Member Moments

At Opportunities Credit Union, we go above and beyond to provide small businesses with the help they need to succeed.

Through Member Moments, we highlight the unique stories and diverse backgrounds of our many successful partnerships throughout Vermont. These growing businesses are instrumental in helping to build strong communities as well as providing opportunities for Vermonters.

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The Hairy Bear

The Hairy Bear combines a family-friendly hair salon with the ability to give back to the community, making the process of getting a child’s haircut easy and enjoyable. Sandra Peck received a loan from Opportunities to move her salon to a more visible and highly trafficked location in order to save her business and help it grow.

The Swingin’ Pinwheel

What originally began as a vague vision of a mobile food cart working the streets of Burlington, a full-fledged, family-owned bakery and eatery unlike any other in the area was born, and Andrew and Wendy couldn’t be more thrilled. Thanks to the investments they made with Opportunities, their dreams of owning a thriving business became a reality within one year.

Snap Fitness

At Snap Fitness, you’re not just a member of a gym; you’re part of a community of like-minded people. Owners Lori and Brad Lockwood say that this gives members a feeling of ownership. Together with Opportunities, they've expanded Snap Fitness to three locations, providing Vermonters with access to state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness facilities.

Vermont Edible Landscapes

Meghan Giroux of Vermont Edible Landscapes has made it possible for individuals and families to beautify their outdoor spaces while also helping the Earth with "sustainable and edible" landscaping. She turned to Opportunities Credit Union when it came time to finance her small business.

The Little Red Kitchen

Cheryl Strenio, owner of The Little Red Kitchen in Burlington, is on a mission to bring fresh and healthy foods to busy professionals who want great food fast. As a financially savvy entrepreneur, she found the right lending partner in Opportunities Credit Union, with whom she has had an account with for 22 years.

Queen City Dry Goods

A one-man custom shoe shop launched in Burlington a little over 15 years ago started Matt Renna on the path to found Queen City Dry Goods. However, having the design mastery to create beautiful leather goods is just one part of the picture. In order to grow his operation, Matt needed to find a financing partner that truly understood small businesses. That’s when he turned to Opportunities Credit Union.

With Love Photography

Before the opening of With Love Photography, residents of Johnson, Vermont would have to travel long distances to get photographs of their families and newborns. Due to its remote location, few photographers had thought to open a business in the Johnson area and would instead opt to open studios in Chittenden or Washington counties. Cousins and business partners, Heather Perkins and Mariah Reed, sought to break this mold.

Laughing Child Farm

Ripe with farmer’s markets and organic products, it can be difficult to stand out among competitive farming businesses. Farmers Timothy and Brooke Hughes-Muse learned this first-hand while they were selling eggs, vegetables, and meat birds as a side-business years ago. Realizing there were many other farms in the area already selling such products, the married couple decided they needed to produce a crop that was missing from the Rutland County area: Sweet potatoes.

Happy Belly Deli

Ron and Laurel Cameron, residents of Winooski, saw a need in their town for a place where people could meet while enjoying tasty, freshly prepared food in a casual setting. Within such a pedestrian-friendly area, they envisioned a little shop that could offer room to relax along with a unique menu, fresh offerings, and great service. This was how the Happy Belly Deli you know and love came to be.

Wildflowers Studio

Energetic ladies Lyndsy Blais and Samantha Spisiak are the two early-childhood educators who saw a need in the community for a hands-on playspace for children and wanted to fulfill it. With the help of Opportunities Credit Union, Vermonters now have access to a new multi-sensory creative play space for their youngsters at Wildflowers Studio, situated at 1 Executive Dr., Suite 103, in South Burlington, VT.

Sugarsnap Vermont Catering

For many business owners, turning your passion into a viable, sustainable business is a challenging adventure. Abbey Duke, owner of Sugarsnap Vermont Catering, was faced with finding a financing solution for her rapidly growing business. With a recommendation from the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), she turned to Opportunities Credit Union for help with her unique small-business lending needs.

New-Aged Spirits

Sas Stewart and Sivan Cotel, owners of Stonecutter Spirits, are passionate about gin and whiskey. With the help Opportunities Credit Union, they received the support and funding to renovate a 12,000 square foot warehouse into a space that accommodates offices, tastings, events, and a distillery for their unique barrel-aging spirits operation.