Champlain's VP David Provost Wins Community Excellence Award

The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 102nd annual dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 13, in South Burlington. Chamber President, Tom Torti, remarked that "our annual dinner is an opportunity to recognize the businesses and individuals who, on a daily basis, make our region an even better place to live, work and do business." Five awards were presented:

Community Excellence Award: David Provost, Champlain College

This award recognizes an individual's unique service to our community. It is awarded to a person whose job does not require them to engage with the community but rather they choose to do so because of their passion to make a difference. David Provost has volunteered his time on behalf of numerous organizations including the Boys & Girls Club, the Blue Ribbon Commission for Burlington Telecom and Wake Robin. He continually rises to meet the challenges in our community, leading the way with both common sense and good humor.

Business of the Year: Dealer. Com

Each year the Chamber recognizes a business that contributes to our economic vitality through their steady growth and who is guided by the principles of community service and philanthropy. With more than 615 employees in Vermont, Dealer.com has had a significant impact on our region's economy. Their commitment to our community shows in everything from their LEED certified headquarters to their support for programs that create opportunities for children to nourish their minds, bodies and souls. David Parker accepted the award for Dealer.com.

Rising Star Award: Jason Williams, Fletcher Allen Health Care

The Rising Star Award is an opportunity to recognize an up and coming leader whose efforts reflect a strong sense of community. The Chamber was pleased to present this award to Jason Williams this year. Jason's commitment to his home state is clear. In addition to serving as Vice Chair of the Chamber's Leadership Champlain program, Jason has also served on the Next Generation Commission and Burlington's Parallel Justice Commission.

A Wayne Roberts Entrepreneurial Spirit Award: PMG Public Relations

Named after Wayne Roberts who served as the Chamber's President for more than 20 years, this award is presented each year to a business that was started in Vermont and whose future looks bright. PMG Public Relations has grown from a two-person consultancy to a dedicated public relations and strategic communications firm with ten employees and plans to open a second office in Boston. Nicole Ravlin and Ken Liatsos accepted the award.

Creative Edge Award: Gardener's Supply

The Chamber and Free Press Media developed the Creative Edge Award to recognize businesses whose innovation makes Vermont a great place to grow 21st century jobs. As the inaugural winner of this award, Gardener's Supply succeeds through their mission to provide innovative gardening solutions, improving the world through gardening and being a partner in their customers' gardening success.

For more information, please contact Catherine Davis, Director of Government & Media Relations at (802) 863-3489 ext. 206 or cathy@vermont.org.


Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain offers a traditional undergraduate experience from its beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain and over 90 residential undergraduate and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates. Champlain's distinctive career-driven approach to higher education embodies the notion that true learning occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain College is included in the Princeton Review's The Best 384 Colleges: 2019 Edition. For the fourth year in a row, Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" in the North by U.S. News & World Report's 2019 "America's Best Colleges,” and a “Best Value School” and is ranked in the top 100 “Regional Universities of the North” and in the top 25 for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.” Champlain is also featured in the Fiske Guide to Colleges for 2019 as one of the "best and most interesting schools" in the United States, Canada and Great Britain and is a 2019 College of Distinction. For more information, visit champlain.edu.