Guest Blog - NEK Young Professionals Network

I’ve always been short. It wasn’t like I was ‘the tall kid’ until 5th grade, then all of my classmates grew around me- I was always one of the shortest kids in my class, all throughout school. My aunt would light-heartedly tell me, “good things take time” when I’d get frustrated being unable to ride the big waterslides. Maybe it’s because height is genetic, and I never did have that big growth spurt, but I’ve just never been a fan of the phrase.

Stay with me, I’m going to connect it.

I, like many others, moved away then moved back to the Northeast Kingdom. In the process, I re-realized something I learned back in high school: there’s just something special about the NEK. That’s not to say the area is perfect, but, something’s different here, right? When I moved back as a young adult, I heard from so many friends who had also moved away, “Why did you move back? There’s nothing there for someone in their 20s who’s not a mountain biker or a logger”, but I love the Kingdom and the unique experiences and pace of life that can exist here. I intend to live here for a long time, so the way I see it, it’s in my best interest to do all I can to make the Kingdom a great place for someone like me to live.

Earlier in August, a blog was posted here that spoke on opportunity, and while I would be happy to attempt to re-word what was written, I feel it’s already been put perfectly,

“Industry in Vermont may seem small and limited, but that doesn’t mean our communities don’t need those skills. A lack of industry isn’t a lack of opportunity, in fact, it is the very essence of opportunity. The Northeast Kingdom is a place where folks from any background can come and build, for themselves, the very business they’re looking to work for, in the place they want to live.”

I don’t like the phrase “good things take time” because it speaks with no regard to the effort that goes into making things good. It’d be nice to wait for the Kingdom to become ‘better’, but here in the NEK we’ve seen that waiting for things to change, or complaining that things should change, never brings the results we daydreamed about over a beer with a neighbor. When it feels like a lot of effort, I remind myself: not participating in the community doesn’t make me not a member of the community, it just makes me an unproductive member of the community.

Although I personally never hit mine, I whole-heartedly believe the Kingdom is just on the brink of its own growth spurt. And, I've learned that here, effort has impact. Our community has a real opportunity to steer that growth and make sure every neighbor is positively impacted by the effort taken to improve our home.

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For Chamber Director, Loralee Tester, October was a month filled with meaningful conversations about the systems that shape our communities. One event from Let’s Build Homes brought together hundreds of Vermonters focused on addressing Vermont’s housing crisis. “The energy and collaboration in that room were deeply inspiring — a reminder that solving housing isn’t about changing what makes Vermont special, but ensuring our children and workforce can afford to stay here.” – Loralee Tester Tester also had the opportunity to sit on a state committee exploring health outcomes through the lens of an abundance mindset — asking what we might uncover if we focused on possibility rather than scarcity? That same spirit was reflected later in a talk featuring Derek Thompson , co-author (alongside Ezra Klein) of Abundance . Thompson ended the talk on this powerful note: “Growth is good. Change is hard. Both are true. And stasis sucks.” It’s a timely challenge for all of us. What can we — the Northeast Kingdom — do to encourage healthy growth, embrace valuable change, and acknowledge that stasis only deepens our affordability and workforce challenges? There’s so much good work happening already. “I was honored to serve as a judge for this year’s Rumble in the Kingdom , where four remarkable businesses won prizes and eight more showcased powerful, community-driven ideas. Innovation is alive and well here in the NEK.” – Loralee Tester More good work is still to come. The Chamber’s new Workforce Development Coordinator begins next week. This position, funded through a grant from the Vermont Department of Labor , will help accelerate the efforts of the NEK Chamber’s Manufacturing Consortium , building stronger connections between employers, educators, and future workers. We are endlessly grateful for the support of chamber members who continue to make this important work possible. In December, we’ll be sending out 2026 membership invoices. We’re working hard to make membership even more valuable, with new member-to-member benefits designed to save you money and connect you with other local businesses. Current benefits include: Fuel Discounts through our partner programs . Group Rates for dental, vision, and pet insurance — a fantastic way to extend benefits to your employees or yourself. Exclusive Member-to-Member Offers: Linda Lanteigne Photography – discounted headshots and business photo sessions Northeast Kingdom Online – reduced-rate website design for members– details to come in next month's newsletter Catamount Arts – free popcorn with your movie ticket We’re working to introduce membership cards to make it easy to access and verify your benefits. If your business would like to offer a discount or perk to fellow members, please contact the Chamber office . It’s a wonderful way to promote your business while contributing to a more connected, thriving community.