SVHC Masters in the Mountains Golf Tournament

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Matt Comar and Chris Winskowicz with Don and Nancy Kendall of Mack, the Tournament Sponsor.
BENNINGTON, Vt. — The 27th Annual Masters in the Mountains Golf Tournament on Sept. 9 at the Taconic Golf Club, hosted 32 teams and raised more than $110,000 in net proceeds for Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC).
 
"We are so pleased to have been back together again for our annual Masters in the Mountains Tournament," said Leslie Keefe, SVHC's vice president for corporate development. "We are very grateful for the generous support of our committee members, sponsors, auction and raffle donors, and teams. Their participation supports the health system's mission to provide exceptional care to the people we serve."
 
The health system put precautions in place to ensure that the event held little risk of transmitting COVID-19. All tournament attendees were required to be fully vaccinated, and all tournament activities took place outdoors.
 
Among the components of the event were a raffle, a live auction, a closest-to-the-pin contest, a longest drive contest, and two hole-in-one contests featuring a $250,000 cash prize and a Hawaiian vacation.
 
The event has received support from Tournament Sponsor Mack Molding, Title Sponsor Jerome Construction, and Presenting Sponsors Coverys, GVH Studio, Hays Companies, The Inn at Manchester, and The Rowley Agency. Many others sponsored teams or particular aspects of the day.
 
"We are so grateful to all of the businesses and individuals who decided to come out for this very special event," said Katie Schmidt, one of the event committee's co-chairs. "The COVID pandemic has shown us that there is no more worthy cause than health care in our communities, and we are fortunate that so many of our business leaders recognize that."
 
In addition to Schmidt, the Masters in the Mountains Committee includes Co-Chair Emeriti Brian Knight and Brian Barefoot, Co-Chair Chris Malone, Daryle Bost, Joe Finnegan, Kristen Johanson, Michael McKenna, Somchai Piraban, Rocco Maggiotto, and Edith Thurber.
 
"We are fortunate to have had the extraordinary partnership of the Taconic Golf Club and Head Professional Josh Hillman," said Malone. "His expertise and the excellent service from the staff made for a beautiful day of golf."
 
The next Masters in the Mountains Golf Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, at the Ekwanok Country Club in Manchester Village. For information about attending or sponsoring either event, contact the SVHC Foundation at 802-447-5017.

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Coggins Auto Group Celebrates Five Years

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
BENNINGTON, Vt. — The family-owned Coggins Auto Group is celebrating five years of operations: Coggins Toyota of Bennington and Coggins Honda of Bennington, and Coggins of the Berkshires in nearby Massachusetts.
 
Mike Coggins purchased three dealerships — Honda, Toyota and Ford — in 2020 with a goal to restore trust and a "true sense of community-minded dealership culture." 
 
"My primary focus from day one was bringing back that connection to the region," Coggins had said back in 2021. "This area values real relationships. They want to know the people they're doing business with. We set out to rebuild that trust."
 
The Ford dealership was sold off in 2023 and Coggins of the Berkshires, with sales and services for used cars, opened the same year in Pittsfield, Mass. 
 
According to Coggins Auto Group, the dealerships had social media ratings of two stars when they were purchased; now all Coggins locations are garnering more than four stars in customer satisfaction reviews. 
 
"We sell cars, and we fix cars, and our goal is just to make our customers happy, and keep our employees happy, and that's what's made this really work these last few years," said General Manager Scott O'Connell.
 
Coggins Auto Group is also involved in events that benefit the community, including its popular annual charity golf tournament that funds local charities and organizations such as the Bennington Little League.
 
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