Congratulations Vermont Worksite Award Winners!

We are so proud of the many TRG clients who received 2022 Vermont Worksite Wellness Awards. These organizations have demonstrated the commitment and creativity needed to support the health and wellbeing of their employees.

Thank you to the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the Vermont Department of Health for hosting this recognition program.

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Chroma Technology

Community Care Network

Franklin County Home Health Agency

Grace Cottage Hospital

King Arthur Baking

Lamoille County Mental Health Services

Mascoma Bank

Mt. Ascutney Hospital

New Chapter

Northwestern Counseling & Support Services

Springfield Hospital

The Richards Group

Town of Brattleboro

United Counseling Service

Vermont Precision Tools

Washington County Mental Health Services

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Gifford Health Care

IVEK Corporation

Vermont Packinghouse

VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region

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Aspire Living & Learning

Contact Lindsay or Mari to learn more about TRG’s Wellness Services.

TRG has been named one of the 2022 Best Places to Work in Vermont for a 7th Consecutive Year!

The Richards Group was recently named one of the 2022 Best Places to Work in Vermont, an award created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, workforce, and businesses.

“As the pandemic continues to reshape our lives, prioritizing the health and well-being of our employees continues to be at the forefront of our success” commented Antonia Crawford, Human Resources Manager at The Richards Group. “Many of our employees have embraced the flexibility that comes with a remote and virtual workspace. As a result, we are nurturing a culture of appreciation that ensures each member of our staff feels valued and connected as part of a virtual community. There is a great comfort in knowing that our capability to offer a flexible work environment has eased the strain on staff and allowed them to thrive professionally and personally. It is truly our role as a Best Places to Work employer to support our staff and give them the space to do and be their best. Their hard work, passion and commitment to our customers has been unwavering. It is an honor to receive and share this recognition with the exceptional employees at TRG.” 

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits, Wealth Management and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867.  The firm currently has 150 employees and 13 locations in Vermont and New Hampshire and has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting.  TRG Investment Advisors, LLC dba TRG Retirement Plan Consultants is a Registered Investment Adviser. For more information about the firm and its capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.  

Lawrence and Wheeler Insurance to Join The Richards Group

The Richards Group is pleased to announce that it has acquired Lawrence and Wheeler Insurance of Springfield, VT.  The partnership with The Richards Group will benefit clients by ensuring that decisions and service remain local for years to come, while expanding client services and resources.  Lawrence and Wheeler's staff will remain at their current office located at 46 Main Street in Springfield, Vermont. 

“It means a lot to us that Paul and Bob Kendall felt The Richards Group was the best fit to continue the excellent work that Lawrence and Wheeler has done over many decades,” said Drew Richards, Vice President of The Richards Group.  “Their roots run deep in Vermont with a strong family history, just like ours.  We’re excited to make this investment in the greater Springfield area and to continue to serve this community.” 

“We’ve collaborated with The Richards Group for years now, so when we considered what firm was best for our clients, employees and the community, we knew they were the right fit. The Richards Group is Vermont based and locally owned, and we have similar priorities and values,” commented Paul Kendall, President of Lawrence and Wheeler Insurance. “Our clients will benefit from the new insurance markets and technologies that The Richards Group will make available, along with their employee benefit and retirement plan consulting expertise.”

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Retirement Plan and Employee Benefits solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867.  The firm has over 150 employees in 13 locations and has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 6 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.  The Richards Group has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting. 

OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) Summary and Resources

Friday, Nov. 5, 2021: OSHA published the COVID-19 vaccination emergency temporary standard (ETS) plus a list of FAQs and a webinar. Under this new rule, employers with 100 or more employees must require COVID-19 vaccinations among workers or accept proof of negative tests each week and require face coverings. Employers will be required to comply with most provisions of the ETS by Dec. 5, 2021, and the testing requirements by Jan. 5, 2022. Companies that fail to comply may be subject to significant fines. read more >

Lacey Burleson of The Richards Group earns Cyber Insurance Designation

The Richards Group is pleased to announce that Lacey Burleson has earned the Cyber COPE Insurance Certification SM (CCIC) designation, which is awarded by Chubb and Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. Co-created by Chubb and Carnegie Mellon in 2018, the program gives commercial agents, brokers, and wholesalers the opportunity to learn and become certified in industry best practices in cybersecurity risk management, governance, and operations, as well as the ability to create a well-crafted commercial cyber insurance program to help protect and support a client in the event of a cyber incident.

“With the ever-increasing rate of cybercrime, The Richards Group identified a need to provide our clients expert advice regarding this critical topic. Lacey was the perfect choice to pursue this education and designation”, said Sharon MacEachern, Commercial Lines & Claims Manager. “Lacey demonstrated a high level of dedication by successfully completing this rigorous program. We are excited to continue to expand our unique value-added services for our clients”.

