All Categories - The Lightning Jar

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Thrive in the Shires

1/13/2019

Vermont Wooden Mill - Manchester, VT

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS THRIVE IN THE SHIRES DUE TO COMMUNITY
Written By Cherise Madigan in partnership with the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce

Starting a business can be intimidating, overwhelming—even risky. But here in The Shires of Vermont, the prospect of entrepreneurship becomes much less daunting when you consider the community full of resources and support committed to helping you succeed.

With a wealth of guidance, training opportunities, and professional networks on the local, regional, and statewide levels, it’s no surprise that small businesses have a legacy in the Green Mountain state. Here in Bennington county, vibrant town and village centers including downtown Bennington, Manchester, and Arlington have long been lined with shops and services built the Vermont way—from the ground up. And with such close-knit communities nestled in these mountains and valleys, those businesses often find their most significant support from their own friends and neighbors.

Read the full story here.

SCORE: My Business is Growing: Am I Ready to Manage It Effectively?

1/6/2019

It's easy to forget or overlook the fact that to benefit from growth profitably, your business systems must be ready to support that growth. What does that really mean? Are HR, accounting, and IT systems ready to roll? This session will provide you with important information to determine:

Staffing needs (hiring, resource reallocation, etc.)
Potential changes to HR policies and procedures
IT scalability
Accounting system growth needs
How to address identified issues

This event will have a panel of experts including:

Brian Curtis from DominionTech Computer Services (IT)
Andrea Gunther from Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs (Accounting)
Dave Mount from SCORE Vermont (HR)

This event is organized by Vermont SCORE.

Date: Wednesday, January 9th

Time: 5.30-7.00p

Location: New England Federal Credit Union
141 Harvest Lane, Williston, VT 05495

Cost: Free (but registration is required)

Registration:
Register online at: https://champlainvalley.score.org/event/my-business-growing-am-i-ready-manage-it-effectively

Seating is limited, so register today!

Looking Forward

12/18/2018

With the holidays upon us and the new year quickly approaching, December tends to be a time for celebration, reflection, and planning. In the last six months of my tenure as Director here at the Lightning Jar, I've had the privilege to meet many wonderful people and watch this community grow, and now I must move on.

To start with, you should know that the direction of the Lightning Jar will be in the very capable hands of the steering committee. These are the same folks that launched the project and kept it moving forward before I started in July. Because of their hard work coworking, programs, and events will continue to run as planned.

As any entrepreneur will tell you, starting a new venture like this one is challenging and exciting and, sometimes, scary. The beauty of the Lightning Jar is that makes it a little less scary. It's hard to really understand the power of the Lightning Jar community until you've joined it. I've seen young entrepreneurs build their confidence both organically and methodically here. Just last week the most recent Startup 802 cohort pitched their business ideas, and I was blown away. These folks are serious, and they're going to succeed. Some were makers, like carpenters and bakers, and others had plans to explore music management, fitness centers, and major tech innovations. There is a wealth of talent and enthusiasm in the Bennington community. Equally exciting, we have a community of mentors and support systems that is eager to help – I've seen casual conversations turn into learning opportunities and business referrals that eventually launched a new business.

For me, the best part of my time here has been the folks that walk in the door with an idea and no introduction. That's brave. Most people have fabulous ideas and only a few pursue them. For this reason, the Lighting Jar is hugely important. This community has built a place where others can come to explore their ideas and share their passions. I'm proud to have helped create these opportunities.

Looking forward, it's time for me to move on. It's bittersweet, but I'm not afraid. The Lightning Jar will continue on without me, and I'll get a chance to explore my own entrepreneurial tendencies. This is just the beginning for us both.

Thanks,

Michelle Marrocco

Something to Share

11/27/2018

Show & Tell with SYP

Posted by Joe Braim

To be honest, I wasn't confident I had anything worth sharing at last Friday's Show & Tell event coordinated by SYP and the Lightning Jar. As one of the youngest entrepreneurial minds at the event, I came unprepared to discuss a hobby or passion of my own. Quickly, I realized that was wrong..

Everyone has a small thing on the side that makes them cool. It's really just about being proactive. I didn't need anything visible to present, I could have simply spoken. I learned about unique ideas and passions from nearly a dozen people I never knew before. It's never too late or too early to start my professional network.

Even the start of the event was something different for me. I was used to beer, wine, and pizza options, but some smooth jazz set the mood while we chatted before the sharing started.

