VBSR is pleased to honor three outstanding individuals and organizations who are pushing new ideas and initiatives forward, leading by outstanding example, and developing successful SR business models. Our 18^th Annual Award Ceremony and Dinner will recognize Bram Kleppner, CEO of Danforth, with the Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement (formerly the Terry Ehrich Award for Excellence in Socially Responsible Business). Awards will also be given to Windham Grows, (VBSR Innovation and Inspiration Award), and Dan Hock, Programs Director of Old Spokes Home (VBSR Young Changemaker Award).

Click here to register to attend!

A sunset view of the Adirondacks, historic resort buildings and gardens, environmentally-focused operations and a chef-designed menu featuring Vermont producers (including many VBSR members!), make this the perfect setting to celebrate some of our outstanding members and their work. Guests will have the chance to network and celebrate while enjoying a cocktail hour, dinner, dessert and a cash bar. Don’t miss this unique gathering of entrepreneurial, mission-driven business professionals!

2019 Awardees

VBSR Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement:    
Bram Kleppner, Danforth

The VBSR Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement (formerly the Terry Ehrich Award for Excellence in Socially Responsible Business) honors an outstanding individual in honor of Terry Ehrich, late owner of Hemmings Motor News, founder of the First Day Foundation and a founding Board member of VBSR. The award is given annually to a person exemplifying Terry’s commitment to community, the environment, progressive public policy, and the workplace.

Prior to joining Danforth, Bram Kleppner spent 10 years at Ben & Jerry’s doing international marketing and business development, where he co-led Ben & Jerry’s first anti-global warming campaign. Since 2011, as CEO he has led Danforth from declining sales and losses to double-digit growth and profitability. He’s overseen Danforth’s becoming the world’s first 100% solar-powered pewter workshop; company-wide profit-sharing; paid parental leave; and paid time off for community service. With his leadership Danforth is currently driving to zero fossil fuel use, and raising its lowest hourly wage to $15 by 2023. Kleppner serves the community in several capacities, including on the Vermont Tax Structure Commission, chairing the Board of Directors of the Population Media Center, working worldwide to resolve the interrelated problems of women’s rights, protecting the environment, and population. He also works locally on women’s rights as part of Change The Story’s Champions for Change, a group of male leaders working for gender equity.

VBSR Innovation and Inspiration Award: Windham Grows

The VBSR Innovation and Inspiration Award recognizes VBSR member organizations who have accomplished innovative and/or inspirational achievement in the following areas within the past three years: Planet (Environmental Impact), People (Social Impact) and Prosperity (Economic Impact)

Windham Grows, a project of Strolling of the Heifers in Brattleboro, is a food and agriculture business hatchery which gives mentorship, education, tools, and financing and promotes sustainability to help food and agriculture businesses grow in a renewable way. This award will be accepted by Orly Munzing, Executive Director of Strolling of the Heifers.

VBSR Young Changemaker Award: Dan Hock, Old Spokes Home

The VBSR Young Changemaker Award recognizes an individual under age 40 who has led the formation of a socially responsible enterprise that has been in operation 3 or more years. The awardee will be selected based on their ability to use the power of business to advance innovative solutions to society’s challenges for the good of the planet, their employees, their community and economic growth in Vermont.

Dan Hock, the Programs Director and 10-year veteran of Old Spokes Home Bike Shop & Non-Profit will be given the VBSR Young Changemaker Award. Old Spokes Home creates access to bikes and the opportunities they provide for our whole community by selling new and used bikes, offering affordable full service repairs, free bikes and accessories to young children, and through youth empowerment and job training in partnership with organizations like Vermont Works for Women, Spectrum, Vermont Adult Learning and others.

About Basin Harbor

This year’s event will take place at the Basin Harbor Resort and Boat Club, stewards of the land since 1803. A fifth-generation family-owned business, this lakeside resort on Lake Champlain is an outstanding example of Vermont’s working lands. Thanks to a multigenerational commitment to preservation and sustainability, the 700-acre estate remains as beautiful today as it did over a century ago while employing 300 people each year. A dedication to improving their carbon footprint on a local and global level has earned them the designation of “Green Hotel” by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, and the first golf course in Vermont to become a member of the prestigious Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Their beautiful location – together with their robust environmental efforts, including composting all food waste; electric, fuel and water efficiency; land conservation; capturing waste heat, generating electricity from an on-site solar array, and sourcing from local farmers and food purveyors – make this a perfect venue for this annual event.

Carpooling Encouraged
Whether you are coming from near or far, please consider carpooling to the event!

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Sunrise Sponsor

These are the things that they love at Danforth: each other, their customers, their communities; great design, great artisanship, great service; our planet. They work metal by hand and are committed to zero fossil fuel use. They believe everyone needs jobs that pay a living wage and provide time to live. They believe everyone has a right to good health care, no one should be without good daycare for their young children, and no one should be afraid that retirement will lead to poverty. They make things that they hope will bring joy to their customers and their families for a very long time.

Luminary Sponsors

AllEarth Renewables specializes in the design and manufacture of renewable energy equipment. Our AllEarth Solar Trackers are affordable, grid-connected, dual axis solar electric systems. Using a complete system approach, incorporating GPS and wireless technology, AllEarth Solar Trackers vastly simplify system design, supply chain, installation and management for systems large and small. Their goal is to lessen dependence on nuclear and fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating sustainable, well-paying jobs.

At Dinse our exemplary legal work is driven by a core set of values that place a premium on integrity, respect, and compassion in our relationships and our work. We also believe our responsibility to do good work extends beyond our legal practice, and this value permeates our office culture. Our office is solar powered, we compost organic waste, and the firm makes contributions to some 50 community sponsorships each year in addition to running an enthusiastic United Way campaign. We deeply believe in the important roles that our professionals play outside the office and encourage their participation in broader community conversations. And we’re proud to lead the way for gender equality at law firms. At both the partner level and the associate level, 50% of Dinse’s lawyers are women. Of the 19 partners in the firm, 9 are women who have been partners in the firm for many years. Of our 10 associate attorneys, 6 are women. Women lawyers thrive at Dinse and our clients reap the benefit.

Awards Sponsor

Vermont Awards and Engraving is a 59-year-old certified woman owned business providing the highest quality custom awards, personalized gifts, architectural signage, and promotional products.

Supporting Sponsors

Sponsorships are available for this event. Please contact TobyA@vbsr.org or (802) 862-8347 for information about sponsoring this event. Opportunities are limited and are first-come, first-served.

Luminary Sponsor
Luminary Sponsors receive two complimentary tickets, special thank you and business description from the podium at the event, separate organization listing to include description, logo and link on the VBSR website and event registration page, logo on event program, mention on VBSR social media channels and listing in event press releases.

Supporting Sponsor
Supporting Sponsors receive one free complimentary ticket, recognition from the podium, organization listing to include logo and link on the VBSR website and event registration page, logo on event program, mention on VBSR social media channels and listing in event press releases.