Professional Profile: Tony Pomerleau - 1981

Name: Tony Pomerleau - 1981

Title: President

Company: Pomerleau Real Estate and Insurance

Location: Burlington, VT

Birthplace: Quebec, Canada

Pomerleau  has established himself as one of the most influential men in Vermont. As well as the entire tri-state area. Recently in Cleveland to watch the presidential debates, Pomerleau had a most pleasant surprise. He received a phone call in his hotel room that informed him he was invited to interview with Ronald Reagan. Assuming to find himself in a room full of dignitaries, he was quite thrilled to find he was alone in the room with the president elect. They had a long and very interesting chat with the main topic being interest rates. Assumably as a result of this conversation, Pomerleau is confident that the rate should drop to 12 or 13% before the end of next summer. He also feels very strongly that the raised rates are not going to solve the inflation. He states, “You’ got to put a ceiling on interest rates, can’t let everyone go bankrupt.” Born in Quebec, his family moved to Newport, VT. when he was only six months old. His father was a farmer who later bought a general store and then went into the auto business. Pomerleau grew up and went to high school in Newport. He studied business at St. Charles Seminary. After college his first job was with Endicott-Johnson, a shoe store chain, where he worked as a sort of trouble-shooter for five years. He moved to Burlington, VT. and sold his car for $1,200 with which he purchased a grocery store. Once store led to four and then he sold the group of them. His next venture was a distribution company. This company was the first distribution of Cott Cola in Vermont. With Schlitz and many others among his clients. In 1951 he sold that business. A good friend of his was very interested in the hotel-motel business and invited him to attend a function in Boston hoping to get him interested. Pomerleau attended but the business left him cold. This friend, however, was preaching that he was sure the future of the industry was in motels. As a result of this drive up approach, he got the idea for his first shopping complex. He developed 30,000 s/f with a Grand Union, a drug store, a bakery and others. This was the beginning of Pomerleau Real Estate. Large holdings brought him into the insurance company. Pomerleau has no partners in his company with the exception he says “of the banks and insurance companies.” Although quite a businessman, Pomerleau’s first and only real love is his family. He is proud as any man can be of his two sons and eight daughters. When they were young he used to love to take one or two of his kids on his business trips. Now, with the children grown, he and his wife Rita love to travel. They frequent Florida and often visit Europe. Once while flying from Ireland to Rome to witness the Pope’s inaugural ceremony, he found himself seated next to the President of Ireland with whom he had a nice talk. Very active, he plays tennis three times a week. “More often” he says in the summer. He also enjoys golf and boating. Pomerleau is chairman of the Burlington Police Dept. and helps the community in many other various ways. A very happy man, Pomerleau made it clear to us that his real success is his wife and family.