Faces&Places

August 2007

NRG Systems Inc. hired Abby White as public relations specialist. White joins with more than seven years’ communications and marketing experience in the nonprofit and private sectors. She was with the Vermont Land Trust. John Kerr was named purchasing manager. He was with BFGoodrich Corp. in Vergennes. Louis Prue was hired as logistics manager. Prue was with Huber + Suhner Inc. in Essex Junction. Steve Clark joined as mechanical engineer. He was with BFGoodrich Corp. in Vergennes.

Redstone commercial real estate firm hired Heather Ambrose as director of marketing. She has more than 12 years’ marketing, advertising and communications experience in the ski and snowboard industry, for a marketing services company and in nonprofit.

Larry Sudbay, president and chief executive officer of SymQuest Group Inc., announced that Robyn Terranova joined the corporate office as marketing coordinator. Terranova has more than 10 years’ marketing, customer service and sales experience. She was with Dynapower Corp.

Robert A. Roy was promoted to senior vice president in commercial lending at TD Banknorth Inc. in Burlington. Roy joined the bank in 1998. Darlene Seely was promoted to senior vice president in the wire transfer department at the bank in Williston. Seely joined the bank in 1997. Susan D. Whalen was promoted to senior vice president in commercial banking. She joined TD Banknorth in 1992.

Michael Bedell has joined 800response as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Bedell has more than 15 years’ leadership and management experience. He was president and CEO of Synapse Retail Ventures.

Champlain College has named longtime faculty member Robin Abramson provost. Abramson has been with the college for 12 years, serving as interim provost since October 2006.

Cheryl Coates joined Hampton Direct importing and distribution firm as national sales manager. Coates was with the Vermont Country Store in Manchester.

Matthew Marrazzo of Charlestown, N.H., was promoted to marketing manager, direct channels, at King Arthur Flour in Norwich. Marrazzo joined the company’s accounting department after graduating from Providence College in 2003.

Exterus Technology for Business announced that Dan Swider was hired as an account executive for Williston, and Orange and Windsor counties. Swider has five years’ experience in inside/outside sales and fund raising. He was with a New Jersey company.

Marketing Partners Inc. announced the addition of Mindy Clawson as senior public relations and design specialist. Clawson was a graphic designer and copy editor at The Burlington Free Press.

Peggy Montague, principal broker and the owner of Vermont Country Properties Sotheby’s, announced that Andrew Reed was named director of the company’s newly created land and forest division. Reed is a licensed real estate agent, a registered forester and a member of the Society of American Foresters with more than 10 years’ experience in forest inventory and management.

The board of directors of the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies announced that David Bradbury was named president of the University of Vermont–affiliated business incubator program. Bradbury was the founding principal of Aggregate Capital Partners LLC in Stowe. Before that, he was deputy commissioner of economic development under Gov. Howard Dean.

TD Banknorth announced that Christopher A. Turley was promoted to senior vice president in commercial lending in Montpelier. Turley joined the bank in 1988. Catherine H. Ferree was promoted to vice president in the fiduciary tax department at TD Banknorth Wealth Management Group in Williston. She joined the bank in 1995. Robert J. Burns was named business development and sales manager at branches in Montpelier and Waitsfield. He has 27 years’ banking experience and was with another Vermont bank.

Berglind Davis, IIDA, was hired by Freeman French Freeman architects as interior designer. Davis has nine years’ of design and project management experience in Boston and Vermont.

Vicki (Sacco) Rich, RN, IBCLC, RLC, CCE, CD, the founder of Lactation Solutions, announced the change of the company’s name to Lactation and Birthing Solutions. The business has evolved from a focus on private and group lactation/breastfeeding education and support to include childbirth education and labor doula services.

Trustees at Northfield Savings Bank announced the following senior management promotions. Tim Ross was appointed senior vice president and treasurer. Cory Richardson was appointed senior vice president, business banking. Cheryl LaFrance was named senior vice president, retail banking.

