// Business Connections // SEPTEMBER 2025 1 S EP TEMBER 2025 • VOLUME 14 • I S SUE 4 Does Your Business Need a Wi-Fi Upgrade? 3 Spotlight: Waterhouses 4 // AI Use Is Booming Among Small Businesses 6 WCVT in the Community 7 BUS I NESS connections www.wcvt.com Waterhouses Is a Treasured Part of Lake Dunmore
2 SEPTEMBER 2025 connections BUSINESS PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER The lines between business and leisure time are blurring. There’s even a term for it—bleisure. Professionals accustomed to remote work want to maximize their time and resources when traveling. This trend relates to the Business Spotlight on Waterhouses on Lake Dunmore in Salisbury, Vermont. As you’ll learn on pages 4 and 5, some campers want to work remotely while staying for an extended time at Waterhouses. That’s why Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom (WCVT) used fiber to build a resilient Wi-Fi network on the wooded property to meet the Wi-Fi needs of all guests. Speaking of Wi-Fi, on page 3 we ask the question, Does Your Business Need a Wi-Fi Upgrade? If you’re experiencing any of the issues covered in this article, it may be time for a new Wi-Fi solution. On page 6, Tech Talk With Richard Pitonyak explores how AI use is booming among small businesses. (Perhaps the time saved by using AI will enable all of us to spend less time on business and more time on leisure.) This issue wraps up on page 7 with WCVT in the Community. We look back with pride at the scholarships WCVT awarded this spring to local high school seniors, and we look forward with anticipation to the upcoming VermontBiz2Biz Expo and Bristol Harvest Festival. Contact us if you have questions or concerns about your WCVT services. Sincerely, Eric Haskin President & CEO Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom OFFICE LOCATIONS: Waitsfield Business Office 3898 Main Street, Waitsfield Hinesburg Branch Office 14 Thorn Bush Rd, Hinesburg BUSINESS HOURS: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Lobby closes at 4:30.) BUSINESS TEAM: Kris Merchant, Sales Manager 802-496-8554, kmerchant@corp.wcvt.com Kurt Gruendling V.P. Marketing and Business Development 802-496-8305, kgruendling@corp.wcvt.com Business Connections is a publication of Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, electronic, photocopying, recording, mechanical, or otherwise without the prior written permission of Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom. All rights are reserved. Editorial and Circulation Contact: Kurt Gruendling, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, PO Box 9, Waitsfield, VT 05673, 802-496-8305, kgruendling@corp.wcvt.com All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Additional issues are available on a limited basis while supplies last. Please contact Kurt Gruendling. Copyright© 2025 by Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom and Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. Postmaster send changes to: Lorraine Keener Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom PO Box 9 Waitsfield, VT 05673
// Business Connections // SEPTEMBER 2025 3 Does Your Business Need a Wi-Fi Upgrade? Like virtually any technology your business uses, Wi-Fi equipment evolves over time to offer more advanced features and improved performance. What also evolves are the Wi-Fi needs of your business, depending on changes in the number of employees and devices, your reliance on cloud applications, the size of your workplace, and other factors. If your business is experiencing any of these Wi-Fi issues, it may be time to think about a Wi-Fi upgrade: Slow Internet Speeds – You might notice that webpages or dashboards take longer to load or video conferences frequently buffer or freeze. This could mean your Wi-Fi connection is too slow to accommodate the demands of your business. If the upload and download speeds of your current internet plan are plenty fast enough, the problem is likely with your Wi-Fi equipment. The hardware may not be designed to process data or carry information at today’s ultra-fast internet speeds, or it may have simply gotten old and begun to underperform. In either case, you need to replace the Wi-Fi equipment. Weak Signal Strength – You and your team members should be able to get strong Wi-Fi signals throughout your office space. Dead zones — areas with weak Wi-Fi signals or no connection at all —mean your Wi-Fi equipment isn’t providing adequate coverage. Perhaps the router is in the wrong place, has become outdated, or can’t function optimally due to the makeup of your building’s walls. You may want to consider a new router, mesh system, or signal boosters. Security Concerns – Cybersecurity threats continue to grow, some of which are directed at routers. If yours is more than a few years old, security updates may no longer be available for it, which leaves your business vulnerable to attack. You’ll have more solid protection if you upgrade to new Wi-Fi equipment that provides the latest wireless security enhancements. If you have enough on your plate and don’t want to spend time on Wi-Fi upgrades, get Business Class Wi-Fi from Green Mountain Access. This service eliminates the hassles of trying to do your own installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. It also uses Wi-Fi equipment specifically designed for a business environment and offers you low, predictable costs. Find out how Business Class Wi-Fi could work in your business. Contact Kris Merchant at 802-496-8554 or kmerchant@corp.wcvt.com. Watch for telltale signs that action may be needed
