Faces&Places

August 2004

Vermont Mechanical Inc. announced the creation of an executive committee for the company. Appointed were, from left, Tom Whitney, P.E., senior engineering manager; John McKeown, chief financial officer; Glenn Kimball, senior project manager; Amy Poirier, senior estimator; and Jason Patnaude, service manager. The group will oversee the daily operations of the company and its commercial, industrial and institutional mechanical projects throughout the company's service areas of Vermont, upstate New York and New Hampshire. Collectively, the group brings more than 90 years of industry-related experience to the executive committee. Vermont Mechanical also announced the following promotions and new hires: Diana Smith, with four years' experience in the company, was promoted to project administrator; Donna Patrick, with a background in commercial contracting, was hired as project administrator; John Martin, following eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps and two tours to the Middle East, was hired as estimator; and Carrie Paya was hired as receptionist.

The Fleming Museum announced that Evelyn Hankins was named curator of collections and exhibitions. Hankins holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University, where her primary field of study was 20th-century American and European art. She was with the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Prof. John Seyller, an internationally renowned scholar of Indian art, was appointed to the position of adjunct curator of Asian art. Seyller has taught in the University of Vermont's art department since 1986. Kim Trauceniek was hired as administrative assistant and events coordinator following the retirement of Marilyn Van Houten. She recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, with a double major in English and political science.

Tara Perkins was named director of public relations at PostScript Inc. She was associate director of the Vermont Mozart Festival.

The Vermont Alliance of Conservation Voters in Montpelier has named Susan Thompson executive director. Thompson has been the associate director for two years.

The American Cancer Society has consolidated its South Burlington and Montpelier offices in a new office at 121 Connor Way, Suite 240, P.O. Box 1460, Williston. (866) 466-0626.

The Vermont Cancer Center has moved from the Health Center Complex to 210 Colchester Ave. in Burlington.

The Howard Center announced that Hal Colston was named diversity coordinator, a newly created part-time position in response to rapidly changing client demographics. Colston co-founded the Good News Garage and was its program director until March.

University of Vermont and Vermont Law School graduate Jamie Todd Gallagher has joined the Burlington office of the law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC as a patent associate in the intellectual property practice. He is a registered patent attorney in the United States and Canada.

SoVerNet announced the promotion of two sales team members, Nikki Rivolta and Gregg Noble, to the position of senior account manager. The company also hired Christine Anderson as marketing coordinator. She was with OMD Digital in Manhattan. SoVerNet moved its Burlington colocation facility from the third floor at 110 Cherry St. in Burlington to a larger space on the first floor.

Dianne Kenney, owner of Criterion LLC, announced the company has moved to 2456 Christian St., White River Junction. The human resources consulting firm has also expanded its core services to include executive coaching, management education and meeting facilitation. 280-3061. info@criterion.biz.

Yankee Captive Management Inc. in South Burlington announced that Leta C. Finch was promoted to president. Before joining Yankee in February 2003, Finch was with Marsh USA Inc.

David F. Grimm, general manager of the Champlain Valley Exposition, announced the appointment of Stephen Mease to the newly created position of director of public relations. Mease was with the United Way of Chittenden County.

Hoyle, Tanner & Associates Inc. announced the promotion of Eugene J. Forbes, P.E. to the position of senior vice president.

Vermont Energy Investment Corp. announced several new hires and job changes. Debra M. Baslow was named project manager in Business Energy Services. Leigh Winterbottom is marketing manager in the marketing department. Bill Bleau is an intern in the marketing department. Michael Waite is a summer intern in Business Energy Services. Chandra Gopalakrishnan was named associate project manager. Mereidth Cowart joined the staff through an internship as campus coordinator for a Department of Energy–funded grant. Job changes at VEIC are as follows: Bill Bowman has moved from business development specialist to business development manager; Tara Sullivan has moved from project assistant to office manager; Colleen Bray moved from project assistant to associate project manager; and Jay Pilliod, the former marketing manager, is director of Business Energy Services.

Parent to Parent of Vermont's board of directors has named Steve L. Mason executive director. The statewide organization is based in Williston with five satellite offices in Franklin, Windham and Orange counties and in the Northeast Kingdom. He replaces Nancy DiVenere, who has retired after seven years.

