Faces&Places

October 2002

Ophthalmologist David S. Chase, M.D., announced the addition of a doctor of optometry to his cataract and refractive surgery practice, Vermont Associates in Ophthalmology. Vincent J. DeVita, OD, FAAO, will work alongside Chase and William Perron, a licensed dispensing optition, in the Burlington office. DeVita comes from Vestal, N.Y. His background includes teaching ophthalmology in a medical residency for family practice physicians and teaching primary clinical care to fourth-year optometry students.

John Scott of Mach One Computers Inc. announced the hiring of Andrew Blessing as information technology technician. Blessing earned a bachelor of science in computer information systems from New England Institute of Technology. He is MSCE+1 certified, CCNA certified and accredited for Comptia Server+/Compaq APS Proliant servers.

J. Wayne Braun joined National Pension Service, a Burlington pension consulting and administration firm. He administers defined contribution plans and is responsible for the company's technology and computer systems.

John Hunt, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Coburn & Feeley Property Management in Burlington, announced that the company will coordinate the lease-up and property management of Phase II of Maples Senior Living Community in Rutland. Coburn & Feeley manages Phase I. The new phase will feature 38 apartments for individuals age 55 and older and will be available at both market and affordable rates.

Bruce A. Hatfield of Williston joined New England Financial's Burlington office as financial representative. He was a registered financial adviser at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Daniel A. Webster joined the company as managing associate. He was an agent of New York Life Insurance Co.

The Gailer School announced three new faculty members for the new term. Breck Knauft returned to teach the eighth-grade humanities program in early civilizations and an art history class after a year off to earn a master of arts in art history at St. Michael's College. He taught 11th-grade humanities at Gailer. Paul MacLeod joined the faculty to teach physics and math. He has eight years' experience as an aerospace engineer and taught math at Woodstock Union High School for six years. Kayden Will was hired to teach biology, earth sciences and algebra. She taught biology for three years in Maine and was an instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School and field instructor for the Appalachian Mountain Club.

April Clark was hired to install new employer groups and oversee the customer service department for The Choice Care Card. Based in Montpelier, the Choice Care Card is an employer-sponsored health care debit card that allows employees to cover out-of-pocket health care expenses while the employer provides additional coverage through a high-deductible insurance plan.

The Clarion Burlington Hotel named John P. Billen executive chef for the hotel and its affiliated restaurant, Trader Duke's. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Billen was executive chef at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center. April McKenzie was appointed director of housekeeping. She was director of housekeeping at the Sheraton.

First American Title Insurance Co. announced that Clarence E. Davis was named vice president and state manager for Vermont. He will operate from the company's Burlington office. Davis has been with the company since 1999.

Land Air Express of New England in Williston announced the appointment of Bob Davis to the newly formed position of corporate customer service manager. Davis will be based in the company's Londonderry, N.H., facility. He was director of operations at Land Air Express.

The Radio Deli and Grocery announced the deployment of Mobile Meatball One, which they claim to be America's first and only meatball grinder pushcart. Located on the Church Street Marketplace, it is the first cart operated by the Marketplace, providing tourists with maps and information. Radio Deli's founders are the former radio team of Louie Manno and Jim Condon.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) announced additions and promotions to its senior staff. Tom Irish was hired as the director of customer service. He brings more than 20 years' experience to the position. Jane Bradley was promoted to director of training and development. She joined BCBSVT in 1997 as a community outreach coordinator. Sindi Parker was promoted to director of quality control. With BCBSVT since 1988, she was supervisor of quality control. Karen Saudek was named corporate director of human resources and training. She has been the company's director of human resources for 10 years and was vice president of administration and human resources for Cabot Creamery.

NRG Systems Inc. of Hinesburg announced the addition of several employees. Christopher Brosky was hired as an export administrator. He was an account manager at Shipecommerce. Heather Smith joined the company's inventory control and receiving team. She was an operation support supervisor at New England Air Systems. Julie Goodhart joined the company's human resources area. She was an employment manager for Spherion Workforce Architects. Wendy Phippen was named to the company's accounts payable department. She worked in accounting for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Fletcher Allen Health Care leased approximately 3,900 square feet of office space on the first floor of a new office building owned by 1900 Mountain View LLC, located at 354 Mountain View Drive in the Water Tower Hill Office Park in Colchester. Rick Harrison, commercial broker with J.L. Davis Realty, represented the landlord, and Rich Feeley, broker with Feeley Commercial Real Estate, represented the tenant in the transaction.

The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) hired Rick Blount as director of development and community relations. He was the director of major gifts for the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Jeanne Caruso, RN, changed positions at the VNA, moving from managing one of VNA's adult home care teams to coordinating clinical projects for the information systems department. Mary Lou Morrissette left her position as administrator of the VNA Vermont Respite House to oversee the VNA adult day programs. She will be instrumental in opening the third adult day site in Williston.

Northfield Savings Bank announced the appointment of Nancy Prescott as the bank's UVEST representative. UVEST Investment Services is a registered securities broker-dealer with headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., which forms partnerships with community banks to offer investment services. Based in the Barre office, Prescott is available to meet with customers throughout central Vermont.

