MERCY CONNECTIONS 2nd Annual Signature Event Luncheon

MERCY CONNECTIONS 2nd Annual Signature Event Luncheon to honor the Women’s Small Business Program supporting women-owned businesses in VT for 20 years.

Burlington, VT March 31, 2009 – Mercy Connections, Inc. will honor the Woman’s Small Business Program and two exceptional area women, Margaret Peggy Williams, a leader in higher education, and Mary Powell, a leader in Vermont energy. Both women are closely connected to the Women’s Small Business Program, which is celebrating 20 years of supporting women-owned businesses in Vermont.

When the Sisters of Mercy sold Trinity College in 2001, they wanted to continue their legacy of educating women and founded Mercy Connections. The Women’s Small Business Program was brought from the college and became one of the three programs at Mercy Connections. “It is very exciting to be celebrating 20 years of this unique women’s business program and to acknowledge the 1,000 women graduates and their many and varied businesses,” said Betsy Ferries, Executive Director of Mercy Connections.

This year, the coveted McAuley Award, which recognizes an individual who promotes system change and the empowerment of women through education, mentoring, and transition support as they seek to experience the fullness of life, will be given to Margaret Peggy Williams, an outstanding leader in higher education. While Associate Academic Dean, Chair of the Business and Economics Department and Associate Professor at Trinity College in Burlington, she was a defining factor behind the establishment of the Women’s Small Business Program. Ms. Williams also served as President of Ithaca College from 1997 to 2008 and as President of Lyndon State College from 1989-1997. “Peggy’s enduring message to women, older and younger, is to develop yourself personally and professionally, understand that it is your personal responsibility to do this. Do not expect others to do it for you,” said Ms. Ferries. “In addition, she continually demonstrated her personal and professional commitment to community service and her profound belief that everyone must take their place at the table of community responsibility, no matter how small the setting might be.”

This year’s Women’s Small Business Award will be given to Mary Powell, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power. Ms. Powell led the restructuring efforts of this traditional electric utility, which became the backbone of the company’s reinvention of business process and customer delivery improvements. In 2004 Ms. Powell was named as one of Fast Company Magazine's “Fast 50 Champions” for her innovative efforts to transform GMP to an organization that values speed, efficiency and high quality customer service. Ms. Powell moved to Vermont for a special quality of life in 1989, and graduated from the Women’s Small Business Program in 1991. Shortly after graduating, Ms. Powell started and has owned two small businesses, a company called HRworks, Inc., a human resource management company, and Spot the Dog, a business that manufactures and sells protective outerwear for animals.

The luncheon will feature a premier showing of the Women’s Small Business Program video, in which graduates and their dedicated trainers will describe the essence of this unique program, illustrating how the resulting small businesses have contributed to Vermont’s economy over the last 20 years. The Signature Event luncheon will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at the Sunset Ballroom, located atop Comfort Suites (formerly the Holiday Inn Express) in South Burlington, VT.

To register call Donna Maloska at 846.7063 or e-mail her at dmaloska@mercyconnections.org. This 2nd annual event will be emceed by Sister Janice Ryan and Lisa Ventriss. The 2nd annual Mercy Connections luncheon is made possible through the generous support  of the following sponsors: Green Mountain Power, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, KeyBank and Seven Days.