2011 Outstanding Business of the Year Award -

2011 Outstanding Business of the Year Award

med after former Governor Deane C Davis (1900-1990) and co-sponsored by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and VermontBiz, the award is given to the Vermont company that embraces the unshakeable values that Davis brought to his office: enhancing the economy and championing the environment with the help of business and satisfied employees. Governor Deane C….

About this Event

Governor Deane C. Davis (1900 – 1990)

In 1968, at the age of 68, when most people look forward to enjoyment of retirement, Deane C. Davis was elected governor. Governor Davis brought considerable experience to the governor’s office (1969-1973), gleaned over many years as a lawyer, corporate officer and company president. He was a strong advocate of a sound economy based in a protected environment.

Governor Davis was known as the “Environmental Governor” because of his strong support for Act 250, which was enacted during his administration. He also championed a vigorous economic development program that resulted in the creation of the highly successful regional economic development corporations.

Criteria

The Standards of Excellence are the criteria that will be used in judging the nominees for the Outstanding Business of the Year Award. The following questions should be used as guidelines and examples for companies as they prepare their submissions for nomination. Please note, this award is designated to a for-profit business as the judging committee will take the growth of sales into consideration.

Demonstrated success by:

* Continued growth in number of employees and/or sales.
Does the company have a clear mission statement that allows sustainable growth for itself and its employees? Does the company’s goals and objectives create incentive for sustained growth? Does the company’s marketing strategy keep up with a constantly changing market place?

* Commitment of company resources, including employees to community projects.
Does the company have a community relations function at its corporate level? Does the company encourage employees to participate in community projects? Are company officers involved in community projects?

* Recognition of the environment as a natural and economic resource for Vermont.
Does company policy incorporate Vermont’s natural environment in the production or marketing of its product(s)? Is the company actively involved in the development of local, regional or state natural and economic environmental policies?

* Creation of a positive work environment for all employees.
Does the company involve its employees in operational policy creation? Does the company create incentives for employee participation in company and community projects? Does the company’s human resources policies provide for meaningful and continuing employee evaluation?

Standards of Excellence:

The Outstanding Business of the Year Award is the prestigious recognition of a company in Vermont who has met the highest standards of excellence in the past year to improving its sales, the work environment for its employees, and its contribution of its resources to its community.

The honoree has demonstrated success through:

Continued growth in number of employees or sales
Commitment of company resources, including employees to community projects
Recognition of the environment as a natural and economic resource for Vermont
Creation of a positive work environment for all employees

The economic well-being of Vermont rests squarely on the success of its businesses, large and small, which provide jobs, products, and services to consumers in Vermont, across the United States and around the world. Many companies in Vermont fully exemplify the Outstanding Vermont Business Standards of Excellence. They have used these standards as a guideline to improve their business, their employees and their community. These standards are relevant to all businesses, small and large.

Meeting the highest standards of excellence is the direct cause of the success of any business. Even if the market is ready and consumers are willing, the ability to attain the highest standards of excellence combined with a clear, definable mission statement is vital to any company’s longevity.

Eligibility:

To be eligible the nominated business must have its corporate headquarters in Vermont for at least 10 years. Subsidiaries of international corporations may also be nominated if their U.S. headquarters are based in Vermont and if they operate largely autonomously. Please note, this award is designated to a for-profit business as the judging committee will take the growth of sales into consideration.

General Information:

Anyone may nominate a business for the Outstanding Business of the Year Award. The nomination may be made by the business itself, a government agency, or interested individuals.

The screening committee may request additional information from nominators, references or the company itself for the judge’s consideration. All entries and supplementary materials will become the property of the VermontBiz and will not be returned. Decisions of the judging committee are final.

Because the Outstanding Business of the Year Award is designed to recognize the total commitment of a company, nominations should describe the entire scope of the company’s mission.

Accompanying Materials:

The online nomination form allows you to submit up to three supporting documents to your online nomination. Supporting documents are optional. Please submit as much background material as you feel necessary to support the statement. Additional materials may include, but are not limited to samples of company policies, mission statements, company annual reports, employee newsletters, program evaluation forms. If you are unable to submit accompanying materials online you may mail them to: VermontBiz, 365 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403.

