Daniel Emanuele, Senior Vice President and Private Banking Manager, and Timothy Draper, Private Banking Relationship Manager, of Ledyard National Bank are among an elite group of financial professionals obtaining the Certified Wealth Strategist (CWS) designation, administered by Cannon Financial Institute. This designation is awarded to those individuals completing a comprehensive program of study surrounding key wealth management issues facing clients’ today.

Ted Mable, EdD, the Executive Director of Northwestern Counseling & Support Services (NCSS) has announced his retirement for June 2017. His near 20 year role at NCSS is the culmination of a career spent in service to the people of Vermont. Mable took the helm of the Franklin-Grand Isle Mental Health Agency in late 1997. At that time, the Agency had fewer than 100 staff and limited outreach.

The Vermont Association of Area Agencies on Aging (V4A) is pleased to announce the hiring of Janet Hunt as Executive Director. In this role, Ms Hunt works in conjunction with the five area agencies on aging to enhance the public understanding of the area agencies’ role, resources and expertise. Ms Hunt will work to address statewide needs through systems advocacy, legislative representation and visibility, and will advocate on behalf of Vermont’s seniors with policy makers and other stakeholders on promoting policies to support healthy aging.

Four new members have joined the leadership team of Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Partners for Community Wellness (PCW). The PCW Executive Committee recently approved Catherine Bardier, Director of Wellness and Community Health at New London Hospital; New Hampshire attorney John Kitchen; Jill Lord, Director of Community Health at Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center; and Amanda Grappone Osmer, CEO and fourth generation steward of Grappone Automotive in Concord, NH.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) Wednesday named two additional Vermonters to serve in key positions on the Senate Appropriations Committee as Leahy assumes his new role as Vice Chair. Leahy named seasoned staffer Jessica Berry as a Professional Staff Member on the full committee to focus on Vermont appropriations priorities, and issues relating to justice and national security. Berry is a native Vermonter with 13 years of legislative and appropriations experience in the Senate, including eight years previously with Leahy and five years on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Hark Inc, Vermont’s leading digital agency, announced Meagan Bronson of Exeter, New Hampshire as their newest member of the team. Bronson, who has a background in digital marketing and media relations joined Hark as a Project Manager. "We were fortunate to get someone who's so skilled on the marketing side of the house,” said Jeffrey Harkness, president. “And so passionate about working with our clients to help bring our shared digital visions to life.”