Faces&Places

May 2006

The Hawthorn Suites Hotel of South Burlington announced the appointment of Patrick Cheeseman as director of sales. Cheeseman worked in sales for The Saratoga Hotel in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Country Walkers adventure travel company announced the hiring of Colleen Korniak, Claire Truso and Shona Sladyk. Korniak, assistant regional manager, has extensive travel experience. Truso was with the Green Mountain Inn in Stowe and Willoughvale Inn on Lake Willoughby. Sladyk, a native of Scotland, was with Sterling College in Craftsbury.

John Gales, general manager of Nassau Broadcasting’s Barre Group station, announced the hiring of Vermont broadcast veteran Mary L. Collins as local sales manager. Collins has 25 years’ broadcast experience, most recently with her agency, the Collins Communications Group.

Terri L. Whelan was promoted to vice president in the small-business-lending department at TD Banknorth N.A. in West Brattleboro. She joined the bank in 2001. Douglas J. Reilly, with the bank since 1997, was named an assistant vice president in the department. Tina McCosker was promoted to assistant vice president in the Brattleboro branch. She is the business development and sales manager.

Chittenden Bank announced several promotions and new hires. Janet Knutsen, sales manager for the mortgage department, was promoted to senior vice president. Knutsen has been with the bank for more than 20 years. Christie Mitchell, mortgage loan officer, was promoted to assistant vice president. Meg Wendel, client manager for business banking, was promoted to vice president. Promoted to assistant vice president were Kristen Cram, market manager in Vergennes and Ferrisburgh, and Michael D. Thibault, market manager in St. Albans. Christine M. Johnson, mortgage loan officer, was promoted to banking officer. Ryan Dente was named administrative specialist for the community banking department. Jeff Hinsdale was named administrative specialist for community banking. Mira White, customer information center supervisor, was promoted to banking officer. Patrick Murtagh was named market manager of the bank’s Dorset Street office in South Burlington. David L. Pare, operations manager for the bank’s indirect lending department, was promoted to banking officer. Gary Gibbs was promoted to vice president and senior portfolio manager for wealth management. Matt Mahoney was promoted to commercial lending officer for corporate banking. Chittenden Insurance Group promoted Jennylynn Kalmer to vice president of personal lines. New hires are Clark Leonard, named vice president and market manager of the Randolph office, and Danielle Pezzimenti, wealth management administrator.

Eric D. Jones of Shelburne was named a director of the law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC. As a director, he shares in the firm’s management and ownership. Before joining DRM’s employment and labor group in 2002, Jones was a managing partner in Vitt & Jones PLC in Norwich.

Wilkins Harley-Davidson announced that Chris Perry, former owner of Harvard Clothes in Barre, has joined the parts and accessories and motorclothes department. Perry has extensive experience in the apparel business, having operated his own business for 28 years.

Spike Advertising named Stephani Konanon to the position of studio manager. Konanon was member services coordinator for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility.

Karl A. Fandrich has joined Truex Cullins & Partners as part of its architectural design team and as information services administrator. Fandrich was with a firm in Boca Raton, Fla.

NRG Systems Inc. of Hinesburg, a manufacturer of wind energy measurement systems for the global wind energy industry, announced the addition of three members to its team. Anna Grady was named human resources administrator. She was director of administration at Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes. Steven Knowlden joined the team as a towers technician. Knowlden was with Precision Balancing in Essex Junction, where he was a testing and balancing technician. Dale Williams joined the team as an electronics technician. Williams worked at Randall Drive-In, where he was responsible for hiring new employees, managing the theater and operating projectors.

Shelley Navari was named controller at Champlain College. Navari was an audit senior at KPMG LLP, specializing in higher-education audits. She is a 2001 graduate of the college’s accounting program.

Redstone commercial real estate firm announced that Rod Quilliam joined the property management team as maintenance supervisor. Quilliam has 10 years’ industry experience, including the operation of his own property maintenance business.

Karen Marshall, chairwoman of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, announced that A. Wayne Roberts, president of the chamber, will retire at the end of 2006. Roberts has been with the chamber since 1986. A search committee has been formed to begin a search for Roberts’ successor. Dawn Francis will serve as staff liaison for the committee.

Krista Zanolli was named account manager/public relations at Paul Kaza Associates. Zanolli was at a firm in Massachusetts. Brianne Towne was promoted to agency account coordinator. Towne was an administrative assistant and public relations intern.

The Green Mountain Inn announced that Jamie Walsh has joined the inn as events sales manager. Walsh will continue to develop the inn’s group sales efforts through customer service and innovative programs. Walsh has several years’ experience in corporate retail management.

Scott Vanderveer was named director/technology services at Paul Kaza Associates. Vanderveer will be responsible for system development, network administration and setting the framework for technology implementation for the firm and its clients. He was technology manager with the rock group Phish. Carissa Butler has joined the firm as a designer. A graduate of Endicott College, Butler worked at Dickinson Associates in Boston. She is responsible for visual branding programs for several clients.

