Since 2012, the Vermont Legacy and Family Enterprise Awards (VLFEA) have celebrated enterprises committed to excellence and sustainability. Starting in 2025, we continue the spirit of the Awards with a Leadership & Legacy Series, that shines a spotlight on companies that exemplify vision, resilience, and impact in their industries and communities.
VLFEA Fast Facts
- Established in 2012
- 50 winners altogether which, combined, make up:
- 3,233 years in existence
- > $6 billion annual sales
- 27, 750 employees
- Part of the UVM Grossman School of Business Family Business Initiative
Leadership & Legacy Series:
Elevating the Entrepreneurial Legacy
This year's panel shared two themes in common by honoring regional businesses that had not only proved to be successful entrepreneurial endeavors, but all three businesses also shared a focus on the regional ski and cycling industry. Moderated by UVM senior Linzhi Cardinal, each panelist took time to speak to the challenges of growing up in, inheriting, and evolving a family business, while working in humorous anecdotes and words of advice. Grossman School of Business students were given opportunities to network with the panelists throughout the day, providing direct contact with thought leaders in the tourism and recreational industries.
2026 - Elevating the Entrepreneurial Legacy
Hickory & Tweed Ski & Cycle
Skip Beitzel (’76) and Mac Beitzel
Hickory & Tweed is a family-run ski and bike shop in Armonk, New York, founded in 1961. Known for its knowledgeable staff and customer-focused experience, it offers ski and snowboard equipment, rentals, tuning, boot fitting, apparel, and a full range of cycling products and services. The shop combines expert service with a passion for helping customers enjoy their time on the mountain and outdoors.
Facts:
- Four season ski and bike shop located in Armonk, NY and serving the tri-state area & Manhattan
- Founded in 1961 by Jimmy Ross
- Business has been in the Beitzel family since 1985
- Several Beitzel’s are UVM alumni including Skip (’76)
- Nationally recognized, including past winner of National Ski Shop of the Year by Ski Magazine
Bolton Valley Resort
Evan DesLauriers
Bolton Valley is a family-owned four-season mountain resort in Bolton Valley, Vermont, located about 30 minutes from Burlington. Founded in 1966, the resort offers skiing, snowboarding, Nordic and backcountry activities, mountain biking, hiking, lodging, dining, and recreational amenities like pools, tennis, and pickleball. Bolton Valley emphasizes its close-knit outdoor community and Vermont setting, while also incorporating environmental initiatives into its operations.
Facts:
- Bolton Valley is the only major ski resort in Vermont to offer lift-served night skiing and riding
- Bolton Valley offers direct access to more than 1,000 acres of dedicated backcountry terrain, making it one of the East’s most extensive resort-adjacent backcountry and Nordic networks.
- In 2009, Bolton became the nation's second ski resort to install a wind turbine on-site to help generate clean energy
Wachusett Mountain Ski Area
Courtney Crowley (’15) and Chris Stimpson (’16)
Wachusett Mountain is a welcoming ski resort in central Massachusetts, offering skiing and snowboarding for beginners, families, and experienced riders. It provides lift tickets, rentals, group and private lessons, beginner programs, and even a ski train connection from Boston.
With a convenient location and a variety of on-mountain amenities, it offers an accessible and enjoyable experience for visitors of all skill levels.
Facts:
- Wachusett Mountain Ski Area is the largest ski area in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River
- The award winning building's heating system is unique, using a combination of waste heat generated by snowmaking compressors, passive and active solar heat and electrical back-up
- Visitors from Boston can take a designated weekend ski train to Wachusett Station and hop on a free shuttle straight to the slopes
Previous Years
2025 - Celebrating Longevity
On Friday, September 26th, the Grossman School of Business hosted a Leadership & Legacy Series Panel celebrating the theme of longevity, and the milestone anniversaries of the following moguls of family enterprise:
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., Rutland, VT – 2023 | Vermont Legacy Award Winner | 50 Years of Sustainable Innovation
Celebrating 50 Years of Environmental Leadership: For half a century, Casella has been more than a business—it's been Vermont's partner in building a sustainable future. From pioneering waste solutions to championing environmental stewardship, this enterprise has proven that prosperity and sustainability go hand in hand. Here's to the next 50 years of innovation, growth, and protecting the Green Mountain State we all love.
von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort, Stowe, VT – 2019 | Multi-Generation Global Family Enterprise Award Winner | 75 Years of Austrian Hospitality
Celebrating 75 Years of Mountain Magic: From the Austrian Alps to the peaks of Stowe, the von Trapp family has created a legacy of warmth, tradition, and unforgettable experiences. For three-quarters of a century, guests have found more than accommodation here—they've discovered a piece of Austria in Vermont's heart. As we celebrate 75 remarkable years, we look forward to countless more seasons of hospitality, music, and mountain memories.
Tauck, Wilton, CT – Pioneering Co-Founders of UVMs Family Business Initiative | 100 Years of World-Class Adventure
Celebrating a Century of Family Excellence: One hundred years ago, the Tauck family began a journey that would take millions of travelers around the world. Through four generations of leadership, including Chuck and Robin Tauck's continued dedication to excellence, this family business has redefined what it means to explore the world with purpose and style. A century of trust, innovation, and unforgettable journeys—with endless horizons still ahead.
Photos from the 2025 Leadership and Legacy Event (PhotoShelter)