Women’s History Month (WHM), celebrated nationally in March since 1987, offers a perfect opportunity to highlight the remarkable contributions of Vermont women, past and present. In fact, the Downtown Rutland Partnership (DRP) is hosting a mingle-and-learn mixer featuring local women business owners at The Mad Rose pub on March 26th. (At the end of this article are more details.)
The following feature highlights numerous extraordinary Vermont women who have contributed their talents to the state – and, in several cases, to the world at large. Also included is a list of resources that make it possible for other women to start businesses, artistic enterprises, nonprofits, or political careers here in Vermont.
U.S. Representative Becca Balint, elected in 2022, brings her background as a historian and educator to her political career. The first woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to represent Vermont in Congress, she previously served as President Pro Tem of the Vermont State Senate.
Madeleine Kunin, Vermont’s first and only female governor, and the first Jewish woman elected governor in the U.S., remains an inspirational figure. In a November 2024 interview about the presidential election, Kunin declared: “When I woke up this morning, I didn’t feel very inspirational … But as the day goes on … the fighting spirit is fighting its way back into my mind. I know we can’t give up.”
Townshend, Vermont native Clarina Irene Howard Nichols, was a 19th-century journalist, lobbyist, and advocate who fought for women’s property rights and suffrage. Dorothy Thompson, a journalist who opposed Nazism, including Hitler, was expelled from Nazi Germany for her reporting and inspired Sinclair Lewis’ “It Can’t Happen Here,” his work about autocracies. Thompson is buried in Barnard.
For over three decades, Allison Hooper has revolutionized the artisan cheese industry through Vermont Creamery, introducing goat cheeses and cultured butter to American palates. Currently a partner in Ayers Brook Goat Dairy in Randolph, she continues to be a mentor and a voice for U.S. cheesemakers.
A few of Vermont’s women artists have also gained national recognition for their work, showcasing diverse styles and perspectives. Among them:
Anaïs Mitchell, born in Montpelier, won eight Tony Awards for her musical “Hadestown.” Shaina Taub, from Waitsfield, earned two Tony Awards for “Suffs,” a musical about the women’s suffrage movement. Alison Bechdel, from Bolton, is known for her graphic memoir “Fun Home,” which was adapted into a Tony-winning musical. Waitsfield’s Grace Potter, and Barre’s Miranda July, also contribute significantly to the arts.
To be clear, not all accomplished Vermont women aspire to become famous but rather aim to serve their communities’ first and foremost. Here are a few women-owned businesses in the Killington-Rutland area that rightly deserve their many fans.
Liquid Art Restaurant in Killington serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, in an art gallery featuring both a cocktail bar and an espresso bar. Downtown Rutland boasts numerous women-owned businesses, including The Gymnasium, Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center, Phoenix Books, Kaleidoscope Art Supply, Grateful Vermonter, Fruition Fineries, Divine Boutique, Camille’s vintage clothing, Bougie on A Budget, Mad Rose pub, Hand-carved by Ernie’s, Prouty’s Ice Cream Parlor, Speakeasy Café, and Loose Loona Gifts and Tea House.
It should come as no surprise that the CEOs or executive directors of many area non-profits
are women, including Rutland Regional Medical Center, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, New Story Center, Rutland Community Cupboard, Cornerstone Housing Partners, Rutland County Parent/Child Center, Habitat for Humanity, Wonderfeet Kids Museum, and Come Alive Outside.
In Academia, women hold key leadership positions, such as Cathy Kozlik, dean of the College of Business at Vermont State University’s Castleton campus, and women also form the backbone of early childhood education, advocating for accessible childcare.
In the burgeoning tech sector, initiatives like Code Club Vermont are nurturing future female tech leaders. Girls Who Code was founded by India native and UVM alumna Nidhi Singh, who now works in Dartmouth College’s Information, Technology and Consulting Organization (ITC). Singh advocates for girls’ coding education, emphasizing its importance in bridging the gap between human and machine language.
Resources for Women – Made by Vermonters
As noted at the top of this article, Downtown Rutland Partnership is sponsoring a mingle-and-learn mixer on Wednesday, March 26. It will be held from 5-8 p.m., at The Mad Rose, 42 Center St., Rutland. It is the first of a series of events the DRP is holding this year, to celebrate and empower women-owned and -led businesses.
For more information, visit: downtownrutland.com/womeninbusinessevents.
Other organizations in Vermont offering myriad resources that support women in their entrepreneurial and professional endeavors include:
Vermont Women’s Business Center: The VWBC provides training, counseling, and resources to women entrepreneurs, helping them start and grow their businesses: cweonline.org/our-centers/cwe-vermont/our-impact-cwe-vermont-womens-business-center
Vermont Commission on Women: VCW advocates for women’s rights and promotes gender equality through policy initiatives, education, and outreach: women.vermont.gov/business-entrepreneurship
Change The Story VT: A multi-year, multi-partner initiative to advance women’s economic equity in Vermont: vermontwomensfund.org/impact/change-the-story
Local Chambers of Commerce and Networking Groups: The Killington Chamber of Commerce (killingtonpico.org), and CEDRR – Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland region (rutlandvermont.com), provide numerous opportunities for women to connect. CEDRR also oversees Start-up Rutland, a mentorship and education initiative for early-stage enterprises: startuprutland.org.
Vermont Small Business Development Center: Provides no-cost advising and training for small businesses: vtsbdc.org.
Women’s History Month celebrates the achievements of women, challenges gender stereotypes, and inspires future generations. Here’s hoping more Vermont women will be inspired to envision what’s possible, seek out resources that champion their dreams, and ultimately, become the architects of their own historic achievements.
Liz DiMarco Weinmann, MBA, is a strategic growth specialist, nonprofit leader, business educator, and author. Her L3C consulting firm works exclusively with charities and educational institutions, on strategic planning, organizational development, and fundraising: lizdimarcoweinmann.com.
