Recent Events

VEC Breakfast Forums

Americana 2007, March, 2007.

VEC represented Vermont’s green enterprise sector at the Americana International Environmental Technology Trade Show and Conference, March 20 – 22, 2007. The event featured over 400 exhibits, 2,000 foreign delegates, and 10,000 attendees, and is one of the world’s best venues for international marketing and networking. Assisted by the Vermont Global Trade Partnership, VEC was there to market Vermont’s green products and services to an international clientele, providing live Internet access to websites and one-on-one matchmaking services between Vermont firms and prospective clients. More than 20 VEC members and other Vermonters came to see the show and make contact with other exhibitors, and Vermont Public Television filmed the exhibit for a forthcoming video feature on Vermont’s international commerce.

Globe 2006, March 29-31, 2006, Vancouver, BC.

VEC joined the State of Vermont for a highly successful trade mission and exhibit at Globe. Our two booths complemented each other, working to recruit firms to move to or do business in Vermont, market Vermont firms to prospective international clients, and increase the state’s profile in the emerging green business boom. Globe is one of the world’s largest such events, featuring 46 presentations by 200 speakers, 400 exhibitors, 2,000 foreign delegates, and 10,000 visitors from 70 countries. VEC handed out 200 VEC member directories and an equal number of whole-state green enterprise directories; answered scores of specific inquiries by visiting member websites via live broadband access and a 20-inch IMAC screen; and represented members at receptions and matchmaking sessions. Given the innumerable new technologies on display and the increasing sophistication of the green marketplace and its financial mechanisms, the Vermont delegation came away convinced that we’re on the verge of a global green business boom.

Green Jobs & Internships Fair, March 15, 2006, University of Vermont, Burlington.

Co-sponsored by VEC and UVM’s Rubenstein School, the third annual green jobs fair was the biggest and best ever, featuring a discussion panel of industry leaders on careers in renewable energy fields, 32 exhibitors representing environmental businesses and organizations, and over 200 attendees.

Agriculture & the Environment: Solutions for a Sustainable Future, December 8, 2005, Sheraton Conference Center, Burlington

Our Agriculture & the Environment conference proved to be a major step toward transforming agriculture practice and policy in Vermont. The overflow audience of 243 participants included farmers, environmental scientists and engineers, state agency heads and staff, representatives from non-profit agricultural and rural development organizations, educators, students, legislators, and staff from federal agencies and legislative offices. Presenters included Agency of Agriculture Sec. Stephen Kerr, Agency of Commerce Sec. Kevin Dorn, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, Chuck Ross of Sen. Leahy’s office, Senate Ag Chair Sara Kittell, House Ag Chair David Zuckerman, Rep. Harvey Smith, and three panels of experts. For a complete agenda, please click here.

2005 Annual Membership Meeting and Expo, October 17, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m, Norwich University.

The 2005 Expo showcased VEC members' activities and provided a variety of informative presentations on environmental topics as well as lunch, networking sessions, and exhibits. Vermont Agency of Agriculture Sec. Tom Torti and Agency of Commerce Sec. Kevin Dorn spoke on green industries' role in Vermont's economy; the keynote address featured Jito Coleman, president of the phenomenally successful Northern Power Systems. Other topics included watershed modeling and pesticide transport, biodiesel development in Vermont, legal aspects of international trade, new paradigms of solid waste management, and many more.

VEC gratefully acknowledges our sponsors for the 2005 Expo: Geotech Environmental Equipment, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Precision Industrial Maintenance, and Regenesis!

Breakfast with ANR Sec. Tom Torti, September 13, 8:30 a.m., Capitol Plaza Hotel, Montpelier.

This informal breakfast was an opportunity for environmental business people, educators and administrators to meet Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Torti and to learn more about recent developments at the agency. Sec. Torti discussed pending reorganization of the ANR, and took questions from attendees on issues of concern to their organizations. Representatives of 20 businesses and organizations networked and updated each other on current projects.

Contact Daniel Hecht, VEC Executive Director
dhecht@norwich.edu
(802) 485-2455

Copyright © 2006