 Terry Redmond of Barre was named director of nutrition and food services at Central Vermont Medical Center. A Montpelier native, Redmond was district manager for Vermont and New Hampshire for Café Services. He also worked for several years as director of food service at Fanny Allen Hospital before its merger with Fletcher Allen Health Care in 1996.

Mark Aridgides was promoted to wealth management officer in Chittenden Bank’s wealth management division. With offices in Burlington and Stowe, Aridgides is a financial adviser to individuals and businesses, providing financial planning for long- and short-term needs. He joined Chittenden in 2004. David Nourse, business development officer in the community banking division, was promoted to senior vice president. He provides support to 17 managers and their respective branches throughout the state. Nourse has been with  the bank for more than 15 years in various positions. Michael B. Languasco, mortgage loan officer, was promoted to assistant vice president. He joined Chittenden in 1999 in the mortgage closing department. Jeanmarie Cross, business services officer, was promoted to assistant vice president. She began her career with Chittenden in January 2000 in the technology help desk area. Denise Burrows, senior lender and underwriter with Chittenden’s customer information center, was promoted to banking officer. Burrows joined the bank in 1996 as telephone service representative.

Troy Wunderle of Cambridgeport was appointed tour director for the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour. For nine years, Wunderle has toured the United States as a freelance performer and employee of the Greensboro-based circus. His circus antics have been featured on the Disney Channel, Today Show, Martha Stewart and America’s Funniest Home Videos. Wunderle is also the founder of Wunderle’s Big Top Adventures.

Laura A. Bowe, chairwoman of the First Night Burlington board of directors, announced that Julie Maslack has joined the staff as director of development. Maslack is the primary contact for fund-raising and media relations and is responsible for partnering with local, regional and national organizations and groups to fund and promote the annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Maslack was with Rural Cellular Corp. as part of its project management team.

KeyBank announced that Martin J. Costello was named vice president and relationship manager for the Vermont district’s commercial banking team. Costello is responsible for maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction with existing clients and new business development throughout the state. He was with Citizens Bank in Philadelphia as vice president of portfolio management. Neil J. Kvasnak was named vice president, commercial lending for the Vermont district’s business banking team. Kvasnak was a commercial lender for Vermont Economic Development Authority and a senior vice president at First Union National Bank in Charlotte, N.C.

Century 21 Jack Associates announced the addition of the Lynn Jackson Group in the Vergennes office. Broker Lynn Jackson leads the group, with Garth Crider as Web specialist and agent, and Katie Riegelman as marketing guru and broker.

BCK Real Estate announced the addition of Matt Lumsden of Montpelier to the firm. Lumsden has more than nine and one-half years of insurance experience. He lives in Montpelier.

Downs Rachlin Martin law firm announced several additions to the firm. Kimberly K. Hayden of Proctor was elected to membership in the firm and joined as director in March. Hayden began her career in utility law at DRM. Most recently, she was a partner in the law firm of Primmer and Piper, Eggleston and Cramer, P.C. She will maintain an office in Rutland and work with DRM attorneys and staff at the public utilities practice group in the St. Johnsbury office. Benjamin W. King, Harriet H. King and Amanda Ahmadi have joined the family law group and will continue their family law practice within the firm. The practice, formerly known as The King Law Offices, is located in DRM’s offices at 199 Main St. in Burlington. King will be of counsel to DRM. He joined Schoenberg & Associates in 2001 as an associate. A former state’s attorney in Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties, King was a partner with his wife, Harriet, in the firm of King and King in Pittsburgh, Pa. Harriet King was a deputy state’s attorney in Washington County until September 2003, when she joined Schoenberg & Associates. She will be an associate at DRM. Amanda Ahmadi served as assistant court clerk in Chittenden County Family Court. She joined Schoenberg & Associates as a paralegal in 1998 and became an associate of the firm after admission to the bar in March 2004. She will be an associate at DRM. Jessica C. Wilson of Stowe joined the family law group in February and David J. Angus II joined the business law group in March. As new associates, they work in the Burlington office. Wilson returns to Burlington after working with Fenton & Keller, P.C., in Monterey Calif. Angus joins DRM after about two years as a transactional associate with the firm of Ward & Babb in South Burlington, where he worked in real estate, business law and estate planning.

Kathleen M. Dunkley was promoted to assistant vice president in the TD Banknorth Vermont branch on Main Street in Brattleboro. As customer sales and service manager, she will oversee the day-to-day operations of the branch and manage sales of products and services. Ellen L. Gokey was promoted to officer in the human resources department at the bank. Gokey joined TD Banknorth in 2001. She is a member of the northern and central Vermont business advisory council. Caroline M. Ashley was promoted to assistant vice president in the wire transfer department at TD Banknorth in Williston. As a section manager, she is responsible for managing wire operations for TD Banknorth N.A., the company’s subsidiary, which operates banking divisions in Vermont and seven other Northeastern states. Ashley joined the bank in 1998. Peggy W. Burnham was promoted to vice president at TD Banknorth wealth management group in Burlington. She manages all projects for her division, which provides investment management and wealth advisory services to clients throughout New England. Burnham joined the bank in 1995.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort announced that Scott Tobin was named director of vacation sales at the resort’s real estate division. Tobin took over responsibilities of the owner services, contracts and resale departments. He will retain some of his responsibilities in the reservations department. Tobin began working at the guest service desk and reservations department in 1982.