Paula Cope, president of Cope & Associates Inc., announced that Mark Heyman, JD, is a shareholder in the corporation. Heyman, who consults in the area of human resources management and training, was named vice president. He was deputy legal counsel for the Vermont State Employees Association.

TwinState/Voice.Data.Video of Morrisonville, N.Y., announced several staff changes that affect Vermont customers. James Tynan was promoted to vice president of sales. He was New England sales manager for nine years. Chris Eisensmith, Vermont sales account executive, was promoted to senior account manager. Joining the Vermont sales office are Kelly Channell and Jon Provost. Channell has returned to TwinState after five years with CTC Communications in Burlington. Provost was also with CTC Communications.

Lamoureux & Dickinson Consulting Engineers Inc. announced the promotion of Douglas Goulette, P.E., and Douglas Henson, L.S., E.I., to vice president. Goulette has been with the firm since 1985; Henson, since 1988. Both were design engineers and project managers.

Bob Sweet of What About Bob? cleaning services has moved to 9 Cardinal Circle in St. Albans. The phone number in St. Albans is 524-1439. For the rest of Vermont, it remains 872-5770.

Steve Pouliot, executive director of the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, announced several staff additions. Jean Palmer was hired as a part-time transition counselor. Nancy Boldt was named intake and referral specialist and group program facilitator. These are statewide positions based out of the Burlington office. Kelley Louthan and Kamryn Becker were appointed itinerant teachers of the visually impaired. Louthan's territory includes Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille and Grand Isle counties. Becker's territory includes Addison County and southern Chittenden County.

The Bove family recently leased approximately 1,900 square feet of retail/office space to the Vermont State Employees Credit Union at the new Victoria Place building next to Bove's Restaurant on Pearl Street in Burlington. Greg Dirmaier of J.L. Davis Realty and Rich Feeley of Feeley Commercial Real Estate brokered the transaction.

Kevin Birchmore, a founding partner and vice president of The McKernon Group Inc., a Brandon construction and design firm, has assumed the duties of chief operating officer. He will continue with his other duties of estimating, construction management and the moving of buildings on a more limited basis. Larry Rowe was appointed vice president of sales and marketing. He has been with the company since 1999. The firm also hired artisan Melissa Strauss. Strauss has done free-lance plaster restoration and decorative painting and sold work in national painting and sculpture exhibitions. Her faux finishing embellishes several homes in the Northeast.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont announced two promotions to the position of account manager in the Business, Service and Retention Division. Brenda Benoit of Cabot will work with groups having more than 50 subscribers. She holds the designation for Professional, Academy for Healthcare Management and was recently designated a Certified Health Consultant. Paul Zengilowski of Hinesburg will work with the large group population in Burlington, South Burlington and Franklin County. He has been with BCBSVT since 1998.

Country Business Inc. announced that Dan Petherbridge has joined the Burlington office. A professional engineer with experience at General Electric and Digital Equipment Co., Petherbridge recently sold his franchised travel agency after nine years.

Nicole Carignan was promoted to vice president and chief financial officer for the SymQuest Group. She joined SymQuest in November 1999 as director of finance.

Joanne A. Schneider, former assistant college librarian for budgets and collections at Middlebury College, was named director of library and information services at St. Michael's College.

Spencer Putnam was named executive director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. He replaces Jane Campbell, who served for 10 years. Putnam was general manager of Danforth Pewterers and vice president of operations at Vermont Teddy Bear Co.

John Hunt, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Coburn & Feeley Property Management Inc. of Burlington announced that Theresa Heinrich was named assistant property manager at the Taft Farm Senior Living Community in Williston.

AJ Mechanical Inc. has moved to One Green Tree Drive in South Burlington. The mailing address is P.O. Box 204, South Burlington 05407. The new phone number is 865-4822; the fax number is 865-4949.

Richard P. Simonetti was appointed managing partner of the New York Life Insurance Co. Vermont General Office in Colchester. He was a nationally ranked sales manager and leading agent in the New York Life Long Island general office.

Page Designs Inc., a Burlington creative communications agency, has hired Peter Kriff as creative director. Kriff's background includes work for clients such as America Online, Lotus Notes, Britannica.com, Nynex, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, University of Vermont, Vermont Department of Health and Fletcher Allen Health Care.

Martha Ibey joined the staff of Housing Vermont, the statewide developer of affordable rental housing, in the newly created position of controller. A certified public accountant, Ibey was accounting manager for the Northfield Savings Bank.

Brooke Lyons has joined Signature Properties of Vermont as a real estate assistant. A graduate of Coe College in Iowa , Lyons is preparing for the Vermont Real Estate licensing exam.

Maureen (Bidi) and George V. Wheelwright IV have joined Coldwell Bank Home Field Real Estate's new Stowe office. The couple owned Name Brand Store of Stowe for 15 years and operated Hyde Park House Bed and Breakfast. They returned from Beaufort, S.C., where they were employed by Coldwell Banker._·