Honors & Awards

July 2010

McFarland Johnson announced that Peter C. Bero, an assistant engineer in the facilities group, became licensed as a professional engineer in the state of Vermont with a specialty in structural engineering.

Forcier Aldrich & Associates Inc. announced that Jason R. Booth, P.E., was chosen by his peers from Vermont’s engineering societies as the 2010 Vermont Young Engineer of the Year.

Rene Paquette was voted 2010 Employee of the Year at Otter Creek Awnings, Sunrooms & Custom Closets. Paquette, vice president in charge of operations, has been with the company since 1981. Todd Warren, owner and president, announced that the company received the award for Excellence in Customer Service in the sunrooms division from Betterliving Sunrooms. Co-owner Elizabeth Warren and Paquette attended the ceremony. Otter Creek was also named No.1 awning dealer in sales by Durasol Awnings.

The Vermont Gay Tourism Association announced the election of directors. President and treasurer is Willie Docto of Moose Meadow Lodge; Karen Pike of Karen Pike Photography, vice president; Tim Lynk of Basin Harbor Club, secretary; Gwendy Lauritzen of Notch Above Tours, membership; Dave Hakins of The Essex Resort & Spa, marketing. Board members are George Defina of Deer Brook Inn, Gail Albert of Shelburne Vineyard, and Steve Karnes of Vermont Bride Magazine.

Scott Colebourne, director of tennis at the Drysdale Tennis School at Stratton Mountain Resort, was named the Professional Tennis Registry’s Member of the Year for the state of Vermont.

Les Allen, manager of the Midas shop in South Burlington, received the Midas President’s Award, the corporation’s highest honor. He is one of 50 so designated and one of 10 to receive the award two years in succession.

David F. Finney, president of Champlain College, received the Robert J. McKenna Award for program achievement from the New England Board of Higher Education. The award honored programs such as the Bring Your Own Business program for entrepreneurs, the New Americans Scholarship for Vermont refugee students, and the Vermont First Scholarship for first-generation college students. Rep. Martha P. Heath, chairwoman of the Vermont House Appropriations committee, received the David C. Knapp award for trusteeship. The Quantum Leap program at Bennington College, led by Daniel Michaelson and Susan Sgorbati, received the Vermont State Merit Award.

Century 21 Advantage received the Quality Service Office Award for the third consecutive year from the Century 21 system. It was also one of the top three companies in Vermont for productivity. Awards for top producing sales in the state went to Brian French, Kelly Farr, Jim Ross, Linda Murphy, Lydia Wisloski, and Shawn Kelley. Farr also received the Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award and a Master’s Award for Top Sales Production. Ross and Murphy received the Quality Service Team Award.

Stowe Mountain Resort earned the Sustainable Community Certification from Audubon International, making it the first ski resort in the United States to merit this environmental achievement. The ski resort is the first in the United States to earn the Sustainable Community Certification from Audubon International.

ARC Mechanical Contractors announced that Gov. James Douglas appointed Wayne Vanesse to the state’s Apprenticeship Council. Vanesse manages the company’s HVAC apprenticeship program in Vermont and New Hampshire.

Paul Frank + Collins associate Gavin Boyles joined the board of directors of the Vermont Bar Association Young Lawyer Division, for members under the age of 37 who have practiced law in Vermont for less than five years.

Katy Lesser, the owner of Healthy Living Market, was named U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2010 Vermont Small Business Person of the Year. Lesser was nominated by David Blow Jr., vice president of Granite State Development Corp. Vermont Small Business Champion awards went to Kim Maynard of LACE Arts Gallery, Barre; Bradley Quinn Page of the Vermont Department of Labor, Burlington; and Mark and Lauri Boyden of Boyden Farm, Cambridge.

Maclay Architects received top honors for the net-zero energy design of The Putney School field house in the new construction (small buildings) category at Efficiency Vermont’s 2010 Better Buildings by Design conference. The project team included Engineering Ventures, Kohler & Lewis, Heindel & Noyes Inc., DEW Corp., Cynthia Knauf Landscape Design, Energy Balance, Naomi Miller Lighting Design, and William Bissell.

Professional Construction Inc. was chosen for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the nonresidential construction category by the Small Business Commerce Association. The award program recognizes the top 5 percent of small businesses throughout the country.

The Vermont State Health Insurance Assistance Program was recognized with the New England Regional Public Service Award by the Social Security Administration and Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services for enrolling 98.8 percent of eligible low-income Vermonters for prescription assistance. Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie joined officials from the two organizations to present the award.

DEW Construction Corp. announced it has fulfilled the requirement of the Toxic Substances Control Act Section 402 and received certification to conduct lead-based paint renovation, repair, and painting activities. DEW has eight trained renovators.

Mike Hannigan and Seth Drury of the design firm Methodikal received the Governor’s Award for Marketing Excellence at the annual Vermont Travel Industry Conference. The Travel Person of the Year Award went to Chris Francis of Ye Olde England Inn of Stowe.