The eight-month program consisted of multi-day virtual sessions, a series of interactive webcasts, and a capstone project. Participants engaged in sessions about: origins of computer science; cyber risk resilience; cyber governance and insurance solutions; privacy and data security law; diagnostics, assessment and measurement, including presenting about exposures and subsequent coverage; and more.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has 140 employees and 12 locations in Vermont and New Hampshire and has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting. For more information about the firm and its capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.

TRG has been named one of the 2021 Best Places to Work in Vermont for a 6th consecutive year!

The Richards Group was recently named one of the 2021 Best Places to Work in Vermont, an award created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.

“2020 transformed what it means to be a Best Places to Work employer” commented Antonia Crawford, Human Resources Manager at The Richards Group. “Safety, support and fostering a virtual community were essential components to protecting the wellbeing of our staff. Most of our employees continue to work remotely, many are homeschooling and caring for loved ones while simultaneously managing a full workload. And yet, despite the immense adjustments, our employees continued to provide excellent service, donated their time by giving blood, volunteering, sewing masks, and providing invaluable support to colleagues in need. It is an honor to work alongside the exceptional employees at TRG and I am extremely proud of the character we showed this year; we truly are a work family”.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867.  The firm currently has 140 employees and 12 locations in Vermont and New Hampshire and has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting.  For more information about the firm and its capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.  

TRENDING TOPIC: COVID-19 Vaccine Information

For up to date information surrounding the COVID-19 Vaccine in Vermont & New Hampshire, please visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Information Page. Here you can find relevant tools and resources to help guide you through each phase of vaccine distribution.

COVID-19 Business Response Plans Workshop (Recording)

COVID-19 Business Response Plans Workshop

Shannon Prescott, Program Coordinator of The Richards Group hosted a COVID-19 Business Response Plan workshop with the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce on Friday, 10/9/2020.

This workshop outlined the basics of what employers should cover in COVID-19 response plans. Topics include employee safety practices, HR policies for reporting illness, and leave time. If you weren’t able to attend the live workshop, you can find a recording below.

Shannon Prescott provides COVID-19 safety training to area employers.

Shannon Prescott, Program Coordinator of The Richards Group has been leading the way as safety measures continue to change during the unprecedented times that we are in. Shannon has not only been leading TRG in the reopening of the economy, but she has been guiding our customers and other businesses as we slowly approach what will be our new normal in the workplace.

For assistance with reopening your business, consider the free recording of this webinar: RE-OPENING YOUR BUSINESS - INSURANCE AND SAFETY CHECKLIST

For other pieces of training led by Shannon, please visit here for VOSHA and here for OSHA.

The Richards Group named Best Employee Benefits Firm

The 2020 Best of Business Award winners have been announced by Vermont Business Magazine and The Richards Group has won as Best Employee Benefits Firm for the third consecutive year. This awards program celebrates the best Vermont companies in business-to-business categories.

“A big THANK YOU to our clients for selecting us again as Vermont’s Best Employee Benefits Firm,” said Tom Scull, Vice President of Employee Benefits at The Richards Group. “Our Employee Benefits Team deserves this shout out because we do not get this recognition without each and every one of you!  During these trying times of COVID-19, employee benefits have never been more important to companies.  We’re here on our client’s behalf, raising our own bar to go above and beyond with our team of experts to help our clients get through and grow stronger.  Congratulations to our team of employee benefits experts and thanks again for the third year running to our clients for the recognition.”

The Richards Group’s Employee Benefits and Human Resources practice employs a ‘360 Degree’ strategy that focuses on employee benefits in the broadest sense of the phrase. We provide unique attention designed to meet each individual client’s needs and understand the challenges that HR leaders balance between maintaining a healthy workforce and fiscal responsibility. To that end, we provide clients with plan design and budgeting strategies, wellness expertise, leadership and training, robust technologies and compliance insights. We take a holistic approach to ensuring you have a healthy, engaged and dynamic workforce.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Retirement Plan and Employee Benefits solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867.  The firm has over 140 employees in 12 locations and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 5 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.  The Richards Group has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting.

TRG Named One of the 2020 Best Places to Work in VT

The Richards Group was recently named one of the 2020 Best Places to Work in Vermont, an award created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.

