Local business, Jaclyn Watson Events, has been honored this year in New Orleans with winning the prestigious Achievements in Catering & Events (ACE) Award, handed out by Catersource, the leading educational wedding and events industry conference. This award is handed out in recognition for the highest achievement in their field and industry The ACE award is given out yearly at the Catersource convention where over 5000 industry professionals meet to hone their craft.

Energy Action Network (EAN), a network of Vermont non-profit, business, state, financial and educational leaders committed to the goal of 90% renewable energy by 2050 has announced the selection of Jared Duval as its new Executive Director. The selection was made after a regional search and selection process by the EAN Board of Directors. Linda McGinnis, EAN’s Program Director, has been serving as Interim Director since January.

Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointments of John Carroll of Norwich and John O’Keefe of Manchester Center to Vermont’s State Board of Education. The Board is responsible for the establishment, advancement and evaluation of public education policy, including regulations governing attendance, student performance standards, adult basic education programs, independent school approvals, and disbursement of funds and equal access to education.

Jean Giard, President and CEO of Vermont Federal Credit Union, is pleased to announce that Kevin DeCausemacker has been promoted to Director of Business Services at Vermont Federal Credit Union. Kevin joined Vermont Federal Credit Union (VFCU) as a Business Lender in August of 2015 and has been an essential part of the Business Lending team for the past year and a half. Previous to his employment at Vermont Federal, Kevin worked at Vermont Economic Development Authority as a Commercial Credit Analyst and New England Federal Credit Union as a Credit Analyst.

Emily Friedrichsen, a freshman at Champlain Valley Union (CVU) High School, took top honors at the Poetry Out Loud State Finals, held at Vermont PBS on March 16. Friedrichsen was one of ten finalists representing schools from across the state. Friedrichsen secured the championship through flawless recitation of three poems, including “Very Large Moth,” by Craig Arnold and “The Tables Turned,” by William Wordsworth. Despite the bright lights and cameras, Emily performed with poise and just the right level of dramatic flair. Emily Klar, Lake Region Union High School, was the runner up.