Office of the Vermont Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott, Lieutenant Governor
Lt. Governor Phil Scott believes in the public service approach of: “Listen, Learn, Lead.” With that in mind, Scott started his "Vermont Everyday Jobs" initiative in 2011 to hear directly from working Vermonters about their concerns and get a true “boots on the ground” perspective of what Vermont businesses are facing. The “Everyday Jobs Tour” receives media attention, which in turn promotes Vermont businesses and highlights the hard work that Vermonters do every day in all areas of our economy.
Lt. Governor Scott has worked a full day in 34 different facilities, offices, factories and farms around the state during his five years in this office. By finding out firsthand, and in a hands-‐on manner, what it takes to make Vermont businesses work, the Lt. Governor gains a better understanding of what state government can do to help those businesses, businesses like them and the business community in general. The tour also helps to facilitate relationships and ongoing dialogue between the Vermont business community -‐-‐ including everyone from company owners to custodial crews -‐-‐ and their representatives in state government.
At each “Everyday Job,” Lt. Governor Scott says he learns something new, whether it’s how to keep yourself safe in an “clean room” production facility environment (IBM, 2012) or how to buy home heating oil on the futures market (Kelly Fuels, 2013) or the entire process of making ice cream -‐-‐ from cow to cream to carton (Kingdom Creamery of Vermont, 2014). During his most recent job at Crazy Russian Girls Neighborhood Bakery in Bennington (August, 2015), he continued his State House office tradition of providing free coffee (paid for out of his own pocket, not taxpayer dollars) for all who came in while he was working.
Inspired by the ideas gleaned and the relationships built on the “Vermont Everyday Jobs” tour, Lt. Governor Scott spent the 2015 legislative session conducting six “Vermont Economy Pitch” sessions around the state, many of which included representatives from sectors with which he worked on an “Everyday Job.” Described as a “combination of speed dating and the TV show ‘Shark Tank,’” the sessions were conducted as a series of five-‐minute pitches from representatives of the Vermont business community speaking directly to local legislators and community members about what government could do to help businesses thrive in Vermont. The importance placed on keeping these sessions proactive resulted in a number of positive, feasible ideas, some of which were later turned into legislation in the Economic Development Bill. Some of those ideas, which passed as legislation, are: repeal of the “Cloud Tax” on remotely accessed software, first-‐time homebuyer down payment assistance, making it easier for entrepreneurs to access capital, invests in marketing Vermont as a place to live, work and play, facilitates the creation of a trained, modern workforce, and starts discussions at both the regional and statewide levels on a number of fiscal priorities.
The biggest takeaway, from both the “Vermont Everyday Jobs Tour” and the “Vermont Economy Pitch” sessions, was that, if you listen, then you learn, and the things you learn will help you lead as a true public servant.
The Lt. Governor’s “Everyday Jobs” Resume Highlights 2011-2015
Crazy Russian Girls Neighborhood Bakery (Bennington) / August 26, 2015 Started making the day’s bread and bagels at 4 a.m.; prepared pastries and sweets; filled and loaded delivery orders; ran counter service.
Rock of Ages (Graniteville) / September 19, 2014 Worked a piece of granite from start to finish, including rock pitching, hand finishing, and sandblasting. Also got hands-on experience in the Precision Products division. Kingdom Creamery of Vermont (East Hardwick) / July 30, 2014 Worked alongside the Michaud family in all areas of the family-run operation; milked cows, mixed ice cream flavors, manned the assembly line during a production run, conducted taste testing. Vermont National Guard (Jericho) / January 11, 2014 Participated in drill and training exercises with the Vermont National Guard; integrated as a soldier, outfitted with a uniform, and sent out to perform a variety of tasks with the 3rd Battalion 172nd Infantry Regiment.
Matt Littrell (left), co-‐owner of Crazy Russian Girls Neighborhood Bakery in Bennington, Vt., teaches Lt. Gov. Phil Scott how to make the day's bagels on Aug. 26, 2015.
Milne Travel (Barre) / October 23, 2013 Worked as a tour director on the bus to Game One of the 2013 World Series at Fenway Park in Boston; kept track of passengers while boarding and after the game; provided entertainment on the ride; handed out tickets, food and drinks. Casella Waste Management Recycling Center (Rutland) / April 9, 2013 Sorted recyclable materials by hand and machine, and baled them to prepare them for market. CVCAC Home Weatherization Team (Williamstown) / January 4, 2013 Worked with a team of contractors to make a home more energy-efficient. Dr. Alison Cornwall, Large-Animal Veterinarian (Central VT) / March 28, 2012 Performed horse dental exam, de-horned baby goats, castrated a male alpaca. Smugglers' Notch Distillery (Jeffersonville) / February 14, 2012 Measured ingredients, operated the still, labeled and bottled their award-winning vodka. Beekeeper Michael Palmer of French Hill Apiary (St. Albans) / June 1, 2011 Separated queen bees from worker bees to start new hives. Doug Cox Violins (Brattleboro) / May 18, 2011 Carved, planed and varnished pieces for hand-crafted violins. AllEarth Renewables (Williston) / March 17, 2011 Assembled a solar tracker that became part of the South Burlington Solar Farm (went live July 27, 2011). Stowe Mountain Resort (Stowe) / March 13, 2011 Checked tickets and loaded ski lifts. Porter Hospital (Middlebury) / February 10, 2011 Made rounds with doctors in the Emergency Department, and served lunch to nursing home residents.