Mimi Buttenheim, president of Mad River Distillers, has been elected as the new president of the Distilled Spirits Council of Vermont, an organization created to develop, promote and maintain the independent distilling industry in the Green Mountain State.

Open Approach, an information technology managed service provider in Burlington, has hired Sam Hall as account manager. In his new role, Hall will partner with his clients, support their goals and needs, and nurture long-lasting relationships.

Hall joins Open Approach from Building Energy, where he served as customer-service and marketing manager. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

Robert M Paolini of Waterbury, an attorney and former state legislator who previously served for two decades as executive director of the Vermont Bar Association, has been tapped to lead the organization once again following a nationwide search by the board of managers. Paolini has held the post on an interim basis since the departure of former executive director Therese Corsones last spring.