“A career at The Richards Group means working alongside exceptional people who care deeply about our customers and the communities we serve,” said Antonia Crawford, Human Resources Manager at The Richards Group. “Our employees are our most important asset and we continue to support not just their professional aspirations, but their personal ones as well. Initiatives like our wellness program, continuing education, practical resources and training, as well as healthy work-life balance and employee recognition are all essential to the success of the culture we have created here at TRG. Our values are rooted in providing a healthy and happy workplace where employees can thrive, and we are incredibly honored to have been recognized for the fifth consecutive year as one of the Best Places to Work.”

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 140 employees and 12 locations in Vermont and New Hampshire and has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting.

The Richards Group named Best Employee Benefits Firm

The 2019 Best of Business Award winners have been announced by Vermont Business Magazine and The Richards Group has won as Best Employee Benefits Firm. This awards program celebrates the best Vermont companies in business-to-business categories.

“We’re very proud to be named Vermont’s Best Employee Benefits Company again in 2019,” said Tom Scull, Vice President at The Richards Group and leader for the Employee Benefits and HR Solutions business: “Many of the surveyed readers of VBM are clients and know first-hand how important employee benefits and HR Solutions are to a company. To be named a best-in-class provider in our field of expertise a second year supports our mission to be a team who is known for going above and beyond with team members who pay close attention to detail and trends in the industry. Congratulations to our team of employee benefits experts and thanks to our clients for the recognition.”

The Richards Group’s Employee Benefits and Human Resources practice employs a ‘360 Degree’ strategy that focuses on employee benefits in the broadest sense of the phrase. We provide unique attention designed to meet each individual client’s needs and understand the challenges that HR leaders balance between maintaining a healthy workforce and fiscal responsibility. To that end, we provide clients with plan design and budgeting strategies, wellness expertise, leadership and training, robust technologies and compliance insights. We take a holistic approach to ensuring you have a healthy, engaged and dynamic workforce.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Retirement Plan and Employee Benefits solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm has over 130 employees in 12 locations and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 4 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Richards Group has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting. For more information about the firm and its capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.

Eddie Lewicki promoted to Commercial Risk Management Consultant at The Richards Group

The Richards Group is pleased to announce that Eddie Lewicki has been promoted to the Commercial Insurance and Risk Management team. Eddie will be based in The Richards Group’s Bennington and Manchester offices.

“I’ve been excited to take this step for some time now. We have a lot of important local businesses and non-profits as clients, and I’ll be able to help them manage their risks and contain costs”, commented Eddie Lewicki. “At The Richards Group we have a wide range of commercial insurance markets, expertise and technology and I know this will help me put my clients in the best possible position”.
“We are very happy to have Eddie as part of the Commercial Insurance team at TRG,” added Peter Richards, VP of Commercial Insurance and Risk Management. “Eddie brings a natural talent and relatability that will be very helpful to our clients. He’ll be a real asset to our clients in Bennington, Manchester and beyond”. Eddie is originally from Arlington and attended Burr and Burton Academy. He then moved on to Siena College, where he majored in History and pitched for the baseball team. He started his career with The Richards Group in 2016 as an Account Manager. Eddie resides in Sunderland with his wife. He enjoys coaching the Burr and Burton baseball team, volunteering his time helping youth organizations such as little league and Northshire hockey, and spending time golfing.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Retirement Plan and Employee Benefits solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 130 employees in 12 locations and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 4 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Richards Group has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting. For more information about the firm and its capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.

The Richards Group Named One of the 2019 Best Places to Work in Vermont

The Richards Group was recently named one of the 2019 Best Places to Work in Vermont, an award created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.

“At The Richards Group we are always looking for new ways to build and maintain our great company culture and this process is incredibly valuable to our continued growth,” said Antonia Crawford, Human Resources Manager at The Richards Group. “Our employees are our most important asset and it is key that they enjoy not just the work they do, but the teams they are a part of and the culture we have created, so they can be their best for our customers. I take a lot of pride in being able to say that we do a really good job of caring for our staff and supporting their growth. We are incredibly honored to have been recognized for the fourth consecutive year as one of the Best Places to Work.”

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 125 employees and has expanded services to include Safety, Wellness and Human Resources consulting.

The Department of Financial Regulation Approves Two Association Health Plans in Vermont

Late last week, the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation announced it had approved licenses for two Vermont-based associations to offer 2019 health plans to sole proprietors and employers with 100 employees or less. The Associations are:

• The Vermont Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACE)

• Business Resource Services (BRS)

Both associations are offering multiple plans designed to complete with the Exchange's Gold and Silver metal level plans. These plans, also known as Association Health Plans (AHPs), cover all the Essential Health Benefits and state mandates. The premium rates for these plans are, on average, less expensive than the Exchange rates.

The Richards Group is happy to provide its clients with a customized benefit analysis and model potential cost savings by enrolling in either one of these AHPs for 2019. If you haven't already heard from your Account Manager, please let us know.

