Pride Center of Vermont is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Bensel as Executive Director effective August 1, 2018. Mike needs no introduction to friends and supporters of the Pride Center of Vermont. As a student at the University of Vermont in 1999, Mike collaborated with one other UVM student to lead a series of focus groups which established the need for an LGBTQ center in Vermont. These focus groups led to the formation of what is known today as the Pride Center of Vermont. As a founding board member, Mike spent 5 years serving on the Board of Directors.

For the past 10 years, Julia Rogers has been assisting students who decide to forego their first year of college in favor of a gap year, a growing trend that allows adolescents the opportunity to experience the world outside the classroom before beginning higher education. Last week Rogers was informed that she had achieved accreditation by the Gap Year Association as a professional gap year counselor. She is the first and currently only accredited gap year counselor in the United States.

Norma Austin, BSN, RN has been recently promoted to Day Shift Clinical Manager, in the Emergency Department, at Rutland Regional Medical Center. Austin received her AS from Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, Virginia, and Bachelor Science Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has 16 experience in the Emergency Department, and has been with Rutland Regional since 2013. Austin is certified as both an Adult & Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).

The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) announced the recipients of its 2018 NextGen Scholarship Awards; with a Vice President of Ledyard National Bank among them. This year’s recipients received scholarships to fund their professional development and education with the top scholarship being awarded to Stefanie Gulick, Vice President and Credit Department Manager with Ledyard National Bank. Ms Gulick will receive a full scholarship to the Barret Graduate School of Banking’s three-year program.

Ledyard National Bank is pleased to announce that William Logan has joined Ledyard Financial Advisors as Senior Vice President and Manager of their Private Banking division. Bill has more than 25 years of wealth management and banking experience. His expertise centers on managing complex lending, banking, trust and investment relationships by providing customized strategies for individuals, families and institutions.

Rose Computer Technology Services, Inc announced today that Richard McEntire has been appointed to the position of Network Engineer. “We are very pleased to have Richard join our growing team,” said David Rose, President of Rose CTS. “He is an experienced systems administrator with a customer-centric approach to support and service that matches perfectly with our business philosophy,” Rose expanded.

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy and Channel 17/Town Meeting Television is pleased to announce that Solomon Zeitlyn has joined the organization as Digital Video Engineer. Raised in Burlington, Zeitlyn grew up right around the corner from the Channel 17 Studios and spent time volunteering on numerous Town Meeting Days and participating in Community Media TV Summer Camps (as both a camper and an intern) during summer vacations.

More than 10,600 megawatts of solar power were installed last year in the United States, and local Vermont solar developer and installer Green Lantern Solar has been recognized by Solar Power World magazine for its contributions to the industry. Green Lantern was highlighted as one of the nation’s top 20 solar developers and a top 100 solar contractor. The Top Solar Contractors list is developed by Solar Power World to recognize the work completed by solar contractors across the United States.