Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) co-founder Beth Sachs has been awarded the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibly (VBSR) 2017 Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement. Sachs was honored at VBSR’s 16th Annual Award Ceremony and Dinner at Basin Harbor in Vergennes, VT.

Nearly 200 gathered to honor Sachs who was introduced by longtime friend, colleague, and VEIC Consultant Elizabeth Chant. Chant spoke for all of VEIC when she said, Thank you, Beth, for your visionary leadership, your clear and unwavering moral compass, and fierce devotion to what is true, right, and good.

Sachs reflected on the creation of VEIC with her late partner, Blair Hamilton, in her acceptance speech, stating, …the mission mattered, but how we did it mattered even more to me. An organization can do what is right for both the organization and the employees at neither’s expense.

Sachs shared her vision for the social and energy justice mission of VEIC with attendees of the ceremony, calling on them to hire and nurture more women, people of color, and people with diverse abilities. Without diversity, there’s no chance for creativity or innovation or really even keeping up with society, she said.

The Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement honors an outstanding individual of a VBSR member organization. Terry Ehrich was the late owner of Hemmings Motor News, founder of the First Day Foundation and a founding member of VBSR. The award is given annually to a person exemplifying Terry’s commitment to community, the environment, progressive public policy, and the workplace.

Read VBSR’s announcement honoring Beth Sachs.