This year the commencement ceremony for the Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont will be:

Sunday, May 17, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Expo North, The Robert E. Miller Expo Centre, Champlain Valley Exposition, 105 Pearl Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452

Tickets: 8 tickets per graduate

Note: Diplomas will be presented to each graduate as part of the Grossman School of Business Ceremony.

Full UVM Commencement Schedule & Information

2026 Commencement Speaker: Mark DeMichaelis '87

Mark DeMichaelis is the President and CEO of State Garden, a fourth-generation, family-owned produce company in Chelsea, Massachusetts. A 1987 graduate of the University of Vermont's School of Business Administration, he has remained closely connected to the school and currently serves on its Board of Advisors, working alongside Dean Sanjay Sharma and Distinguished Professor Dita Sharma to support the next generation of business leaders.

State Garden began in 1938 as a small pushcart operation in Boston and has grown into a leading supplier of fresh and organic produce throughout the Eastern U.S. Over the course of his career, Mark has transformed the company from a regional New England business into a nationally recognized enterprise, while maintaining its long-standing commitment to quality, relationships, and responsible growth.

Mark has consistently anticipated industry trends and positioned the company accordingly. In the early 2000s, he recognized emerging shifts in consumer demand toward organic and ready-to-eat foods, and in 2006, he launched Olivia's Organics, which quickly became one of the fastest-growing organic salad lines in the country and helped make organic produce more accessible to everyday consumers. That same instinct has guided more recent investments in organic, greenhouse-grown varieties - focused on improving the eating experience while advancing more controlled and sustainable growing practices - and is reflected in brands such as Locally Known.

Mark's commitment to community has been as consistent as his commitment to growth. He founded the Olivia's Organics Children's Foundation, which supports organizations serving children and families, including the Boys & Girls Club, Boston Children's Hospital, Camp Sunshine, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has maintained a long-standing partnership with the Greater Boston Food Bank, one of the largest hunger relief organizations in the United States, where he serves on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and as Chairman of the Food Industry Council. His leadership has been recognized by the Greater Boston Food Bank, which named him Donor of the Year; the New England Produce Council, which named him Person of the Year; and the University of Vermont, which honored him with the Vermont Legacy and Family Enterprise Award.

Professionally, he is widely regarded for his steady leadership and commitment to responsible business practices. Outside the office, Mark is a dedicated father, partner, brother, and uncle. Family has shaped both his values and his approach to leadership, including his belief that relationships matter more than the deals you close.