Faces&Places

February 2005

Joel Dube has joined the commercial lending team at Northfield Savings Bank and will be based at NSB's Chittenden County headquarters in Williston, but will work throughout the county. Dube was with Banknorth.

Lauri A. Fisher has become an associate at the law firm of Roesler, Whittlesey, Meekins & Amidon. She was admitted to the Vermont Bar in November 2004 and will concentrate her practice in the areas of family law, civil litigation and real estate.

Peter L. Post, president and founder of PostScript Inc., announced that Sara C. Blum, vice president, joins him and Patricia C. Post as a co-owner of the firm. The marketing and public relations firm was founded in 1984. Blum has been with the firm since 1987.

Dufresne Henry announced that the following employees were named associates in the firm: Michael A. Gallo, P.E., head of the firm's facilities/building engineering division, who works from the North Springfield and Burlington offices; Steven M. Magoon, senior application manager, who works from the South Burlington office; and John H. Saydek, a senior landscape architect, who works from the North Springfield office.

Gregory Marchildon was appointed state director of AARP Vermont, charged with directing the organization's efforts and activities statewide through community service, education and advocacy. The Lake Placid, N.Y., native, was state director of the AARP office in Hawaii.

SymQuest Group Inc. hired Aimee Carter as network support engineer in its network services team. Carter was with Rescuecom in Boston.

Sybil Chicoine was named marketing director at Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty. The former deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing has more than 10 years' experience in strategic development, marketing and communications.

Bruce Potekhen was hired as superintendent in the construction department of Bread Loaf Corp. in Middlebury. Potekhen has more than 20 years' experience in project management.

NRG Systems Inc. of Hinesburg announced the following additions to its team. Michael Goglia is towers production technician. He was with Classic Outfitters. Kathy Magnus is an executive assistant formerly with Suss Microtec Inc. Matthew Douglass is an electronics technician; he was with Hayward Tyler Inc.

WPTZ NewsChannel 5 and WNNE NewsChannel 31 announced the promotion of William Harp and Roger Rosendahl to assistant chief engineer. Harp joined WNNE in 1987 and transferred to WPTZ in 1997. Rosendahl has been with WNNE since 1991. The pair share engineering supervisory duties for WPTZ's Colchester location.

The Champlain College board of trustees has named David F. Finney to become the college's seventh president. He will succeed retiring Champlain president, Roger H. Perry on July 1. Finney is dean of New York University's school of continuing and professional studies in New York City. He is the author of the 1997 book Financing Your College Degree: A Guide for Adult Students.

Lang Associates announced the addition of Rindy Keyser and Pamela Ann Fregeau to its team of sales professionals. Keyser was with The Snyder Companies. Fregeau is a buyer specialist with Cheryl Boissoneault and Mark Ledoux in the St. Albans office. Lang has also hired Lynn Schilling as coordinator for relocation and Lang, Lion & Davis. Melodie Gingrow was named receptionist in the South Burlington office.

Panurgy Learning Center in South Burlington has changed its name to Panurgy Corporate Education Center. Panurgy offers training in computer technology and professional skills.

Union Bank of Morrisville announced two new hires and a promotion. Brad Prior was named deposit operations manager. He was with Chittenden Bank. Sharyn Kane, who was named training manager, has a background in human resources. Carrie Tallman was appointed training coordinator. She was a teller at the bank's Hardwick office.

NorthCountry Federal Credit Union named three employees to staff its new contact center. Brie Husk was promoted to manager. Karen Burgess was promoted to representative. Mary McEwen was also hired to work at the contact center. She was office manager for Isabelle's Lighting. The credit union announced other promotions and new hires. Marion Wrightington was promoted to branch coordinator at the Swift Street office. She replaces Tanya Cushing, who was named executive assistant at the credit union's headquarters. Two new employees, Lynn Willis and Laura Borja, joined the staff of the Colchester branch.

The Woodstock Inn & Resort announced that Peter Davenport was named director of the Woodstock Ski Touring Center. He replaces John Wiggin, who retired. An avid cross-country and Nordic enthusiast, Davenport was transportation manager at Johnson Pix Fuel Corp. The inn also announced the appointment of Paula Boulrice as food and beverage supervisor at Suicide Six Ski Area and the Woodstock Country Club. She returns to Suicide Six after several years at The Castle in Ludlow.

David M. Wood, CPA, and Glen A. Bolster CPA, of A.M. Peisch & Co. LLP announced the promotion of Todd J. Burgess, CPA, to partner in the firm's Colchester office. The Colchester office announced the following additions to its staff: Amanda L. Garceau has joined the firm's audit department; Crystal L. Swenson was hired as office administrator.

