Vermont Business Magazine People in the News

Organized labor community to recognize Former Governor Howard Dean

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:25:52 -0600

On Wednesday, February 8th, Vermont AFL-CIO, Teamsters, and Building Trades will recognize former Governor Howard Dean with the first annual John Murphy Labor Award. The event will be held in the Montpelier Room at the Capital Plaza Hotel from 5:00-8:00 pm. Governor Peter Shumlin will speak at the event.
Howard Dean has along record of supporting Vermont’s organized labor community. From standing with the nurses at Fletcher Allen, who organized their union almost a decade ago, to remaining a strong and ceaseless advocate for the early educators building Vermont Early Educators United-AFT today, Dean has consistently demonstrated leadership in standing up for working people in Vermont.
Wednesday will also be a time to celebrate the Teamsters recent decision to affiliate with the Vermont AFL-CIO. "We know that we're strongest when we stand together,” Ron Rabideau, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 597 said. “With Ben Johnson at the head of the AFL-CIO here in Vermont we are more confident than ever that this is a new day for labor in Vermont. We are proud to stand together with our brothers and sisters in the AFL-CIO." The teamsters represent over 900 households in Vermont.
"When I ran for president of the AFL-CIO my platform was simple: bring the benefits of union membership to more Vermonters,” Ben Johnson, Vermont AFL-CIO president said. “We know that historically unions are the ticket into the middle class for working people. That message resonated with the Teamsters, and I'm proud to stand with them to build a strong labor movement in Vermont."
Wednesday night Vermont's organized labor community will come together to thank Howard Dean for his steadfast support and to stand united in calling upon Vermont's leaders to support workers rights.

Barbara A. Yanke promoted to vice president and mortgage origination sales manager

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:23:36 -0600

People’s United Bank announced today that Barbara A.Yanke has been promoted to Vice President and Mortgage Origination Sales Manager for People’s United Bank in Vermont.
Yanke will oversee the mortgage sales staff in Vermont, currently a staff of 12. She has a long history with the company and Vermont. Yanke grew up in West Wardsboro, Vermont and she attended Leland & Grey Union High School in Townshend. In 1989, she began her financial career and in 2001, she joined People’s United Bank (formerly Chittenden Bank) as a mortgage originator.
Yanke is active in her local community. She is the chair of Realtor Youth Benefit Corporation and Luminaria Co-Chair for Windham County Relay for Life. Yanke volunteers for Irene cleanup and fund raising and she spends a great deal of time teaching home buyer seminars for local housing trusts. Yanke is also an affiliate member of the Vermont Association of Realtors and the Vermont Mortgage Bankers Association.
“We are pleased to announce the promotion of Barb Yanke. She has been a long time member of our team in Vermont. Her experience and vast knowledge of our communities and the products and services that will benefit our customers, will serve her well in this new position,” said David Nourse, Senior Vice President Retail and Business Banking, People’s United Bank Vermont division.
People’s United Bank is a subsidiary of People's United Financial, Inc., a diversified financial services company with approximately $25 billion in assets. Peoples United Bank, founded in 1842, provides consumer, commercial and wealth management services through nearly 340 branches in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and in Westchester County and Long Island, New York. Through additional subsidiaries, People's United provides equipment financing, asset management, brokerage and financial advisory services, and insurance services.

Four new members elected to Vermont Public Television Community Council

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:18:20 -0600

Jane Birnn of Grand Isle, Jane Gomez Dimotsis of Moretown, Toby Knox of Shelburne and Offie Wortham of Johnson have been elected to Vermont Public Television's Community Council, an advisory group that helps the statewide public television network respond to the needs and interests of Vermonters.
Birnn is a clinical educator in nursing at the University of Vermont. Gomez Dimotsis is a former judge and lawyer who assists veterans with legal work. Knox is the principal of Toby Knox & Associates, LLC, a marketing research company. Wortham taught psychology and~sociology at Johnson State College and now works with exchange students.
John King, president of Vermont Public Television, said, "We are delighted to add these four Vermonters to VPT’s Community Council. Council members play a vital role in helping VPT serve the state."

