Faces&Places

June 2008

Vermont Mutual Insurance Co., Northern Security Insurance Co. Inc., and Granite Mutual Insurance Co. announced the election of officers for the coming year. Thomas J. Tierney, chairman, president, and chief executive officer; William A. Catto, executive vice president; Brian C. Eagan, vice president–chief financial officer, and treasurer; Peter P. Fresco, vice president–marketing; David N. DeLuca, vice president–claims; Joanne M. Currier, vice president–information systems; Richard N. Bland, vice president–general counsel and secretary; and Mary J. Gray, vice president–underwriting.

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.

Rick Milliken, general manager of the DoubleTree Hotel Burlington, named Robert Schamroth to the position of front office manager. Schamroth earned his bachelor of science in hotel restaurant and institutional management from Penn State University. He has been a hospitality professional for more than 10 years with hotels in Pennsylvania and California.

The Philo Center announced the addition of several staff members. Jill Gorman was named executive director; Dawn Holbrook, office manager; Rachel Hallberg, occupational therapist; Hannah Cargill, occupational therapist; Janet Conk, occupational therapist; and Celia Cazayoux, finance. The Philo Center of Shelburne is a nonprofit clinic providing occupational therapy to children and adults with autism and other sensory processing disorders.

Judy Tarr, president and chief executive officer of Central Vermont Medical Center, in Berlin, announced the promotion of Curtis Kerbs, Alison White, and Nancy Lothian to the senior management team. Kerbs, who has been director of information systems for 10 years, was named vice president of information systems. White, the director of quality management, was named vice president for nursing and quality and chief nursing officer. Lothian was named vice president of clinical operations. She was radiology operations manager at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for 12 years before being hired by CVMC six years ago. The medical center also announced the hiring of Laura Corcoran as nurse recruiter. Corcoran has experience recruiting for technical through administrative positions in New England and Florida, and has owned a recruiting firm.

Sovernet Communications announced the promotion of Eileen Maloney to the position of director of billing and carrier relations. Maloney joined Sovernet as a project manager. In her new role, she will oversee all billing, credit, and collections and manage the company’s outside carrier relationships.

Larry Sudbay, president and chief executive officer of SymQuest Group Inc., announced that Dominic Rantus was named field service technician. Rantus has 15 years’ experience as an X-ray service technician.

Liz Schlegel has joined Found Line Inc. as business development director. Schlegel was vice president of strategy and business development at Spike Advertising, and before that, she ran her own marketing consultancy. She has 20 years of marketing experience with start-ups, growth companies, and nonprofit organizations.

The board of directors of the Northern Forest Center in Concord, N.H., appointed Robert A. Riley Jr. to succeed Stephen D. Blackmer as president of the nonprofit organization. The center works to build a sustainable economy and revitalize communities across northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Riley joined the center in 2007 as director of programs. Before that, he was director of MicroCredit-NH, a statewide community economic development program. In 2003, the New Hampshire Union Leader included him in its list of Forty Outstanding Leaders Under 40 in New Hampshire.

Steve Habif, executive director of the Vermont Children’s Aid Society, announced that Tara Graham, LICSW, was promoted to director of Kids-A-Part, the society’s service for families affected by a parent’s incarceration. Colleen Dwyer, LICSW, was hired as Kids-A-Part social worker, and Sonia Stoddard joined the team providing counseling services in the organization’s Woodstock office. Stoddard will continue her work as parent services coordinator in South East State Correctional Facility.

Lynn Mason has joined the Jamieson Insurance Agency’s Richmond office and is responsible for personal and commercial sales. Mason is a veteran insurance agent who joined her family firm, The Mason and Fuller Agency, in 1986. She remained with the agency, now known as Denis Ricker and Brown until joining Jamieson, holding positions in sales and management.

Smith Bell & Thompson announced that Maria Millikin joined its staff as an account executive in the commercial insurance department. She was an account executive with a national insurance carrier and is studying for her Certified Insurance Counselor designation. She has a bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communications from St. Michael’s College.

National Life Group announced the appointment of Edward J. Parry III as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Parry has served as the interim CFO since November. He has extensive experience in financial services and the insurance industry, having worked at The Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester, Mass., since 1992, most recently as director and executive vice president.

Fletcher Allen Health Care announced it has named Charles H. Podesta chief information officer. Podesta was with Boston-based Caritas Christi Health Care, serving as senior vice president and chief information officer for the last three years. Before that, he was chief information officer at Berkshire Health Systems in Pittsfield, Mass.

Celeste Houle joined Hickok & Boardman of Stowe Inc. as a personal lines agent. She has 12 years’ insurance experience with agencies in the Lamoille County area. She was a lodging coordinator at Stowe Mountain Resort. Kelly Bisbee joined the firm as a commercial account manager. She was an owner representative/property manager with Island Realty in Isle of Palms, S.C. She had formerly worked in the hospitality industry in Stowe. Stacie Deason joined the agency as a commercial account executive. She worked for Farmers Insurance, for a sports medicine practice in New York, and as a volunteer with the AmeriCorps VISTA Program. 

Karin Hammer-Williamson joined the Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center as education resource coordinator. She studied political science at Georgetown University, earned a bachelor of arts in social work and gerontology certificate at Trinity College, and studied life-span family, cross-cultural treatment at McGill University School of Social Work. She will assist Kylee Darfler with career exploration activities.

Ken Hewitt joined Hampton Direct important and distribution firm in Williston as IT administrator. He has more than 25 years’ IT experience, and has worked with Rutland Products, Autumn Harp, and Nexus Electronics.

The Tech Group Inc., a computer network and security sales and service company in South Burlington, announced that Marilee Contois has joined the company as business office manager, and Regina Spillane was hired as director of business development.

Gene Johnson, chief executive officer of FairPoint Communications, announced the appointment of Jeff Allen as executive vice president for external relations. Allen is responsible for economic development, governmental affairs, and community relations for all FairPoint operations in the United States. He is former president of Frontier of New England and Long Distance North, covering the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. He is based in Portland, Maine, and has offices in Manchester, N.H., and Burlington.

Glenn Von Bernewitz, CPA, joined Housing Vermont as chief financial officer. He has experience in financial and investment management, including work in Vermont’s captive insurance industry and in derivative operations with a leading Wall Street firm. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in business management and accounting.

The law firm of Hoff Curtis announced that Gregory A. Weimer has become a shareholder and director of the firm. Weimer’s practice involves both trial and appellate advocacy in the state and federal courts of Maine and Vermont. He also helps clients resolve disputes through mediation. •