4 SEPTEMBER 2025 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT In 1876, Loyal Waterhouse established his marina and rowboat building business on Lake Dunmore in Salisbury, Vermont. The beautiful property has been a place for people to have fun ever since. Something for Everyone Waterhouses offers many options, starting with a variety of places to stay. Operations Coordinator Curtis Gordon said, “Our three-season campground has 70+ grass, wooded, and riverfront campsites. We also have five full-service suites available for rent all year as well as the Hideaway, a private cabin available for rent all summer. These lodging facilities give people who don’t camp a place to stay and still have fun with their family and friends who do camp.” When it comes to entertainment, there’s something for everyone. The marina provides 50+ slips for those bringing their own boat to Lake Dunmore plus boat rentals for guests and the general public. They include pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, peddle boats, and peddle water bikes. Guests at Waterhouses can also enjoy a private island and beach/picnic area. When it’s time to relax and refuel, Paddlers Pub is the spot to meet for drinks or a delicious sit-down meal. “We have many guests who came to our campground as children, and now they’re coming back with their own children. More than 70% of our guests are returning,” Gordon noted. Wi-Fi Expectations and Challenges While the natural beauty of the Waterhouses property is the top draw for guests, another vital factor is the ability to access good Wi-Fi. This has become more of “a thing” in recent years because there are Americans who continue to work remotely. They want the ability to stay at a picturesque campsite and also have the Wi-Fi connection they need to work. Not surprisingly, getting reliable Wi-Fi in the woods can be challenging. “We had the same Wi-Fi company for many years, and they continually did upgrades. But as the years passed, that company could only get us to a certain level. When our guests at Waterhouses What more could you want at Lake Dunmore?
// Business Connections // SEPTEMBER 2025 5 Waterhouses were camping, playing online games, or streaming TV, the speed of the Wi-Fi would drop. It would also drop as the summer progressed due to the leaves on the trees and the growth of their branches. We knew we needed to change our Wi-Fi provider,” Gordon said. He continued, “WCVT was more locally oriented to Waterhouses, so we looked to them to help us move to the next level. When we asked around about local companies, we were told WCVT had a good reputation and a knowledgeable crew. We contracted with them to build a resilient Wi-Fi network that expanded into more of our wooded areas.” WCVT Crafts a Solution To do this, WCVT ran fiber cables to reach remote areas in the woods and built the new Wi-Fi network on the Ubiquiti platform. WCVT also provides Managed Wi-Fi service. WCVT Sales Manager Kris Merchant explained, “Waterhouses needed help supporting their guests 24x7 with Wi-Fi assistance. They really didn’t want to be in the Wi-Fi business. Now, if guests have a Wi-Fi issue, they reach out to WCVT for help. This allows the Waterhouses staff to do what they do best —provide a premium getaway experience.” In addition, WCVT crafted a solution for Waterhouses that enabled them to monetize this Wi-Fi network. Guests can currently pay for a day, week, or month, and Waterhouses has the ability to create any kind of Wi-Fi package they choose in the future. How would Gordon describe the Wi-Fi service provided by WCVT? He replied, “Our short-term guests are happy with the Wi-Fi and enjoy being able to stream TV and so on. And campers who stay here for extended periods appreciate having Wi-Fi that allows them to keep working. The WCVT system is still new and in its first year, so at the end of the season, I’m sure we’ll make some adjustments to keep up with changing technologies. The WCVT team has been great to work with and very accommodating!” When we asked around about local companies, we were told WCVT had a good reputation and a knowledgeable crew. We contracted with them to build a resilient Wi-Fi network that expanded into more of our wooded areas.” — CURTIS GORDON, OPERATIONS COORDINATOR, WATERHOUSES WELCOME NEW BUSINESSES When you buy local (and dine local, play local, and give local), everyone benefits. It improves our local economy, creates more local jobs and opportunities, and retains the unique character of our local communities. Please support these newcomers. All States Construction Inc Bridport................................ 802-758-2286 Old Lantern Event Barn Charlotte. ............................. 802-425-2120 Owl’s Mountain LLC N. Ferrisburgh.......................802-453-8400 The Big Spruce Richmond. ............................ 802-434-7711
