Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), the statewide, nonprofit business association with a mission “to leverage the power of business for positive social and environmental impact,” has announced the 2022 recipients for three awards that encourage and showcase the growth and impact of socially responsible business activity in Vermont.
One of its awardees is Curtiss Reed Jr. of Brattleboro, who will receive the Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Reed serves as president of the CRJ Consulting Group, L3C. He is also the executive director of the Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity.
He provides expert training and coaching on inclusion, bias, and equity to state agency, municipal, institutional, and business clients, as well as to community organizations across Vermont. He serves as chair of the Vermont Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and sits on statewide commissions dealing with law enforcement, education, and minority health issues.
Reed is the driving force behind four statewide initiatives: The Vermont African American Heritage Trail, The Vermont Vision for a Multicultural Future Initiative, I Am A Vermonter, and The Think Tank for Vermont Leaders of Color.
After 18 consecutive years working and living overseas in Arabic-, Portuguese-, and French-speaking countries, Reed returned to Vermont in 2001. Reed's consulting experience in both international and domestic markets spans four decades.
In 2015 the School for International Training's Graduate Institute awarded Reed, recipient of multiple honors and awards, a Doctorate of Humane Letters Honoris Causa for his life's work to make Vermont a desirable destination for all.
The VBSR Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement honors an outstanding individual in honor of Terry Ehrich, late owner of Hemmings Motor News and a founding member of VBSR's Board of Directors.
The award is given annually to a person exemplifying Terry's commitment to community, the environment, progressive public policy, and the workplace. Previous Terry Ehrich Awardees include Jen Kimmich of The Alchemist Brewery and Alchemist Foundation, Ted Castle of Rhino Foods, and Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry's.
The Ehrich Award will be presented to Reed during the 21st Annual VBSR Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Basin Harbor in Vergennes. To register to attend the event, and to learn more information about the other honorees, visit vbsrawards.org.