Deputy State Treasurer Wisloski Appointed to Debt Management Network

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:11:41 -0600

Vermont Deputy State Treasurer Stephen Wisloski has been appointed to the Executive Board of the State Debt Management Network. The network is an affiliate of the National Association of State Treasurers and is the professional organization of the issuers and managers of state debt.
Wisloski joined the Treasurer’s Office as Director of Investment and Debt Management in July 2009. He was appointed Deputy State Treasurer in January 2011. Prior to joining the Treasurer’s Office, he worked as Senior Managing Consultant for the PFM Group--a leading financial advisory firm to state and local governments, and served in the U.S. Air Force.
“It is an honor to serve with the SDMN’s Executive Board,” said Wisloski. “This distinguished board includes some of the most knowledgeable municipal debt professionals in the United States. I look forward to learning as much as I can from them during my tenure, and hopefully making a positive contribution to the board’s mission, as well.”
The network was formed in 1991 and brings together public officials from all branches of state government to share information on issuance, management and oversight of public debt.

Richard W. Dall named 2012 Vermont Engineer of the Year

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:07:26 -0600

DuBois & King, Inc., consulting engineers has announced that Richard W. Dall, P.E., SECB, LEED AP, has been chosen by a jury of peers as the 2012 Vermont Engineer of the Year. The Engineer of the Year award recognizes exemplary talent, effort, and involvement in the engineering profession and in the community. The award will be presented at the annual Engineer's Week Banquet on February 24th.
Nominated by the Structural Engineers Association of Vermont, Richard is recognized for his engineering and project management expertise. Richard is a Professional Engineer licensed in five states and has achieved certification from the Structural Engineering Certification Board (SECB) and accreditation as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) professional.
Engineering is a family affair at the Dalls. Richard’s father, brother, and son are also engineers. Richard is a Senior Structural Engineer/Senior Project Manager in DuBois & King’s Williston, Vermont office, where he works with his son Tim in the firm’s Structures Department.
Richard joins other recent DuBois & King professionals as Engineers of the Year: Robert J. Wernecke, P.E., 2008 Vermont Engineer of the Year; Robert H. Durfee, P.E., SECB, 2008 New Hampshire Engineer of the Year; and William H. Baumann, Jr., P.E., 2010 Vermont Engineer of the Year.

Save the Children president and CEO to be an executive in residence at Middlebury College

