[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S6112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              VERMONT'S SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize two very 
special Vermont business people. Tom and Sally Fegley are the owners 
and founders of Tom and Sally's Handmade Chocolates of Brattleboro, 
Vermont. For the past two years I have been pleased to nominate Tom and 
Sally for the U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business 
Person of the Year award for the state of Vermont. This year, I am 
proud to announce that Tom and Sally Fegley are the recipients of this 
prestigious award.
  Eight and a half years ago, the Fegleys had the courage to move to 
Vermont and risk their lives' savings to undertake their start-up 
business in chocolates, a field in which neither of them had any 
previous experience. With hard work and intense dedication they have 
built this business to more than $1 million in gross sales in 1997. 
Their products are sold in all fifty states and they are exported all 
over the world, including Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, South 
Africa and the Netherlands. Tom and Sally's entrepreneurial savvy has 
helped to spread the distinctive high quality of Vermont specialty 
foods across the globe.
  The Fegley's chocolates are so unique they have received five federal 
trademarks for their chocolates ranging from ``Vermont Pasture 
Patties'' to ``Cowlicks.'' In addition, their products have won eight 
national awards and have received media coverage ranging from ``Good 
Morning, America'' and ``The Today Show'' to such magazines as Bon 
Appetit, Fine Cooking, and Mademoiselle, as well as newspapers 
including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The 
Washington Post.
  I remember the first time that Marcelle and I visited Tom and Sally's 
shop in 1992. We were especially impressed with its old-fashioned 
atmosphere and Vermont country charm. A few years ago, Tom and Sally 
decided to combine the sale of their handmade chocolates and candies 
with the sale of Vermont folkart. This gallery displays the handicrafts 
of Vermonters as the Fegleys display the fruits of their own 
handicraft. This innovative combination makes visiting Tom and Sally's 
a unique and charming experience while promoting Vermont's distinct 
character.
  Not only have Tom and Sally made an imprint on Vermont's specialty 
food industry, but they have made an even larger contribution to their 
community. Perhaps the Fegleys should be recognized more for what they 
do for others than for their business success. From donating chocolates 
to local charities, to helping a local apple orchard after vandals 
destroyed the apple trees, Tom and Sally's involvement and 
contributions have expanded beyond the business industry and have made 
them important members of Vermont's communities.
  I am pleased that the Fegleys have been named 1998 Vermont Small 
Business Persons of the Year. I believe that they embody what Vermont 
is all about--a fine tradition of quality products with a strong sense 
of community.

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