Gregory Wight, P.E., has been named Vermont’s 2016 Engineer of the Year. Professor Wight, who has served as both associate dean at Norwich University and director of the David Crawford School of Engineering, is a recognized expert in the field of air quality engineering. He is the author of numerous papers in this field and a widely-used textbook. A mechanical engineer educated at MIT and the University of Florida, he currently holds the Charles A.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties (VNA) has announced the appointment of Tara Graham as Executive Director of Hospice and Palliative Care for Vermont’s oldest and largest home health and hospice agency.

The J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation, a supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation which aims to improve access to college and career education for all Vermonters, welcomed Tim Donovan to its board of directors in January. Tim brings several decades of experience as a higher education leader in Vermont and has a long track record of advocating for Vermont students: particularly low-income and first-generation college students and working adults seeking to further their education.

Barb Lassen has joined Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs as Branch Manager for the firm’s Rutland office. Barb has more than 30 years of experience in the customer service and financial services industries, including office management and as a business owner. She will be managing the daily operations of the firm’s Rutland office, formerly known as Siliski & Buzzell.

Barb is an active member of the Rutland community as a Stage Manager for Rutland Youth Theatre and as a board member with the Rutland County Farmers Market.

Bond attorney Daniel Sharpe has been admitted to practice law in the state of Vermont. Daniel has 40 years of experience as a tax and employee benefits (ERISA) attorney. His primary area of experience lies in the area of qualified pension and retirement plans, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans as well as ESOPs, traditional defined benefit plans, and collectively bargained plans. Recently, much of his work has been focused on improving plan governance and fiduciary performance.

VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region which includes (Rutland Area VNA & Hospice, Bennington Area VNA & Hospice and Dorset Area VNA & Hospice) received a 4 star rating on a 5 star scale in the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services first patient experience of care star ratings, landing in the top 26% of home health agencies in the country to receive that score or better. The Survey star ratings measures and evaluates patients’ experiences with home health agencies and will allow consumers to compare and choose among home health agencies.

Don George, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, has been honored by the American Heart Association (AHA) for helping improve the health and wellness of Vermonters and Vermont businesses through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s (BCBSVT) Accountable Blue program. George received the Go Red for Women Crystal Heart Award at the Association’s annual Go Red For Women Luncheon on Thursday, January 28. The award is presented annually to a Vermonter who is an advocate, volunteer and role model for improving the health of our community.

Dr. Mario Potvin has joined Gifford Medical Center’s general surgery team. A board-certified surgeon, he has lived in Minnesota for the last 19 years and most recently practiced at the Fairview Lakes Medical Center, in Wyoming, Minnesota.

Born and raised in Quebec City, Canada, Potvin earned his Medical Degree at the Universite de Montreal, Quebec, and completed a fellowship in Laparoscopic Surgery at Montreal General Hospital.

Nisid Hajari has won the 2016 William E. Colby Award for his book, “Midnight’s Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India’s Partition.” Now in its 17th year, the Colby prize is awarded annually by Norwich University to a first-time author in recognition of a work of fiction or non-fiction that has made a major contribution to the understanding of military history, intelligence operations or international affairs.