Imagine if no one bought locally. Imagine if EVERYONE bought locally!
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Community – Food – Arts – Recreation – Weddings – Businesses
In This Issue:
Flash Dinner, Train Rides & the Sound of Music
Wednesday, July 10 – 6:00 – 8:00 PM Rain or Shine
Mark & Marijke Smith of Windekind Farm in Huntington are hosting, in collaboration with the Western Slopes Business Association, an evening of fun, schmoozing, dining and music. If you’ve never been to Windekind Farm in the hills of Huntington you are in for a treat. Mark & Marijke have created a magical place that will remind you a bit of the Trapp Family Lodge landscape in Stowe. Purchase tickets online here. Adult tickets limited to fifty. $40 adult $25 kids under 15
Trains Rides
Music by Joe Capps
Artistic Post and Beam Tours
Great Food by Karyl Kent of New Leaf Catering
Bring your blankets and folding chairs.
Menu
Tapas Bar at Reception
Marinated Roasted Mushrooms
Herbed Polenta Bites with Manchega
Olives, Crostini with Midnight Farm Chevre and Pequillo Peppers
Huntington River Vineyards will be selling wine by the glass
Salad Station: Local Mixed Spring Greens with Fresh Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette
Entree: Spanish Paella with Andouille Sausage, Chicken and Shrimp
Vegetarian: Spanish Paella with Fennel, Asparagus, Summer Squash and Eggplant
Iced Tea with Mint
Watermelon Lemonade
After Dinner Sweets: Strawberries and Palmeros (Cookies)
Local Entrepreneur Wins $60,000
Gredio wins $20K Cash & $40K In-kind Mentor Support in LaunchVT Competition
–Larry Bohen, Audiobooks Online – Michael Adams (on the left in the photo) grew up on Orchard Lane in Richmond. The seeds of salesmanship and entrepreneurism began to sprout at an early age when at the age of seven he tried to sell, unsuccessfully, his dad a Ron Popeil Showtime Rotisserie. In 2003 (age 15) he founded Adam’s Cookie House and sold cookies he made in mom & dad’s kitchen, in downtown Richmond on Saturdays. In 2005 while still at MMUHS, he founded Eddie’s Energy Bars which was recognized by Entrepreneur and Backpacker magazines. In 2006 he was a recipient of a RABA scholarship and went off to Bryant University in RI. After graduation Michael returned to Vermont and started Green Mountain Mustard which is sold in 70 retail outlets throughout New England. Michael is “Director of All that Happens” at Green Mountain Mustard. Michael is also currently the Marketing Manager for Bluehouse Group, a Web design and Internet marketing firm in the Goodwin-Baker Building, Richmond.
Micheal’s experiences in founding and operating food companies led him to founding a software business called Gredio. One of his greatest challenges in managing his food production businesses was keeping inventory and knowing whether he was making a profit. Recognizing there had to be a better way he partnered with Andrew Rousseau, a programmer at Bluehouse Group, to develop an affordable, cloud-based software solution for the 75,000 small food producers with annual sales less than $1M in the US.
I caught up with Michael for a few questions recently.
Larry: What is Gredio?
Michael: Gredio is a web application to help food producers better manage their inventory, take control of their business, and automatically track ingredients for FDA-required lot tracking. We’re currently in testing mode, but rapidly developing several features to bring Gredio full circle.
Larry: What inspired you to develop Gredio?
Michael: After three food businesses, I kept having the same problem: there wasn’t any inexpensive software to help me run my business. While large (and very expensive) enterprise software existed, nothing was within my reach. Turns out many small food producers hack together a solution that doesn’t quite work for them. That’s where Gredio comes in. I aim to build Gredio to address every pain point I had trying to run a food business.
Larry: What about your high school experience helped develop your entrepreneurial spirit?
Michael: I started my first company freshman year in high school selling cookies. Then, during senior year, I launched my energy bar company. It was Laurel Butler, then the business teacher at MMU, who helped me develop my business plan for Eddie’s Energy Bars. After getting on a WCAX Made in Vermont segment, I was hooked on business.
Larry: What could high school curriculums include to promote entrepreneurship?
Michael: I think there’s still a connotation that business classes aren’t for everyone. It’s the “filler elective”. When really, having basic business knowledge is important for anyone. It’d be great to see entrepreneurial incubators in high schools. They have them in colleges and universities across the nation, but high school students have great ideas, too. Why not capitilize on them and help to instill the entrepreneurial spirit as early as possible?
Larry: What could the WSBA be doing to support MMUHS entrepreneurial initiatives?
Michael: I would hold workshops on entrepreneurship with local entrepreneurs. A young entrepreneurs club could be an interesting addition to MMUHS.
Did You Know?
Tidbits of information about goings on in our area:
Richmond has its first pet grooming facility. Talia Smith has opened The Grooming Shoppe at 71 Huntington Road in the Round Church Plaza (behind Long Trail Physical Therapy). Here’s what Jody Lesko, Richmond recently said about Talia: “I was thrilled to see that there would be a new dog groomer setting up shop in Richmond this spring. We (and our dog) love the folks at Doggie Styles in Colchester, but the location/drive was tough for us. Well, our pooch had his first appointment at the new place on Friday – and we couldn’t be more pleased. He smells and looks great – Talia did a fantastic job with his haircut, trimmed nails, and ear cleaning – and topped it off with a cute bow on his collar. Excellent service, comparable rates, and WAY less driving. We will be regulars at The Grooming Shoppe. Thank you, Talia!”
Huntington road destruction photos by Aaron Worthley & Dan Stoddard are available online.
Mount Mansfield Community TV videos of governmental meetings in Richmond, Jericho & Underhill can be viewed on the Web here. MMCTV videos cover much more than just meetings. Here’s a featured video: Lost & Found in the Flood – Richmond, a Year Later
Another MMCTV video about Our Community Cares Camp
MMUHS Graduation 2013 video
Got a tidbit of information you would like us to pass along? Email
Local News & Events
Richmond 4th of July festivities to be rescheduled to August
Western Slopes blog postings to begin soon
More local news
We love to let folks know your news. Just send an email to Sherry Daniels.
Welcome to New & Renewing WSBA Members
Farr Family Repair Service - Richmond
Kitchen Table Bistro – Richmond
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Vermont Weddings on the Western Slopes News
The VWOWS PDF / print brochure is being finalized and should be available soon.
Plans are being made for an October Walk-Around for the public to five wedding venues. Opportunities will be available at each venue for wedding businesses to exhibit their products / services.
Discussion continues on VWOWS exhibiting at the November 16th Vermont Vows Magazine “Wedding Affair” show at Shelburne Farms.
Email Nick deTarnowsky, WSBA Vice President and owner of Blue Sky Weddings & Events for more information or to participate in our wedding group.
The next meeting of the Vermont Weddings on the Western Slopes group will be Monday August 12, 2013, 1:00 PM at the West Monitor Barn 2nd floor conference room. All are welcome.
Your feedback is invited. Got an opinion about this eNewsletter, the Western Slopes website or the Western Slopes Business Association? Email Larry Bohen.
WSBA newsletter produced by Larry Bohen, Audiobooks Online LLC
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