SHELBURNE, VT, April 11, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Michael L. Lash has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Lash's career began in 1978 when he became president and CEO of Carriage House Furniture Shop, doing business as the Ethan Allen Design Center. He was the first and only retailer to offer the complete line of Ethan Allen Home Furnishings in Vermont. Over four decades, the business grew into a thriving enterprise serving over 200,000 clients in Vermont, Upstate New York, and western New Hampshire, and generating revenue of over $100,000,000. During that time, Mr. Lash introduced team-based relationship selling, improving close ratios from 33% to 66% while ensuring all clients received unmatched customer service.

In 1989, Mr. Lash opened Furniture Discounters, the first popularly priced discount furniture store in Vermont, which served as a template for larger, nationally known furniture retailers currently doing business today.

From 2009 to 2013, Mr. Lash served as chairman of the board of the American Heart Association—Vermont Chapter. During his chairmanship, over $100,000 was raised to fight heart disease and stroke.

From 2016 to 2022, Mr. Lash was director of special projects for Taste of Vermont, a specialty food and beverage presentation in Washington, D.C., honoring Senator Patrick Leeahy for his support of Vermont's specialty food producers and their products. This event marked Senator Leahy's retirement year and was covered by Vermont Digger, ABC, and CBS News.

From 2017 to 2024, Mr. Lash served as chairman of the board of the American Red Cross—Vermont Chapter. Under his leadership, the Chapter exceeded every metric for service delivery established by national headquarters. During that time, the Vermont Chapter raised over $250,000 for a new, badly needed mobile blood collection unit.

From March 2018 through September 2019, Mr. Lash became a certified business advisor through the Small Business Administration and worked with the Vermont Small Business Development Center helping start-up, incubator and emerging growth companies develop business plans. This resulted in seven companies being awarded $2,200,000 in equity financing.

In 2022, Mr. Lash served as interim director of tourism for the Chamber of Commerce, connecting convention bookers with hospitality properties in Vermont.

In May 2024 Mr. Lash received his certificate of home horticulture from the Master Gardener Extension Service at the University of Vermont.

In December 2024, Mr. Lash accepted a volunteer position as a board member of the Vermont Garden Network, which aims to reduce food insecurity in the region.

In February 2025, Mr. Lash accepted a part-time position as a gardening associate at Gardener's Supply, allowing him to use his home horticulture expertise.

Since 2010, Mr. Lash has been a member of the Gerson Lehman Consulting Group, periodically consulting with investment bankers and brokerage firms on the macroeconomics and state of the furniture industry.

Mr. Lash is a former member of the Burlington Business Association, the Business Roundtable, and former member of the boards of the Visiting Nurse Association, Visiting Nurse Foundation.

Mr. Lash's donor commitments include Habitat for Humanity, Steps to End Domestic Violence, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Goodwill Industries, Hope Works, and the Vermont Garden Network.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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