economic Development Authority and Northern Forest Center, supporting over 1,100 additional housing units. These initiatives include deeply affordable rental housing, homes for Vermonters exiting homelessness, manufactured home communities, and middle-income rental units in key economic centers. Learn about the 10% in Vermont program and additional housing investments the Treasurer’s Office is planning to address Vermont’s housing shortage and support the state’s long-term economic growth.
Senator Peter Welch Luncheon: Fireside Chat
Time: 12pm – 1:30pm
Speakers:
Kyle Clark, CEO & Founder of BETA Technologies
Alex Hernandez, President of Champlain College
Moderator:
Lucia Campriello, CEO, of HULA
This luncheon is presented by Senator Peter Welch.
Session 3: The New Hybrid Workplace
Time: 2:00pm – 2:45pm
Challenges and Solutions from Vermont’s Best Places to Work Winners: Fluency, NuHarbor Security & Stantec
Moderator: Mara Neufeld Rivera, Head of People and Culture, Chroma Technology Corp
Panelists:
Michelle Arnold, Head of Talent, Fluency
Jackie Kahn, Vice President, Human Resources, NuHarbor Security
Megan Norton, Human Resources Business Partner, Stantec
Join us for an engaging and insightful panel discussion where top employers from Vermont share their experiences and strategies in navigating the new hybrid workplace landscape. This session features the #1 ranked small, medium, and large-sized Best Places to Work in Vermont in 2024. Representatives from these award-winning companies will discuss the unique challenges they have faced and the innovative solutions they have implemented to create effective and supportive hybrid work environments. Our panelists will delve into a variety of topics, including:
– Maintaining Company Culture
– Employee Wellbeing
– Technology and Tools
– Flexibility and Productivity
– Leadership and Management
Session 4: Business “Resiliency”
Time: 3:00pm – 3:45pm
The new buzz word. What does it really mean for your small business, why it should be on your radar?
Speaker: Linda Rossi, State Director, VtSBDC
Speaker: Debra Boudrieau, Business Advisor, VtSBDC
In an ever-changing business environment that ranges from natural disasters to cyber threats, the way to gain control is to build a resilient business. It takes work, but we’ll share ten reasons why that work is well worth the effort.
Coffee Break with Bytes.co: Boost your website in 5 minutes
Quick Wins for Better Performance
Time: 1:35 – 1:55pm
Speaker: Kristina Drobny, Creative Director, Bytes.co
Join Creative Director Kristina Drobny from Bytes.co for an interactive, 20-minute coffee break where she’ll dive into actionable improvements you can make on your website to boost performance. Sign up for a 5-minute personalized session, where she’ll review your site and provide recommendations to help your business better present itself to your audience, provide a more optimized user experience, and convert visitors into leads. Even if you don’t get a slot, you’re welcome to listen in—many of the tips will apply to most business websites. Whether you’re focused on increasing lead generation, optimizing for search, or refining your design, this session will offer valuable insights tailored to Vermont businesses.
Coffee Break: Vermont Saves
Time: 2:50 – 3:05pm
Speaker: Michael Pieciak, Vermont State Treasurer
Join Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak to learn about the Vermont Saves program, the Treasurer’s state-facilitated retirement program launching later this year. Vermont Saves offers a retirement savings plan for Vermonters without access to employer-sponsored plans. The program makes saving for retirement simple and automatic, with no cost to employers or taxpayers. Treasurer Pieciak will explain how Vermont Saves will improve the financial security of Vermonters by automatically enrolling eligible workers in Roth IRA accounts with payroll deduction contributions. Employees can set their own contribution rate, or use the program default, and can opt out of the program if they choose. Don’t miss this session to understand how Vermont Saves can help secure a stable retirement for Vermont’s workforce.
Networking Reception
Time: 4pm – 5pm
The day will come to an end with a networking reception, providing exhibitors and attendees a time to celebrate their business successes.
Win fabulous raffle prizes! Must be present to win.