Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians, the medical group that provides doctors and associate providers to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), has named Bob Schwartz, MD, as associate medical director.

Duane Donahue, a 26-year employee of Union Mutual of Vermont Companies, was recently named the Outstanding Customer Service Representative of the Year for Vermont by The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research.

Donahue is now eligible to become the National Outstanding CSR of the Year. This prestigious award, regarded as the foremost national award of its kind, recognizes the contributions and commitment of those who serve clients within the insurance industry.

Norwich University Assistant Professor Timothy Kent Parker, Ph.D., has been selected from a nationwide pool of nominees to participate in a faculty seminar on the teaching of interfaith understanding to be held in Boston later this month.

The seminar is offered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), with support from the Henry Luce Foundation.

Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) has received the Energy Leadership Award from the U.S. Energy Association and Johnson Controls for his exemplary leadership in instituting and advancing energy efficiency in the United States.

People’s United Bank recently made a $5,000 donation to the University of Vermont Health Network - Central Vermont Medical Center’s campaign to build an outdoor terrace for the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit. Studies show access to the outdoors and fresh air for these patients helps improve mood and significantly aids in recovery.

Shown: Heidi Hook, Customer Service Manager for People’s United Bank in Barre (left), Judy Tartaglia, UVM Health Network–CVMC president and CEO (center) and Skip Poczobut, senior vice president, commercial lending, People’s United Bank (right).

Before joining Saint Michael’s College on June 2 as Human Resources & Payroll Assistant, Emily Thomas earned a 2011 psychology degree from the University of Vermont and traveled to far corners of the world.

“I love to travel -- in the last few years I’ve been to India, Hawaii, Fiji, Dubai and Costa Rica,” said Thomas, who lives in Colchester with her husband, Christopher Thomas. Most recently she worked at Hickok and Boardman, Inc., in Burlington as account manager in both personal and business insurance.