The Stern Center hosted the Gene Richards Roast on January 27, 2010 at the Sheraton Burlington. Master of Ceremonies, Daniel Mark Fogel, President of the University of Vermont, led an exceptionally fun and celebratory tribute to Gene and the Stern Center, honoring Gene’s community involvement and raising funds for the Center.

Richards is a life-long Vermonter and a long-time resident of Burlington. He is an exceptionally successful entrepreneur, running several businesses, and is the CEO and Founder of Spruce Mortgage, a Burlington-based brokerage company which he started in 1995 after a 15-year career with Merchants Bank and BancBoston Mortgage/Bank of Vermont. Also a popular landlord, he enjoys his relationships with his 170+ tenants. One of Gene’s passions is the Stern Center for Language and Learning. Gene knows what it means to struggle with learning in school. He has seen the life-changing impact of the Stern Center’s mission and as a former Board Chair, Development Chair, and current Honorary Board member, he dedicates his many gifts of time, talent, and treasure to ensuring that the Stern Center is able to improve lives.

He is also a beautiful brain in that Gene has achieved enormous success despite experiencing the challenges of dyslexia. He shares the people skills, high energy, determination, and strong vision of successful business people profiled by a London researcher in 2007 who found that one third of those leaders were dyslexic!

Gene Richards is a friend, neighbor, partner, leader, consultant, and cheerleader. He’s a successful businessman because he’s devoted to helping others. He’s enormously popular because he’s interested in your story. And he’s a force in the community because he’s passionate about giving back.

Burlington Free Press Roast Follow-Up