[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 66 (Thursday, April 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2547-S2548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SMALL BUSINESS WEEK AND VERMONT ENTREPRENEURS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, each year, the Small Business 
Administration sets aside the first week of May to acknowledge small 
businesses that are doing extraordinary work and recognizes them during 
Small Business Week. In March, the SBA announced the slate of 2016 
Vermont small business award winners, which included three tremendous 
businesses from Lamoille County. The award winners included the Small 
Business Person of the Year, Tom Stearns of High Mowing Seeds; Woman-
Owned Business of the Year, Debbie Burritt of Sweet Crunch Bakeshop & 
Catering; and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Caleb Magoon, of Power 
Play Sports.
  In Vermont, we place a high value on small businesses. They make up 
the backbone of our economy and the heart and soul of our communities. 
I am incredibly proud of the three Lamoille County businesses being 
recognized both because of their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit, 
but also because they represent a true cross section of the Vermont 
economy.
  Vermonters share an inherent bond with our State's natural resources. 
Our State prides itself on our strong agricultural history and the 
renaissance we are seeing in diversified agriculture and value added 
food production. For many farmers, this connection starts with their 
soil and the seeds they plant in the ground. What started as a hobby 
for Tom Stearns 20 years ago has grown into a dynamic business that is 
one of the top organic seed companies in the country, now supplying 
those farmers and home gardeners across the country with the seeds that 
become the food we feed our families. Part of what sets Vermont 
businesses apart is their ability to innovate and help define or create 
new markets. High Mowing has done just this in the seed market--by 
ensuring that all of their 700 varieties of seeds are both organic and 
GMO-free--and are among the gold standard in the market. Now they are 
branching out to experiment with new varieties that will bring new 
specialty vegetables, herbs, and flowers to the market.
  When imagining a startup business, it is common to think of someone 
working out of their garage. Debbie Burritt of Sweet Crunch Bakeshop & 
Catering is precisely one of those entrepreneurs. Debbie founded her 
business in 2001 in her home garage, and since then, her products have 
received great acclaim and attention. Sweet Crunch baked goods are made 
from scratch, with no preservatives. It comes as no surprise to this 
Vermonter that their maple cookies are one of their best selling 
products. In fact, Sweet Crunch's maple cookies were featured on the 
Food Network, and Sweet Crunch products can be found in locations 
across New England and, in fact, the country. I will take a moment of 
personal pride to note that Debbie's delicious products will be a 
featured part of the annual Taste of Vermont celebration happening in 
Washington in a few weeks.
  The mountains and valleys that played such a significant role in 
determining the settlement of Vermont continue to be a significant 
force in the lives of Vermonters. These resources attract skiers, 
riders, bikers, paddlers, and many other adventurers to our State both 
to live and to visit. Naturally all of these outdoor enthusiasts need 
some place to be outfitted. Power Play Sports has been a staple of the 
local sporting goods scene for more than 20 years, but was recently 
purchased by Caleb Magoon. Caleb first worked at Power Play as a 
teenager and returned to manage the store after living in Boston for a 
number of years. He has demonstrated a great entrepreneurial vision, 
consolidating his other business under one roof and opening a new store 
in Waterbury, VT. This type of passion and growth are qualities we want 
to encourage in Vermont and deserve recognition.
  I want to congratulate these three businesses and all the Vermont 
businesses who were recognized by the SBA for a job well done. I look 
forward to their future successes. At this time, I ask unanimous 
consent that the following article written by Kayla Friedrich of the 
Stowe Reporter recognizing Tom, Debbie, and Caleb for their awards be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                       [From the Stowe Reporter]

              Stearns, Burritt, Magoon Win Business Awards

                          (By Kayla Friedrich)

