💬 Meet Spencer — Teen Entrepreneur with a Big Heart for Local

This summer, Kelly and I met up with Spencer — a rising senior at Middlebury Union High School — to talk about his passion for business, storytelling, and community. Between classes, sports, and running his own venture, Spencer’s schedule is packed, so we’re extra grateful he’s making time to share his story with us.

What struck us most? His energy, his vision, and how naturally his values line up with ours at BMP and Experience Middlebury. Spencer gets community. Here’s a peek into our conversation:

K&K: Spencer, let’s start with you — tell us a little about yourself.

Spencer: I’m a rising senior at MUHS, and I’ve spent most of my life growing up right here in Middlebury. It’s home.

(We love hearing that — so many of the projects we work on are rooted in that same deep sense of place.)

K&K: Nowadays, not many teens can say they started working in sales at 14! How did that come about?

Spencer: I started selling cars at Gardner Stone in Rutland. Pretty quickly, I learned that success in business isn’t just about having the lowest price — it’s about building genuine relationships. That’s what really stuck with me.

(This made us smile. That exact idea — that relationships are the glue of a thriving town — is what drives so much of our work downtown, too.)

K&K: And that insight led you to create Local Trove, right?

Spencer: Exactly. I wanted to build something that helps local businesses connect with their communities in a meaningful way. So I founded Local Trove — a platform that shares the stories and backgrounds that make each business unique. Instead of competing on discounts and flashy ads, we focus on what makes them personal and worth supporting.

(Yes, Spencer!! That’s exactly the kind of storytelling we’re passionate about, too — helping people to get to know the humans and histories behind their favorite shops, cafés, and community spaces.)

K&K: How does it work in practice?

Spencer: Businesses can be featured for free through blog posts and profiles that highlight their stories. There are optional upgrades for premium services, but the core platform is totally free. Plus, we donate 80% of our profits back to the community.

K&K: It’s clear this isn’t just a side project for you.

Spencer: It’s my passion. I love seeing businesses and communities build lasting relationships — that’s what Local Trove is all about.

👉 Keep an eye out — over the coming months, we’ll be sharing a series of interviews that Spencer is conducting with business owners in Middlebury. Spencer is tapping into something timeless: community connection. And that’s exactly why we’re thrilled to feature him here. Spencer and Local Trove can be found at www.localtrove.net