Business Notes: March 13, 2016
Wilder — Steve Davis, owner of VerMod, the Wilder-based manufacturer of energy-efficient modular homes, has purchased the 20,000-square-foot building on Route 5 that his company has leased for two years. Terms of the deal were not announced.
VerMod secured financing for the purchase with support from the Green Mountain Economic Development Corp., the Vermont Small Business Development Center, the Vermont Economic Development Authority, and Mascoma Savings Bank. The Hartford Revolving Loan Fund, which the Green Mountain Economic Development Corp. manages, also provided mortgage financing. Cheryl Brush, of Moseley Associates, represented the seller in the transaction. The customized facility formerly was home to Todd Transportation.
VerMod manufactures modular homes in controlled conditions. It employs 12 workers “with plans for additional personnel to support production of 100 homes over the next three years,” according to a news release from Bob Haynes, executive director of the Green Mountain Economic Development Corp. Haynes called the transaction as “a perfect example of community based lending with direct and substantial benefits to all concerned.”
Company News
Hypertherm, the Hanover-based manufacturer of plasma, laser, and waterjet cutting systems, has been named a 2016 World’s Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute for a second straight year. The designation recognizes organizations for having a material impact on the way business is conducted by fostering a culture of ethics and transparency at every level of the company. Hypertherm is one of 131 companies from around the world selected to this year’s list, and one of only two companies in the Machine Tools & Accessories sector. Other companies earning the “Most Ethical” designation include Deere and Co., GE, Cisco and The Nature Conservancy. A complete list of all companies honored this year can be found at http://worldsmostethicalcompanies.ethisphere.com/honorees/.
Scott Gordon, of Norwich, is scheduled to debut his Vermontica line of furniture and decorative objects this week at the 2016 Architectural Digest Design Show in New York City. Gordon spent four years in Seattle studying with David Gulassa, an artist whose designs in furniture, lighting and architectural fixtures “became icons of the Pacific Northwest style,” Gordon said in a news release. He also learned how to weld and work with steel forms, gained an appreciation for different species of wood, wood finishes and furniture construction, and studied the works of other artists. For more about the White River Junction-based company, visit http://www.vermontica.com.
Upcoming Events
Upper Valley chapter of SCORE is offering a workshop, How to Compete with Big-Box Stores, on Thursday, from 6-9 p.m., at 20 W. Park St., Lebanon, Suite 316, in the Citizens Bank Building. This workshop will introduce real business situations and provide an opportunity to learn new approaches through advertising, promotion and marketing efforts to compete with much larger competitors. Barry Rotman, a SCORE counselor since 2003, will present the workshop. He has owned and run small businesses after receiving an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He brings a practical, down-to-earth approach to dealing with this vital subject. Cost is $30, two for $45. Veterans free. For more information or to reserve a spot, visit http://www.uppervalley.score.org, email score@valley.net or call 603-448-3491.
The next Investing in NH Forum by Live Free and Start, a joint initiative of the New Hampshire governor’s office, the Business Finance Authority and the Department of Resources and Economic Development, is scheduled for Thursday, from 4:30-7 p.m., at the DEN Innovation Center, 4 Currier Place, Hanover. The free forums are designed for to help inform potential investors of ways to invest in the people and businesses of the Granite State. For more information or to register, visit http://livefreeandstart.com/
The 38th annual HomeLife Expo will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at the Leverone Field House, 26 S. Park St., Hanover, across the street from the Thompson Arena. The show runs from 2-8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday and will feature more than 100 exhibitors, a farmers market, a kids area and more. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students. Seniors are $3 on Friday between 2-4 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online in advance at http://homelifeexpo.com. For more information, contact the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce at 603-448-1203 or lebanonchamber@lebanonchamber.com, or the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce at 603-643-3115 or hacc@hanoverchamber.org.
The Upper Valley chapter of SCORE is offering a full-day, hands-on WordPress workshop on Saturday, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Franklin Pierce University’s center at 24 Airport Road, West Lebanon. The course is designed to teach participants how to use WordPress, the most popular online publishing platform for websites and blogs, to publish content on the Web. Each participant will have a workstation and work on his or her own a WordPress website or blog. Instructors will explain and demonstrate key concepts and then assign tasks. Gary Horsman and Vasilios Georgitsis will be co-presenters. Horsman is in charge of Marketing at A Global Reach, a business development and Internet Marketing Company in Woodstock. Georgitsis is the president of GlobeInt.com Inc. and owner of NHVT Computer Services, both of Lebanon. Cost is $300. Register by March 16. No late registration or walk-ins. Seating is limited. There will be a one-hour break for lunch (not included). Light refreshments will be available in the room for the morning session. For more information or to reserve a spot, visit http://www.uppervalley.score.org or call 603-448-3491.
Items of interest to the local business community are published every Sunday. Submissions may be mailed to: Business Notes, c/o Sunday Valley News, P.O. Box 877, White River Junction, Vt. 05001. You may also send your items by fax to 603-298-0212, or by e-mail to biznotes@vnews.com. All items are subject to editing.