United Way of Chittenden County appointed Tina de la Torre director of communications. She has held positions in marketing communications and community development with Bombardier and Vermont Gas.

Lu Ann Dillon of South Burlington was appointed deputy secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Dillon takes over the post from Dawn Terrill, who left to become secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Dillon was senior vice president of the Maryland firm Bell & Co. management consultants. She was the founder of LAD Ltd., a clothing business in Burlington that she managed from 1983 to 1990.

Thomas S. Leavitt, senior vice president, retail banking for Merchants Bank, announced several staff promotions. Christine T. Auriemma was named branch president of the White Street, South Burlington, branch. She succeeds Ardyce Cochran, who is retiring. Prielle Sofield was named branch president of the Kennedy Drive, South Burlington, branch. She succeeds Chris Jarvis, who was appointed to corporate banking officer. Shelley Rainville was named lender/customer representative for the St. Albans branch.

Citizens Bank, doing business in Vermont under the Charter One Bank name, announced that Robert LaClair was named team leader for the company's business banking division in Vermont. LaClair was with Systems & Software in Colchester as well as with both Key Bank and Vermont National Bank. Charter One also announced two executive appointments: Brigitte Ritchie, vice president of public affairs and community relations, and Alec Barclay, vice president of commercial lending. Ritchie has been with the bank since 2000; Barclay was with Key Bank. Carol-Lynn Saliba was promoted to executive vice president, director of retail at Citizens Bank New Hampshire. Her responsibilities cover the branch network in New Hampshire and Vermont, including community business lending and consumer banking. She has been with the bank since 2000.

John N. Evans, Ph.D., dean of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and Melinda Estes, M.D., president and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care, announced the appointment of Robert Pierattini, M.D., as chairman of the department of psychiatry at the College of Medicine and clinical leader of psychiatry at Fletcher Allen. Pierattini had been interim chairman and interim physician leader since 2001.

Hettena Wright & Horton CPAs, P.C. of Williston announced the promotion of Elaine Huang to the position of manager of business services. Huang joined the firm in 2001.

Nelson L. Thibault, P.E., senior vice president of Hoyle, Tanner & Associates Inc., announced that Richard Perez has rejoined the firm and is working from the Burlington office. Perez was the founder of Vermont Pipeline Services.

Robert Johnson, president of Omega Optical, announced the company's move into its new, 30,000-square-foot world headquarters and manufacturing facility in Brattleboro. It is the first building on The Delta Campus, a 137-acre parcel, the master plan of which calls for a combination of business and residential uses.

Chittenden Corp. announced that Lawrence W. DeShaw, president and CEO of Chittenden Bank, will retire at the end of the first quarter of 2005. DeShaw joined the bank in 1971 as a loan officer. He was named to the presidency in January 2003. Chittenden also announced other staff changes. Kristen LaFlam was promoted to market manager in the bank's Vergennes and Ferrisburgh offices. She has been with the bank since 1999. Janet Knutsen was promoted to sales manager of the residential mortgage department. She has been with the bank since 1985. Kellie Stoll was named mortgage sales coordinator for the bank. She has been with the bank since 1991.

Century 21 Advantage announced that Rhonda Kiefer has joined its team of real estate professionals. Kiefer specializes is buyer and seller representation.

Bruce and Stephen Douglas announced that Workers in Wood has moved to 37 Lincoln St., Essex Junction. The phone number is 879-1595.

Gallagher, Flynn & Co. LLP announced that Justina Lovaglio joined the firm as staff accountant. She was with a regional accounting firm.

James A. Hill was hired as a casualty claims specialist for Vermont Mutual Insurance Group in Montpelier. He was with Kemper Insurance Companies and Broadspire Services.

The National Life Group named Joel Conrad chief information officer. Conrad oversees the company's information technology strategy and a partnership the company has entered with Keane Inc. He was with MetLife.

Gary N. Farrell, president of Lodging North, the owner of the Clarion Hotel Burlington, announced the property will become a Doubletree Hotel this year. Doubletree is owned by Hilton Hotels.

Otter Creek Awnings & Patio Rooms hired Karen Kunz as a marketing and customer service representative. Kunz was with Total Care in Syracuse, N.Y. Laura Bent was promoted to oversee the sales and design of custom closets, the company's new product. Truex Cullins & Partners Architects announced the addition of three people to its architectural design team. David Hamilton of Middlebury was a designer for a Los Angeles, Calif., firm. Israel Smith of Winooski was with a firm in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Kevin White of Winooski is a third-year intern architect. He was with a Buffalo, N.Y., firm.

Banknorth Vermont announced the addition of Walt Greiner, vice president, to its commercial banking division. He has 20 years of commercial lending experience at Banknorth.