Maria Aylward, commercial lines underwriter at New England Excess Exchange in Barre, and Stephanie Jo Oakes, business analyst at Exavalu, headquartered in Newport Beach, California, were recently honored by the Vermont Association of Insurance Professionals, a professional association dedicated to the development of leaders in the insurance industry.

Physical therapist Brian Fleming was recently recognized as Employee of the Year by VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region, a nonprofit home health and hospice agency serving Bennington and Rutland counties. The honor is presented annually to a VNAHSR employee whose work exemplifies outstanding performance, service excellence and demonstration of the agency's core values.