Faces&Places

May 2008

Jim Coates of Colchester joined Fox Marine Service as sales manager. Coates, who has a background in sales, has been a member of the boating community for many years.

Sovernet Communications announced that Lawrence Lackey was named director of regulatory affairs. Lackey has more than 16 years’ experience with the Vermont agencies responsible for oversight of telecommunications companies, including three years as hearing officer,  Vermont Public Service Board, and 13 at the Vermont Department  of Public Service. Since 2005, he has advised clients on financial, technical, regulatory, and public policy issues. 

Judy Tarr, president and CEO of Central Vermont Medical Center, promoted two managers to vice president and members of CVMC’s senior management team. Cheyenne Folland was named vice president of finance. She has been at CVMC for seven years, most recently as deputy chief financial officer. Susan Kruthers was named vice president of community relations and development. She has been with the organization for three years as director of marketing and communications.

Leggette, Brashears & Graham Inc. hired Kathryn Crawford for its environmental consulting team in Williston. Crawford has experience with water quality in Vermont, research, data analysis and technical writing.

Fletcher Allen Health Care named Roger Deshaies chief financial officer following a national search. Deshaies has a 30-year background in health care finance. He was chief financial officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

The law firm of Burak Anderson & Melloni PLC announced that Scott Fewell and Shane McCormack were named members of the firm. Fewell is a graduate of Vermont Law School and practices in commercial litigation. McCormack is a graduate of Boston University School of Law and practices in the corporate and securities departments. Susan Criscuolo was named legal assistant to the corporate and securities departments. Claire Watts, a paralegal, will serve as a legal assistant for the commercial and litigation practice.

W. Bruce Fenn was promoted to division manager of commercial banking and senior lending officer at Chittenden Bank. Fenn has more than 45 years’ financial service experience. Nancy Devarney, the St. Albans Market Manager, was promoted to assistant vice president. Virginia Eames, a mortgage loan originator, was promoted to vice president.

Jen Levy joined the growing team at Spike Advertising as an account executive. Levy has a master of business administration and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida. She was with the Champlain Radio Group in Burlington.

The American Red Cross announced the appointment of executive directors for two Vermont/New Hampshire chapters. Deborah Peterson is executive director of the Green Mountain chapter in southern Vermont, and John O’Farrell is executive director of the central Vermont/New Hampshire Valley chapter. Don Martin, chairman of the regional board of directors, and Mark Shea, chairman of the Green Mountain chapter’s board of directors and head of the search committee, made the announcement. Peterson joined the Red Cross in 1999 and was chief operating officer at the chapter’s Bennington headquarters. O’Farrell is a veteran nonprofit manager with experience as a Boy Scouting professional and YMCA manager.

Bill Young, executive director of Maple Leaf Farm in Underhill, announced the addition of Scott Ovitt and Glenn Bomberger to the staff. Ovitt is facility manager, and Bomberger is an addictions treatment counselor.

Michael R. Tuttle, president and CEO of Merchants Bancshares Inc. and its main operating subsidiary, Merchants Bank, announced that F. Sheldon Prentice joined Merchants as senior vice president and general counsel in a newly created position. Prentice was senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Chittenden Corp. and Chittenden Trust Co. for more than 22 years. Molly Dillon joined Merchants Bank as senior vice president. She also joined Merchants Trust Co. as president and CEO. Dillon was senior vice president and managing director of the wealth management group at TD Banknorth in Burlington.

United Way of Chittenden County named Cindy Elcan communications/development associate. Elcan was director of programs for Special Olympics of Vermont for more than five years, and before that was assistant to the president of Engelberth Construction.

Gallagher, Flynn & Co. LLP announced the hiring of Phillip A. Benjamin to be in charge of network and user support for its information technology department. He was an information systems specialist with Georgia Elementary and Middle School.

Central Vermont Economic Development Corp. promoted Jennifer Surat to assistant director of development. Surat has been with CVEDC since 1999 as executive administrative assistant.

Mad River Family Practice in Waitsfield has joined Central Vermont Medical Center. The day-to-day function of the office is unchanged. Dr. Fran Cook and family nurse practitioners Susanne Heinzerling and Debbie VanDyke will continue in full-time practice, as will the entire staff. Central Vermont Medical Group includes 13 other offices. CVMC also announced that Jack Reilly of Thetford was named controller. Reilly was with Mount Ascutney Hospital in Windsor. He is a CPA and holds a certification from the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Smart Growth Vermont announced it has selected Jason Van Driesche as its director of programs. Van Driesche was with Upstate Forever in South Carolina. He is the author of a book on invasive species. Michael Miller, AICP CFM, joined the organization as a senior planner. Miller was a senior land-use planner for the Lamoille County Planning Commission.

AARP Vermont has moved its offices to Courthouse Plaza in Burlington. The mailing address is 199 Main St., Suite 225, Burlington. Phone: 951-1303; toll-free (866) 227-7451. www.aarp.org/vt.