Linking Learning to Life recognized several organizations at its Community Partner Recognition event. Careers awards went to City Market, Doggie Styles, and The RehabGym Inc. College category awards went to St. Michael’s College and Sue Blethen of Burlington High School. Community awards went to Kara Buchanan, parent volunteer; Kardie Schaeffer, Vermont Youth Development Corps; and New England Federal Credit Union. Martin Lawlor of IBM and Melissa Hersh of Champlain College received Outstanding Service awards.

The Essex Junction wastewater treatment plant was selected by the Environmental Protection Agency for a Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Excellence Award. Pictured, from left, are Bernard Fleury, assistant chief operator; Paul Douglass, Howard Kimball, and William Boccio, operators; and water quality superintendent James Jutras.

The Burlington Business Association announced its 2010 award winners for contributions to the city. Heritage Aviation received the Architectural Excellence Award honoring Hertzel N. Pasackow, for its LEED Silver Certified general aviation facility at Burlington International Airport. Vermont Lake Monsters received the Burlington Business Award for “exemplary business practices.” Tim Halvorson presented the second annual Tim Halvorson Award to Joe Carton, general manager of the Courtyard Marriott Harbor Hotel.

Clute Wealth Management announced that Christina Ubl has earned her Certified Financial Planner certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. Ubl joined Clute Wealth Management in 2000.

Richard Cassidy, a founding partner of Hoff Curtis, was re-elected as the Vermont Bar Association delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. His two-year term begins in February 2011.

KidSafe Collaborative announced that Jeanne Kennedy of JB Kennedy Associates LLC received its Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award. Awards were also presented to Matthew MacNeil of HowardCenter (Outstanding Professional); Katie Amadon of the Lund Center (Outstanding New Professional); Howard Stalnaker of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office (Gregory Packan Children’s Advocacy); Lund Family Center and Vermont Department for Children and Families (Outstanding Collaboration); and Alice Siegriest, former senior case worker (Lifetime Achievement).

Paul Kaza Associates, a South Burlington marketing communications firm, received four awards from American Graphic Design & Advertising.The winners included capital campaigns, advertising, and brand work. A branding campaign for Meredith Village Savings Bank was chosen “Best of Category” in print advertising.

Independent filmmakers from seven states and Canada took honors at the second Killington Film Festival. Producer Holly Barden Stadtler, owner of Dream Catcher Films in Huntington, took second-place honors in the New England Filmmakers category for “Finding Our Voices,” narrated by Martin Sheen.

Middlebury College was one of five New England colleges recognized for their recycling efforts by the EPA New England Office. Middlebury received a third-place award in targeted materials: organics category.

Stratton Mountain Resort was one of 12 member resorts to win a National Ski Areas Association safety award for the 2009-2010 season. Stratton was singled out for its safety Week Program and its efforts during National Safety Awareness Week. The resort’s Cliff Drysdale Tennis School was listed in the top five for Best Resort Tennis and Instruction Program, Best Resort Junior Tennis Program and overall New England Tennis Resorts by Tennis Resorts Online.

Lisa Geisweit, division manager for marketing and customer service at Burlington Telecom, was named to the steering committee of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce’s new networking group for young professionals, the BTV YPG.

Bob Morris, vice president of human resources at Lane Press, was chairman the Vermont Start! Heart Walk, his second year to do so.

The Green Mountain Payroll Association’s officers for 2009-2010 are: president Robin Spitzer of Batchelder Associates, Barre; vice president Laurie Thompson of Barry-Callebaut, St. Albans; secretary Joni Gingue of Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, and treasurer Pearl Vargas of Washington West Supervisory Union. The association is a nonprofit, statewide networking organization with approximately 125 members representing 78 companies.

AOL Travel News placed Tyler Place Family Resort in its “The Best of the Best” list, a compilation of the best travel destinations, hotels, resorts, cruises, and airlines.

Vermont Public Radio received six regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association for breaking-news coverage, feature reporting, investigative reporting, series, sports coverage, and its Web site.

Vermont Federal Credit Union was honored with two Diamond Awards from the Credit Union National Association Marketing and Business Development Council. The Diamond Awards were in the categories of Internal Marketing Incentive and Radio (series).

The Mount Family Group (MFG), operator of Westaff offices in Burlington, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury and Barre, was named Franchise Business of the Year by the Westaff franchisor, The Select Family of Staffing Companies. MFG also operates Westaff branches along the Connecticut River Valley in New Hampshire, and in New York and southern New England.

Central Vermont Medical Center and MicroStrain Inc. received awards from the Vermont Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Judy Tarr (pictured), president and CEO of CVMC, received the award for the medical center’s “long-standing employer support” from Skip Poczobut (pictured), the state chairman for Vermont ESGR. Steve Arms, president and CEO of MicroStrain, received the Patriot Award, presented by David Wheel, executive director of the Vermont ESGR. He was nominated by employee Daniel O’Neil, a captain in the Vermont Air National Guard.

Beth Robinson, an attorney with Langrock Sperry & Wool LLP in Burlington; attorney Wynona Ward, founder of Have Justice Will Travel and Kids Place; and Marcia Merrill, CPA, of Montgomery & Merrill of Burlington were chosen Champions for Girls by the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. Champions are selected for their contributions to their state through work, philanthrophy and/or community service, who serve as positive role models for girls.