Keith A. Roberts has joined the law firm of Eggleston and Cramer Ltd. in Burlington. He was with a Boston firm and was a law clerk to a Massachusetts District Court judge. He will practice primarily in commercial transactions and corporate and bankruptcy law.

Rock of Ages Corp. announced that Rudolph R. Wrabel was named president and chief operating officer at the company's memorials division. Wrabel was president of the consumer products group of Pennzoil.

Richard T. Feeley, president of Coburn & Feeley Property Management Inc. of Burlington, announced that Barbara Sweeney was promoted to the position of chief operating officer. She will continue to serve as chief financial officer.

Paul Poquette Realty Group LLC, formerly Paul Poquette LLC, announced the company's new name and location, at 132 North Main St. in St. Albans. 524-9501; paulpoq@adelphia.net.

Jonathan Eddy, owner of Waterfront Diving Center, announced that the dive shop has completed work on an expansion to its facilities at 214 Battery St. in Burlington. The expansion includes a 30 percent increase in retail space; an area for equipment repair, inspection and maintenance; a 100 percent increase in the rental equipment section; and a move and enlargement of the tank fill stations.

Scott Carpenter, president of the Vermont District of KeyBank, announced the appointment of Lesli Blount as community relations director. Blount was director of development and communications for the Greater Burlington YMCA. Jean E. Lynch was named KeyCenter team leader for the bank's Taft Corners branch, scheduled to open later in the summer. Lynch was branch sales manager for Charter One Bank in South Burlington and for Vermont National Bank in Essex Junction.

A.N. Deringer Inc. announced the appointment of Robert Lawrence to the position of director of finance, reporting directly to CEO Wayne Burl. Lawrence was CFO and treasurer for Trans-Border Customs Services Inc. (now UPS Supply Chain Solutions).

Doreen Kraft, executive director of Burlington City Arts, announced that C. Sean Horton was selected as curator of the Firehouse Gallery at the Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce hired Erin Hitchcock to fill its newly created position of event specialist. Hitchcock recently graduated cum laude from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, where she was public relations director of Elizabethtown College Television.

John Zwick, founder and principal of JZA Associates in South Burlington, announced the launch of the communications firm's new Web site, www.jza.us. In addition to the new URL, the site has also been completely redesigned.

Christopher Cain, CLU, announced that his son, Matthew Cain, has joined his practice. Both are representatives of MONY Live Insurance Co. and MONY Securities Corp. Chris Cain has been in the insurance and financial services industry for more than 30 years; Matthew Cain holds a bachelor's degree in business from Champlain College.

Vermont Captive Insurance Association and Molly Lambert, its president, announced the launch of the International Center for Captive Insurance Education, the first complete educational and certification program for the captive insurance industry in the United States.

The Vermont Mutual Insurance Group elected Thomas J. Tierney chairman of the board at its annual meeting. Tierney also serves as president and CEO of the group. He replaces William H. Brooks, who retires from the group after 40 years of service.

Banknorth Vermont announced the promotion of Patricia Hotaling to the position of business development and sales manager at the Milton branch office. Hotaling has been with the bank for three years.

Dubois & King Inc. announced the addition of Evan Detrick, P.E., to the staff of its Randolph office. Detrick leads the transportation department. He was with a firm in Valley Forge, Pa.

Northfield Savings Bank hired Kim Anderson as a mortgage originator in its South Burlington branch office. Anderson was a loan originator with Spruce Mortgage. She is studying for her master's degree in sales and marketing at St. Michael's.

Michael J. Sheehy was promoted to chief investment officer in Chittenden Bank's wealth management division. He has been with Chittenden since 1994.

Banknorth Group Inc. has named Senior Vice President Jeff Nathanson director of investor relations and corporate communications. He will report directly to CEO Peter Verrill.

Champlain College announced that Vice President Lawrence J. Veladota is retiring from the college after 35 years of service. A 1964 accounting graduate of Champlain who went on to the University of Vermont, Veladota worked at IBM before joining Champlain College in 1969 in order to bring the college's first computer on line.