Matt Harrington of the Chamber got the sharing going by talking about motivation. Then a woman pursuing her passion for health and wellness told us about her new business as a health coach and how she helps others overcome food addiction and ditch sugar. Next, a gentlemen from Bennington showed us his website for his side gigs as a professional wedding and car photographer and videographer. His photos were great! Not only did he shoot these bizarre cliff- and road-side shots with tremendous views, each photo had a different car or truck in the shot.

The diversity of subjects throughout the night was really interesting. Later, I listened to a gentleman talk about his participation in hackathon events. In my head I said, "Well what the heck is a hackathon?" Come to find out, he tells me all about it! And I'm like, "Woah, this guy's smart." So he talks about what he did in these crazy 24 hour program and software development competitions called “hackathons.” They pop-up all over, and turns out he and his team came in second place in one. Learning about that experience was really interesting!

Switching fields completely, a lovely seamstress showed us her handmade puppet theaters that enhance kids' creativity at home or in a classroom! Seems like having your own characters to tell stories with would make story time fun again. To wrap things up, because there was a lot to share, we were able to hear a fellow member's entrepreneurial story. Achieving milestones after starting at home and getting his first office space at the Lightning Jar. After building his business, he moved on on his own and is still operating in town. All in all, I learned a lot. It was great to hear from so many people and get to know what they're passionate about. Maybe next time, I'll share something too.

Coworking Reciprocity

11/25/2018

A Season for Sharing

Posted by Michelle Marrocco

We're in it – it's officially the holiday season. So happy holidays! Did you enjoy your Thanksgiving? I hope you didn't get into too many political arguments and you were surrounded by people you love.

I'll admit it. I definitely spent some time working over the Thanksgiving break. I really believe in taking a break from screens whenever possible, so I tried to keep it to just reading and writing. If you're anything like most of the people I know, you probably checked your email too.

Thinking about the next month of parties, holidays, and travel (oh, the travel), I'm already planning how to get everything done. Last year, we drove the three hours to Boston for Christmas Eve then two hours to Connecticut for Christmas day, and then three hours back home the day after! Meanwhile, I'm trying to do whatever work I can in the car whenever I'm not the driver. It was overly ambitious.

This year, I'm excited to share that there are better options than working in the car. I recently learned about the Vermont Pass network – a partnership of seven coworking spaces across the state that offer reciprocal membership. (And yes, Lightning Jar is one of them.) That means if you're traveling to Woodstock or Stowe this holiday season (or ever), you can use your Lightning Jar membership to get in and do some work. That is, when you're not skiing.

We have partner coworking space in Bradford, Burlington, Montpelier, Stowe, Waitsfield, and Woodstock. Assuming the weather cooperates in early December, I'll be doing a state-wide tour of coworking and makerspaces. More on that to come.

For those heading to New Hampshire, we're also partnering with the Hannah Grimes Center in Keene. First of all, I was there in September and the Hannah Grimes Center is super cool! The Hive at the Hannah Grimes Center is specifically their coworking space. Next time you're in the area, bring you Lighting Jar badge and sign in at the desk. (I also suggest walking across the street and grabbing a smoothie at the co-op if you get hungry.)

The Hive Co-Workign at Hannah Grimes in Keene, NH. (Photo courtesy of the Hannah Grimes Center)

In case you can't tell, I've got feelings about this. One, I'm just really excited to be able to share these opportunities with our members. Two, the folks I'm meeting are amazing! I love meeting people and learning what they get excited about. Collaboration is my jam, and all these folks that run coworking spaces and innovation centers and incubators really embrace that. So stop in and let's collaborate. With the new year approaching, it's a great time to start working on that passion project or learn how you can help someone else with theirs. It is the season of giving after all.

About the Author(s)

Michelle started as the Director of the Lightning Jar in July 2018. Before that, she worked on regional community and economic development in Bennington County. She uses the skills and connections she made from that work to connect others to the resources, skills, and people they need to build successful businesses and careers.

Finding Startup Capital

11/2/2018

Almost everyone I know has a great business idea, but they don't all have great businesses. Most don't even have a business! There seems to be this in between place, like a purgatory for good ideas, where folks think they need more money before they can start. In general, I challenge people on that assumption, but sometimes a bit of startup capital goes a long way.

That's when loans come in. I get it. Taking on more debt is scary – especially if you bought a car or a house or went to college in the last twenty years (or ever). But if it meant you could finally launch or expand your business, would it be worth it? At the very least, understanding your options can help you answer that question.