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:05:17 -0600

Charles MacCormack, a 1963 graduate of Middlebury College and longtime president and chief executive officer of the international humanitarian organization Save the Children, will be an executive in residence at Middlebury for the next year.
MacCormack, who received an honorary doctorate from the college in 1982, expects to spend about two weeks of every month in Middlebury where he looks forward to working with “interested students, faculty and staff at an academic institution that has long been at the forefront of research and teaching in languages and international studies.”
In line with Middlebury’s emphasis on strengthening curricular and co-curricular opportunities for its students, President Ronald D. Liebowitz has asked MacCormack to investigate ways to build upon what students learn in the classroom through connections to worldwide initiatives addressing global health, food and nutrition, economic development and other issues.
“This residency will give our students, faculty, and staff a chance to benefit from Charlie MacCormack’s expertise, insight, and wisdom when it comes to doing work on behalf of others,” said President Liebowitz. “The work he has done throughout his career touches on so much of what we are trying to do here. To be a truly global institution and prepare our students to face the challenges of the 21st century, we know we will have to combine the power of a traditional liberal arts curriculum with hands-on learning.”
MacCormack, whose office is in Munroe Hall, said Middlebury “has been ahead of the curve and very forward leaning” on languages and international studies, and became committed long before others to immersion, practical engagement, and study abroad. He hopes to help as Middlebury takes the next step, emphasizing links across geographical and disciplinary sectors. He will be reaching out to faculty and staff to see how he might be able to add value to their courses and programs. He’s especially interested in working with the new Middlebury Center for Social Entrepreneurship, which will support and teach young social entrepreneurs. “I’ve spent the 50 years since I graduated from Middlebury applying the lessons I learned here,” MacCormack said. “Now I’m looking into what I can do to support Middlebury’s leadership in international studies, language studies, and the liberal arts.”
Rather than adding courses to the curriculum, MacCormack said, he expects that Middlebury will want to integrate project-based learning into its students’ overall education. “If a course touches on public health, we might ask how we can apply what that course has taught the students and get them involved, for example, in the battle against malaria. You could think of it as creating a laboratory for a number of courses, continuing to strengthen Middlebury’s tradition of linking strong academic programs with life experience. We can also pull in outside speakers who are active in public health around the world, in person or via technology like video conferencing.
“Making these kinds of connections, networking with people in the field, is crucial to Middlebury students. We may have to work a little harder here than at, say, New York University, Columbia or Georgetown, places that are located geographically at global crossroads. But our students need to have the same kind of engagement.”
MacCormack is also interested in adding the theory and practice of global leadership to the Middlebury student experience. For example, he said, “You might be able to have an interdisciplinary course or two available to all those who have leadership on global issues as one of their targets.”
In addition to his residency at Middlebury, MacCormack will spend 2012 working as executive chair of the Millennium Development Goal Health Alliance, a private entity created to support United Nations Special Envoy Ray Chambers and other world leaders in achieving the UN’s “Every Woman, Every Child” health goals for newborns, children and women. He will also be a senior fellow at InterAction and a number of other think tanks, helping to create a series of summits on how private entities can better contribute to global health and development.
MacCormack was president and CEO of Save the Children from 1993 to 2011. Save the Children is an independent nonprofit humanitarian child assistance organization with programs in the U.S. and more than 50 other countries, an annual budget of $550 million, and more than 6,000 staffers. Before joining Save the Children, he had served as the chief executive officer of World Learning (previously known as the Experiment in International Living), in Brattleboro, Vt. He received his doctorate and master’s degree from Columbia. He was a National Science Foundation Fellow at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City and a Fulbright Fellow at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas. MacCormack is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
When he’s not at Middlebury or traveling the world, MacCormack lives in Easton, Conn., with his wife, Susan Ross, who recently stepped down after 15 years as president of the Fairfield County Foundation. They have two children, Cameron and Fraser.
At Middlebury College, MacCormack shares the title executive in residence with James Douglas, Class of 1972, former governor of Vermont.

Sherward Farnsworth, PE, joins VHB’s Vermont office as senior project manager, transportation engineering

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:03:59 -0600

VHB is pleased to welcome Sherward Farnsworth, PE, as Senior Project Manager in the engineering group. Farnsworth, former Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) Structures Project Manager, will bolster the firm’s transportation engineering design capabilities throughout Vermont and Northern New York. His focus will be providing management and technical guidance on projects for a wide range of public and private sector clients.
Recently retired from a 40+ year professional career working for VTrans, Farnsworth, sharing his extensive engineering expertise and project leadership, worked with VTrans co-workers, contractors, and design consultants on hundreds of engineering projects, from small-scale culvert and drainage systems to large scale bridge projects, such as the award winning Lime Kiln Bridge between Colchester and South Burlington, VT.

He was recognized by VTrans as Employee of the Year in 1989, and in 2004, he was honored by the Vermont Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers as Engineer of the Year.
“Our clients and our steadily growing office will greatly benefit from Sherward’s deep local knowledge, industry relationships, and invaluable experience,” said Director of Engineering Services, Mark Colgan.
Farnsworth noted, “I'm an engineer, and there are still many bridges that need our attention in Vermont. I’ve collaborated with VHB on many projects for over twenty years. I’m excited to officially be part of their team, and I look forward to being able to share my experience with my new VHB colleagues.
A resident of Shelburne, VT, Farnsworth is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Vermont Society of Engineers, and National Railway Historical Society. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Vermont and associates degree in civil engineering from Vermont Technical College.
Watertown, Massachusetts-based Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. is an 850+-person firm that provides integrated planning, transportation, land development, and environmental services from 21 offices along the east coast. Engineering News-Record ranks VHB 80th of the Top 500 U.S. Design Firms and among the Top 50 Transportation Firms in the Nation.