6 SEPTEMBER 2025 According to the 2024 U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s report, “Empowering Small Business: The Impact of Technology on U.S. Small Business,” generative AI use has nearly doubled to 40%, compared to 23% in 2023. These businesses are mostly using generative AI for marketing tasks and to better understand and communicate with customers. What are some examples? Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Adobe Firefly can help with content creation for all types of marketing and advertising applications — including blog posts, social media, and emails. AI-enabled Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software can help drive sales or identify marketing opportunities based on its learnings from customer behavior and data, such as offering incentives based on order value and frequency. Adding a chatbot to a website is another example of AI use. Chatbots can field common requests from customers, free up time for employees to address more complex issues, and extend customer service hours. Is your business currently using any generative AI tools? If not, these benefits may encourage you to start: • Improved efficiency: AI can increase employee productivity by decreasing the time required for rote or recurring tasks. • Reduced costs: AI can help optimize inventory management to minimize costs associated with overstocking and stockouts. • Enhanced customer experience: AI can assist in personalizing content or business offerings to offer more customers a unique engagement with the brand. • Increased growth opportunities: Many AI programs incorporate machine learning algorithms, which can offer an enhanced understanding of customer behavior via pattern recognition that improves over time. This can lead to better sales and revenue growth. • Better decision making: AI can provide and interpret analytics on large volumes of key business data to facilitate better problem solving. You’re probably already using common technology that’s in some way enabled by AI technology, such as mapping apps, financial management tools, and virus detection. It could be time to go from dipping your toes in the AI water to jumping in! Tech Talk with Richard Pitonyak AI use is booming among small businesses As Tech Support Supervisor for WCVT, Richard Pitonyak is always on the lookout for content to help educate business customers. This issue’s topic is generative AI tools.
// Business Connections // SEPTEMBER 2025 7 Being a local business means that our customers are also our neighbors and friends. Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom feels strongly that community involvement isn’t just a nice thing to do; it’s the right thing to do. WCVT in the Community Stop by Our Booth at the VermontBiz2Biz Expo The VermontBiz2Biz Expo is scheduled for Thursday, October 9th at the DoubleTree by Hilton in South Burlington. This is northern New England’s largest business-tobusiness trade show and will offer a unique opportunity for businesses to meet, listen, and learn. The VermontBiz2Biz Expo will include over 125 exhibitors, the TD Bank Vermont Business Growth Awards Breakfast, the Senator Welch Business Lunch, and several insightful seminars. The event ends with a networking reception, providing exhibitors and attendees a time to celebrate their business successes. Be sure to stop by the WCVT booth and say hi! For more information, visit vermontbiz2bizexpo.com. Join Us at the 26th Annual Bristol Harvest Festival Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 27th, as the 26th Annual Bristol Harvest Festival returns to the town green! Presented by the Addison County Chamber of Commerce with support from the Bristol Recreation Department, this beloved event will feature 70+ crafters, delicious food, and live musical entertainment on the bandstand throughout the day. Stroll down Main Street to enjoy merchant sales and show your support for local businesses. WCVT is proud to be a presenting sponsor again this year, and we’ll also be there as an exhibitor. Please stop by our booth to say hello, grab one of our classic balsa wood airplanes and other goodies, and of course, chat with us about all things fiber. For more information, visit: addisoncounty.com/bristol-harvest-festival. WCVT Awards Scholarships to Local Graduates Each year, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom proudly awards six $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from the public high schools in our service area. These scholarships are given in memory of Eunice B. Farr, the former owner and operator of Waitsfield-Fayston Telephone Company, and a champion of education and community service. The Eunice B. Farr Memorial Scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated consistent academic growth, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to continuing their education at a college or trade school. We’re pleased to announce this year’s scholarship recipients: Holden Kinsey – Champlain Valley Union High School Margaret Belknap – Harwood Union High School Brailey Livingston – Mount Abraham Union High School Lilee Berg – Mount Mansfield Union High School Avery Vant – Middlebury Union High School Hayden Bassett – Vergennes Union High School To all six students, we extend our heartfelt congratulations. We’re proud to support your journey and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish. Here’s to a bright future — powered by dedication, opportunity, and community! Kris Merchant and Brailey Livingston
Meet Our Business Sales Team WCVT is committed to moving your business forward with a comprehensive line of communications solutions. Our Business Sales Team is ready to discuss your needs and recommend the right combination of services to help increase efficiency and productivity. Call 802-496-3391 to learn more. Kris Merchant Sales Manager kmerchant@corp.wcvt.com 802-496-8554 Dan Fuller Business Systems Supervisor dfuller@corp.wcvt.com 802-496-8590 Jada Munro Business Systems Administrator jmunro@corp.wcvt.com 802-496-8302
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