Not all loans are the same. If you're interested in learning about those differences and how to choose the best one for you and your business, we want to help. Join us on Wednesday, November 7 at the Lightning Jar for a panel discussion moderated by the US Small Business Administration. The panel begins at noon and registration, at 11:30am. Get here early so you can meet the lenders one-on-one!

Find more information HERE.

Entrepreneurial Mindsets

10/24/2018

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

Last week, I got the chance to sit in on the final session of Startup 802: An Entrepreneurial Mindset, the first class of a two-part curriculum offered at CCV - Bennington in partnership with The Lightning Jar, the Chamber, the Bennington County Regional Commission, the Bennington County Industrial Corporation, Southern Vermont College, and Williams Financial. You may have heard about it while reading The Banner earlier this year (HERE and HERE).

I’ve sat in on the class a few times over the past couple weeks, and I immediately noticed the enthusiasm Robert brings to the program. As the founder of BE Your Start, which has been delivering training, incubator services, custom workshops, and other entrepreneurial programming to startups and growing businesses since 2005, and a professor of management, marketing, hospitality, and entrepreneurship as several colleges, it’s clear that Robert knows what he’s talking about.

When asked to imagine an entrepreneur, many people think of tech giants like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk – larger than life figures and companies. It’s hard to imagine ourselves as entrepreneurs if that’s the definition, and its easy to assume you need to be born with some special ability to achieve that level of success. This class challenges those assumptions.

Being an entrepreneur does require a certain mindset. Those that succeed sign a life-long learning contract to adapt and persevere. Entrepreneurs strive to better themselves and their businesses by identifying problems quickly developing strategies to solve the problem. (And they don’t do it alone!) The focus of Startup 802 has been just that: developing entrepreneurial mindsets.

This cohort of participants are learning to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and the elements required to launch and grow a successful small business or start-up. Over 8 weeks, participants have worked to build personal skills and traits that enhance entrepreneurial success. Traits including, but not limited to, creativity, curiosity, systems thinking, partnership, and collaboration. You can find more information about Startup 802 program HERE.

This semester’s showcase is tonight! Stop by CCV tonight between 6:15 and 7:45pm to meet the startups and learn about their progress. The format of the event is similar to a trade show or “poster session”. Stop by anytime to walk around and chat with 8-10 startups. Participants include a custom door company, a safety device for runners, an allergy-sensitive food company, entertainment venues, a gym/smoothie bar concept, Upstate Balloon Company, a nonprofit benefiting women’s education in impoverished countries, and more. More details about the showcase can be found on the Startup 802 Startup, Small Business, and Idea Showcase Eventbrite.

– Joe Braim, Media & Outreach Intern

Lightning Jar Member has #1 Beer Book on Amazon

9/25/2018

Nancy Koziol always wanted to write for a living. It took her 40 years to get there, but she has definitely arrived. Koziol, who is signed with Skyhorse Publishing, penned “The Joy of Brewing Cider, Mead, and Herbal Wine: How to Craft Seasonal Quick-Brew Favorites” last winter mostly on Tuesdays at The Lightning Jar. The book will be available in October at The Bennington Bookshop. It was Amazon’s #1 Hot New Release in “Beer” and in the top 1% of all of Amazon. She has the screenshots to prove it.

The Joy Of Brewing focuses on the ethical production of 1-gallon batches of cider, mead and herbal wine. There is a strong focus on the importance and economy of local as well as the history of each brew, recipes and pairing notes.

Koziol taught middle school from 1999-2007 when she left to work for the National Education Association. After being away from family for nearly a decade she still felt like something was missing. She and her husband—Little Falls, NY native Kris Koziol—took a risk. Nancy quit her job and started freelancing and the couple moved back to Bennington. An assignment to write a wine glossary for a Greek wine blog turned into more and more wine-related jobs. Her speciality was emerging region, the politics of wine and climate change and how it affects wine. Her writing on Wine Turtle got the attention of an editor at Skyhorse who then approached Koziol.

Koziol’s blog, The Oethical Oenologist, explores the ethical production and consumption of alcohol, green living and homebrewing recipes. She doesn’t update it enough. She is also fairly active on Instagram (@oethical_oenologist) where she posts about alcohol and chronicles her travels. Koziol spent time in France this spring exploring the wines and terroir of the South of France followed by the Loire Valley. She was the guest of regional wine organizations. She is #geekedongreek and has spent a considerable amount of time tasting Greek wine in New York City.