Richard W. Munkelwitz has joined the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, an affiliate of the University of Vermont, as program manager. Munkelwitz has held senior positions at Amoco Corp., First Chicago Corp. and the Sanwa Bank Ltd; he co-founded Crossroads Ventures, a Vermont mergers and acquisitions firm.  He has also served as adviser, board member or member of management for emerging technology companies.

Jaime Yturriondobeitia of Winooski was appointed head cheese maker at Shelburne Farms. She has worked in the cheese department since 2004 and succeeds Jamie Miller. Yturriondobeitia is an Oregon native who came to Vermont to study for a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Vermont and worked at Green Mountain Antibodies for seven years. She was named assistant cheese maker last year.

Richard Watts was appointed a policy fellow at the Snelling Center for Government. Watts has a Ph.D. in natural resource planning with a focus on citizen participation. He teaches a course on transportation policy through the environmental program at the University of Vermont and is writing a plan for involving citizens in the decisions about Vermont’s energy future as part of his fellowship.

Re/Max North Professionals announced that Dorothy Vigil has joined its sales force. Vigil has more than 15 years’ experience in residential real estate sales in Chittenden and Franklin counties.

Steve Kredell, AIA, of Brooklyn, N.Y., joined Truex Cullins & Partners as a project architect and manager. A Pittsburgh native, Kredell moved to Vermont after several years living and working in New York City for firms including Rogers Marvel Architects and John Ciardullo Associates.

Lang Associates real estate firm announced several additions and changes to its staff. Patty Thompson has joined the sales team. Thompson has 14 years’ experience in public education, including classroom teaching and counseling in Franklin, Chittenden and Bennington counties. Kristin Fay Lahue joined the Souza team of sales professionals. Lahue has multiple years’ experience as a residential real estate appraiser at Fay Associates. Kate Whalen was promoted to director of business development and relocation services. Whalen will handle all incoming and outgoing referrals and facilitate corporate relocations. Robert Blair joined the sales team. Blair was with IBM for 23 years in the information technology field. A native Vermonter, he has lived in many communities in Chittenden and Franklin counties. Mikaela Dostie and Melissa Estus have joined the firm as shared agent assistants in the South Burlington office. Estus was manager at A&B Beverage in Grand Isle and a machinist for 10 years.

Mike Savage of Alburg has joined the Alburg office of Coldwell Banker Islands Realty Inc. as a full-time Realtor. He has been in retailing and real estate for several years and will continue to specialize in Grand Isle County properties.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. announced several additions to its staff. Milena Horzovic was hired as a Web site production and content specialist. Michelle Dubuque joined the product development team as assistant merchandiser. Karen Cousino was hired as a product designer. David Favero was named product sales analyst. Jeannette Hogle joined Calyx & Corolla as the divisional inventory control liaison. Holly Burkey was hired as a quality control technician. Pam Deyette was hired as an art and embroidery operator. In the company’s accounting department, Sara Hall was hired as an accounts payable representative; Heather Garza was named purchasing assistant; and Tom Fratamico was hired as business analyst.

Zachary R. Brock, a recent graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, has joined Black River Design Architects in Montpelier as a project designer. Brock recently completed an outdoor leadership internship for the Green Mountain Club. In 2001, he won the Vermont Department of Architecture’s First Year Architecture Design competition.

Brian D. Mullins was promoted to senior art director at New Breed Marketing in Winooski. Mullins has worked with the firm for more than three years. He will oversee a team of graphic and multimedia designers and Web programmers. Before joining New Breed, Mullins was with Xtria Healthcare in Williston.

The Martin Agency in Essex Junction announced that Bambi Shanahan of South Burlington has joined its sales team headed by broker John Workman and co-owner Jay Stevens. Each office is independently owned and operated. Shanahan has several years’ experience in sales and marketing as well as business administration, contract negotiations and mediation. She created and managed a number of local events and trade shows.

The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that Kristin Silverman was named director of communications for the chamber and GBIC. Silverman was a graphic designer and production manager at Cook Creative Advertising. Before that, she spent five years at the Burlington Free Press as a copy editor and page designer.

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility announced that Jon Harris was named membership services coordinator/office manager. Harris was with Burlington’s Community and Economic Development Office, where he was office manager for a staff of 30 and assistant to the Community Development Block Grand board process.

Century 21 Jack Associates announced that Michelle Assunto has joined its sales team. Assunto has lived in Vermont since 1999 and has held numerous positions in the hospitality industry. •

SilverLake Wealth Management announced the addition of Thomas J. Golonka, CFA, CFP, as managing partner. Golonka was with Wachovia Securities private client group for 12 years. He specializes in portfolio management and advanced planning strategies for high-net-worth individuals and corporations.