People in the news

Mack Molding, a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services, has promoted employees Ann Wedell, Bethany Hassett and Caitlin Hawley and welcomed new hires Duncan Smith, Darren Gale, Benjamin Schwartz and Tshering Tamang to its new-business development; manufacturing; engineering; and procurement teams.

Vermont State Police Trooper Michelle Archer has been selected as one of four finalists across the United States and Canada for the International Association of Chiefs of Police / Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year Award.

Vermont engineers Jeffrey Tucker of Barre Town and Jordan Duffy of Richmond have been named tops in their profession for 2024 by the state's professional engineering societies.

Community Bank has promoted David Schalk to commercial banking group manager in New England. In his new role, Schalk will be responsible for managing the Vermont and Massachusetts commercial lending teams.

Alden Smith, former longtime director of the Mountain School of Milton Academy in Vershire, has been named the next executive director of the Quechee-based Vermont Institute of Natural Science. He will begin work April 1 and succeed Charles Rattigan, who has led the institute for the last almost 10 years.

Maurizio Bonivento, former area managing director at the Row NYC Hotel in New York City, has been appointed general manager of the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester Village.

Vermont Adult Learning recently welcomed Kim Rupe Lennox as director of workforce development and Haley Lebel-Stephen as community and workforce engagement manager. Both roles are focused on expanding Energy Works, VAL’s training program designed to meet Vermont’s green energy workforce needs.

Addie Lentzner, founder and co-executive director of the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network, and Chris Alfano, founder of the smartphone app Civicly, have been named 2023 recipients of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award by Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas in partnership with the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Justin Huizenga, an 18-year veteran of the Winooski Police Department, has been appointed as the city's next police chief. Huizenga had been serving as interim chief since former chief Richard Herbert retired in December.

The Champlain Housing Trust, a membership-based nonprofit organization that creates and preserves affordable housing in northwest Vermont, recently elected two new members to its board of directors and presented leadership awards to three individuals and two organizations.

Norwich University has appointed alumni Alfred J. Gobeille and Vincent T. McDermott to five-year terms on its 33-member board of trustees. Both will serve on the board's budget and finance committee, among others.

Laurie Kozar has been appointed director of allocations for the Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund as it gears up to provide grants to people affected by the 2023 floods. The fund helps individuals affected by disasters after they have exhausted all other sources of assistance.