The Bennington Wine Tasting Meetup is organized by Koziol and meets a few times a month. They host blind tastings, regional- and producer-specific tastings and are always looking for new members. It is a friendly, unpretentious group.

“I don’t know what’s next,” Koziol said when asked about her next project. “I’ve got all kinds of ideas and have always been an obsessive planner. I’m learning, though, that when I let go and follow the cues of the universe I find where I’m supposed to be. Currently, all of my energy is focused on promoting the book—and I’d love to write another for Skyhorse, maybe on sour beer, the history of wine in the Finger Lakes or a more in-depth book on mead or herbal wine.”

The Bennington Bookshop and Harvest Brewing are hosting the book’s official release party on October 26 at 7 pm and Nancy is speaking at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester at 2 pm on the 27th. Both events are free to the public.

Koziol and her super supportive husband live downtown in the historic Drysdale Building with an old dog, a young cat and a lot of wine. They enjoy hiking Vermont, active travel and road trips to see live music. They can be found at Harvest Brewing most nights of the week.

What's a Lean Lab?

7/3/2018

Two months ago, I attended my first Lean Lab at Lever in North Adams, just south of us in the Berkshires. I'll admit I didn't quite know what to expect, but I knew the featured speaker (shout out to our very own Dimitri Garder, CEO & Co-Founder of Global-Z) and heard murmurs of pizza, beer, and networking. The murmurs weren't wrong, they just didn't really cover what happens at a Lean Lab.

To start with, Lean Lab is based on Lean Startup methodology (learn more about that HERE) and is sponsored by Lever, a startup incubator working to grow the regional economy. I was glad I arrived a few minutes early – they're a prompt bunch, and the speaker started right on time. For about 40 minutes, Dimitri walked us through how Global-Z started and described how, when, and why they pivoted, for better or worse.

After some Q&A, there was a presentation by one of the startups Lever is working with. Fabber, a digital fabrication platform that makes the digital tools used by those that design and build furniture and the like smarter and easier to use, presented briefly on its "MVP" or "minimum viable product." This part was more conversational than I expected. Sure, Fabber's Founder Eric Schimelpfenig presented his product, but he also asked questions and took advice. I think one of the biggest misconceptions folks have is that they can't talk about their good ideas. So many people are afraid someone will take it and make millions, but everyone I've met in this entrepreneurship world just wants to help you make it work.

After the presentation, we were all divided into four groups for some facilitated networking. We were tasked with each sharing one thing we're working on that we're excited about. It may sound corny to you, but being given a question or framework for networking makes the whole deal a significantly easier and more useful. I got to talk a bit about the Lightning Jar and connect with folks in the region with similar interests and goals.

Lean Lab is open to any entrepreneur, especially those seeking to grow their business. They also welcome business leaders with a desire to leverage continuous innovations a means to grow and stay ahead of their competition. Check out the next one which will be hosted at the Lightning Jar on Tuesday, July 10 from 6pm to 8pm and will feature CEO & Co-Founder Chris Brooks of Vermont Wood Pellet Company.

Lean Lab is sponsored by Lever, a startup incubator working to grow the regional economy. It is co-organized by Brent Filson, Lever's Director of Programs and Operations, Steve Miller, Professor of Mathematics at Williams College, and David Eve, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Turning a Passion Into a Business

7/2/2018

Chris Brooks is a fifth-generation lumberman and the CEO & Co-Founder of Vermont Wood Pellet. Like many Vermonters, Brooks has a passion for sustainability, and he built Vermont Wood Pellet on this passion. Today, Vermont Wood Pellet is still committed to sustainable, renewal harvesting techniques that ensure our forests are as beautiful and vibrant tomorrow as they are today.

Before Vermont Wood Pellet, Brooks worked as a consultant developing and expanding business strategies for 25 years. With that kind of experience, it makes sense that he now manages a staff of 20 or so while overseeing the company's finances and operational efficiencies himself. Oh, and before all that, he got a liberal arts degree in archeology and then a graduate degree in computer simulation. The path to a solid business – or even a good idea – is rarely a straight line.

Learn more about Brooks's journey and how Vermont Wood Pellet came to be at Lever, Inc.'s Lean Lab on July 10 at the Lightning Jar, 6-8pm. Register and find out more HERE.