Confidential Information:

In order for the Selection Committee to properly evaluate each application, it is helpful for us to have relevant information requested (sales figures and employee count). This information is CONFIDENTIAL and will not be shared with anyone other than the Selection Committee. Copies will be destroyed following the selection. Please include this information with your application.

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS

1990 WALLACE ENTERPRISES

1991 C & S WHOLESALEGROCERS

1992 MCKENZIE MEATS

1993 PERRY RESTAURANT GROUP

1994 GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS

1995 VERMONT HEATING & VENTILATING

1996 MACKMOLDING COMPANY

1997 SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT

1998 VERMONT COUNTRY STORE

1999 CABOT CREAMERY

2000 WAITSFIELD CHAMPLAIN VALLEY TELECOM

2001 WILD APPLE GRAPHICS

2002 NRG SYSTEMS

2003 HUBBARDTON FORGE

2004 IDX

2005 KING ARTHUR FLOUR

2006 RSG

2007 SYMQUEST GROUP INC

2008 NATIONAL LIFE GROUP

2009 BIOTEK INSTRUMENTS INC

2010 SMALL DOG ELECTRONICS

Winners

The Foley Family of Companies

The story of the Foley Family of Companies started in 1879, when Michael Foley purchased Goodwin’s Laundry in Rutland, Vermont. The business grew over generations and eventually became Foley Laundry, a business still in operation today. The Foley family used the small operation to launch new ventures and in 1973, the Foley Family of Companies was created. Today, the thriving business owns and operates The Party Store, Pistols & Roses, Foley Services and Foley Distributing. The Foley Family of Companies is no stranger to the struggles that Vermont businesses face during uncertain economic times. Being in operation since 1879 will give any company an appreciation for a fluctuating economy and the savvy business skills needed to work with the changing times. A snapshot of the last five years shows a steady increase in sales totaling 22% while their staff swelled 17%. This growth exceeds the national average in their industry. The Foley Family of Companies attributes over 130 years of success to the dedication of their customers and employees. The company business model is built on the work and creativity of its staff; empowering their workforce to continually develop new ideas to better serve existing customers. Weekly staff meetings and semi-annual reviews keep the business on track to continually set benchmarks and goals for both employee performance and customer service. The company is not only dedicated to the betterment of its workforce but to the community in which it resides. The most notable contribution to their community in recent years is the Foley Cancer Center at Rutland Regional Medical Center. The Community Cancer Center was in much need of a facelift when it received a financial gift from the Foley family. This gift kicked off an important fundraiser that allowed the center to purchase vital equipment for cancer treatment. Now many patients who were previously travelling up to 100 miles to receive daily treatments have access to cutting-edge treatment options that they may have otherwise declined due to travel distance. One criterion for the Deane C. Davis award is a company’s recognition of the environment as a natural and economic resource for Vermont. The Foley Family of Companies has promoted green initiatives over the last 20 years, beginning with the simple act of partnering with companies that produce recycled products such as paper, towels and GreenSeal certified cleaning chemicals. The company led regional hospitals in a composting project and helped initiate the first large scale composting program in healthcare foodservice. The Foley Family of Companies has also implemented a new Power of Three® closed loop recycling system. The Power of Three ® is a partnership with three innovative companies, Casella Waste Systems, SCA Tork® and Foley Distributing. Casella Zero Sort® collects Foleys customer’s recyclables and sorts the materials using state-of-the-art technology. SCA purchases the Zero Sort® recycled paper from Casella to be made into various paper and tissue products. Closing the Loop, Foley Distributing delivers these renewed resources back to their customers. The Foley Family of Companies embodies the very essence of the Deane C. Davis award. They have struck a balance between serving their community and workforce while maintaining a savvy business sense enabling them to stay profitable. Taking into consideration all the company has accomplished in over 130 years, the Foley Family of Companies outlines itself as a strong contender in this trio of business excellence.