Faces&Places

February 2009

The Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont announced that Donna Reed joined the staff as business and support administrator. Reed will be responsible for business lending in the organization’s six-county Economic Development Administration District — encompassing Franklin, Grand Isle, Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille, and Orleans — plus Washington and Chittenden counties. She recently returned to her home state of Vermont after 11 years in the Atlanta area. She has experience as a small-business owner and manager and is a licensed real estate agent.

James Plantier was hired as a service representative at PP&D in Burlington. He will service the Vermont 15-Smugglers Notch routes of the poster, publication, and tourist brochure distribution company.

Larry Sudbay, president and chief executive officer of SymQuest Group Inc., announced the promotion of Erik Murphy to director of business development. Murphy was a senior account executive and regional sales manager. He has been with SymQuest since its acquisition of IniNet in 2004.

Joseph D. Lisaius, president of Lisaius Marketing, announced that Ryan Cohen has accepted a full-time position as graphic designer. Cohen worked for magazines such as Computer Games, Massive, and Now Playing and was a senior graphic designer for a Boston agency. He has experience with print, Web, and promotional product design.

Curran Robinson, chairman of the board of Vermont Federal Credit Union, announced that the board of directors has chosen Bernard P. Isabelle as president and CEO. Isabelle will replace Joseph M. Finnigan, who has served as the credit union’s leader since 1978 and announced his retirement plans in early 2008. Isabelle, a Vermont native, has served as a senior level executive at several northeast financial institutions. Finnigan, who is also treasurer of the board, will assist in the transition through the first quarter of 2009.

Frederick C. Morin III, MD, dean of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and Melinda L. Estes, MD, president and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care, announced that Richard Branda, MD, professor emeritus of medicine and pharmacology, has agreed to serve as interim director of the Vermont Cancer Center. He will replace Bernard Levin, MD, who has served as interim director since May. Branda joined the UVM/Fletcher Allen faculty in 1983.

JDK Design Inc. announced the return of Christine Dodson as account director at the studio’s Burlington office. Dodson was vice president and director of project management at State Street Corp. in Boston, but had worked at JDK from 1997 until 2006.

Attorneys Caryn E. Waxman and Amber L. Barber were named co-chairwomen of the family law group at Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC. Attorney Jodi J. LaMarche has returned to the group as an associate after serving as a law clerk in the spring semester. The changes were announced by Paul H. Ode Jr., deputy managing partner. Waxman and Barber joined the firm in 2004.

Kelliher Samets Volk announced that James Noble was named creative director. Noble was with Click Here, a full-service interactive agency in Dallas, where he worked on major accounts. He also led creative groups in Dallas, San Francisco, and Vancouver, British Columbia. He has won honors at Cannes, the Clio Awards, the Effie Awards, the Obies, the One Show, and the D&AD Awards.

Rachael Boris has joined Hampton Direct, an importing and distribution firm in Williston, as a business analyst. She was with Vermont Teddy Bear Co.

Frederick C. Morin III, MD, dean of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and Melinda L. Estes, MD, president and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care, announced that Robert Low, Ph.D., professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, is serving as interim senior associate dean for medical education. He follows Lewis First, MD, who stepped down to assume editorship of the journal Pediatrics. Low joined the faculty in 1970 and has held several institutional leadership positions, including eight years as associate dean for research in the College of Medicine and four years as interim provost and then provost for UVM.

Larry Sudbay, president and chief executive officer of SymQuest Group Inc., announced the appointment of Todd Chandler to account executive for the Rutland, Vt., and Glens Falls, N.Y., territories. Chandler has more than 20 years’ experience as an employee of Canon USA.

Al Diem has joined Hampton Direct importing and distribution firm as apparel development and sourcing manager. Diem was with Vermont Teddy Bear Co.

Paul Frank + Collins law firm announced that Santo Longo, Nolan Burkhouse, and Tristram Coffin, lawyers who have served as “of counsel” attorneys since 2006, have joined the firm. Longo practices in the property and development and environmental law teams; Coffin handles civil litigation; and Burkhouse provides insurance coverage, regulatory and claims advice to insurers. Kristina M. Roomet has joined the firm’s property and development and environmental law teams. She is a 2008 graduate of Northeastern University School of Law.

Stephan Jost, director of the Shelburne Museum, announced the hiring of Carolyn Roesler as development officer. Roesler has an extensive background in charitable giving, including work as assistant director of annual giving at Middlebury College. She also worked in the development office at the University of Vermont.

Geoffrey R. Hesslink, senior vice president of Merchants Bank, announced that Anita L. Bourgeois was appointed vice president of government banking, Shelley B. Quinn was appointed assistant vice president of government banking, and William Kidder was named commercial loan officer. Bourgeois and Quinn were with TD Banknorth; Kidder was vice president in the corporate bank group of RBS Citizens N.A. Thomas S. Leavitt, executive vice president of Merchants, announced the appointment of Lisa J.L. Hart as branch president for the East Thetford office, and Colleen M. Page as branch president for the Bradford office. Hart was branch president of the Groton office. Page has been with the bank since April 2007 as a personal bank in the Groton branch.

The Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization announced the hiring of Michele A. Boomhower as executive director. Boomhower was executive director of the Lamoille County Planning Commission in Morrisville.

Philip Brown, DO, was named vice president of medical affairs at Central Vermont Medical Center. Brown was medical director of the emergency department for 14 years. He replaces Russ Davignon, the longtime vice president of medical affairs, who retired in November.

The board of directors of the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger hired Marissa Parisi as executive director. Parisi has a strong background in organizational development and fund-raising. She was with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England for nine years.

Lang McLaughry Spera Middlebury announced that associates Nancy Ryan, Nancy Larrow, Debra Barone, and Karla Huizenga from Associates in Lake and Mountain Properties have joined the sales team in the firm’s Vergennes office.

The Hayes Group advertising and public relations agency announced the move of its offices from Commerce Street in Williston to 10 Mary St. in South Burlington on the lower level. The mailing address, P.O. Box 1319, Williston, remains unchanged. 864-7869; www.hayesgroup.com.

Cedar Wood Chiropractic announced that Shelley Crombach, DC, has joined the practice. Crombach is a chiropractic physician specializing in applied kinesiology chiropractic, women’s health, cranial sacral therapy, and clinical nutrition. Suzy Harris, DC, is the owner of Cedar Wood.

The Vermont Agency financial services firm announced the hiring of the following associates, who are also agents for National Life Insurance Co. in Montpelier. Leslie Armstrong, Robert Bisson, Ross Burke, Liz Kenerson, Louise Kowalewitz, Henry Laidlaw, Gosia Mazurkiewicz, Todd Mugford, Uday Smith, Tyler Spiegel, and Tyler Wood.

John McSoley and Peter McCoy announced that Tom Stretton has been admitted as a partner to McSoley McCoy & Co. Stretton joined the firm in 2000 and specializes in audits of businesses, nonprofits, and retirement plans.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announced that Duane Marsh, president, announced his resignation. He has accepted the position of executive director of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association. Marsh was hired in 2003 to replace Christopher Barbieri, the organization’s longtime president, who stepped down to head up the chamber’s Asia Division under its international trade offices in Shanghai, China, and Taipei, Taiwan. Rick Milliken, chairman of the chamber’s board, announced that Barbieri has stepped in as interim president until a search finds the best candidate. •