The Vermont Employee Ownership Center hired Ursula Jones as marketing and communications manager. Jones was a marketing and communications consultant for several Vermont organizations and has experience as an editor and writer.

The board of directors of the Vermont Community Foundation appointed Faith I. Brown acting president and CEO, filling the position left by Brian Byrnes, who is now at the Tides Foundation. Brown was the foundation’s executive vice president for finance and operations.

Paul Frank + Collins hired Albert Burgoyne as an of counsel attorney. Burgoyne lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for 30 years, serving as attorney and associate general counsel for Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and its predecessor, Arabian American Oil Co. He joined the Burlington law firm as a member of the business transactions team.

Stride Creative Group, a graphic design and marketing firm in Burlington, announced the hiring of Terry Fallon as graphic designer. Fallon has been a self-employed designer in Vermont, and was with the Chicago Tribune and KPMG in Chicago. He has 25 years’ experience in print, web, and media. 

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. announced that Nicholas Lazaris, president of Keurig Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of GMCR, has resigned to pursue other career opportunities.

Jeffrey W. Tucker, P.E., was appointed president of Dubois & King Inc. consulting engineers. William H. Baumann, P.E., president of the firm since 1985, retains his position of chairman of the board. Tucker formerly served as senior vice president and director of operations.

Gina Puente joined Hampton Direct importing and distribution firm in Williston as an inventory analyst. Puente was with Autumn Harp Inc. in Bristol.

Paula Routley, publisher and co-editor of the alternative weekly newspaper Seven Days, announced the hiring of Shay Totten as political columnist. He will take over the beat previously covered by Peter Freyne, who retired his “Inside Track” column in March. Totten, an experienced, award-winning Vermont journalist, left The Burlington Free Press in the late 1990s to become editor of Vermont Times (now the Vermont Times Sentinel). In 2001, he was hired as special assistant to then–state auditor Liz Ready. Most recently, he was editorial director for Chelsea Green Publishing in White River Junction.

Douglas Kellogg was promoted to vice president of marketing and sales at the Golden Eagle Resort in Stowe. Kellogg has been at the Golden Eagle since 2004. Before that, he worked in sales at Sugarbush Resort.

Terese Churchill joined the environmental consulting firm The Johnson Co. of Montpelier. She has 20 years’ experience as an occupational health and safety compliance officer for the state of Vermont and as an environmental health and safety manager in private industry. She was in senior management at Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Husky Injection Molding, and Ethan Allen furniture.

Trudell Consulting Engineers in Williston announced the hiring of several employees in its engineering department. Nathan Collins is a CAD draftsman. He was with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in New Hampshire. Jennifer Desautels, P.E., is a project manager/engineer. She was with M2 Group Inc. in Arizona. Nathan Howells, a project manager/engineer, rejoined the firm after a time with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

Re/Max North Professionals announced the addition of Aaron Chiaravelotti to its team as a buyer’s agent. Chiaravelotti was manager of Three Tomatoes restaurant in Williston.

Sara C. Blum was named president and treasurer of PostScript Inc., the Burlington marketing and public relations firm. Peter Post, the former president, will move into the role of CEO. Blum joined the firm in 1987. She was most recently vice president and managing partner of operations.

John Miller joined Earth Turbines Inc. as senior systems engineer. Since 1982, Miller has served in a consulting role to NRG Systems, Earth Turbines’ sister corporation, as architect and designer of the company’s early instruments.

John M. Mayer was named to the newly created position of vice president, operations at New England High Purity (NEHP) in Williston. Mayer held leadership positions at a number of major manufacturing concerns, including G.S. Blodgett and, most recently, DSM Metal Fabrications. NEHP provides process piping solutions and modularization for the semiconductor and life sciences industries.

The board of directors of Vermont Energy Investment Corp. announced that Scott Johnstone will become executive director in June. The announcement was made by Chip Stone, the board president. Johnstone has been executive director of the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization since 2005. He will replace Beth Sachs, VEIC’s co-founder and executive director, who is stepping down. Sachs will continue to lead the organization’s new business development activities and special projects.

Diana Camaiani joined Environmental Compliance Services’ Richmond office as an environmental engineer. Camaiani is a professional engineer with nine years’ experience.

Ken Ballard, the owner of Spherion recruiting and staffing provider, announced the promotion of Julie Colangeli, PHR, to senior recruiter. Colangeli has worked with the company for more than six years.

Engineering professional Jennifer Mintzer-Farrar joined engineering and design firm Stantec in North Springfield as a computer-aided-design (CAD) technician. Mintzer-Farrar was with Bensonwood Homes in New Hampshire.

The Vermont Alliance for Arts Education has named Thomas Stevens executive director. Stevens, also the director of the Vermont Dictionary Project, was production coordinator for QuarryWorks Theater. •

The Coaching Center of Vermont announced that coach and author Lea Belair, PCC, has become a partner. Belair has more than 13 years’ experience in coaching. Belair joins Liz Dallas, the center’s president and founding partner, who started the business in 2002 as a collective of six coaches, now grown to 10 full-time members and six affiliate members.