Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) is pleased to welcome Brenda Strysko, DNP, FNP-BC, CNM to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians. She will be working primarily at the Deerfield Valley Campus in Wilmington, VT. Dr Strysko received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2012 and her post-master’s family nurse practitioner program certificate in 2006, both from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The Vermont Women’s Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation announced that it has welcomed Missy Kraus and Katelyn Atwood to its council. The Vermont Women’s Fund Council is involved in all aspects of the Fund's grantmaking, fundraising, and general operations. It is made up of representatives from across the state, serving three-year terms.

Experienced in primarily the hospitality industry, Tami Smith of Rochester has joined WallGoldfinger as its office manager – a critical role that greets callers and visitors and works with all departments to provide coordination and support. Based in Randolph, Vt, WallGoldfinger creates high-end custom corporate furniture and reconfigurable table lines for leading businesses, organizations and government agencies around the world.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) is pleased to welcome Erica Gallen, AGACNP-BC, ARNP, DNP, to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians. Dr Gallen is a board-certified Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner.

The KidSafe Collaborative, which works to improve our community’s response to child abuse and neglect, has elected Dr Lewis First of the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital to its Honorary Board of Directors. Elected as new Directors are Samantha Finnefrock, of Bluebird Barbecue, and Jonathan Rose, of Dunkiel Saunders. All are residents of Burlington.

Vermont resident Bob Thompson, a Civil Engineer with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Vermont, is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Thompson is a native of Pennsylvania and moved to Vermont in 1995 and currently resides in Westford.

The forecast for WPTZ-TV meteorologist Tom Messner and WCAX-TV weather anchor Sharon Meyer calls for clear sailing into the VAB Hall of Fame. The popular veteran forecasters will both be inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday, December 3 at the Hilton Burlington.

Also being enshrined this year is the late Dean Slack, a longtime radio personality and manager in the Burlington market.

Sugarbush Resort has undergone several management changes heading into the 2016-17 winter season. Tony Chiuchiolo returns to Sugarbush as Events Manager after a seven-year stint as the Terrain Parks Manager from 2008-2014. During that time, Sugarbush saw a significant increase in popularity of its terrain parks and was named a Top Five Terrain Park by Transworld Snowboarding. Prior to his job as Terrain Parks Manager, Chiuchiolo was a freestyle coach for the resort in 2007, and also worked for Fuse Marketing and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Norwich University Assistant Professor of Architecture Tolya Syril Stonorov has been named the 2016 winner of Vermont Women in Higher Education’s (VWHE) Peggy R Williams Emerging Professional Award.

The Stern Center for Language and Learning presented this year’s Above and Beyond Award for Excellence in Educational Collaboration and Innovation to Jericho resident, Kris Hoffman. Hoffman, who serves as Education Supervisor at Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center (Woodside), was presented the award by Stern Center President and Founder Blanche Podhajski at the organization’s Annual Board Meeting on Wednesday, October 5.