The Richards Group invites you to our exclusive event.

Thursday, September 6th | 9:00am – 3:00pm
The Hanover Inn
Hanover, New Hampshire

Experts Ross Gibson, Deb Loughlin, Lindsay Simpson, and Steve Burnett of The Richards Group (TRG) will guide leaders to identify gaps within various elements of employer-employee engagement and share solutions to achieve workforce excellence. Learn More >

The Richards Group named Best Employee Benefits Firm in Vermont

The 2018 Best of Business Award winners have been announced by Vermont Business Magazine and The Richards Group has won as Best Employee Benefits Firm. This awards program celebrates the best Vermont companies in business-to-business categories.

“We’re very proud to be named Vermont’s Best Employee Benefits Company,” said Tom Scull, Vice President of Employee Benefits at The Richards Group. “Many of the surveyed readers of VBM are clients and know first-hand how important employee benefits are to a company. To be named a stand-out business in our field of expertise, a business that provides best-class customer service, a business who is known for going above and beyond, and a team of experts who pay close attention to detail demonstrates our success. Congratulations to our team of employee benefits experts and thanks to our clients for the recognition.”

The Richards Group’s Employee Benefits and Human Resources practice employs a ‘360 Degree’ strategy that focuses on employee benefits in the broadest sense of the phrase. We provide unique attention designed to meet each individual client’s needs and understand the challenges that HR leaders balance between maintaining a healthy workforce and fiscal responsibility. To that end, we provide clients with plan design and budgeting strategies, wellness expertise, leadership and training, robust technologies and compliance insights. We take a holistic approach to ensuring you have a healthy, engaged and dynamic workforce.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 115 employees and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 3 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

The Richards Group Named One of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Vermont

The Richards Group was recently named one of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Vermont, an award created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.

“We’re proud to once again be acknowledged as one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont,” said Ben Taggard, VP of Wealth Management at The Richards Group.  “We have experienced strong growth, both organically and through acquisitions, and The Richards Group has created many new jobs throughout the region in recent years.  To be recognized speaks volumes about the culture that we all contribute to and the outstanding colleagues that we work with every day.”

“It’s valuable to have the survey and benchmarking data that this process provides,” added Peter Richards, VP of Commercial Insurance and Risk Management. “It shows where our strengths are as an employer and where we have opportunities to improve.  We know our success as a firm is based on our ability to attract and retain talented employees and this process provides good insight on how we can compete effectively in the job market.”

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867.  TRG locations include Brattleboro, Bennington, Norwich, Middlebury, Rutland, Bellows Falls, Manchester, Burlington, Wilmington as well as Concord and Keene, NH.  For more information about the firm and our capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.   

VRGA Endorses The Richards Group for Member Program

The Vermont Retail and Grocers Association is pleased to announce it has partnered with The Richards Group to manage its commercial insurance program for VRGA members.

“The Richards Group has made the association a top priority throughout the past several years and understands what small businesses in Vermont need in regards to insurance, information, and best practices,” said Erin Sigrist, President of the Vermont Retail and Grocers Association. “Our commercial insurance program is a key benefit for our members. We have hundreds of businesses throughout Vermont participating, so we look forward to working with The Richards Group as they bring their insurance expertise, technology and extensive knowledge of safety and risk management to VRGA members.”

“Over the years we have built some valuable industry knowledge and resources for industries including retail, grocery, breweries, wineries, and specialty foods manufacturers that we know will serve VRGA members well,” said Peter Richards, Vice President of Commercial Insurance and Risk Management at The Richards Group. “In today’s business environment, VRGA members need and deserve more than insurance coverage at a competitive price - they will benefit from capabilities such as OSHA compliance insights, workers compensation cost containment strategies and special Association coverage enhancements.”

VRGA, located in Montpelier, Vermont, is an association of merchants and trade partners united to promote the sustainable growth of our industry through the educational, economic and public policy needs of our members. Today, VRGA represents approximately 800 Vermont retail stores and 250 suppliers to the industry, including members of the Vermont Specialty Food Association, Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores and the Vermont Petroleum Association. The insurance program is extensive and provides members with coverages including property, liability, auto and workers compensation, along with the opportunity to earn back a dividend based on the Association’s experience. Past dividends have averaged 6% over the past 17 years and have been as high as 22%. For more information about VRGA, please visit www.vtrga.org.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm was named one of the 2017 “Best Places to Work in Vermont” by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

If you are a VRGA member, or may like to become a member, and want information about the VRGA commercial insurance program and its benefits, please contact Scott Olmstead or Shannon Prescott at (800) 222-6016.