Thomas S. Leavitt, executive vice president of Merchants Bank, announced the appointment of Bette A. Smith as branch president for the North Bennington office. Smith succeeds Kathy Hamilton, who is transferring to the Putnam Square, Bennington, office. Smith has been with the bank since 1984.

Priscilla A. Letorney was hired as marketing manager at Chittenden Bank. She was with Danversbank in Massachusetts as media relations manager.

Sovernet Communications announced several new hires. Jennifer Fabis is director of finance. She was with Platinum Grove Asset Management in New York. Douglas Brown is a switch technician. He was with One Communications. Patrick Pockette has returned to the field sales team after pursuing other interests since 2005, most recently at Automated Data Processing.

The Northern Vermont Financial Group of Northwestern Mutual Financial Services in Essex announced that Sean Barewicz was appointed financial representative. The company also announced the appointment of three college financial representatives: Max Rooney, a business administration major at the University of Vermont; Stephen Amses, a business administration major at Champlain College; and Andrew Altman, a business administration major at the University of Albany. They have been licensed and contracted to undertake personal needs analyses and provide risk protection products for clients in Vermont.

The Vermont International Film Festival hired filmmaker and media educator Nissa Kauppila to coordinate the 18th annual festival in October. Kauppila was founding co-curator and co-coordinator of the Five Town Massive arts festival in Bristol.

Electrical engineer George Weber has joined the North Springfield office of engineering consulting firm Stantec. Weber was with Arup, a consulting engineering company in Massachusetts. His 10 years’ experience includes three working for DuBois & King in Rutland.

Kelley Homiller, executive director of Champlain Vocational Services Inc. in Colchester, announced a change in the organization’s name to Champlain Community Services Inc. CCS offers residential supports to secure community housing, school/transition services, self advocacy services and vocational supports.

Donna Mathieu, a licensed Realtor with Lang McLaughry Spera, has become an independent associate in the firm’s South Burlington office. She was with one of the company’s sales teams. Mike James has joined the firm’s team of sales professionals. James was in the restaurant industry.

Tim Vaughn joined the team at Draker Solar Design in sales. Vaughn has 20 years’ experience in renewable energy and electronics, most recently with SunPower Corp.

Bruce Hyde, the chairman of Discover New England, announced that Sue Norrington-Davies has accepted the position of managing director. She replaces longtime director Jackie Ennis. Norrington-Davies has 30 years’ experience in international travel and tourism. She was program manager for New England Country Homes.

Windows & Doors By Brownell announced that Marcy Brownell has joined the company. She will divide her time between creating CAD drawings and working in the accounting department.

The Vermont Foodbank trustees announced the hiring of Douglas O’Brien as chief executive officer. O’Brien was vice president of federal policy and legislative affairs for America’s Second Harvest, of which the Vermont Foodbank is a member.

Carol Betz, president of Apple Hill Design-Build Inc., announced the appointment of Lauren Hatcher as manager of the company’s new division, The Cleaning Connection. The aim is to provide cleaning and concierge services to residential and commercial properties in Addison and Rutland counties.

Phelps Engineering Inc. is moving its offices to 79 Court St. in Middlebury. www.phelpseng.com.

DuBois & King Inc. announced that Peter J. Murphy, P.E., joined the firm as an electrical engineer/project manager in the building services division in Williston. Murphy has more than 18 years’ experience in the industry.

Chittenden Bank hired Kathryn Leech as vice president, business banker serving Bennington County. She was with Mortgage Solutions Inc. of Manchester, and held commercial lending positions with several banks outside of Vermont.

Spike Advertising announced that it has moved its headquarters from Pine Square to the Kilburn and Gates Building in Burlington’s South End. The phone number is 951-1703; fax is
951-1705. www.spikeadvertising.com. Pictured, from left, are Stephani Kononan, Ren Chase, Ken Millman, Erik Filkorn, Devon Dams O’Connor, Kevin Karn and Liz Schlegel. •