VBSR Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement
Named in honor of late VBSR Board member Terry Ehrich, this award is given to a person exemplifying Terry's outstanding leadership,
including sustained commitment to the environment, workplace, progressive public policy, and community.
Donna Carpenter (she/her)
Owner of Burton & Chair of the Board
Donna met Burton’s founder, Jake Burton Carpenter in a Southern Vermont bar on New Year’s Eve 1981. Ever since, she’s been a driving force at the world’s leading snowboard company. Her first job included dipping snowboards in polyurethane and answering the customer service line that rang in the bedroom.
In the mid 1980s, Donna expanded Burton’s business to Europe and ran the company’s first international office in Innsbruck, Austria. In 2003, Jake asked Donna to make Burton a brand of choice and employer of choice for women. Thanks to Donna’s leadership, Burton now has progressive parent policies, mentoring programs and more women in leadership roles.
In 2010, Donna stepped up to the role of President, and then in 2016 went on to become Burton’s first female CEO. In February 2020, Donna became the Chair of the Burton Board of Directors, a position formerly held by her late husband and Burton founder, Jake Burton Carpenter who passed away in November of 2019 due to complications from recurring cancer.
Today, Donna inspires Burton to root the company’s work in a greater purpose. She invests in sustainability efforts and advocates for more diversity on the mountain and in boardrooms. As a founder and Co-Chair of the non-profit youth development organization Chill, she is dedicated to the organization’s mission of inspiring young people through boardsports and building a more equitable outdoor community.
Under her ownership, Burton commits $2M of profits annually to support values-aligned organizations doing work that positively impacts people, planet, and the sport of snowboarding. Donna and her three sons George, Taylor and Timi do their best to live by Jake’s motto of having as much fun as possible while keeping the world’s leading snowboard company a family-owned brand.
(photo by Aaron Kotowski for Forbes)
VBSR Innovation & Inspiration Award
This award recognizes VBSR member organizations who have accomplished a recent innovative and/or inspirational achievement
in the areas of Planet (Environmental Impact), People (Social Impact), and Prosperity (Economic Impact).
American Meadows
(Large Organization)
American Meadows: Doing Good Through Gardening
American Meadows is the nation’s leader in meadowscaping, offering wildflower seeds, perennial plants, and bulbs designed to transform entire yards. Their purpose, 'Doing Good Through Gardening,' reflects a commitment to social responsibility, personal wellness, and the environment. Led by Vermonters Ethan Platt and Mike Lizotte, the organization has cultivated a culture of growth, inclusivity, and wellness, with the belief that every yard—and every person—can be a force for good.
The proven benefits of digging into the earth, growing flowers, and choosing sustainable alternatives to traditional turf grasses are encapsulated by the brand’s tagline, Meadowscaping Makes it Better. Choosing American Meadows means choosing to make things better for yourself, better for your community, and better for the planet.
Prioritizing innovative products, mindful business practices and collaborative partnerships has enabled the brand to bring the goodness of gardening to people of all abilities, all ages, and all socio-economic levels. This includes support and advocacy for pollinators, children, suicide prevention, and underserved communities. American Meadows hopes you’ll join them in transforming landscapes and lives - because a better tomorrow begins with what we plant today.
The Vermont Professionals of Color Network
(Small Organization)
The Vermont Professionals of Color Network exists to advance the economic, professional, and social prosperity of all Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Vermont.
At VT PoC, we are redefining the landscape of equity and inclusion in Vermont by empowering professionals and entrepreneurs of color through dedicated resources, meaningful connections, and unwavering advocacy.
Founded with a vision of creating a more inclusive and equitable Vermont, we strive to uplift BIPOC professionals, foster entrepreneurship, and drive systemic change. The innovative implementation of our programs is designed to cultivate professional development, influence policy, support our community, and raise the next generation of leaders.
As a beacon of inspiration, VT PoC stands at the forefront of social change, ensuring that the voices of people of color are both heard and celebrated. We believe that prosperity starts with opportunities to climb the economic ladder, and that a prosperous BIPOC community is a good thing for all of Vermont.
Together, we are building a stronger, more united Vermont, where diversity is valued, and EVERYONE has the opportunity to thrive.
VBSR Young Changemaker Award
This award recognizes an individual under age 40 who has led the formation of a socially responsible enterprise.
The awardee is selected based on their ability to use the power of business to advance innovative solutions to society’s challenges.
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Molly Lawrence (she/her)
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager,
King Arthur Baking Company
Molly Lawrence is a dynamic leader in social impact, recognized for her ability to drive meaningful change through innovative corporate responsibility initiatives.
As the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at King Arthur Baking Company, she has redefined the company’s approach to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, philanthropy, and social impact programming.
Molly’s leadership has been pivotal in fostering collaboration and embedding these initiatives across the organization, ensuring they are both impactful and sustainable.Beyond her role at King Arthur, Molly is a founding member of the Vermont B Corp Collective, where she works with other leaders to amplify the B Corp movement among businesses across Vermont.
Her career, marked by her time as a Global Social Impact Fellow at Starbucks and an MBA in Social Impact from the University of Notre Dame -where she was recognized as one of Poets&Quants’ 100 Best & Brightest MBAs: Class of 2021-demonstrates her unwavering commitment to leveraging business as a tool for social and environmental good.
Molly’s dedication to making a difference is matched by her love for the outdoors, where she enjoys spending time with her partner Jacqueline and their dog Aoifi.