Eric Johnson joins TD Bank as VP, business development officer in the SBA division in Burlington

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:01:14 -0600

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, has named Eric J. Johnson as Vice President, Business Development Officer in the SBA Division in Burlington, Vt. He is responsible for expanding TD Bank’s SBA loan production, including SBA real estate mortgage loans, medical & professional loans, franchise financing, equipment loans and business acquisition financing throughout Vermont and northern Upstate New York.
Johnson has seven years of experience in banking and lending. Prior to joining TD Bank, he served as a Commercial Lender at Berkshire Bank in Manchester Center, Vt., and as a Business Relationship Manager at HSBC in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
A Plattsburgh resident, Johnson is a graduate of State University of New York, Plattsburgh and Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh. He is originally from Northville, N.Y., where he graduated from Northville Central School in 1999.
TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 7.8 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,280 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized wealth management services through TD Wealth, and insurance products and services through TD Insurance, Inc. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Portland, Maine.
TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America and one of the few banks in the world rated Aaa by Moody's. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD."

Bunnell promoted to loan officer at Union Bank

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:59:15 -0600

Ken Gibbons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Jessica Bunnell to the position of Residential and Consumer Loan Officer for Union Bank. Bunnell will be responsible for originating, processing, closing and servicing consumer mortgage and installment loans.
Bunnell previously worked in various positions at the Bank including Retail Loan Assistant, Loan Processor and Teller Float. She has attended the Center for Financial Training, has her Liberal Studies Associate Degree from Community College of Vermont and is a graduate of the New England School of Banking. She is a member of the Vermont Business and Professional Women of St. Johnsbury.
“I am pleased to be serving the St. Johnsbury area as a loan officer for Union Bank. There is nothing more exciting than helping people buy their homes, whether it’s their first home or their ultimate dream home,” stated Bunnell.
Union Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Union Bankshares, Inc. (UNB, traded on the NASDAQ Exchange), has been helping people buy homes and local businesses create jobs in area communities since 1891. Headquartered in Morrisville, VT, Union Bank is a full service bank offering deposit, loan, trust and commercial banking services throughout northern Vermont and northwestern New Hampshire. Union Bank has earned an outstanding reputation for residential lending programs and is an SBA Preferred Lender.
Proud to be one of the few community banks serving Vermont and New Hampshire, Union Bank maintains a strong commitment to traditional values. In particular, Union Bank is dedicated to providing genuine customer service and community support, donating tens of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits annually. These values—combined with financial expertise, quality products and the latest technology—make Union Bank the premier choice for your banking services, both personal and commercial. Union Bank currently maintains 18 banking offices and 34 ATMs. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Cynthia Reid promoted to assistant director of development

tricia — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:57:56 -0600

Executive Director Sarah Carpenter announced Cynthia Reid of Huntington has been promoted to Assistant Director of Development at Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA).
Reid joined the Agency in 1996 as a Development Officer. She held progressively higher responsible positions throughout her tenure until reaching her most recent position as Senior Development Underwriter. Before joining VHFA, she spent nearly 10 years in affordable housing working at Central Vermont Community Land Trust and Burlington Community Land Trust.
Development Director, Joe Erdelyi, commented “The promotion is in recognition of Cindy’s hard work, dedication and her contributions to the Department and the Agency as a whole.”
VHFA is a non-profit agency created in 1974 by the Vermont Legislature to finance and promote affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, the Agency has helped approximately 27,000 Vermont households with affordable mortgages and financed the development of approximately 8,400 affordable rental units.