       Tom Stearns, founder and owner of High Mowing Organic Seeds 
     in Wolcott, has been named Vermont Small Business Person of 
     the Year by the federal Small Business Administration.
       In addition, two other Lamoille County businesses won major 
     awards:
       Debbie Burritt of Sweet Crunch Bakeshop & Catering Co. in 
     Hyde Park, Woman-Owned Business of the Year.
       Caleb Magoon of Power Play Sports in Morrisville and 
     Waterbury Sports, Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
       For more than 50 years, the federal agency has honored 
     small businesses for their contributions in their communities 
     and to the economy.
       Stearns was recognized for expanding his company, 
     increasing sales, hiring more employees and contributing to 
     the local community.
       High Mowing is a farm-based company that produces and 
     distributes vegetable, flower and herb seeds throughout the 
     U.S. and Canada. It began in 1996 with just 28 varieties, 
     produced in Stearns' backyard and packaged in his shed.
       First-year sales were $2,000, but what started as a hobby 
     soon expanded beyond his backyard. By 2001, his business had 
     grown to the point where Stearns began contracting with other 
     local farms to grow his seeds, in addition to continuing to 
     produce on High Mowing's 5 acres.
       High Mowing was the first organic company to guarantee all 
     its seeds are not genetically modified, and 20 years later, 
     his company is one of the top organic seed companies in the 
     U.S., with more than 60 employees.
       ``It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of all the 
     work done by our team for the last 20 years since this hobby 
     was born,'' Stearns said. ``It has been a joy to see it grow 
     and to know that we are just getting started. I get to do 
     what I love every day and the work is diverse, challenging 
     and creative.

[[Page S2548]]

       ``There is nothing more rewarding than bringing an idea to 
     life in a way that serves health in the world, and it means a 
     lot to me to have the work of our team recognized in this 
     way.''


                           Young entrepreneur

       In Morrisville, the next town over, a very different 
     business also won an award from the Small Business 
     Administration.
       Caleb Magoon, 32, owner of PowerPlay Sports in Morrisville, 
     was named 2015 young entrepreneur of the year.
       The annual award is presented to business owners under 35 
     who have had success in sales, profits, increasing jobs, 
     having innovative business methods and demonstrating 
     entrepreneurial potential necessary for economic growth.
       PowerPlay Sports was founded in 1995 by John Connell and 
     Rob Maynard. After bouncing around several downtown 
     locations, the store eventually landed at 35 Portland St.
       Magoon began working at the store at 17. After graduating 
     from Boston University, where he studied theater design, 
     Magoon and a few friends established a theater company in 
     Boston, produced shows, and won the Elliot Norton Awards for 
     best production three years in a row.
       However, as a native of Hyde Park, who grew up hiking, 
     biking and skiing in the Green Mountains, his passion for 
     sports led him back to Vermont in 2010. He managed PowerPlay 
     for a year, then bought the business from Maynard.
       Magoon said working in theater helped him learn how to run 
     a business. He and his friends each worked on different 
     aspects within their theater company, including advertising, 
     producing and financing, and learned from each other.
       ``If you can do that, business is easy. We learned to be 
     business people,'' Magoon said.
       Last year, Magoon moved his embroidery and screen-printing 
     business--which was in an adjacent building--into the same 
     location as his sports gear. He also opened a new store, 
     Waterbury Sports, with two business partners in Waterbury.


                          Woman-owned business

       A Hyde Park business also received an award from the Small 
     Business Administration.
       Chef Debbie Burritt, owner and founder of Sweet Crunch 
     Bakery and Catering Co., was selected as the Woman-Owned 
     Business of the Year.
       The bakeshop portion of the company provides desserts and 
     wedding cakes to restaurants, resorts and the public. For 
     catering, the company's goal is making every event unique and 
     unforgettable.
       Burritt has a staff to assist with all the details of event 
     planning, and will customize menus to meet the individual 
     needs of clients.
       Burritt completed her culinary degree at Newbury College in 
     Brookline, Mass., in 1987, and worked in Boston and Virginia 
     before moving back to her native state, Vermont. After 
     working at Stoweflake Resort and Trapp Family Lodge, both in 
     Stowe, Burritt decided to venture out on her own in 2001.

                          ____________________